Best 308 Grain for Long-Range Target Shooting & Hunting

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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The best 308 grain for long-range shooting ultimately depends on your rifle setup, budget, and target species.

That can seem a bit overwhelming if you’re new to the 308 Win ammo, which is why our ammo experts have broken down the best long-range bullet weights for the 308 based on their own research and experience. Let’s get into it.

What’s the Best .308 Grain for Long-Range Shooting?

175 grains is the best bullet weight for long-range shooting with a .308. Bullets of that weight perform well within and beyond 1,000 yards, can ethically harvest most big game (depending on design), and are readily available.

If you find your 308 rifle doesn’t fire 175 grain bullets accurately, then continue reading the next section, where we get more granular on the best bullet weights for specific situations.

Best Grain for 308 by Use Case

While we can’t cover every situation you could encounter with your 308 rifle, here are several common scenarios and the best 308 ammo and bullet weight for them.

Best Grain Based on Rifle Setup (Barrel Length & Twist Rate)

308 rifle barrels are typically 16” to 28” long. For long-range shooting, we recommend a 20” to 28” barrel. 175 grains is the best bullet weight for a 1:10 or 1:11 twist 24” barrel because it’s accurate and readily available.

For shorter barrels, projectiles lighter than 175 grains tend to perform better. Conversely, bullets heavier than 175 grains tend to perform better in longer barrels.

We can help you get started in the right direction for choosing the best grain, but you should test several varieties to see which one performs best in your rifle. I own multiple rifles chambered in the same cartridge, and some prefer different ammo types and bullet weights than the others.

Best Grain for Affordable Target Shooting

147 grain bullets are often loaded in the most affordable 308 ammo. If you want to go plinking with your 308 Win, ammo loaded with 147 grain bullets will be your best option (though things will still get expensive rather quickly). The next best choice is 150 grain bullets. They’re not much more expensive, and they’re readily available.

It’s essential to note that bullet design also influences the price of the ammunition. For example, hollow point (HP) bullets tend to be more expensive than full metal jacket (FMJ) ones.

Best Grain for Hunting

180 grain 308 Win bullets are the best for long-range hunting. They can ethically harvest a wide variety of big game at longer distances, and they’re readily available.

My dad and I often deer hunt with 165 grain bullets, but we rarely exceed 200 yards. If we were to hunt in areas that would require farther shots, I would step up to a 180 grain bullet to ensure it maintains enough kinetic energy to ethically kill a deer at 500+ yards.

I would also use a 180 grain bullet on game larger than deer, no matter the distance – but especially if the shot were greater than 200 yards.

Best Grain for Under 1,000 Yards

168 grain bullets work well up to 1,000 yards because they’re accurate (again, accuracy also depends on bullet design) and can have less recoil than heavier bullets. Most common 308 Win bullet weights perform well under 1,000 yards, but we recommend avoiding 135 and 125 grain bullets for anything over 400 yards because they are more vulnerable to wind drift.

Best Grain for Over 1,000 Yards

175 grain and heavier bullets are best for shots over 1,000 yards because they’re less affected by wind and exhibit more predictable trajectories. While some shooters report good success with 155 grain bullets, we don’t recommend using a bullet lighter than 165 grain for long-range target shooting.

Comparing the Most Popular 308 Grain Weights

The team at Ammo.com has gathered 308 ballistics and other various information to help make your decision much simpler when choosing the best 308 bullet weights.

Parting Shots: Which 308 Grain Should You Choose?

Now that you have all the necessary information, it’s time to test which is the best 308 grain for long range in your rifle. While your preferences may ultimately differ, we recommend starting with 175 grain bullets. They’re the best choice for most scenarios.

Written by

Wes Littlefield