Best 308 Ammo: Hunting & Home Defense

What is the best 308 ammo

Last updated January 29th 2023.

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The Big Winners, at a Glance

Federal Premium Barnes Triple Shok is our tip for the best 308 ammo if you’re going hunting. But if you want something a little more tactical, or cheaper FMJ for the range, we have those too.

ImageProductDetailPrice
Federal Premium Barnes TSX Triple Shok

Federal Premium Barnes TSX Triple Shok

  • Overall Winner
Price
Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection

Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection

  • Best for Self Defense
Price
Hornady Precision Hunter

Hornady Precision Hunter

  • Best Hunting Combo of Price and Performance
Price
Black Hills Tipped Matchking

Black Hills Tipped Matchking

  • Best Target Ammo
Price
PMC Bronze

PMC Bronze

  • Best budget range ammo. FMJ.
Price

Intro

308 Winchester Magnum is the world’s favorite hunting round and a .308 battle rifle is also a wonderful thing loaded up with the best 308 ammo.

Military and police snipers love 308 Winchester up to 500 yards and Designated Marksman Rifles, semi-auto battle rifles chambered in this tougher round, are common now.’

Winchester Ammunition saw the potential for a civilian version of this chopped down, user friendly version of the 30-06 Springfield and brought us 308 Winchester ammo in 1952. It’s come a long way since then.

But what is the best 308 ammo for hog hunting, big game hunting or even people?

Firstly, if you’re looking for bulk deals and big savings, try these links first:

Here are our picks for the best 308 Win Mag ammo for sale in 2023.


Federal TSX Triple Shok ammo. Buy yours today at the best prices.

1. Federal Premium Barnes TSX Triple Shok

  • Regular Price per round: $2.23
  • Price per pack: $43.99/20 Rounds
  • Bullet Type: Barnes HP
  • Bullet weight: 165 grain
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2,650fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2573 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Best 308 Ammo For Hunting

PriceTerminal BallisticsRangeExpansionPrestige
2/55/54/55/55/5

Federal Premium Barnes TSX Triple Shok might not be your every day ammo, but it is pretty much the best when it comes to al all round hunter and, as a consequence, tactical round.

Loaded into your trusty 308 bolt action rifle, or semi-automatic rifle, this high price, all copper jacketed hollow point should drop North American big game as effectively as anything here.

Have some mags loaded up for your 308 battle rifle and you have a potent weapon indeed for self defense and a very serious gunfight. It’s not just for picking off large sized game animals at 500 yards, or deer hunting, although it does both really well.

This 165 grain open tip bullet really could be the best 308 Winchester ammo for your centerfire rifle. With good shot placement, you’re good to go with almost all big game hunting.

All Copper, Rifled Design

The lead free design means this 308 Winchester ammunition retains 100% of its weight. Combined with literal cutting edge JHP tech and a deep point makes for massive expansion and a huge wound cavity.

That Barnes TSX bullet has been called the deadliest hunting round in the world in a variety of calibers. Mated to a Federal Premium brass case, you really cannot go wrong with this round.

I mean it will overpenetrate if you live in an apartment block, but apart from that it is arguably the ultimate hunting and tactical round. This is high price, high spec 308 Win ammunition.

Get some, try it out and then buy more. The price will hurt a little, but the performance is incredible and it will make your 308 rifle that little bit better.

Also check out other Federal Premium options, including the Trophy Bonded Tip match ammo.


Get the 308 ammo that Law enforcement relies upon each and every day. Buy your Speer .308 here.

2. Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection

  • Regular price per round: $1.60
  • Price per pack: $31.99/20
  • Bullet Type: 150 grain Soft Points
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2820fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2648 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Best for Tactical Use

PriceTerminal BallisticsRangeExpansionPrestige
3.5/54/53/55/55/5

Law enforcement, the Feds, just about anybody that legitimately uses 308 ammunition to off people in the line of duty rely on Speer Personal Protection.

Designed to FBI spec so it goes through barriers like windscreens and drywall with minimal deflection.

This Nickel plated brass bonded soft point bullet is the industry standard when it comes to tactical engagement at long range and short. Things tend to be that way for a reason…

Due to the company’s Uni-Cor process where the jacket is bonded to the bullet one atom at a time. So core jacket separation just doesn’t happen and the high price bullet maintains its trajectory through common barriers without veering off course.

The police largely think this is the best 308 Winchester ammo, especially in a semi-automatic rifle. On the right day, in the right circumstances, they are absolutely right for your centerfire rifle.


Hornady Precision Hunter

3. Hornady Precision Hunter

  • Regular price per round: $1.99
  • Price per pack: $41.99/20
  • Bullet Type: ELD-X
  • Bullet Weight: 178 grain
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2600fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2672 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Best 308 Ammo for Deer Hunting

PriceTerminal BallisticsRangeExpansionPrestige
3/54/54/55/54/5

Horrnady Precision Hunter is a solid comprpmise of price, performance and range in one compelling package.

