Recommendation - general hunting .308 bullet, what's readily available?

So, I have had a good ganders about and it would seem that the most available/reliable/cost effective factory .308 ammo at the present time would be the Sako Gamehead 150gr...

No particular things against the Sako ammo, cost effective and gets a good report but my concern is simply that I now have 3 part boxes of different factory ammo loads that are no longer being imported or have been superseded by the maker and can't be obtained now. I'd hate to start on the Sako and find there's a supply glitch there too. I was keeping a factory load as a backup option in case I ran out of primers etc and pretty much duplicating it with my reloads in case I couldn't get components, but I'm now thinking I might as well just hold enough components to cover my expected use.

So, what's out there as a good pill for .308win loads - good ballistics and useful for general hunting goats, pigs, deer (medium sized animal class) from close to 300m (open country shooting through to bush, North Island). I'm looking about at the moment and have a few on the list to see if they are in stock locally, not too bothered if they contain the dreaded lead just want something that is good from close to 300 and basically looking to tap the hive mind so I don't overlook options that might be the perfect solution.

Barrel twist I'm planning on using them on is 1-10"...

Cheers.

I've had great success with the 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.

Cannot go wrong with a 150gr SST, knocks anything down that I point my 308 at within 350 yrds. I do load a 150gr hornady SP with the same point of impact for any short range shots or shooting goats.

I keep a few boxes of both on the shelf to cover my reloading needs, putting no stock on supply lines for regular factory or component supply.

Bog standard cup n core 150grn Hornady. Job done.if you want more punch up close grab the round nose 180 version.

Speer 150gr SP
Nothing fancy they just work:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Frogfeatures

Speer 150gr SP
Nothing fancy they just work:thumbsup:

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Yep Speer btsp 2022 I think , $70 for 100 last time I brought some.

4 different pills so far and they all work. Don't you just love the .308.
GPM.

I was sick and tired of getting shitty results with ammo that I thought should work so went and bought a bunch of boxes of ammo for more than I'd've chosen to spend and found out that my cheap and cheerful 'go to the range and sling some lead' was terrible (hence part of my frustration), my next up was still terrible but that Sako 150g Gameheads were the top of the pile, pretty much followed by two other Sako rounds followed by the rest.

Which is not helpful to you, I know.

My next step was to deconstruct them and recreate, but life happened.

This is what I can find from my notes:

Bergara Hunter Extreme .308, 18", 1:12, 100m, 5 shots

No guarantees will be offered as regards marksmanship.

Fiocchi Perfecta 147g FMJ: 109mm
Belmont 150g SP: 102mm
Winchester SuperX 180g: 75mm
Federal 180g Power Shock: 58mm
Hornady American WT 150g: 51mm
Sako 180 Gamehead: 45mm
Fiocchi Exacta 168g SMK HPBT: 43mm
Sako 165g Tipped Game King: 40mm
Sako Gamehead 150g: 34mm

Prior to doing this I was leaning towards that 1:12 barrels need heavier (proxy for longer) projectiles, but that idea has been dashed, unless Sako Gameheads are a particularly long projectile.

None sub-MOA you might note.

Don't forget the deadliest mushroom in the woods.
They work.

I reload some 308 for my girlfriends rifle, it loves the 165SST. Knocks everything over, bang, flop.

I used to use speer hot cores in mine

150gr Hornady Interloc

Hornady SSTs the last 20yrs.The 150gr or 165gr will shot moa or less 90% of the time,depending on the shooters ability.Deer don't like the ammo either.

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Originally Posted by No.3

So, I have had a good ganders about and it would seem that the most available/reliable/cost effective factory .308 ammo at the present time would be the Sako Gamehead 150gr...

No particular things against the Sako ammo, cost effective and gets a good report but my concern is simply that I now have 3 part boxes of different factory ammo loads that are no longer being imported or have been superseded by the maker and can't be obtained now. I'd hate to start on the Sako and find there's a supply glitch there too. I was keeping a factory load as a backup option in case I ran out of primers etc and pretty much duplicating it with my reloads in case I couldn't get components, but I'm now thinking I might as well just hold enough components to cover my expected use.

So, what's out there as a good pill for .308win loads - good ballistics and useful for general hunting goats, pigs, deer (medium sized animal class) from close to 300m (open country shooting through to bush, North Island). I'm looking about at the moment and have a few on the list to see if they are in stock locally, not too bothered if they contain the dreaded lead just want something that is good from close to 300 and basically looking to tap the hive mind so I don't overlook options that might be the perfect solution.

