Recommended 308 180grain rounds

[Eyesofthewoods]

Looking to sight in my 308 I recently purchased.  Do you guys have any recommendations for 180gr rounds?  I was looking at federal power shock( dad shoots this out of his 308 BLR and it works well on bear and deer) and Norma bond strike good bullet but on the expensive side. 
 

looking for relatively affordable and easy to get rounds.  Don’t really need anything too special.  Application will be for deer and black bear hunting in PA.  Most shots will be within 100 yds. 
 

Just looking for some input so I can make a decision on which direction I want To go.  Thanks!

[Stealthy_Bowman]

You don’t need a 180gr bullet. Go with a 150gr and you’ll be fine for anything. I shoot 150gr. Nosler Accubond trophy grade bullets from my .308 and have dropped multiple  mule deer and elk out west with them.

Edited June 29 by Stealthy_Bowman

[mazzgolf]

With my new .308 I also bought some 180gr as well as 165gr. Then I did some research and even emailed the Barnes people to ask what they thought.

I ended up going with the all-copper Barnes TTSX, I am shooting 150 and 165.

Here's what the Barnes folks said, in case it helps:

Quote

The 150 TTSX is not too light for elk/moose and the 168 TTSX (the 165 is not loaded in our 308 Win Vor-Tx ammo)  is not too heavy for WT deer.  300 yards is not too far for either as well.  The 150, with it’s higher muzzle velocity, will hit with a bit more impact velocity and create more hydrostatic shock; think ballistic gel pictures/videos.  The 168 will have a bit more penetration though the 150 should suffice since our all copper bullet’s don’t loose weight as they expand the way a lead core bullet does and they provide quite a bit of penetration.  Try both to see which is more accurate in your rifle then pick the one YOU feel most confident with.

Plus, the all-copper means you aren't spewing lead fragments in the game meat.

[nmc02]

If you are hunting pa and shots are typically inside 100 yards, no need to go expensive.....Remington Core Lokt.

[Eyesofthewoods]

Just now, nmc02 said:

If you are hunting pa and shots are typically inside 100 yards, no need to go expensive.....Remington Core Lokt.

That was another consideration.  You know the areas I’m hunting a lot of thick areas mostly laurels.  Thanks! 

[65 Chevelle]

I am a big fan of federal fusion...

[Rjtfd]

Can’t go wrong with core lokt for deer or bear. Shot hundred of deer in NY with those. 

[archer36]

You didn't mention what you are hunting and why you decided on 180 gr. so I'll just relate my experience. I used a .308 with 180 gr. Nosler Partitions on my plains game hunt in South Africa. I took 6 animals, varying in size from 100-500lbs. All 1 shot kills and no tough tracking. 

The Nosler Partitions were recommended by my Newfoundland Moose Hunt Outfitter a few years prior to South Africa, and I was using a .270 at that time. I know there are more modern bullets that perform very well. A read a lot about the 165 gr bullet being a little more accurate. 

There is no doubt that many different types of bullets will serve you, especially if you are hunting Northeastern Whitetail Deer. As mentioned in previous posts, plain vanilla Rem Core Lokt will do. Don't get hung up on any one bullet. There is NO magic bullet. 

Edited June 29 by archer36

[Trophy8]

Have used 165gr federal fusion in the 30-06,  very accurate, well built bonded bullet. 

Tried it in my 6.5 in Texas on a 200lb axis deer. 100yds was one and done..drt.

Great bullet without breaking the bank.

[Silkcitymedic]

Hornady american whitetail. Accurate and well constructed projectile with an ingerlock ring that will stay together even on close shots. Also wont break the bank. Can find them online much cheaper.

[vdep217]

165 grain in 308 will cover all game in north America.   What needs to be a factor is a bullet designed for the velocities at the distances you intend to hunt.  As stated core lock is probably your best choice for the range of velocities it performs at

[username]

I have used 180gr Hornady Superformance with great accuracy out to 400ya on deer using a 6x scope.

I would search for a Sierra Game King bullet in factory ammo, if you do not reload. 

I would go with a 165gr bullet for precision.  I think HSM and Federal use the SGk bullets.  

You'd be hard pressed to find any modern ammo that wouldn't get the job done at 100ya.

 

[BHC]

when we had our land in Roscoe NY all of us used either the .308 or .30-06 both 180 gr core lokt

[KaTooM]

Inside 200 yards there is probably no ammo that won’t suit your needs. Beyond 200, a lighter faster bullet might help shave off a few inches of drop, and the 308 does drop on 300 yard shots down a pipeline or ROW.  Sight in around 1 inch high at 100 and you should be pretty good for most of your PA shot opportunities. Sight in 3” high at 100 if you want to shoot way out there, and you will still need to compensate a few more inches beyond 300. Find a basic Rem, Federal, Winchester or Hornady loading, see if it works well, then buy 10 or 20 boxes and you are good for years. Don’t overthink it, 308 ammo is amongst the most affordable there is these days and big game hunting bullet performance on deer and black bear is all basically gonna be fine at your ranges in 308.

Edited June 29 by KaTooM

[Silkcitymedic]

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/84280/hornady+american+whitetail+308+win+150gr+interlock+sp+20rd+box

Affordable, really accurate and consistent, can find in most places. Lower grain but higher velocity. They doe offer these in 165 grain as well for like 1 dollar more.

Corelokts are good ammo and i have used them in the passed and liked the consistency.

You can sepnd 2-3 times more money for .308 rounds however within your range and application there will be minimal improvement for the price.

Good shot placement is mjch more effective than anything more.

 

Edited June 30 by Silkcitymedic
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