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Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

earthquake

earthquake

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Minuteman
    • Jul 30, 2009
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    #1
    If you couldn't reload, what ammo would you shoot?

    .308 in a Remington bolt gun. Mostly from 100 - 700yd only. For fun, to improve/keep-up skills, and the occasional competition.

    I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I'll never have the time or resources to reload.

    Thanks!
     
    #2
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    Well reloading will make better ammo then you can buy. If you can't I'd say go with 168/175 gr FGMM or shoot some 168/178 gr Hornandy amax/match loads. Which ever shoots best out of your rig.
     
    #4
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: COfox</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you couldn't reload, what ammo would you shoot?</div></div>

    If I couldn't reload, I would buy several different brands/weights of factory ammo and test them all to figure out what is most accurate and reliable from my particular rifle. For .308Win, the options are seemingly endless in terms of high quality factory produced ammo.

    While most "match" ammo will perform pretty well across a wide variety of rifles, the one that works BEST for your rifle will vary. I would try:

    Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr and 175gr

    Black Hills 168gr and 175gr

    Corbon 155gr, 168gr and 175gr

    Hornady TAP 155gr, 168gr and 178gr

    Southwest Ammunition (a new site sponsor) is also offering some incredible prices on 308Win match ammo, all of which are worthy of your consideration
     
    #6
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The_Hoff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fiocchi exatca 77grain SMK BTHP .223rem </div></div>

    Don't think that will work with a 308... lol
     
    #8
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    It depends on how deep your pockets are.

    FGMM is the standard by which others are judged.

    Black Hills, Buffalo Bore, Remington, HSM, Fiocchi all make match loads.

    Southwest Ammunition has some VERY reasonably priced match loads with an excellent reputation.

    USA Ammo also loads 168 and 175 grain match bullets that seem to shoot pretty well. Not as good as FGMM out of my rifle but for 13.50 a box it is hard to find fault.

    Save your brass and sell it to recoup some of the costs.
     
    #9
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    100-700 yards for my AE MkII I would go with Hornady "Custom" 168gr Amax. It's just "stupid" accurate in my rifle. Yes, 175gr SMK's have a better BC, but at 700 yards it doesn't matter much.

    Second best would be Federal Gold Metal Match or Black Hills 175gr Match. Both perform extremely well.

    If I was just laying in a ton of ammo for "any" rifle at those ranges it would be 168gr Federal Gold Metal Match. It just amazing how well it does in just about anything.

    All of the above is pretty expensive when compared to handloads wich are just as accurate and sometimes more so.
     
    #11
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    Great information as always gents...thanks a bunch. I just checked out the video that Lowlight did on the Southwest Ammo website and that stuff looks like really good ammo.

    I'll definitely pick up a few boxes of FGMM, Hornady, Black Hills and Southwest to test.

    Where's the best place to buy ammo? Web, or if anyone is local to Denver, let me know about good local shops.

    Thanks again!
     
    #12
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    Southwest and American Ballistics 175s would be my choice, in that order--both run lower SD than Black Hills in my rifles and are less expensive than Federal. I've gotten mixed results out of the Hornady--two of my bolt rifles shoot really well with them, but the autoloaders don't.



     
    #13
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    What they said; most match ammo is likely to work very well. Buy a variety and see what yours likes.

    These work particularly well in my rifles.
    Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr and 175gr
    Lapua Scenar
    Hornady TAP 168gr and 178gr
    Hornady Amax 168gr
    Hornady Vmax 168gr
     
    #16
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    If your rifle likes it FGMM is comming down in price.I have been seeing it for a little under 20 a box.Thats 1 dollar a round.Palmetto state armory has some on sale and also has the 168 OTM Federal for 14.95 a box.Like was stated earlier save the brass and put it back in the box.Someone is always looking for brass.Keeping the lot numbers togeather will a selling point.
     
    #17
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    Wow! <$20/box?!!? I just went to my local gun store and they wanted ~$42/box for FGMM .308 168gr. I picked up a box of Black Hills 168's for $29.99 which seems high.

    I think I'll order from Southwest and try their ammo next.
     
    #18
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: (pink)MiST</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can I ask why "can't" you reload? </div></div>

    I have none of the equipment, nor the disposable income to buy any of it, nor the time to learn it. Maybe sometime in the future, but it's just not in the cards for me right now.
     
    #21
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    If you are on a budget you might want to try Prvi Partizan match grade ammunition, and if you can find 118LR they usually get pretty good reviews (cheaperthandirt will have them in stock at times). I'm not sure but I think it will depend on your rifle also, you might have to test a couple different brands and see what your rifle prefers the most. Usually you can't go wrong with the Federal Gold Match but it's more that twice the cost of the two brands I mentioned above.
     
    #23
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    You might want to try the new Southwest ammunition. They received great reviews from Sniper's Hide and overall people who used it seem very satisfied. I'm pretty sure there is a deal going on right now for a case of 200 rounds for $200 (you can find it in commercial sales section on this site). That seems like a great deal for ammunition of that quality. Once I get my Savage fclp-k (which unfortunately is on back order for the last 4 months) I'm going to be giving this ammunition a try. Hope this helps.
     
    #24
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: (pink)MiST</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The_Hoff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fiocchi exatca 77grain SMK BTHP .223rem </div></div>

    Don't think that will work with a 308... lol</div></div>

    maybe if you install the barrel reversed LOL.
    laugh.gif
     
    #25
    Re: Ammunition (Non-reloads) Question?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: COfox</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: (pink)MiST</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can I ask why "can't" you reload? </div></div>

    I have none of the equipment, nor the disposable income to buy any of it, nor the time to learn it. Maybe sometime in the future, but it's just not in the cards for me right now.</div></div>

    You can buy a basic single-stage press setup for well under what a 200rd case of match-grade factory ammo might cost, and be on your way to cranking out accurate ammunition within a few hours. My entire bare-bones setup fits into about a cubic-foot cardboard box, and cost less than $200 IIRC. Order some decent components, pick a basic load, and go from there. First load I shot came out to .45 MOA, and they cost under $.50/round.
     
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