Hornady Match ammo, Hornady American White Tail and Critical Defense are all great bullets as well. They make everything for competitive shooting through to hunting big game hunting, too. But we think the Hornady Precision Hunter is the best ammo for deer hunting.


Black Hills 308 ammo.

4. Black Hills Tipped MatchKing

  • Regular price per round: $2.25
  • Price per pack: $45/20
  • Bullet Type: Open Tip Match
  • Weight: 175 grain
  • Velocity: 2626fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2648 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Best for Competition Shooting

PriceTerminal BallisticsRangeExpansionPrestige
1/52.5/55/52/55/5

This is one of those companies with near God tier status, thanks to the likes of the Honeybadger FTM AAC Blackout ammo, 9mm ammo and a slavish devotion to excellence.

Here the company’s Gold level casings and coatings work with a 175 grain Sierra Matchking Hollow Point. for the best target shooting ammo.

It is an intriguing choice for our favorite match grade 308 Win ammo. But with the polymer tip designed for ultimate flat shooting and long range, this enhanced 175 grain Sierra Matchking bullet easily outperforms most 175 grain Sierra Matchking FMJ 308 Win Mag.

That 175 grain HPBT ballistic tip really isn’t designed for ultimate expansion, it is an open tip match cartridge, not a hunting bullet. But a simple JHP allowed for a super sharp polymer tip and a streamlined 175 grain HPBT 308 Winchester cartridge for long range target shooting.

The sharp acetyl resin tip helped create FMJBT 308 Win ammo. A super flat trajectory, minimal bullet drop and total repeatability are company calling cards, which is what you need in a rifle cartridge for top level shooting sports and target shooting.

We look forward to trying this tech in a wide range of rifle calibers.

Check out Trophy Bonded Tip ammo from Federal and Nosler, and you can also get Federal Gold Medal ammo with the Sierra Matchking business end. So have a look at the Gold Medal ammo if you need target shooting options.


Remington Core Lokt ammo. A hunting round with great accuracy, long range and a solid price.

5. Remington Core Lokt

  • Regular price per round: $1.87
  • Price per pack: $37.32/20
  • Bullet Type: 180 grain Soft Points HP
  • Velocity: 2640fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2785 lb/ft

A Great Balance of Performance and Price

Remington Core Lokt is a soft tip hollow point that has evolved over more than 80 years. That’s how long the Remington Core Lokt has been out there in some form or another, althuough it used to be more basic.

Now there’s nothing particularly unique. But these lead core hunting rounds are a solid compromise of performance vs price.

Remington claims the Core Lokt is the original controlled expansion cartridge and it was the best ammo for deer hunting. It’s fast, opens up relatively quickly and this is important in your hunting ammo when you’re going after slim chested American Whitetail.

This relatively light and fast moving ammo is some of the best ammo for deer hunting. So don’t forget about the good old lead Core Lokt.


MC Bronze 308 ammo is a budget friendly 308 cartridge.

5. PMC Bronze 308 Win Ammunition

  • Regular price per round: $1.00
  • Price per pack: $19.99/20
  • Bullet Type: 147 grain FMJ
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2780fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2522 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Best for Target Shooting at the Range

PriceTerminal PerformanceRangeExpansionPrestige
4.5/52/53/51/51.5/5

You can take PMC Bronze 308 Win ammunition hunting, but really this 147 grain FMJ is for the range. It’s the civilian version of M80 FMJ rifle ammunition and realistically there are more humane ways to harvest animals these days.

Still, this 147gr FMJ PMC 308 Win ammo is affordable, without getting into real cheap and dirty ammo. This PMC is kind to your rifle and is ideal for informal target shooting and just sending hundreds of rounds of FMJ BT PMC downrange when the mood strikes.

Mil-Spec 7.62×51 NATO Boat tail FMJ M80 NATO PMC X-TAC is slightly cheaper and the South Korean army love it. Soooo, yeah… We’re not entirely sure that’s the ringing endorsement you were looking for.

The FMJBT 308 Win ammo is manufactured in South Korea, and PMC X-TAC has gained a reputation for quality, dependable and cheap ammo. So it’s better than that initial backhanded compliment for this 147gr FMJ might suggest.

PMC X-TAC 147 grain M80 ball ammo gives slightly higher velocity and energy than the Bronze 308 Win ammunition. X-Tac Match ammo is also decent.

FMJBT tends not to drop off the same and is great for long range precision shooting with a centerfire rifle. But it isn’t designed for terminal performance when it gets there and isn’t meant for a kill shot. It’s all about the shot placement for target shooting.