Barrel twist I'm planning on using them on is 1-10"...

Cheers.

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The sako gamehead sure is accurate but lethargic as fuck, but gor the ranges your shooting would work fine.
There's still plenty in stock in bulk packs about if you want to use and can afford to buy a couple of bulk packs you'd be sorted for a long time without worrying about supply.

I'm with @BRADS. I use a 16" suppressed Ruger. The Sako Gamehead 150 is my go to. Accurate and very effective. Where I hunt my max range is 300. Was looking for Gameheads the other day, found a bulk pack at Hamills. Pleasant surprise too. As a member of the NZDA I received a 10% discount, didn't ask, because I didn't know, the discount was just offered. Not a range rifle, so that's me sorted for quite some time.

Mauser M18 1-10twist loves 165NBT with 44.5g of 2208

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

150gr Hornady Interloc

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Hornady Interlocks are my favourite bullet in most calibers. They just work. And are usually always available.

Went into the local Hamills today, slim pickings. Lots 175gr+, but only Nosler BT 150gr and Hornady 165gr SST in lighter. Grabbed the SST's, I would have stuck with the 165gr Interlock that I was using but apparently there is a large-ish amount of the 165gr SST's in stock around the country so shouldn't be much of an issue sourcing them...

They will go well too.

I had a good run with the Fiocchi 150gr SST rounds from guncity.

$80 a box or 100rnds for $369

I had a good run with the fiocchi match 168 gr SMk. They don’t kill as fast as a 150 gr sst but they still put down stuff and they shoot very well in the few 308 I have , where the sst are not that accurate in my guns.

I use federal blue box 308 ammo 150 grain.
Pretty accurate and about 70 to 80 bucks a box.
Suits my 308 weatherby Vanguard and knocks em dead.

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Hornady Interlocks are my favourite bullet in most calibers. They just work. And are usually always available.

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This is good to hear. I've got some 140g Interloks to load in my 270.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Bog standard cup n core 150grn Hornady. Job done.if you want more punch up close grab the round nose 180 version.

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Completely agree. The last two shooting competitions I have won out to 300 have been with this projectile

I've always stuck with commonly available components. And there is plenty to choose from in popular calibers such as 308.

Hotcore, interlock. Hold together a tad better than basic cup and core well priced always available.

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Originally Posted by Oldbloke

I've always stuck with commonly available components. And there is plenty to choose from in popular calibers such as 308.

Hotcore, interlock. Hold together a tad better than basic cup and core well priced always available.

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Yep, always used the 165gr Interlock boat tail - would have stuck with that but was struggling to find any locally (although to be fair with my current allergy to the CBD I didn't try Bronco's).

Was running 165gr as that projectile has a wider recommended target weight range than the 150's, and I have never had a failure of them. Can be a little fussy in some rifles for accuracy I've found so it's not been the magic go well in everything bullet for me but if I'm running 40mm groups or less I'm happy. Going over to the 165gr SST should be interesting, slightly better ballistics but with the same rating. Should go well.

Any 150 grain .30 bullet will do - they were all made to perform in the .308. Personally I use Hornady interlocks myself. But I wouldnt hesitate to use Speers Hot Cors, Sierras, Nosler Bt's if I couldnt find them.

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Originally Posted by davetapson

This is what I can find from my notes:

Bergara Hunter Extreme .308, 18", 1:12, 100m, 5 shots

No guarantees will be offered as regards marksmanship.

Fiocchi Perfecta 147g FMJ: 109mm
Belmont 150g SP: 102mm
Winchester SuperX 180g: 75mm
Federal 180g Power Shock: 58mm
Hornady American WT 150g: 51mm
Sako 180 Gamehead: 45mm
Fiocchi Exacta 168g SMK HPBT: 43mm
Sako 165g Tipped Game King: 40mm
Sako Gamehead 150g: 34mm

Prior to doing this I was leaning towards that 1:12 barrels need heavier (proxy for longer) projectiles, but that idea has been dashed, unless Sako Gameheads are a particularly long projectile.

None sub-MOA you might note.

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My Berg Ext hunter 1:10 twist groups sub moa with Rem Cor lokt. One of the other blokes on here with a berg XT hunter is doing well with Norma tip strike 170 and bond strike.