Best 308 Ammo for Deer Hunting
The .308 Winchester was created for war.
Well, to be technical, the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge was created for war; Winchester created the .308 as a nearly identical civilian version.
So while it has military roots, the .308 has become one of the most popular deer-hunting cartridges in the United States. The rise of the AR platform and the powerful performance of the .308 Winchester has brought this cartridge to the forefront of American hunting.
If you have a .308 Winchester rifle for hobby shooting, you can easily use this firearm for hunting. But you can’t use your target rounds; you need .308 Winchester ammo that is made specifically for deer and medium-sized game animals.
We’ve put together a list of the top .308 Winchester rounds for deer hunting.
Best Ammunition for Hunting Deer: 9 Excellent Options
Frankly, the .308 Winchester is one of the most popular and effective rounds for deer hunting, so there are many high-quality options available. However, here are a few of our suggestions for the best 308 ammo for deer hunting:
125-grain Hornady Custom Lite SST
If you need a lighter hunting option that will deliver an easier recoil on your shoulder, but don’t want to transition away from a .308 Winchester, this is a good choice. The 125-grain bullet is one of the lightest options available in .308, but it still drives excellent terminal performance thanks to the SST bullet.
While effective, the range for this round is limited. At 300 yards, it drops below 1,000 ft-lbs of energy. For comparison, Hornady’s 150-grain SST has 1,601 ft-lbs of energy at 300 yards. Perhaps you have a younger or smaller hunter who wants to use your .308 rifle; in this situation the 125-grain SST is a good choice.
150-grain Winchester Deer Season XP
At 150 grains, this is a fairly typical deer-hunting .308 round. However, the unique design of the bullet makes it an ideal performer. The round uses Winchester’s XP (Extreme Point) bullet, which is most noticeable because of the large-diameter polymer tip. The polymer tip is wider than other options, creating accelerated expansion and significant, immediate trauma.
Winchester has included numerous details for ideal performance. This includes a tapered edge, alloyed lead core, and streamlined ballistic profile.
150-grain Speer Gold Dot GDSP
Speer is typically associated with premium self-defense and service-pistol ammunition. However, they have a quality selection of hunting rounds, including this 150-grain soft-point option.
The round is primarily marketed as a self-defense and duty round, but it delivers excellent performance, making it an ideal deer-hunting .308 option as well.
150-grain Hornady Superformance Super Shock Tip (SST)
Hornady has a stellar reputation among the hunting and target-shooting community. This 150-grain round is one example of their quality rifle rounds, as the speed, power, and bullet design are perfectly matched for deer hunting.
The manufacturer even suggests this round as an option for moose, indicating that it can easily handle a thick-chested buck.
165-Grain Prvi Partizan Pointed Soft-Point
MOST AFFORDABLE!
When this article was written, the 165-grain .308 PSP from Prvi Partizan was one of the most affordable deer-hunting options on the market and the most affordable round on this list.
Low price does not mean low quality. With a muzzle speed of 2,673 fps and a muzzle energy of 2,618 ft-lbs, the expanding soft-point bullet will deliver effective wound channels.
165-grain Fiocchi Pointed Soft-Point
Also using a 165-grain PSP bullet, this round from Italian manufacturer Fiocchi delivers fast speed and hammering power. The round also uses non-corrosive primers and clean-burning powders to ensure less fouling in your barrel. Pair that with the pointed soft point tip that delivers greater downrange accuracy that a round nose would and you’ve got a recipe for a good hunt.
Fiocchi testifies these rounds deliver more than 1100 foot-pounds of energy at 500-yards. That’s quite a punch and surely enough to stretch the limits of your ethical whitetail targeting.
175-grain Federal Terminal Ascent
High-demand deer hunters who expect the absolute best from their ammo should select this 175-grain round from Federal. This is a premium round, but it has all the right features to justify a higher price.
The round features, among numerous advantages, nickel-plated brass, optimized boat-tail bullets, a polymer tip, and “AccChannel technology” to improve accuracy and distance. If you leave nothing to chance, and don’t mind a higher price tag, this is the deer ammo for you.
180-grain Remington Core-Lokt Tipped Polymer Tip
At 180-grains, this round can deliver outstanding energy into the deer. It uses a Core-Lokt bullet, which is essentially a pointed soft-point projectile.
The bullet maintains a high weight retention, allowing the expanding round to drive deep into a deer’s vitals. This makes it a reliable option, especially for hunters who want a heavier bullet.
180-grain Browning Silver Series Soft Point
This is a modern take on the classic soft-point bullet design. The heavy projectile delivers ample power at the target, while the precision-plated jacket ensures rapid expansion.
This heavy round is ideal for whitetail deer, but can also be used for larger game animals.
180-Grain Winchester Super-X Power Point
Power-Point bullets are well known for their excellent terminal performance. These 180-grain rounds will drive deep into a target with maximum power, while the jacketed soft-point design ensures a consistent, wide wound channel.
The nose uses a soft-lead alloy for better expansion and the metal jacket helps retain the weight for superior penetration.
What to Look for in a Good Deer-Hunting .308 Cartridge
There are lots .308 Winchester options available to hunters. How can you find the best option for your needs? Here are some of the factors to look for when comparing cartridges for a deer hunt:
Speed: The faster the round, the more accurate and powerful it will be. Speed brings a straighter trajectory and deeper penetration, so look for .308 rounds with muzzle speeds over 2,500.
Energy: Energy is often over-emphasized in hunting ammunition. But it’s still important. The more powerful the round (higher foot-pounds), the better it will quickly drop a deer.
Bullet Design (Most Important): The type of bullet you use is the most important factor. Always select an expanding round, such as a hollow point, ballistic tip, or soft point for your deer hunting. Also, avoid using match rounds, as these are made for artificial targets, not game animals.
Light or Heavy for Your .308 Deer-Hunting Ammo?
Deer-hunting .308 rounds range in weight from about 125 grains to as much as 180 grains; roughly a 50% increase in weight. Which should you choose?
Traditionally, heavier bullets are used in hunting, especially when pursuing larger game. However, lighter bullets can give softer recoil, so they are often the choice for inexperienced or smaller hunters who can’t handle the massive punch of a heavy, powerful round. Just be aware that with smaller rounds, energy will decrease, especially downrange. Lighter bullets in the .308 category (125 grains, for example) are usually limited in range to about 200 yards, while experienced shooters can use heavier .308 rounds at 300 or 400 yards.