Get that here and look out for 500 round bulk handgun ammo cans and other bulk ammo deals on Full Metal Jacket FMJ, and PMC X-TAC ammo.


Winchester Ammunition Deer Season. Cost effective hunting ammo with a copper projectile and plastic tip.

6. Winchester Deer Season XP

  • Price per round: $1.75
  • Price per pack: $35.00/20
  • Bullet Type: Polymer Tipped HP
  • Bullet Weight: 150 grain
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2820fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2648 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Winchester USA Ammunition brought us the first civilian version of 7.62×51 NATO M80 ball, and it has never stopped working to improve upon that old school design.

This deer hunting ammo is a brass jacketed copper 150 grain hollow point with a plastic tip that ensures straight and true flight. On impact the Winchester Deer Season drives backwards into the round to create oversized expansion and massive energy transfer at the point of entry.

That creates organized chaos, and also a massive wound channel with the best weight retention for your rifle ammunition. Winchester Deer Season is some of the best ammo for deer hunting, at this price point anyway.

Polymer R&D has changed the ammo industry and the best hunting ammunition in particular has felt the benefits. So if you haven’t looked at this new bulk rifle ammo, then get some from WInchester USA and see what you’re missing out on.

Winchester Deer Season comes in a number of calibers and this one is aimed at American whitetail and black tail. But this rifle cartridge is tough enough to take down American game up to Elk. hunting and Black Bear. So all big game hunting really.

That’s almost as big as game gets and that has to make this some of the best ammo for deer hunting and the best hunting ammo generally.


Sig Sauer Elite Hunter ammo, get cut price deals on blemished ammo straight from the manufacturer.

7. Sig Sauer Elite Hunter

  • Price per round: $1.49
  • Price per pack: $29.99/20
  • Bullet Type: Hollow Point BT
  • Weight: 165 grain
  • Velocity: 2840fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2956 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

You can buy blemished ammo direct from Sig Sauer and make some serious savings.

The company makes ball ammo, too, but we like the open tipped hunter bullets, especially at this price. Sig produces quality target shooting ammo as well.



Federal Power Shok 308 winchester. A great all round ammunition.

8. Federal Power Shok

  • Price per round: $1.93
  • Price per pack: $38.52/20
  • Bullet Type: Hollow Point Boat Tail
  • Weight: 150 grain
  • Velocity: 2820fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2648 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Federal Power Shok is a great all round hunter for medium sized game hunting, hog hunting and white tail deer ammo.

There is newer, more expensive rounds of 308, but the 150 grain open tip Power Shok rifle ammunition works like gangbusters and is relatively cheap ammo for sale.

So if you’re not going black bear, mule deer or elk hunting, these hollow point boat tail rounds will probably do you just fine in your centerfire rifle.


Prvi Partizan SP hunting ammunition. A basic Full Metal Jacket without the tip. Basic lead core hunting ammo that has worked for 70 years.

9. Prvi Partizan SP

  • Price per round: $1.20
  • Price per pack: $240/200
  • Bullet Type: 150 grain Soft Point
  • Velocity: 2805fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2620 lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Prvi Partizan is working its way in to the US scene nicely and we like this 150 grain soft point 308 Winchester cartridge a lot.

This Serbian manufacturer started out with bulk deals on budget ammo, and that is still its calling card. But Prvi Partizan is starting to impress with its match ammo for target shooting and its best hunting ammo.

Now this Prvi Partizan 150 grain soft point 308 Winchester cartridge is really the middle ground. This is a budget hunting round that is fine for varmint and critter hunting, or general shooting with rifle ammunition.

Depending on your ethical stance it’s OK to hunt medium game with this Prvi Partizan ammo, too, although we prefer to use hollowpoints for a faster, more humane exit from this world. Essentially it’s an open top 150 grain FMJ with a lead core that expands considerably, but haphazardly, on impact.

This is legit 308 Win Mag hunting ammo, but technology has moved on and we kind of think we owe the animal hollowpoint rifle ammunition. Prvi Partizan can supply those, too, but this is great for recreational shooting.


American Eagle 308 Win ammo.

10. Federal American Eagle 308 Winchester

  • Price per round: $1.25
  • Price per pack: $24.99/20
  • Type: 150 grain FMJ
  • Velocity: 2820fps
  • Primer Type: Boxer

Federal American Eagle is one of those great bulk ammo deals for 150 grain FMJ bullets that are great for plinking and won’t spring any major surprises.

A bucket of this, or the 150 grain FMJ 7.62×51 NATO ammo, should keep you going for a while. It’s pretty easy to find big boxes of this entry level Federal 308 too.

How 308 Winchester Ammunition was born

Back in the 1940s the US military started to experiment with the .300 Savage cartridge. Frankford Arsenal created the T65 line of experimental cartridges that started out as 30-06 Springfield and provided similar ballistic performance.

