Best 308 Ammo for Deer Hunting: Bagging Big Bucks

If you want to ensure that you're baking Bambi's backstraps at deer camp instead of tracking blood trails for hours on end… then you need to have Winchester Deer Season XP 150 gr Extreme Point chambered in your rifle this deer season.

I found the following to be the best 308 Win ammo for deer hunting while testing various rounds.

The Best 308 Ammo for Deer Hunting Top Picks

Testing Procedure

After spending several hours researching various 308 hunting rounds, I borrowed my dad’s 308 Winchester rifle to test several brands of ammo before deer season began. I weighed a few factors while I was at the range, including:

• Intended Design
• Accuracy
• Terminal Performance
• Reliability
• Cost

The first thing I always consider while testing ammo is the intended design. Was it meant for target shooting, self-defense, or hunting? Rounds can sometimes be used for multiple shooting applications. But typically, the rounds designed for a specific activity work best for that activity.

I’ve pulled the trigger on game animals only to have the round fail to fire, costing me my opportunity. Thankfully, none of those were bucks of a lifetime – but I still need my ammo to be reliable. That’s why I ensured the rounds that made this list will go bang every time you pull the trigger.

Unlike when target shooting, I don’t fire many rounds downrange while hunting, so price isn’t as much of a factor when buying hunting ammo. However, with the price of everything going up, one of the first things to get cut is my ammo budget, so I still look for high-quality ammo at a reasonable price.

The Best 308 Deer Hunting Ammo

Best .308 Ammo for Deer Hunting Overall - 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

• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Extreme Point (Polymer-tipped)
• Bullet Weight: 150 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,820 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,648 ft-lbs

Pros

• Optimized polymer tip for ideal penetration and expansion
• Affordable
• Built specifically for deer hunting

Cons

• Results vary depending on the rifle

Why I Chose It

Winchester Deer Season XP 150 grain is the best 308 ammo for deer hunting because it uses the latest bullet technology for incredible accuracy and excellent terminal performance; plus, I found it affordable compared to other deer hunting ammo.

I prefer to hunt with polymer-tipped bullets like the ones used in these rounds because they reliably feed into the chamber, are accurate, and I have yet to lose a deer after shooting it with one. Extreme Point ammunition has an abnormally large polymer tip which creates a higher energy transfer by accelerating terminal expansion, meaning the deer suffers less.

This is the best Winchester 308 ammo for deer hunting, hands down, because I shot tight groups while sighting in my dad's rifle, and I didn’t have any failure to fire while at the range. If you want to hunt with the best, don’t hesitate to grab a box of Winchester Deer Season XP 150 grain.

Best Hornady Ammo For Deer Hunting - Hornady Custom 150 grain SST

Hornady 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain SST Ammunition

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Specs

• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Super Shock Tip (Polymer-tipped)
• Bullet Weight: 150 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,820 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,648 ft-lbs

Pros

• Loaded with Hornady's reputation for quality
• Excellent weight retention and terminal performance
• Availability

Cons

• More expensive than Winchester

Why I Chose It

Hornady Custom 150 grain SST is the best Hornady 308 ammo for deer hunting because it has a flat trajectory and devastating terminal performance.

I’ve found the Hornady SST combines everything we hunters love from Hornady's groundbreaking InterLock soft point design and integrates it into a hollow point projectile with a polymer tip to initiate expansion. Upon impact, the tip is forced into the hollow point to initiate expansion. It delivers a tremendous shock to any whitetail or other medium-sized game animal, and creates a massive wound channel that anchors a trophy fast.

These rounds are pricey compared to some of the other 308 deer hunting ammo on our list, but that’s expected from a high-end ammo company like Hornady.

Best Terminal Ballistics 308 Win Ammo - Black Hills Gold 168 grain TSX

Specs

Black Hills Gold Ammunition 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 168 Grain TSX Ammunition

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$54.99

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• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Triple-Shock X
• Bullet Weight: 168 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,650 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,619 ft-lbs

Pros

• Great quality and reputation
• High velocity for its weight
• Triple-Shock X bullet offers excellent expansion and penetration

Cons

• It’s pricey, but it’s also spicy

Why I Chose It

Many other shooters and I often describe Black Hills Gold 168 grain TSX with phrases like "incredibly accurate,” "extremely consistent,” and "excellent terminal ballistics.”

