I hopefully will be going to Texas soon on a hunting trip with a good friend of mine, and was wondering if any body knew which current rounds on the market would have the best ballastics,and knock down power in the 308. caliber, beacuse there are so many diffrent ones on the market. The game could be anything from white tails, mule deer, Nilgai, and I doubt I will run into elk but its a possibility. Any advice or tips would be much appricated, Thank you.
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Range Report What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
- Thread starter jwesco
- Start date
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
I use Federal GMM 175s. I have never had a deer make it more than a few yards after being shot with it.
I use Federal GMM 175s. I have never had a deer make it more than a few yards after being shot with it.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
I use either Rem 150gr Core-Lokt Express or 150gr Winchester CXP. 165's and 180's also work, but the 150's shoot flatter, have more acceptable recoil in a lighter rifle, and get the job done just fine. In fact, if you're not going for long shots, the Remington 125gr Managed Recoil Core-Lokt loads are quite suitible.
I use either Rem 150gr Core-Lokt Express or 150gr Winchester CXP. 165's and 180's also work, but the 150's shoot flatter, have more acceptable recoil in a lighter rifle, and get the job done just fine. In fact, if you're not going for long shots, the Remington 125gr Managed Recoil Core-Lokt loads are quite suitible.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
i would order up some Corbon with the barnes bullets, dpx is the name i believe
very accurate stuff, and the barnes bullets work on game, that is what i would use the larger animals
i would order up some Corbon with the barnes bullets, dpx is the name i believe
very accurate stuff, and the barnes bullets work on game, that is what i would use the larger animals
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
+1 for barnes bullets for hunting. They definitely work.
+1 for barnes bullets for hunting. They definitely work.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
Cor-Bon for sure. The TPX 168 grain will take any north american game species you care to hunt(with appropriate shot placement
)
It is worth it for sure.
Cor-Bon for sure. The TPX 168 grain will take any north american game species you care to hunt(with appropriate shot placement
It is worth it for sure.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
My 150gr and lighter recommendation is based on White Tail Deer. The 165/180's would probably be more effective in significantly bigger game.
Please bear in mind that no bullet can perform to its potential without effective bullet placement and good judgement regarding distances and terminal energy.
These days I use the Core-Lokt Express loads pretty exclusively. I hunt White Tail in wooded areas with small open fields. The Core-Lokt is a flat based soft point bullet. That means that expansion is more certain, and short range accuracy is better. But the flat base also reduces extended range performance.
For my hunting needs, this is closer to optimal. If your hunting circumstances differ significantly, these loads may not be so close to the optimal for you.
Greg
My 150gr and lighter recommendation is based on White Tail Deer. The 165/180's would probably be more effective in significantly bigger game.
Please bear in mind that no bullet can perform to its potential without effective bullet placement and good judgement regarding distances and terminal energy.
These days I use the Core-Lokt Express loads pretty exclusively. I hunt White Tail in wooded areas with small open fields. The Core-Lokt is a flat based soft point bullet. That means that expansion is more certain, and short range accuracy is better. But the flat base also reduces extended range performance.
For my hunting needs, this is closer to optimal. If your hunting circumstances differ significantly, these loads may not be so close to the optimal for you.
Greg
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
I A$$uME that you don't reload which significantly limits your options. That being said I'd roll with the Cor-Bon DPX 168.
The other option is to buy directly from Barnes and look at their loaded 180gr MRX ammo under the Federal listing.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/loaded-ammunition/
Since you do have the possibility of getting into big boned animals, a bigger "rock" is preferred IMHO.
Cheers,
Doc
I A$$uME that you don't reload which significantly limits your options. That being said I'd roll with the Cor-Bon DPX 168.
The other option is to buy directly from Barnes and look at their loaded 180gr MRX ammo under the Federal listing.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/loaded-ammunition/
Since you do have the possibility of getting into big boned animals, a bigger "rock" is preferred IMHO.
Cheers,
Doc
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
I'm going to try this from a different direction.
Ammo companies make their bread and butter from hunting ammo. People buy what works, the more it works, the more it sells. That cheapo stuff isn't necessarily substandard in any way. Hunters will buy what works, pricey or cheap.
Stores like Wally World will stock ammo, but only those flavors that have a good sales record.
Looking at the Wally World locked rifle ammo cabinet as hunting season draws near, all you get to see, pretty much, is Remington Core-Lokt loads.