Two years before NATO adopted the 7.62×51 NATO rifle ammunition round, Winchester spotted the opportunity and branded the T65 cartridge in 1952. It also produced Model 70, Model 88 and Model 100 rifles chambered for the new round.

It started with 150 grain FMJ, but Winchester and others have taken 308 to new heights in terms of energy, velocity and weight retention for lead core rifle ammunition.

The top hunting bullets you see today are a world away from that classic M80 mil spec ammo that is 70 years old and still going strong.


11. Sellier & Bellot Subsonic FMJ

  • Price per round: $1.25
  • Price per pack: $24.99/20
  • Type: 200 grain FMJ
  • Muzzle velocity: 1030fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 471lb/ft
  • Primer Type: Boxer

This 200 grain FMJ subsonic ammunition offers intriguing potential for running with a suppressor, where your 308 centerfire rifle will suddenly sound almost like a BB gun. Well, not, but it will be quieter.

It also gives you the chances to use this heavier grain Full Metal Jacket FMJ Sellier & Bellot as home defense ammo, thanks to the much reduced velocity and power. Now it’s still a niche choice, but this 200 grain FMJ ammo is finding a following.

Now this firm produces budget ammunition that you bulk buy, but there is some intriguing specialist ammo and custom competition 308 Winchester ammunition too.

Honorable Mentions

This list could easily have gone to 25 bullets, but you might have got bored. Hell we might have got bored. So things like the Remingon Core Lokt polymer tipped 308 Winchester Ammunition probably belong here, along with Federal Non Typical and Hornady American White Tail rifle ammunition

Where to Bulk Buy Ammo Online

If you’re buying 147 grain FMJ 308 Win ammo, handgun ammo, 223 ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 10mm ammo, 45 Long Colt Ammo, rifle ammo, rimfire ammo & shotgun ammo, you often end up back at the same places.

So what are our inside tips for cheap ammunition deals and buying in bulk, especially high grain FMJ 308 Win ammo, 223 ammo and 12 gauge ammo?

Always look out for free shipping with rifle ammunition when you buy in bulk cheap 150 grain FMJBT. It’s more important than you think to get free shipping on bulk 308 win ammo purchases, because it’s heavy stuff when you’re looking at 500-1000 rounds of 178 grain FMJBT.

Best Places to Bulk Buy Ammo

Best Places to Bulk Buy Ammo

OK so we have shown you some of our favorite budget 308, and cheap 308 Winchester ammunition and the 7.62x51mm NATO rifle ammo the military still loves.

And the good stuff.

But what are the best places to buy bulk 308?

Here are our top picks.

1. Lucky Gunner

Lucky Gunner has a website straight from the 90s, but some of the best bulk 308 deals, and other calibers you’re likely to find.

If you burn through a lot of ammo then you should definitely check the ammo deals on Lucky Gunner. You’ll get big discounts on handgun ammo, 308 Winchester ammo, 339 Lapua Magnum ammo, hard to find ammunition and Lucky Gunner quite often throw in free shipping.

So if you’re deer hunting and need hunting bullets, you want custom competition 308 Winchester ammunition, or you want ammo for target practice, try Lucky Gunner for your rifle ammunition.

Check out their rifle ammunition, rimfire ammo, 45 ACP ammo, 44 Magnum ammo, gun cases, 12 gauge ammo and more.


2. Sportsman’s Guide

One of the biggest mainstream outdoors stores has really raised its game with ammunition of late. So if you want 7.52x51mm NATO ammo, bulk 308 ammo, custom competition 308 Winchester ammo, 357 Magnum ammo, 12 gauge ammo, 10mm ammo, S&W ammo, ammo cans, gun cases, 45 ACP ammunition etc.


3. Palmetto State Armory

Palmetto State Armory has a goldmine of guns, gun parts & accessories, 308 Winchester ammunition, other hunting bullets and more. Check the daily deals.

Organize the price low to high and you can uncover some real bargains with bulk 308 ammo for deer hunters, or something else.

Bullet Weights and Twist Rate

Most modern rifles will stabilize most modern bullets, but there’s no doubt that knowing how bullet weights and the twist rate of your barrel interact will help you make wiser choices when you buy ammo in bulk.

Heavier bullets ideally like a tighter twist rate. So know your rifle when you’re looking at rifle ammunition bullet weights and you will find they behave better at the extremes during target practice.


Author

  • Nick Hall

    Nick is a lifelong gun enthusiast who has a simple mission. He wants to find the best deals for guns online and help you make the best choices with weapons your life may depend on one day.Nick won a minor league shooting competition at the age of 11 and it all went from there. Now he runs one of the biggest firearms websites on the net and his work has featured in Playboy US, Tatler Asia, Forbes and a whole host of national magazines and websites.

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