What would you leave loaded in your .308?

[ny32182]

I realize that .308/7.62x51 would almost always be major overkill from a self defense standpoint, but just the same... What would be a better choice? x51 surplus FMJ like, say, Aussie, or would a commercial JSP .308 hunting load like Remington Core-Lokt or Winchester Super-X be superior?

 

[rbernie]

Hornady TAP.

 

[Zak Smith]

The 155gr AMAX is the best anti-personnel bullet in 308, when not shooting through barriers (in that case, a bonded core is needed). The Hornady 155gr TAP uses this bullet and is an excellent choice.

Pretty much any hunting bullet will perform well, however.

 

[atek3]

Surplus FMJ. Never know when the assailent will be hiding behind a car, and you need a round that will penetrate both doors.
I think soft points are nice, but not absolutely required when throwing a slug w/ 308 class energy.

atek3

 

[Bwana John]

Surplus FMJ, because of cost and reliability.

BYW TTBB, what kind of ammo are you trying to Zero your FAL with?

 

[ny32182]

I used Aussie surplus to zero. I've also fired Remington Core-Lokt and Winchester Super-X from Wally World, and the POI's all seem to be pretty similar.

 

[NMshooter]

You really aren't going to lose much penetration with soft point/ballistic tip ammunition.

This reminds me of the one conversation I had with a friend who was worried that JHP pistol ammunition would bounce off belt buckles...

Expect FMJ ammo to punch a neat little hole all the way through, doing little damage unless you manage to hit bone or something important like the brain and spinal cord.

 

[Telperion]

Quality milsurp FMJ, for the reasons atek noted.

NMshooter, have a look at .308 terminal ballistics and you'll see the bullet is expect to tumble and leave a large permanent cavity.

 

[ziadel]

is the brass on the hornady TAP ammo tough enough to stand up to roller-locking rifles?

 

[Preacherman]

Another vote for Hornady TAP.

 

[Dave R]

It would be a hunting round for me (one I rolled.) I did some personal tests on terminal ballistics. Short version is, an expanding round is far superior to a .30 ice pick.

 

[Pointman]

Tap

 

[TODD3465]

I'm going to go to the 155gr AMAX as a general purpose load for all my .308 rifles.

Until then for a low penetrating anti-personnel round I have a bunch of SPEER 125gr "TNT" HPs loaded up.

 

[jobu07]

Expect FMJ ammo to punch a neat little hole all the way through

And that would probably be that. Self defense is what was mentioned. I think you shoot any would be home invader with 7.62 Nato that right after that neat little .30 hole is bored through the person it is in would topple down like a sack of spuds.

Of course, never having shot a person with, well, anything, this is just speculation.

 

[Mannlicher]

I have 5 loaded 20 round USGI mags loaded at all times, for my M1A. I use Portuguese Mil Surp ammo.

 

[Feanaro]

is the brass on the hornady TAP ammo tough enough to stand up to roller-locking rifles?

I second that question. My CETME doesn't like thin commercial cases and the ammo is kinda expensive to test out.

 

[TODD3465]

Then if you reload find some GI brass and load your own.

 

[Feanaro]

Then if you reload find some GI brass and load your own.

I neither have the space nor the interest, unfortunately. I only own three calibers and I simply can't roll my own cheaper for two(7.62x39 and 7.92 mauser) and the third I might not be able to load cheaper(7.62 NATO). Not an accuracy buff either, so nothing for me there.

 

[NMshooter]

If you look at the depth of penetration and then take a tape measure and measure the thickness of your upper arm, thigh, and upper and lower torso you might note that some people are not thick enough for rifle rounds to tumble as the rounds pass through them.

Even 5.56mm on a solid torso hit may just zip through if the torso in question is skinny enough.

It would be nice if we all could go to the store and buy magic bullets, or maybe disintegrator rays...

Any particular shot placement can be awfully difficult to achieve as well, so I guess you turn your target into a colander if that is what it takes to stop him.

 

[itgoesboom]

I ran out of room in my ammo boxes for some 7.62x51 ammo, so I just loaded it up into mags for my CETME. 5 20rnd mags, each loaded with 15 rounds of Australian Surplus.

I know it works in my rifle, I know it is accurate in my rifle.

To me, thats all that matters.

I.G.B.

 

[T.Stahl]

If I could find some, German steel-jacketed FMJ surplus. All the tumbling and fragmentation you know from the 5.56 at 2.5 times the size.

 

[HankB]

Assuming your rifle is reliable and POI doesn't shift much, why not alternate FMJ and softpoints in your magazine and practice double taps?