Best 308 Ammo for Hunting & Target Shooting

The .308 Winchester is a do-all round. Whether you intend to hunt big game or enter long-range precision shooting competitions, the .308 Win has you covered.

With that said, the best 308 Win ammo varies depending on the application – and that's where I intend to help out.

After years of using it for hunting and target shooting, I fully understand the 308's capabilities. I know which types of 308 ammo are best for various different applications. And after reading this Pulitzer-worthy article, you will too.

The best 308 ammo for deer hunters is Winchester Deer Season XP. It has agreeable recoil, an extremely predictable trajectory, and it overwhelms deer with shocking energy transfer and rapid terminal expansion.

For elk hunting, I recommend Remington Core-Lokt Tipped. It is loaded with an accurate bullet: heavy enough to penetrate deeply, and rugged enough to conserve its momentum after impact. The Core-Lokt Tipped bullet expands wide to inflict enormous harm to the animal, too.

The best ammo for long-range shooters looking for sub-MOA performance is Nosler Ballistic Tip. The boat tail polymer-tipped projectile excels at maintaining its aerodynamically efficient profile even after it has endured intense recoil and chamber pressure.

Let's dive deeper into each round, and declare a few honorable mentions so long as we're in the neighborhood.

Best 308 Ammo for Deer Hunting

Winchester Deer Season XP 150-Grain Extreme Point

Winchester Deer Season XP 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain Extreme Point Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Extreme Point
• Bullet Weight: 150 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,820 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,648 ft-lbs

Pros

• Less kick than heavier bullets
• Excellent terminal performance
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Less than ideal for other larger game animals

Why We Chose It

Winchester Deer Season XP 150 grain ammo is ideal for whitetail deer hunting. It's high velocity, reasonably priced, and has less recoil than any alternative loaded with a heavier bullet.

The polymer-tipped bullets increase hollow point bullets' performance compared to traditional hollow points.

The Extreme Point projectile features an abnormally large polymer tip. It comprises almost half of the bullet's frontal surface area, thereby streamlining it greatly. The Extreme Point's large tip features a proportionately large base. It uses this to instantly upset the jacket and core following impact, which in turn leads to shocking energy transfer accompanied by broad and ruinous terminal expansion.

308 hunting rounds aren't cheap, but Winchester Deer Season 150 grain XP is agreeably priced. You can use it for hunting hogs during the off-season without breaking the bank.

Honorable Mentions

With its heavier bullet, Hornady American Whitetail 165 grain InterLock SP kicks slightly harder than Winchester Deer Season XP. It also hits the quarry slightly harder, making it a fine choice for hunters who prefer a traditional soft point.

A slightly more expensive option is Federal Fusion 150 grain SP. It is loaded with a bonded soft point bullet, which has an electrochemically fused-together jacket and core to promote higher weight retention and deeper resultant penetration.

Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 150 grain ammo boasts outstanding ballistic performance – both in-flight and terminal. Sadly, Remington is of the opinion that you must pay extra for such sublime performance. This isn't an issue as far as deer season is concerned, though you may prefer to avoid this premium ammo while you're shooting varmints, hogs, or targets.

Best 308 Ammo for Elk Hunting

Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 180 Grain Core-Lokt Tipped

Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 180 Grain Polymer Tip Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Core-Lokt Tipped
• Bullet Weight: 180 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,640 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,785 ft-lbs

Pros

• A favorite among hunters
• Trusted brand
• Excellent accuracy compared to other hunting rounds

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Remington Core-Lokt Tipped is an excellent choice for harvesting large game.

Like its predecessor the Core-Lokt, the Core-Lokt Tipped projectile features a raised band around the interior surface of its copper jacket. This locks the core and jacket together, which is in service of promoting higher weight retention. Unlike the original soft point, the Core-Lokt Tipped features a polymer tip which reduces drag, increases striking energy, and accelerates terminal expansion. The bullet's boat tail and match jacket both contribute to its superior accuracy as well.

The downside to this ammo is its cost, which will mount quickly should you decide to train extensively with it. But maybe you're rich. If that's the case, then we wholeheartedly recommend firing this ammo often, and always ordering it from us.

Honorable Mentions

If your barrel's rate of twist prefers a lighter bullet, then you might need to try Hornady Precision Hunter 178 grain ELD-X. The ELD-X isn't as effective as the Core-Lokt Tipped, in my opinion, but it's possible I'm just splitting hairs. I don't suppose any elk could stand a well-placed ELD-X.