So what does this mean?
Well, for better or worse, it's the stuff folks keep coming back for. I'm guessing at least part of that is because it worked for them.
Also, for better or worse, it means you can go to most any Wally World and get what's been working in the past.
Love Wally World, hate Wally World, when it comes down to having what sells on their shelves, the got that part down pat.
Greg
I'm going to try this from a different direction.
Ammo companies make their bread and butter from hunting ammo. People buy what works, the more it works, the more it sells. That cheapo stuff isn't necessarily substandard in any way. Hunters will buy what works, pricey or cheap.
Stores like Wally World will stock ammo, but only those flavors that have a good sales record.
Looking at the Wally World locked rifle ammo cabinet as hunting season draws near, all you get to see, pretty much, is Remington Core-Lokt loads.
So what does this mean?
Well, for better or worse, it's the stuff folks keep coming back for. I'm guessing at least part of that is because it worked for them.
Also, for better or worse, it means you can go to most any Wally World and get what's been working in the past.
Love Wally World, hate Wally World, when it comes down to having what sells on their shelves, the got that part down pat.
Greg
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
Either way give yourself enough time. Decide on a few options and try them out. As mentioned above, more expensive doesn't always mean more quality AND placement is key. I have different .308's and in many cases each "likes" it's own type of ammo. One gun eats the less-expensive Remington green/gold box with great accurracy but thows the spendy Winchester fail-safes all over the place. A different rifle is the opposite.
On a related note, I now only shoot ballistic tip or other solid-nosed ammo in semiauto rifles. Probably common sense but in the past I had tried round nose softpoints in rifles like my FAL and LR308 and had some feeding issues. Don't know if it's just my guns or not but it's something else to take into account.
Either way give yourself enough time. Decide on a few options and try them out. As mentioned above, more expensive doesn't always mean more quality AND placement is key. I have different .308's and in many cases each "likes" it's own type of ammo. One gun eats the less-expensive Remington green/gold box with great accurracy but thows the spendy Winchester fail-safes all over the place. A different rifle is the opposite.
On a related note, I now only shoot ballistic tip or other solid-nosed ammo in semiauto rifles. Probably common sense but in the past I had tried round nose softpoints in rifles like my FAL and LR308 and had some feeding issues. Don't know if it's just my guns or not but it's something else to take into account.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
Well the fact Remington is based just a few miles down the road from Wal-mart headquarters, that may have something to do with the amount of Remington boxes at Wally World. Then again, maybe not.
But Greg is correct, hunting in Texas does not require the best, most expensive, most sophisticated bullets made with unobtainium. The Cor-Lokts are fine, our deer do not have body armor and are not very big to begin with. Texas allows the use of 22 caliber centerfire for hunting, so in .308 just about any hunting ammo will be fine. The hogs are usually much heavier than the deer.
Well the fact Remington is based just a few miles down the road from Wal-mart headquarters, that may have something to do with the amount of Remington boxes at Wally World. Then again, maybe not.
But Greg is correct, hunting in Texas does not require the best, most expensive, most sophisticated bullets made with unobtainium. The Cor-Lokts are fine, our deer do not have body armor and are not very big to begin with. Texas allows the use of 22 caliber centerfire for hunting, so in .308 just about any hunting ammo will be fine. The hogs are usually much heavier than the deer.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
The velocity of the .308 makes cup and core bullets more than sufficient. If your starting velocity is less than 2800fps or so, I see no need for premium/boutique bullets. Buy a few types and see what shoots best in your rifle and put the bullet in the right place.
The velocity of the .308 makes cup and core bullets more than sufficient. If your starting velocity is less than 2800fps or so, I see no need for premium/boutique bullets. Buy a few types and see what shoots best in your rifle and put the bullet in the right place.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
jwesco, Hornady custom in 150g SST (super shock tip) running about 2820fps? is what I am using for hunting. Great hunting round and very accurate if the weapon likes them. Sell for around $24 a box at Academy Sports. HTH
jwesco, Hornady custom in 150g SST (super shock tip) running about 2820fps? is what I am using for hunting. Great hunting round and very accurate if the weapon likes them. Sell for around $24 a box at Academy Sports. HTH
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm going to try this from a different direction.
