Recommendations for inexpensive 308 ammo?

[BigBL87]

I purchased a Savage 10 FCP in 308 this winter and hopefully will get out to shoot it soon. I bought a box of 150 gr Winchester Power Points to have on hand and to get it on paper since they were the cheapest thing at the local Farm and Fleet at the time.

Being new to 308, I'd love some recommendations on some brands and rounds that won't cost me an arm and a leg. It will likely be used on hogs when we visit my sister-in-law in Arkansas, and maybe on coyote here in IL but I think my AR will do that duty. If there happened to be a good practice FMJ/hunting SP pair that wouldn't shift my zero too much, that would be ideal but I realize that might be a pipe dream.

I've mainly looked at the Winchester Power Point, Federal Power Shok, and Remington Core Lokt as they all seem to run in the $0.70/rd or so range. I've seen some Fiocchi and PPU a little cheaper, but haven't been able to find much real life experience info on them. In case it makes a significant difference, it is a 1:10 twist barrel.

 

[adcoch1]

Perfecta has been great in 30-06, i would assume 308 is good too just haven't run it through my rifle yet. And for stupid cheap ammo, my Cetme loves tulammo 308.

 

[BigBL87]

Perfecta has been great in 30-06, i would assume 308 is good too just haven't run it through my rifle yet. And for stupid cheap ammo, my Cetme loves tulammo 308.

I haven't seen Perfecta around here for awhile, I'll have to keep an eye out.

 

[Nature Boy]

Target Sports USA is where I used to buy ammo on line. Free shipping and usually best prices, or at least it used to be that way.

 

[Random 8]

I've had good luck with PRVI ammo in the foreign metric calibers I shoot. I have used one of their soft point loadings in 7.62x54R on a 200+ pound whitetail buck in Northern MN. It was the 150 gr load, and I'd think their 150 gr .308 load would perform just as well on deer-hogs. Performance was similar to Rem or Win 150 gr .308 I've used on deer in the past before I began reloading. I've found the accuracy of the PRVI loads to be at least as good as RemFedChester, probably a bit better, and it is excellent brass for reloading if you eventually go that route. I'll do a quick ammoseek search and see what else is out there that I know to be decent and add as an edit.

https://www.jgsales.com/-p-100574.html This is top quality surplus ammunition for practice shooting, but not suitable for hunting. I have used a lot of this in the past. Reliable and accurate. If the idea of shooting "slightly tarnished" surplus ammo scares you, new made PRVI 150 FMJ is available for a slightly higher price, this is good ammo.

As I expected, the PRVI 150 gr SP was the least expensive option suitable for hunting.

The POI between these two loads should be similar to 200 yards or so.

 

[kimberkid]

Cheap 308?

You're about 15 years too late ... None of the current production comes close to the prices of the surplus 308, 8mm Mauser, 7.62x39, 223, 9mm and to a lesser degree the 45acp

I've still got 3 cases of 308 that I paid less than $200 for 1000 rnds, 1.5 case of 8mm that was $69 /1280 rnds; and sadly, all my $69/1000 rnds 7.62x39 is long gone

 

[horsey300]

Federal. Fusion. Not expensive, accurate, and terminal performance that gets it done, if you're not interested in hand loading, this is where you should start, good luck and enjoy!

 

[mustanger98]

I'd say look at MidwayUSA. I just saw some Geco 170gr HP on sale for $12/20rds. I think they said its under the same company that owns RWS. Based on the good customer reviews of that brand, if I were shooting .308, I'd order five boxes to have a good-sized sample.

 

[cougar1717]

I'd love some recommendations on some brands and rounds that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

Here are the cheapest alternatives:

The absolute cheapest is the Wolf/Tula steel cased ammo. I don't want to get into the "will it destroy my barrel", "does it void a warranty?", or "I heard that it will KB my rifle" discussions as those topics are overdone can fall into half truth and old wives tale status. I've used steelcase 308 for 3",4", and 5" groups depending on the rifle - ie - good luck trying to get small groups. It's the bottom of the barrel, but it's at least something to shoot.

The next category is the surplus 7.62mm. FMJ bullets and various manufacturers. Is it good ammo? Is it bad ammo? A lot of that has to do with who made it and how was it stored. A lot of foreign surplus is Berdan primed, meaning not-reloadable, if that matters. Years ago, I tried some of the German DAG surplus ammo from the 1990's with the cupro-nickel jackets that were still sealed in battlepacks. It had a small amount of case corrosion, but nothing that was objectionable. It shot ok - somewhere between 1-1/2" and 3". This type of ammo was not made for accuracy, but was clean, functioned well, and shot reasonably well. Looks like they are currently still importing the German surplus, but have to mill off the DAG headstamp for commercial sales.

Then, there is new production M80 7.62mm ammo. Same thing, just newer in your favorite flavor of Aguila, Magtech, PPU, PMC, or Lake City, etc.

Up to this point these use 145-150gr inconsistent FMJ bullets and can be had for $0.50/rd or less.

The next level are the standard hunting ammo offerings - Rem, Fed, Win, etc that can be found at WM or your local big box outdoor store.

they all seem to run in the $0.70/rd or so range.