Although this offering from Black Hills fires a heavier bullet than our first two selections, during my tests, it still maintained a high muzzle velocity and flat trajectory desired for long-range shots.

The Barnes TSX bullet is the heart of this Black Hills Gold factory load, providing unparalleled stopping power and accuracy. It stops whitetails, black bears, feral hogs, and any other four-legged varmint dead in their tracks because it utilizes a traditional hollow point bullet that offers exceptional penetration and expansion that's needed when taking on big game animals. And the bullet is lead-free to boot, which means it's legal for use in states like California and eliminates lead fouling.

I know a lot of people talk about the price of the Black Hills Gold TSX, but when you consider you’re getting an average of 60 pounds of meat for $3.00 – and you don’t have to spend hours tracking an injured Cervidae – it’s more than worth it! So don’t hesitate to grab a box or two of Black Hills Gold 168 grain TSX.

Best All-Around Big Game Ammo - Federal Premium 175 grain Terminal Ascent

Federal 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 175 Grain Terminal Ascent Ammunition

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$44.99

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Specs

• Casing: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Terminal Ascent (Polymer-tipped)
• Bullet Weight: 175 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,600 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,627 ft-lbs

Pros

• Bonded construction for high weight retention
• High ballistic coefficient for long range shots
• Designed for excellent expansion at high and low velocity

Cons

• You pay for performance

Why I Chose It

Federal Premium 175 grain Terminal Ascent is the best all-around 308 ammo for big game hunting because it utilizes a heavier Terminal Ascent bullet. This round’s expertly designed polymer-tipped bullet feeds well into most rifles. The nickel-plated brass makes for smooth chambering, and the bonded lead core helps the projectile retain its weight following impact with elk, caribou, bear and deer.

Federal designed the Terminal Ascent with its patented Slipstream polymer tip to give the bullet a flatter trajectory and lower-velocity expansion.

This Federal Premium hunting ammo is one deer hunting round that you don’t want to miss, especially when you plan to hunt other big game species, even though it's a little pricey. But as Federal says on their website regarding Terminal Ascent, "Any hunt. Any range." That is performance most hunters are willing to shuck out a few extra bucks for!

Best Long-Range Hunting Ammo - Hornady Precision Hunter 178 grain ELD-X

Specs

Hornady Precision Hunter 308 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 178 Grain ELD-X Ammunition

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• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Extremely Low Drag - eXpanding
• Bullet Weight: 178 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,600 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,672 ft-lbs

Pros

• Match-grade accuracy and reliability
• Backed by Hornady's reputation and consistency
• High ballistic coefficient for long-range shots

Cons

• Heavier bullet weight
• Heavier price tag

Why I Chose It

If you want to get maximum distance out of your hunting ammo, look no further than Hornady Precision Hunter 178 grain ELD-X. It’s incredibly accurate at long ranges, made by a reputable company, and offers excellent ballistics.

The Hornady ELD-X is one of the top long-range hunting bullets on the market, competing with long-time standbys like the AccuBond Long Range or Berger VLD. It integrates many of the same qualities as the SST, which was my #2 pick. It utilizes the InterLock system to keep the lead core and jacket of the bullet intact during expansion, as well as a smooth, sleek design with a high ballistic coefficient for long-range accuracy.

I’ve always found Hornady ammo to be reliable and accurate, no matter the caliber I’m shooting.

Although Hornady Precision Hunter ammo is extremely accurate and effective against large game animals, it also carries a price tag to match that performance. However, as most hunters aren't spending the weekend plinking with their hunting rifles, we only need a few boxes of ammo per year. That price tag is well worth the added performance Hornady Precision Hunter 178 grain ELD-X offers, in my opinion.

Parting Shots

My dad and I thoroughly enjoy deer hunting with the 308 Win. Picking the best 308 ammo for deer is always a little bit subjective (even my dad and I disagree on our favorites). But when buying any of the rounds on this top 5 list, I promise you won't be disappointed.

The best way to buy ammo is to visit our bulk 308 ammo page and get the best price per round.

Written by

Cassandra McBride