Ammo companies make their bread and butter from hunting ammo. People buy what works, the more it works, the more it sells. That cheapo stuff isn't necessarily substandard in any way. Hunters will buy what works, pricey or cheap.
Stores like Wally World will stock ammo, but only those flavors that have a good sales record.
Looking at the Wally World locked rifle ammo cabinet as hunting season draws near, all you get to see, pretty much, is Remington Core-Lokt loads.
So what does this mean?
Well, for better or worse, it's the stuff folks keep coming back for. I'm guessing at least part of that is because it worked for them.
Also, for better or worse, it means you can go to most any Wally World and get what's been working in the past.
Love Wally World, hate Wally World, when it comes down to having what sells on their shelves, the got that part down pat.
Greg</div></div>
Core Lokt is what I use in my lever gun. It's got great performance too. I would just prefer the barnes bullets for my .308.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm going to try this from a different direction.
Ammo companies make their bread and butter from hunting ammo. People buy what works, the more it works, the more it sells. That cheapo stuff isn't necessarily substandard in any way. Hunters will buy what works, pricey or cheap.
Stores like Wally World will stock ammo, but only those flavors that have a good sales record.
Looking at the Wally World locked rifle ammo cabinet as hunting season draws near, all you get to see, pretty much, is Remington Core-Lokt loads.
So what does this mean?
Well, for better or worse, it's the stuff folks keep coming back for. I'm guessing at least part of that is because it worked for them.
Also, for better or worse, it means you can go to most any Wally World and get what's been working in the past.
Love Wally World, hate Wally World, when it comes down to having what sells on their shelves, the got that part down pat.
Greg</div></div>
Core Lokt is what I use in my lever gun. It's got great performance too. I would just prefer the barnes bullets for my .308.
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
Jwesco:
I am not a hunter but I have been told one should try to shoot game with a lead point bullet for knock down power and a humane way to kill an animal. Recently I was out on a shooting day with a good buddy who is a hunter and he gave me a box of 308 150 grain standard fmj bullets and told me he got them from a buddy that was going hunting and he advised him not to shoot these at deer in minnesota. This is for what it is worth department.
Dan
Jwesco:
I am not a hunter but I have been told one should try to shoot game with a lead point bullet for knock down power and a humane way to kill an animal. Recently I was out on a shooting day with a good buddy who is a hunter and he gave me a box of 308 150 grain standard fmj bullets and told me he got them from a buddy that was going hunting and he advised him not to shoot these at deer in minnesota. This is for what it is worth department.
Dan
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
I use the Hornady Custom .280 139SST load in my R77 and R77V that I inherited when my Eldest Brotehr passed on.
Grabbed two boxes of the first thing I could find on the shelf and tried it out because load development was not going well. Just to see if the guns were actually capable of decent accuracy.
They were. Oh, boy, they were.
I realized then and there that my own advice about never using handloads for hunting was even wiser than I had thought; and that all I had been doing was exercising my ego and abusing a pair of great rifles. Load development ceased on the spot, they were zeroed at 100yd for that ammo, and I trotted on down and bought a few more boxes. Doing the math, a 3000fps MV has those bullets still doing 1279fps at 1000yd.
Close enough for government work, Baby...
Greg
I use the Hornady Custom .280 139SST load in my R77 and R77V that I inherited when my Eldest Brotehr passed on.
Grabbed two boxes of the first thing I could find on the shelf and tried it out because load development was not going well. Just to see if the guns were actually capable of decent accuracy.
They were. Oh, boy, they were.
I realized then and there that my own advice about never using handloads for hunting was even wiser than I had thought; and that all I had been doing was exercising my ego and abusing a pair of great rifles. Load development ceased on the spot, they were zeroed at 100yd for that ammo, and I trotted on down and bought a few more boxes. Doing the math, a 3000fps MV has those bullets still doing 1279fps at 1000yd.
Close enough for government work, Baby...
Greg
Re: What is the best 308. store bought ammountion?
Hornady TAP w/ 168 AMAX or Black Hills 168 AMAX work great on deer. 150 gain soft points also work good, but they are not as accurate.
AMAX's in the lungs and/or heart will drop the deer most of the time.
-dan
Hornady TAP w/ 168 AMAX or Black Hills 168 AMAX work great on deer. 150 gain soft points also work good, but they are not as accurate.
AMAX's in the lungs and/or heart will drop the deer most of the time.
-dan
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