Is there a general consensus regarding the quality of readily available factory ammo? Specifically accuracy and bullet performance on game. Not interested in the "Premium" lines, just plain old factory stuff.

Examples would be Hornady American Witetail, Winchester Power Points, Federal Blue box etc etc etc.

Dunno if there's a "general consensus," but overall I have had good luck with Hornady AW and Federal Blue Box. Results have been more mixed with Power Point ammo.

For inexpensive bulk ammo...?

Been surprisingly happy w/ the PPU soft point loads.

Just go heavy-for-caliber to slow'em down a little, and they seem to work just fine.

Then reload the decent quality brass w/ a better bullet.




GR

Good luck here with blue box in 308 and 243.

Aside from rimfire and shotshells, the majority of factory I shoot has become Fiocchi, widely available at good prices online. The .223 has been especially good, and with current primer prices, I’m shooting it in lieu of rolling my own. Excellent shotshells too.

Norma is on the list as well, and has had some really good deals.

Waiting to hear back about the Norma "Whitetail" 150 grain SP that my brother is using on Mulies this season.

The local SW has stocked up on them this season. Pretty sure it's not a bonded bullet.

I’ve been very pleased with Hornady American Whitetail as far as accuracy. In my 270 Win, the 130gr shoots as well or better than any handload I’ve developed - except for it twin using the same bullet. The Interlock bullet gives great terminal performance

Corelokts are still a fantastic ammo. Especially for deer.

Federal’s Fusion is also very accurate and for the money you’re getting a premium bonded bullet for the price if a cup and core.

I don’t shoot a lot of Winchester factory ammo, but those that I have, I never really found the accuracy exceptional.

My .30-06 LOVES Winchester Super X Power Points 180gr., very accurate @ $20.00 a box! I Will not shoot anything else out of my .30-06 because everything drops dead in its tracks :o)

Over the years I’ve killed a lot of deer with core lokts and fed blue box. Some rifles shot them exceptionally well while others just sufficient for hunting. I’m going to use 150gr sp (the round nose version) in my 270 win this season for whitetails and I’m sure they will work just fine. I wouldn’t hesitate to deer hunt with any cup and core factory load. Any of those through the lungs will kill a deer.

Over the last couple of months, I've tested 150- and 180-grain Federal blue box, and 150-grain Remington CoreLokt for groups. All of it shot about 1.5 MOA, which will kill deer and hogs pretty far out there.

I also tested some 150-grain Norma Whitetail. It shot just under 2 MOA in my Remington 700 but right at 1 MOA in a Ruger American and sub 0.5 MOA in a buddy's black rifle.

I'd use any of it.


Okie John

Funny how barrels either love or hate various rounds hey hotsoup?

I have found over the years, that whenever I buy a new rifle it's really worth it to buy several different boxes of ammo and test them in your new rifle, to discover which brand your new rifle loves. Once I discover that I typically buy 5 to 10 boxes of that ammo with the same Lot # and I am good to go for years.

I do not shoot enough to justify loading my own, so this initial investment in testing is money well spent :o)