Tikka 308

Gidday team

So just about to make the purchase of my first firearm after a bunch of advice from mates, colleagues and people on here as well as many trips into my local to feel the different firearms. Managed to get a really good deal on a 308 Tikka Elite/DPT/VX Freedom 3x9x40. Going to mainly be used for stalking the Kaimanawas/Kawekas and the occasional red trips.

Just after some advice on what grain/brand people are using in terms of ammunition. Being 308 I know there is a shit load to choose from hence the question to help narrow it down for me. Particularly keen to hear from those who hunt the area and whether you've gone for a smaller grain given the size of Sika or if you just stick with one size fits all.

I'm not a bad shot by any means, have been around firearms most of my life in both a professional sense and recreational.

Cheers team!
Scottie

Are you reloading or factory ammo? Can’t go wrong with a standard old 150gr as an all rounder. You could go for a lighter 125/130gr as sika are an option. Just be careful is the projectile a varmint one or a standard one. I’ve used 125gr nosler accubonds in my .308. My daughters mainly use it so a lighter projectile to keep recoil down.
My friend uses 168/178 gr projectiles in his .308 but he does a lot of open tops long range hunting.

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Originally Posted by stug

Are you reloading or factory ammo? Can’t go wrong with a standard old 150gr as an all rounder. You could go for a lighter 125/130gr as sika are an option. Just be careful is the projectile a varmint one or a standard one. I’ve used 125gr nosler accubonds in my .308. My daughters mainly use it so a lighter projectile to keep recoil down.
My friend uses 168/178 gr projectiles in his .308 but he does a lot of open tops long range hunting.

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Sorry should have mentioned. Factory, I don't think my wife will appreciate me going down the reloading rabbit hole!

Hornady superformance ammo has a good rep. Otherwise the old Federal blue box has a good rep. Belmont ammo sells .308 ammo that is a good price. Sorry I haven't bought factory ammo is about 20yrs,

150gr is a good all round weight

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Originally Posted by stug

Otherwise the old Federal blue box has a good rep. Belmont ammo sells .308 ammo that is a good price.

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This one. 150gr nothing fancy. Job done.

Get your hands on an assortment of different ammo and go for the one that groups best.

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Originally Posted by Steve123

Get your hands on an assortment of different ammo and go for the one that groups best.

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In theory yes, but unnecessary in my view just starting out, and pretty expensive exercise at $60 a box. Perhaps better spent on diesel?

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Originally Posted by Steve123

Get your hands on an assortment of different ammo and go for the one that groups best.

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That's the plan mate, but I don't fancy buying 5 different brands at $60+ a box. Hence why I've asked the question on what people are using. Hopefully narrow it down to 2-3 and shoot from there.

It'll keep the boss happier the less I spend right now. And I figured what better place to ask than here.

Appreciate the advice though...... :thumbsup:

Hi Scottie,

I have used Federal blue box 150grn and Hornady Whitetail 150grn - same price normally. Both shoot effectively identical over two different rifles. Always as accurate as the shooter/rifle.

Buy two boxes of Winchester 150grn power point . Sight it in at 50 mtrs and use all the rest of you ammo shooting sika in the bush. Once you have used all your ammo then play around with different loads etc. Over thinking things is expensive. Trust me.

Greetings @Scottie,
This is an interesting thread. To summarise advice cartridge with 150 grain projectile, doesn't matter what brand. Sight in and go shoot deer. Clearly we are talking about a .308 Win. Nothing I can add to that. Advice on handloading when required will be brief as well. If only the rest of life was that simple.
Regards Grandpamac.

+1 on fed blue box 150gr, great bush hunting round and has grouped very well in every Tikka or Sako 308 I have tried it in.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

+1 on fed blue box 150gr, great bush hunting round and has grouped very well in every Tikka or Sako 308 I have tried it in.

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What I used to use for everything,usually easily available.

Federal blue box
Winchester Power Point
Hornady Whitetail

all 150gr.
The Federal has been great for me and the small soft point is not as easily damaged if it's in and out of the magazine a few times.

some folks like the same cartridges but with 180gr. soft point as a bush hunting round.

Federal Fusion. Reasonably priced, seems to be accurate in most rifles, and performs well on game.

If you’re really chasing accuracy try Hornady precision hunter, however this is not a flat shooting load and probably requires dialling at longer ranges

When I purchased my T3 in 308 about 10 years ago now, I went through the same process as most of the others, shooting various factory loads and at the time Federal blue box was the best I tried and very well priced (Recently found an old empty box with a sale sticker still on for $38!) Over the the last 2 years I switched to Sako ammunition and I have to say these are by far the best grouping factory rounds I have ever shot in this rifle, initially 123gr for bush stalking ranges and then the 165gr as I started dipping my toes into long range shooting as well. Since gone down the reloading rabbit hole but if I need to shoot factory rounds in the t3 for whatever reason these are my go to.

Thanks all. Seem to be a similar theme here. Will give them a blast and go from there.

Legends!

All the standard ammo with the setup your running are going to shoot sub MOA of deer at the range you’ll comfortably shoot. Stick to $50-$60 factory ammo as per the recommendations above. Ideally one that you see plenty of stock in and go from there. Until your start running a range finder, dial or BC Reticle it’s not really reasonable to expect to hunt past 300m consistently. I’d get hold of some belmont 150gr SP, cheap readily available in today’s market (shoots very well in tikkas I’ve tested). Personally, the deer I’ve shot have all been reds and fallow under 250m, Nothing has stood up to the Belmont 130gr hollow points which are pleasure to shoot. Tested in about 10 different 308s including another 16” tikka last week, all shoot sub MOA.. stick to 150s if you pushing the range,, just keep those 130s in mind for those close encounters, sika and fallow especially. All the best!

@Pav is right about the Sako ammo. The 123 may be slow but it's accurate and knocks deer over. I recently fired two shots into a target at 100 yards to test my T3s zero, both went through the same hole.
I’ve shot a few deer with them and had good results.
I can’t use them at distance as I have a CDS set up for the 130g TTSX but for up close and shooing goats they’re great.

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Originally Posted by craigc

@Pav is right about the Sako ammo. The 123 may be slow but it's accurate and knocks deer over. I recently fired two shots into a target at 100 yards to test my T3s zero, both went through the same hole.
I’ve shot a few deer with them and had good results.
I can’t use them at distance as I have a CDS set up for the 130g TTSX but for up close and shooing goats they’re great.

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Are the 123s slow!? Thought they would be humming

Seeing as you've got a Tikka I'd go with some Sako ammo, it's guaranteed 1 MOA so hard to go wrong. At normal hunting ranges the difference between 123gr vs 150gr soft points is going to be pretty well irrelevant, put it in the right spot and they'll both kill deer.

Having a 16inch one of these in my collection I can say they aren't exactly fussy. I shoot anything from 130gr to 178s in mine. All under an inch. One of the best shooters was the Belmont 130hp mentioned above. I wouldn't get too hung up on loads etc. In the bush distances even slightly further out a bullet from most rifles in anywhere near the right spot tips them over. For the price of Belmont or PPU for example I'd be going with that, probably get 60 rounds for the cost of 20 sako. The deer on the end of it won't know you didn't pay the price.

Hornady white tail 165 gr drop anything,very accurate and cheap enough.Hornady superformance very accurate,but about $25 darer than whitetail doing the same job.

Always found rem corelokt put big stags down well my mate used itnfornyesrs cant comment on accuracy though as his rifle barrel was like bore scoping a shotgun barrel

Belmont ammo made in NZ is a great option.