Best .308 Ammo By: Brandon

We lay out some of the best 308 ammo options with specific picks to help shooters and hunters with whatever their next adventure is.

The .308 Winchester has seen it all. Despite innovations in propellant chemistry, bullet design, cartridge engineering, and rifle technology, the .308 remains one of the most trusted, capable, and popular rounds in the United States.
Countless rounds have come into the industry with the intention of upending the .308’s reign, yet the cartridge remains. It’s used for nearly every shooting sport, from casual plinking to varmint control to trophy elk hunting. It’s also used for America’s favorite game animal: the whitetail deer.
The round is versatile, but ammo selection is essential. You must select the right product based on your specific needs, goals, and activity. To help in your ammo selection, we have created this list of the best .308 Winchester ammo for all situations.
The Best .308 Winchester Ammo:
Best Overall: Hornady Superformance 165-gr SST Polymer Tip
Best For Deer Hunting: Federal 165-Grain Fusion
Top Pick for Hog Hunting: Prvi Partizan 150-gr SP
Best for Coyote: Black Hills Gold 125-gr CX
Great for Elk Hunting: Remington Core-Lokt 180-gr Pointed Soft Point
Best for Competition: Hornady Superformance 168-gr ELD Match
Good Pick for Defense: Hornady Critical Defense 155-gr FTX
Best for Target Shooting: Winchester 147 Grain FMJ
Best Overall .308 Ammo

Hornady Superformance 165-grain SST Polymer Tip

Bullet weight: 165 grains
Bullet type: Polymer tipped
Muzzle velocity: 2,840 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,955 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Excellent speed and energy ratings, including 1,300+ ft-lbs at 500 yards
• Polymer-tipped bullet is ideal for target and hunting
• High-quality case and primers for consistent performance

Disadvantages:

• Not the cheapest .308 Winchester option
• May be too powerful for varmint and coyote

This is a well-balanced .308 Winchester that can be used for a variety of situations, including deer, hog, and elk. With a jacketed SST polymer tipped bullet, it can also be leveraged for accurate target shooting.

Although the bullet weight allows for larger animals, such as elk, the 165-grain bullet may be too powerful for coyote, especially if hunting within 100 yards. That said, this is about as close to a do-it-all .308 cartridge as you can find!

$38.25

20rds – 308 Hornady Superformance 165gr. SST Polymer Tip Ammo

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Best .308 Winchester for Deer

Federal 165-Grain Fusion

Bullet weight: 150 grains
Bullet type: Soft point boat tail
Muzzle velocity: 2,925 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,849 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Among the fastest .308 ammo options on the market
• Soft point ensures consistent expansion
• InterLock bullets have tapered jackets, inner grooves, and cannelure for advanced terminal performance
• Moderate price

Disadvantages:

• Bullet design has less ballistic coefficient than other options

The .308 Winchester is a trusted deer-hunting cartridge, and numerous options will do the job. However, because of the increased speed, high-quality bullets, and reasonable price, this product from Ammo Inc. is our favorite. Thanks to the InterLock bullet (made by Hornady), this cartridge has all the advanced features needed for dependable penetration, expansion, and terminal performance.

It also comes with a fair price, making it a great choice for high-volume target shooting. Other bullets will have a higher ballistic coefficient, but when you need excellent deer-dropping potential from a reasonable cartridge, this is the best.

$36.95

20rds – 308 Federal Fusion 165gr. SP Ammo

Best .308 Winchester for Hog Hunting

Prvi Partizan 150-grain Soft Point

Bullet weight: 150 grains
Bullet type: Soft point
Muzzle velocity: 2,805 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,618 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Soft point brings wide expansion
• Low price for high-volume hog hunting

Disadvantages:

• May lack downrange potential

Whether you are clearing nuisance hogs or harvesting pigs for the freezer (or both), these cartridges will deliver the advanced performance you need.

Many hog hunts call for dozens of shots to clear out destructive feral pigs; the price of this ammo allows you to shoot for hours without breaking your budget.

