You are about to get a lot of questions about what you are hunting and a lot of differing opinions after that.
Throwing my hat in the ring for proven, future proof, factory ammo I would go with:Dauntsey Guns: Non Toxic, BARN-B308W3, Barnes - .308 Win 130gr Vor-Tx TTSX FB Rifle Ammunition
Dauntsey Guns: Non Toxic, BARN-B308W3, Barnes - .308 Win 130gr Vor-Tx TTSX FB Rifle Ammunition
Will slay anything in the UK and useful abroad unless you go after something big.
Throwing my hat in the ring for proven, future proof, factory ammo I would go with:Dauntsey Guns: Non Toxic, BARN-B308W3, Barnes - .308 Win 130gr Vor-Tx TTSX FB Rifle Ammunition
Dauntsey Guns: Non Toxic, BARN-B308W3, Barnes - .308 Win 130gr Vor-Tx TTSX FB Rifle Ammunition
Will slay anything in the UK and useful abroad unless you go after something big.
long_range_rob
Well-Known Member
If it groups well in your rifle then it’ll be fine.
3 questions I would ask...
1. Target species......Let's assume Munty, Roe and Fallow
2. Selling to game dealer or personal/family and friends consumption......Lets assume personal/family and friends
3. How often you will stalk....Lets assume every couple of weeks so 26 times a year with an average of 3 shots each time to cover off zero'ing as well (4 boxes per year)
If this looks right then cost shouldn't to be the issue, even at £50 a box you are only looking at spending £200 a year and frankly you can buy decent ammo, Federal, Sako, Norma etc for much closer to, or even below £30 a box.
So my advice, gained from using the .308 for the past 30years+ would be to go into your local gun shop, ask what they have in 150gn soft/lead tip, make sure they have plenty in stock of whatever you choose. Take 1 box, make sure it shoots well in your gun (almost certainly will as the .308 loves just about any traditional bullet in 150gn - 165gn range) and once you can confirm its all good, go back buy 5 boxes and forget it for the next year to 18 months.
The beauty of the .308 throwing a 150gn round (or 165gn) is that it will kill everything in the UK including Boar and Red's but so long as you get a simple 150gn hunting bullet and avoid the plastic tipped stuff, it won't make a mess of anything. Avoid any ammo that quotes super fast speeds (2900fps+) as this will cause unnecessary entry and exit damage and the .308 likes to run out somewhere in the 2600fps to 2800fps.
My personal favourite for many years was the Federal P308C which is a 165gn round, but I would probably look at something more in the 150gn now just to keep it as flat as possible.
On the other hand is you do need to use copper then again go see what your local gun shop holds as a stock item and try that. I would still stay in the 150gn range but 130gn would also be OK but be careful of silly speeds (2900fps+) that cause the extra damage on entry and exit and be really careful that what you buy is a pure hunting bullet as there are lots of fragile bullets being sold as 'Hunting/Varmint' and they cause a lot of damage.
There is a lot of chat around getting the copper bullets up to 2900fps and above but if its a new hunter then shots are likely to be (and should be) in the 50m-100m range which does not need excessive speed. Its only when you are up into the 175m+ ranges that speed starts to matter with copper.
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paulbshooting
Well-Known Member
Whatever groups in your rifle and is value for money. Prob 150 grain if lead or 130 or 110 grain if copper
Would not touch Barnes ammo...
Local RFD had to pull Barnes ammo off the shelves for cracked necks.
Haven't had a problem with vortex ammo personally - maybe it is a batch thing?
Might be, but at their prices I'm not buying a box to find out...
Assuming you don’t load your own the find your local dealers, get a box of each of whatever brand they have &, most importantly will stock on a regular basis, shoot each type on a target, try the ones that group best on deer, pick the one that works best for you & stick to that.
Very happy with Fox 130gn in 308 - accurate & non toxic
If you are new to this, start on the non-toxics as that's what we'll all be using soon.
Everyone has a favourite, but anything in factory ammo will work, just find the one that works best in your rifle.
Fox 130gr is very good in my Sako 85, killing deer efficeinty up to 180 (furthest with it so far). A home load chronographed and worked up with a Barnes 120gr bullet and they almsot go through the same home.
If your local BDS branch has a range day, you may be able to try a variety of rounds
Everyone has a favourite, but anything in factory ammo will work, just find the one that works best in your rifle.
Fox 130gr is very good in my Sako 85, killing deer efficeinty up to 180 (furthest with it so far). A home load chronographed and worked up with a Barnes 120gr bullet and they almsot go through the same home.
If your local BDS branch has a range day, you may be able to try a variety of rounds
On a German forum someone tested a Fox bullet and found traces of lead, so...
@Steff posted a link a while back
I've shot large and small deer with a 308. I have used slow moving 210 grain cast lead, 168 grain heat treated cast lead at highway speeds and 188 grain of same. I have used jacketed bullets of 150 and 165 grains.; various makes. None of these required a second shot tho one hit with a 150 grain SST manged to run 100 yards with no lungs. Hit them squarely with about anything and they will die pretty quick.~Muir
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