If you are finding these for $14/box of 20 (before tax), I would consider that a reasonable deal in terms of quality vs price. Usually, manufacturers put out some rebates for a few dollars per box around deer season, but it appears that's the going rate.

There is also premium hunting ammo and match ammo, but it sounds like you're looking for the less expensive options.

 

[1KPerDay]

Don't buy HERTER'S steel cased if you happen to find it. In fact I personally won't buy any more steel cased 7.62. They don't seem to have it figured out.

Fiocchi and PPU are both GTG IME.

 

[mdThanatos]

I have had good luck with Federal ammo. I have used the 150 gr and 180 gr blue box and gotten decent groups with those flavors, and Wal-mart has them in stock if I need it in a pinch. I haven't tried any of the 7.62x51 variants yet, but I have some on my bench to see how my rifle likes them. I have gotten Prvi loads between $10 and $15 a box. 145-175 gr and 7.62x51 and .308 loadings. I mainly use TargetSportsUSA but you can always look at ammoseek for lowest pricing on the web.

 

[gotboostvr]

I can't speak to Privi's finished product, but I was very unimpressed with the quality of their components for my 308Win hand loads.

I tried their 168gr JHP Match bullets and weights were very inconsistent, > +/- 1.0gr variation from the advertised 168gr. I could not get them to shoot under 2.5". Their brass was a little spotty too.

That being said, it's still good for general purpose plinking. That'll still a pop a pumpkin off a fence post at 50yards. I'd skip their "match" ammo, but say the regular FMJ stuff is good plinking ammo.

If you really want to see what your rifle can do, buy a box of 168gr or 175gr Federal Gold Medal Match. My rifle likes both, and I Handload as close of a clone of the 168gr load as I can. It's a little pricey, but not unreasonable.

 

[illinoisburt]

Here are the cheapest alternatives:

The absolute cheapest is the Wolf/Tula steel cased ammo. I don't want to get into the "will it destroy my barrel", "does it void a warranty?", or "I heard that it will KB my rifle" discussions as those topics are overdone can fall into half truth and old wives tale status. I've used steelcase 308 for 3",4", and 5" groups depending on the rifle - ie - good luck trying to get small groups. It's the bottom of the barrel, but it's at least something to shoot.

I have seen surprisingly decent accuracy with the 165 grain soft point from Tula from a bolt gun. Granted I have no idea how it shot with other ammo, but saw around 1-1/2" groups from a kid at the range with a sled. Costs around $6 a box, 500 rpund bulk can be had for $150. This was the newer zinc cases and bullets in the black/red boxes. In my own experience with 223 I get fairly good groups with both 55 and 62 grain hp with my cheapo AR. The older brass colored bimetal was much less accurate so maybe the company did something right with the change?

 

[Nature Boy]

Don't buy HERTER'S steel cased if you happen to find it. In fact I personally won't buy any more steel cased 7.62. They don't seem to have it figured out.

Fiocchi and PPU are both GTG IME.

I agree . Steel case ammo is fodder for AKs and the like.

 

[rpenmanparker]

www.ammoseek.com

 

[Mn Fats]

If you really want to see what your rifle can do, buy a box of 168gr or 175gr Federal Gold Medal Match. My rifle likes both, and I Handload as close of a clone of the 168gr load as I can. It's a little pricey, but not unreasonable.

I do the same. A Gmm copy in 168gr, I am thinking of switching to the 175gr though.

Federal. Fusion. Not expensive, accurate, and terminal performance that gets it done, if you're not interested in hand loading, this is where you should start, good luck and enjoy!

Im also a fan of the Federal Fusions. I've had great luck with them in the past.

It's hard to recommend low cost .308 win ammo. It totally depends on your rifle. Buy a few cheap ones and let your rifle decide what it shoots best. I've had cheap Core Lokts out perform high buck ammo.

 

[Bwana John]

I have purchased it for < .14/ round, delivered

 

[Random 8]

I have purchased it for < .14/ round, delivered

Those are fun. I use them in the backyard on striped gophers and such. Pretty much like a Vmax at very close range, but the wife's savage doesn't like to extract them, have to knock out with a cleaning rod.

 

[Buzznrose]

MEN is very high quality ammo made in Germany. I have not shot the .308, but the 5.56 and 9MM are outstanding.

https://www.sgammo.com/product/308-...-nato-147-grain-ammo-made-germany-men-men762a

 

[Charlie98]

FWIW, my Savage 10T does not like 145-150grn FMJ... and I’ve tried quite a few different flavors of it including Prvi, LC, and some surplus. It does much better with JSP’s, and gobs better with 168 or 175grn BTHP’s.... so bullet quality does matter.

 

[BigBL87]

FWIW, my Savage 10T does not like 145-150grn FMJ... and I’ve tried quite a few different flavors of it including Prvi, LC, and some surplus. It does much better with JSP’s, and gobs better with 168 or 175grn BTHP’s.... so bullet quality does matter.

I'm thinking I might get a box of the heavier (165 or 180 gr) Fusions and maybe some Core Lokt and see what shoots the best between those and the Winchester. I feel like with being a 1:10 twist the heavier bullets might be a better bet.