Best .308 Winchester for Coyote

Black Hills Gold 125-grain CX

Bullet weight: 125 grains
Bullet type: Tipped all-copper
Muzzle velocity: 3,000 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,498 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• 3,000 fps makes it one of the fastest .308 rounds on the market
• Lighter bullet to protect pelts
• Polymer tip for superior aerodynamics

Disadvantages:

• One of the most expensive ammo options for .308 Winchester users
• Too small for long-distance deer or elk hunting

This round has many characteristics that make it the best .308 Winchester ammo for coyote hunting. It uses a light-weight CX bullet that delivers superior accuracy and trajectories, all without severely damaging a coyote’s pelt. It has a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, making it one of the fastest .308 options available.

If you want a round for placing accurate shots on a varmint or predator, this is the option you need.

$59.95

20rds – 308 Win Black Hills Gold 125gr. CX Ammo

Best .308 Winchester for Elk Hunting

Remington Core-Lokt 180-grain Pointed Soft Point

Bullet weight: 180 grains
Bullet type: Pointed soft point
Muzzle velocity: 2,743 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,620 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Heavy bullet for maximum terminal performance
• Soft nose creates wide expansion
• Core-Lokt bullets are known for weight retention

Disadvantages:

• Too heavy for mid-sized and smaller game animals

Large game require heavy bullets. At 180-grains, this cartridge is among the heaviest options you can find for a .308 Winchester. The bullet is made for superior penetration, expansion, and energy placement, especially at a distance. At 400 yards, this round carries 1,267 ft-lbs of energy, allowing high-demand hunters to place shots at a greater distance.

Best .308 Winchester for Competition

Hornady Superformance 168-grain ELD Match

Bullet weight: 168 grains
Bullet type: Tipped match
Muzzle velocity: 2,840 fps
Muzzle energy: 3,008 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Aerodynamic match ammo with a ballistic tip
• Reduced wind drift and increased range
• Over 2,000 fps at 500 yards

Disadvantages:

• Despite accuracy and consistency, should not be used for hunting

Match competitors expect the very best from their ammunition; they often turn to the Superformance brand from Hornady. This round in particular uses a 168-grain ELD Match bullet that is tailored specifically for competition shooting. It’s accurate to extreme distances, creating tight grouping and higher scores. Because of its outstanding reputation for accuracy, we have made it our choice for the best .308 ammo for competition shooters.

Best .308 Winchester for Defense

Hornady Critical Defense 155-grain FTX

Bullet weight: 155 grain
Bullet type: Jacketed flat-nose with flex tip
Muzzle velocity: 2,785 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,669 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Flat tip helps bullet expand and delivers effective wound channels
• Nickel-plated cases for smooth feeding
• Reduced recoil and muzzle flash

Disadvantages:

• Not ideal for long-range shooting

Most .308 rounds are made for either target shooting or hunting. This is one of the few options made specifically for home defense. While it lacks the long-range accuracy and performance of other rounds, this is a reliable defense load that feeds smoothly and delivers the right terminal performance.

The best .308 ammo for defense is highlighted by the flat tip bullet, which uses an FTX projectile to create quick expansion and limited penetration.

$409.95

200rds – 308 Win Hornady Critical Defense 155gr. FTX Ammo

Best .308 Winchester for High-Volume Target Shooting

Winchester 147-Grain FMJ

Bullet weight: 147 grain
Bullet type: Full Metal Jacket
Muzzle velocity: 2,800 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,559 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Affordable price for brass-cased, high-quality round
• Barrel-friendly FMJ bullet
• Excellent speed and energy

Disadvantages:

• Basic FMJ bullet not designed to expand upon contact with a soft target

This round will protect your barrel while delivering reliable speed and energy to the target. Although the non-expanding bullets should not be used for hunting, this cartridge is the best choice for a full day at the range.

The price is excellent, but this round also has advanced velocities; with a 2,800 muzzle fps, it’s right in-line with mil-spec 7.62×51 rounds you can find. The full metal jacket ensures less fouling, so these rounds are easy on your barrel and your wallet.