The price is the same for either round, so it all boils down to personal preference. Hornady is a reputable ammunition manufacturer. You can always trust them to deliver the goods, whatever the goods might happen to be.

Speaking of ammo price, make sure to check out our stock of Hornady 308 ammo for more options.

Though I prefer heavier bullets for big game hunting, a Federal 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tip cartridge carries more than enough energy downrange to end any elk hunt in success. Federal is one of the very best in the business, and produces ammo that is just as reliably accurate as it is reliable deadly. These aren't cheap rounds, but at least they will show you where your money went.

Best 308 Ammo for Target Shooting

Nosler 165 Grain Ballistic Tip

Nosler Ammunition 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 165 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Ballistic Tip
• Bullet Weight: 165 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,800 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,871 ft-lbs

Pros

• High muzzle energy
• High-quality bullets
• Reloadable

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Shooters recognize Nosler as one of the best bullet and ammunition manufacturers on earth, let alone the U.S. Their products often set the standard other brands strive to meet.

Nosler's 165 grain Ballistic Tip cartridge is ideal for long-range target shooting. If you're just getting into competitive shooting, then it's high time you begin sending these rounds' famously accurate bullets downrange.

The high-velocity, high-energy Ballistic Tip maintains a flat trajectory, which is precisely what you want when accuracy is your sole objective. This ammo's worst feature is its price tag, but when isn't that true?

Honorable Mentions

Sierra MatchKing Competition 168 grain HPBT is true match-grade ammunition. The MatchKing has been fired to win more competitions than all other manufacturers' bullets combined, and it stabs an impressively flat trajectory through the air courtesy of its hyper-concentric jacket, form-fitted lead core, and optimized boat tail.

If you're looking for ammo that won't make you pay dearly for a full, fun day of target shooting, then Prvi Partizan 145 grain FMJBT should be your first choice of ammo. The lightweight bullets are less than ideal for long-range shooting, but they exhibit very flat trajectories over close-to-medium distances and won't treat you to very much recoil.

Sellier & Bellot 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain SPCE Ammunition

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For the price, it's dang near impossible to beat Sellier & Bellot 150 grain SPCE. Like the Ballistic Tip, the soft point cutting edge is a hunting bullet, which makes training with this ammo doubly productive if you intend to use it during hunting season.

How to Choose the Best 308 Rifle Round for Your Situation

Ask five shooters which is the best 308 round. You'll get back five different answers.

So how are we supposed to know which is the best for us?

I use four factors to determine the best 308 ammo for my situation: intended purpose, barrel twist rate, price, and gun.

Intended Purpose

Are you going to hunt with it? If so, what do you plan on hunting? Or do you plan to take it to the range and have fun plinking? Or will you be shooting competitively? These scenarios are all very different from one another, and require different types of ammunition.

Whitetail deer don't require as large a bullet as elk or black bear do. You can select a lighter bullet for deer hunting. If you plan to do a little bit of everything, it is better to use a bullet in the middle.

Barrel Twist Rate

Each barrel twist rate works best with specific bullet weights. Typically, the heavier the bullet, the less twist is needed.

You can use the data below to estimate what bullet weight will be most accurate with your barrel twist.

• 1:15 twist: up to 150gr
• 1:14 twist: 150gr – 168gr
• 1:12 twist: 168gr – 170gr
• 1:10 twist: 170gr – 220gr
• 1:8 twist: 220gr +

As you can see, heavier bullets need less twist to exhibit good accuracy, while lighter bullets need more twist to stay on track.

Your rifle should be marked with the barrel twist rate. If not, then you can discern your barrel's rate of twist by following these instructions.

Cost

We must keep cost in mind; unless you're a billionaire, the price of ammo will quickly eat into your budget.

I prefer high-quality ammo. It costs more, quite naturally, but I can justify it so long as it improves performance in at least some capacity. The only exception is when I'm target shooting for fun. Pinpoint accuracy and commanding terminal ballistics aren't important when I just want to march lead through bullseyes.

Firearm Preference

Different guns like different ammo. I wish there were a more scientific way of explaining why, but it is what it is. As such, you might find one specific brand, bullet weight, and bullet type works perfectly with your rifle – and terribly with a different one. It's a process of trial and error, which can get pricey unless you learn...

