.308 Deer Ammo

[maxtheflyinghorse]

Always used .308 federal powershok 150 grain and never had an issue dropped deer on the spot

 

[Spartan5]

I shoot Remington Core Lok 180’s all day for deer. We have taken 9 in the last 3 years with a total of 10 bullets shot. For $20 a box they are tough to beat.

 

[Ravensview]

I hunted for many years with a browning blr in .308, used remington 150 gr with great success, most of my hunting is in deep woods and ceder swamp areas, longest shot was around 100yds but most were 30 yds or less. But all of those years were for meat, they kept my family fed, dont remeber having to track one for longer than 50 yds.

 

[Hsk]

Congrats on the rifle opener next year suppressed .308 is gonna be sweet and quiet in those MN woods.

Real world from guys running suppressed .308 on whitetails 50-200 yds like yours


Winchester Deer Season XP 150gr the one you mentioned solid pick, big polymer tip expands fast for massive wound channels and quick drops. Tons of clean one-shot kills, accurate, affordable. My buddy's go-to in his suppressed scout rifle deer just pile up.

Federal Fusion 150-165gr or new Tipped Fusion underrated hammer, bonded for deep pen, super consistent expansion. Quieter with can, groups tight, drops deer DRT without meat wreck.

Hornady American Whitetail 150-165gr InterLock or SST classic, explosive on lungs heart, cheap and deadly inside 200.

All supersonic 2800 fps for flat trajectory and energy suppressed .308 subs work short range but drop off quick and need perfect placement stick supersonic unless you're 75 yds.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Federal Fusion 150-165gr or new Tipped Fusion underrated hammer, bonded for deep pen, super consistent expansion. Quieter with can, groups tight, drops deer DRT without meat wreck.

+1 for the Federal Fusion and ++1 for the Fusion Tipped for long range hunting. Both are super accurate and deadly. I am getting SD's of 2.1-3.2 with my Chrono for most Fusions loads for 308, 270, 7mm/08 and 7mm Mag. It is simply a hammer. Barnes also is super consistent, possibly even better than Fusion. It is tough to reload better than this.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I have shot hundreds of deer with a .308 over the last 40 years, my go to ammunition remains 150 grain Remington Core Lokts. They are great value for the money . On reloads Nosler Ballistic Tip 150 grain worked very well.

 

[pilar]

Same ammo for everything 150gr Norma oryx ( to bad Norma quit loading them & went to “ the whitetail in PSP in 150 “ )

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

Federal Powershok (Blue box) 308 Winchester 150 grain PSP (sp) was used by several guys on our northern Kentucky wooded leases for 10+ years, where 100 yards was a long shot. This load, very accurate and reasonably priced, was not an emphatic killer. Most of these shots were behind the shoulder. I would have liked to see what the results would have been if into the shoulder.

I always used them with great results. Never had a runner

 

[MD Driver]

Looks like you guys know what you’re doing with those bullets. Good work.

Anybody want some boxes of Federal/Berger 165? “Hybrid Hunter” of course. What a joke.

 

[coreydb]

Go for reliable and cheap. I used Norma, Nosler, Winchester, Federal, and Remington with my .308. All killed exceptionally, but Winchester and Remington were the most money-saving.

 

[farmer_john]

I shoot the Terminal Ascents out of 1 or my 308's and Federal loaded TSX's or Barnes loaded TTSX's out of my other .308. I've shot Scirocco II's, AccuBonds and 165gr Trophy Bonded Tips out of some other 308's I've owned in the past.

I might be one of the few on here who believes in ALWAYS shooting the most accurate Premium bullet my rifle likes. At the end of the day, if I add up the amount of money I spend on a gun, optic, ammo, camo clothing, stands/blinds, lease, fuel, license, tag, etc it's absurd to me why someone would try to save $20-40 per box on ammo instead of shooting the most premium and best performing bullets they can. At the end of the day your bullets performance is the only thing you've spent money on that decides if you're going home with or without that animal once you pull the trigger.

Im of the same mindset.
I have a training load and hunting load. For hunting im shooting 180 grain swift sirroccos. And for practice 185grn lapua scenars.

To the OP.
Any decent ammo will work for white tail deer.
If you reload id look at the 160 swift sirrocco I really like them. But regardless what you choose make sure you budget enough to practice with it. And when i buy ammo make sure its all the same lot number.

 

[MD Driver]

I think Cabela’s might be clearing out their Federal Premium .308 cartridges in Swift Scirocco II bullets. After Christmas, marked down like $12 or something…$47.98 from $59.99. Knowing Cabelas, that markdown might just put it in line with other sellers, don’t know. Either way, I think they’re liquidating their Fed/Swift stock.

FWIW.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Hi everyone, here in central Minnesota our slug/shotgun deer hunting zone will be opened up to rifles next year (2026). I have a suppressed .308 that I would like to use, does anyone have recommendations or experience with a good deer hunting ammo? I have not used this gun for hunting anything yet. I Googled searched some recommendations such as Winchester Deer Season XP 150 gr but was hoping for some real world recommendations. Most likely shots will be 200 yards max and realistically between 50-100 yards.

Winchester Super X Power Points in 180Gr weight will do just fine.

 

[Gangsterofboats]

I have shot dozens of deer with Federal 180gr Powershok. I don’t think any have taken more than a few steps, most just drop right where they are shot.

 

[coreydb]

Unless Minnesota has a ban on lead, any bullet between 150-180 gr. will work. Lead is Dead as the saying goes.

 

[Andrew62]

I shoot several whitetail each year, and while I have quite the stack of different 308 ammo, when I'm hunting deer, I just use Norma Whitetail, it gets the job done cheaply!

 

[MacJenkins]

Been shooting a 100 grain CEB raptor out of our 308 at 3360 for the last 40-50 deer. Puts them down fast.