Best Centerfire Hunting Brand Under $20

[shaggy430]

What is your favorite brand of inexpensive non-premium ammo for hunting under $20?

By this I mean Federal Power-Shok, Remington Core-lokt, Winchester Power-Point, PMC Silver, Estate Select etc...

Some factors to be considered are killing power, weight retention, and availability.

I've used all five listed above along with others with great results on whitetails. I've also seen a 30-06 180 gr. Core-Lokt take down a moose at over 200 yards without taking a step.

 

[Big Bill]

Federal Power-Shok

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Same here - Federal blue box (Power-Shok).

And you mean Remington "Express", not Rem Core-lokt. Yes, they use the "core-lokt" bullet in the Express line, but they also use that fairly good bullet in some of their mid/premium lines too, with better consistency.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Fave ammo

When I'm forced to buy commercial ammo, I head for the Federal Blue Box first. (For instance with a new rifle for which I don't have reloading dies yet.)

Probably 95% of my ammo comes from Smokey Joe's Reloading Shop, a fer-sure non-profit outfit, but very satisfying. And cheaper than Federal Blue.

 

[3pairs12]

Power point. I only use the non premium ammo in my kids .243 and it seems to really like the Power point stuff.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Sometimes that blue-box Federal stuff comes with a $5/box rebate, too, making a couple of boxes very inexpensive indeed.

 

[chas08]

Federal blue box (Power-Shok). I got a .270 that likes them better than the premium stuff. I bought 10 boxes of them all the same lot # at Cabelas at the end of the 07 hunting season for $9.99 a box.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Federal Power Shok 100 grain for my BLR .243. I haven't found anything more accurate in that particular rifle. It works well on deer also.

Thus far, I can't handload anything that accurate for my BLR.

 

[41magsnub]

My lone use of the Federal Power Shocks was with my 7x57 that only liked the 175 gr super long nosed buggers. It was accurate enough, but in six deer shot last year it failed to expand every time.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Looks like I owe it to myself to try some Federal. I do like their .22 ammo.

 

[KzoneAL]

I have Remmys,Federal and winchesters they have killed everything they hit over the years all are a favorite.

 

[Brian Dale]

I've used Remington Express brand cartridges on the big, northern whitetails that live around me. Why? My Dad and my sister had used them and they'd worked, so I kept using them.

The deer that I've shot have all been less than 200 lb., and the longest shot that I've taken on a deer here was a measured 200 yards (successful hit on heart & lungs). The hills are steep and the cover can be heavy here; perhaps 80% of my shots are from less than 100 yards.

I've primarily used:

- 150 grain Core-Lokt Soft Points in .30-30 from a Marlin 30AS;

- 150 gr. Core-Lokt Pointed SP in .30-'06 from a scoped Springfield 1903A3 sporter. This cartridge produces much greater velocity than does a .30-30, of course. My limited experience with it fits my preconceived notions. Ordinary, properly placed shots seemed to cause greater tissue damage and more lost meat in deer that I've killed with this bullet in the .30-'06 than in those that I've taken with the Core-Lokt Soft Point bullet of the same weight from a .30-30;

- 200 gr. Core-Lokt SP in .35Rem. from a Marlin 336. It's a bigger, slower bullet, from a nicer rifle than the 30AS.

They've all worked.

 

[Big Bill]

My base ammo that I buy when I have a choice is Federal Fusion. It's great ammo and very accurate.

 

[Supertac45]

Only use premium Federal with Nosler bullets.

 

[deanadell]

Have been shooting Remington Core-loct from my .270 for about 15 years I guess.....no complaints and a lot of venison in the freezer.....

 

[Wirtbowhunter]

+1 on the federal fusion. I've had good luck with it.

 

[snakeman]

whatever your gun likes

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Remington CoreLokt or Winchester Silver Tips if I had to purchase ammo. Otherwise, I do reload Remington Corelokts for the .243 for the boy. (certainly under $20) If I had a current box of them I wouldn't hesitate to load some .270win for the other son too.

The Corelokt is a highly under estimated bullet. Great penetration, expansion and weight retention.

Although not on your list;
My 30-30 and 32spl like the Win Silver tips. I'll be reloading some of them later this spring. I've kilt more than one buck with Silver Tips in years past. Good bullet.

-Steve

 

[ElToro]

my winchester supergrade classic 25-06 loves win powerpoint. i have shot all the other brands' hi and low end offerings and it seriously groups 1 holers with this stuff. i dont know what im going to do about shooting non lead ammo here in PRK... i havent hunted in that zone with this rifle yet so well get some lead free ammo and test