Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting just acquired a new ruger american in 308 win.

using it for deer & hog hunting. so, what's the best kinds of factory ammo has one had good success with? i don't have another 308 so no experience with it. have always used core lokts in the 30-06.

just want to get started off on the right foot, given it's not long till deer season opens. probably thinking of 150 grain, pretty much with shots less than 200 yards nearly always.

what's worked for you in this rifle would probably work for me.

this is a plain vanilla, pretty much common, bottom of the line deer killer. never shot one, but getting ready to.

my fall back position will be 150 grain psp core-lokts.

surely there's someone out there that has tried other variations? what worked for you?

i guess winchester and hornady might be in the running, don't want to leave out a good answer.

i was fixin' to run down to the closest wal-mart superstore and see what they might have on the shelves. usually they have the lowest price ammo in town, if they have the flavor that you prefer.

have found an unused tasco 3-9x40 scope in the back room. am thinking about dragging it out to put into duty. but still, i need ammo and am looking for recommendations from the folks who know. otherwise i'll have to take the recommendation of the clerk who uses her key to unlock the ammo cabinet and hands me a box. surely we know more about the right ammo than the sporting goods clerk does?

Federal Fusions in 150 or 165gr have never steered me wrong in the .308.

Core lokts have treated me well in the .308 too.

If I were starting with factory ammo tonight, it would be Federal Fusion in 165gr.

What T-Zone said.
I have had good results with FF's but don't have a .308

Hornady #8098

I run hand loads, but Fusions and Winchester's Power Max bonded are good to go from what I've seen other guys use the last few years. The bullets that were recovered were text book looking mushrooms.

super good info guys. might venture out a bit further from the close shores of the core-lokts.

gotta get started, as time is tight.

don't want to expend big dollars to kill a meaty doe, but do want to kill one. thanks for the recommendations.

Well I'll be damned


I'd have never figured you were legally able to possess firearms

Any of the above will work equally well.

If you like the 150 grain Core-Lokts in thutty ought six, they work the same out of a .308, no real reason to change.

Gus-I'm from the old school of start with the cheap stuff and only upgrade if need be due to accuracy or poor results. I agree with TZone and others on the Federal Fusion. It's good ammo, and not the most expensive stuff out there. If you feel the need to scratch your itch with something a little higher up the food chain, give the Federal Premium loads a try. I have an '06 that shoots them much more accurately than any other factory ammo I've tried. While others will disagree, I really like the Sierra Game King boat tail spire point 165 gr. loads. Good luck with the new rifle.

You may want to give the Hornady American Whitetail a go too. Its been very good in what I've tried it in including the 308.

This was the winner for a local guy who brought his 308 RAR to our place to shoot. A few dollars more per box than Fusions or Powerpoints, but shot way better in his gun.

Gus,

Congratulations.

The .308 Win is an amazing cartridge. One would think that it shouldn't be able to do what it can.

There ain't an animal in North America that a .308 Win can't kill.

When I went searchin' for a lightweight rifle for backpacking in Wyoming's Rockies, I had figured I would get me an '06. I researched the heck outta cartridges. I would up with a .308 Win.

You might just up and retire your '06.

That is a very good shooting bullet in both of my .308s, and at 2700 fps MV, very well behaved. It does not destroy an excessive amount of meat, and will penetrate quite a bit of deer.

Hornady American Whitetail factory ammo has been very accurate in every rifle and caliber/cartridge that I have tried. Hornady must be selling this with a very low profit margin, as I am seeing it selling at retail for less than the comparable FED/REM/WIN ammo.

All of the Hornady factory ammo that I have shot has been very accurate, with the 6.5 Creedmoor being "casual" match grade accurate. One of my buds told me that his RAR-Predator and Axis both are shooting sub-MOA groups out to 500 yards with the 129 grain American Whitetail hunting ammo in 6.5 Creedmoor.

I'm not a fan of Core Lokts. I like the Winchester Power Points, they've always shot great in my 270. Great price on them at Walmart too, might be under $20. I'd go with 150's in the 308.

the BATFE has never bothered me. but i'm sure i'm on someone's list somewheres.

'preciate the good input on brands to try. will try to shoot at the range, and then hopefully find out how things really are in the field.

Hornady american whitetail. Ive never hunted with em in 308 but have killed many deer with their 7mm08 version and am really satisfied.

My dad recently sent his model 70 featherweight in 308 for me to sight in and i used these. This rifle was always a soso 1.5inch shooter with 165gr loads hes shot for the past 10 years but this ammo turned it into an absolute tack driver. It shot a honest half inch group at 100yards with the 150gr american whitetail.

while i've been a life-long core-lokt fan because 1. they work. 2. they're lower cost. 3. they are available locally, i'm thinking the Hornady White Tail ammo does call out. worth trying anyways. if i down an old mature doe and she gets up and runs off before i can get to her, i'll be sorely disappointed w/both my shooting and whatever else i can blame the debacle on.