How to Save Money on 308 Ammo

Whether you're searching for the best 223 ammo or looking to stock up on handgun ammo, there are a few ways to save money.

Buy in Bulk

Manufacturers are willing to offer steep discounts when you buy bulk 308 ammo. You can often get $0.05 or more off per round when you buy in bulk.

This might not sound like much, but when you buy 1,000 rounds, you could save $50, which could go towards more ammo.

Typically, the more rounds you purchase at once, the better the discount you receive. So if you buy 100 rounds, you won't get as good of a bargain as you would have had you purchased 1,000.

The biggest drawback to buying in bulk is paying the money upfront. You may still purchase what you require even if you lack the douhg to buy in bulk. Remember to check out our stock of PMC 308 ammo, Fiocchi 308 ammo and Remington 308 ammo for affordable ammo options.

Handload

Reloading is the best way to get the highest-quality rounds at the lowest price. Handloading allows you to control all the controllable variables, which means you can craft the perfect round for your rifle.

Reloading is also fun if you like to experiment and dabble. It is expensive to begin reloading because you have to buy all the equipment and supplies, but if you're a serious shooter, it's worth it.

Combine the Two

Buying in bulk and reloading the spent brass is the best way to compound your savings on ammo.

This has a significant upfront investment, but will pay for itself over time.

Common 308 Bullet Types

All the different types of bullets can confuse a novice shooter. Don't worry. I'll walk you through them, so you know which ones will work best for you.

FMJ

The full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets has a lead core surrounded by a more rigid metal (typically copper) to preserve the core's shape during ignition and reduce barrel fouling. FMJs are generally the least expensive bullets, but they're not suitable for hunting or self-defense because they cause less damage than a soft-point or hollow-point bullet. They're also prone to overpenetration.

I recommend FMJ bullets for plinking.

HP

Hollow point (HP) bullets have nose cavities: a concave tip where the jacket reveals the underlying lead core. Take care that hollow point rifle bullets usually aren't intended for defense or hunting. The HPBT and OTM are both designed for accuracy and accuracy only. Nothing will be better off for having been shot with one of these bullets, but neither is designed with deep penetration or wide expansion in mind (with some notable exceptions, such as the Berger VLD).

SP

A soft point bullet is jacketed with the exception of its tip. That enables its soft lead core to deform after impact, and therefore deliver the terminal expansion which kills more surely.

Soft point bullets are more economical, buy hardly ineffective.

You're also likely to find pointed soft point (PSP) bullets. The PSP's aerodynamic profile delivers a flatter trajectory over longer ranges compared to the traditional soft point. The soft point cutting edge (SPCE) is yet another variation of the SP. It features a cylindrical body, which has an angular shoulder where it transitions to an ogive profile. This enables the SPCE to "cut" a more injurious entry wound into the quarry than a traditional spitzer profile would allow. (Think of it as a hole punch instead of a needle.)

Polymer Tipped

A polymer-tipped bullet's sharp, symmetrical and centered meplat reduces in-flight drag, and may facilitate terminal expansion as well. These bullets are primarily used for hunting but can also make good long-range target rounds (as with the Nosler Ballistic Tip).

Common 308 Uses

The 308 is a versatile cartridge that offers shooters excellent ballistics no matter the situation. It's extremely popular, which means ammo is readily available just about anywhere you look – including Ammo.com!

Hunting

The 308's wide hunting applications add to its popularity. Unlike 5.56x45, which is only good for taking varmints and other small game, the 308 can take out a moose just as easily as it can take out a prairie dog. If you plan to take long shots or hunt big game, the 308 should be at the top of your list.

Target Shooting

This centerfire cartridge is a leader in long-range shooting. Many professional shooters still opt for the 308 despite all the hype surrounding the 6.5 Creedmoor and other more modern rounds.

Military & Law Enforcement

Military and law enforcement agencies use the 308 for the same reasons as hunters. It's one of the best bolt-action rifle rounds available, and it's simple to train on without busting the budget.

Parting Shots

I hope you've got a better handle on what kind of 308 ammo is best for your upcoming plans! Take my recommendations with a grain of salt, though. Nothing takes precedence over your own experience and preferences. If you find 308 that you love, then it's necessarily the best by the only standards that matter – your own.

Written by

Wes Littlefield