Federal Premium, Sig Sauer, Hornady, and Barnes performed admirably in both our hunting handgun and rifles. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
Despite stiff competition from newer calibers, the .308 Winchester remains one of the most versatile hunting rounds on the market. Selecting a great .308 Win load to accompany your shooting may seem like a daunting task, which is why Guns.com is here to help.
We’ve selected four of our favorite .308 hunting options that work well in most firearm platforms, tackling everything from predators to big game.
1. Barnes Vor-TX
The TTSX used on the .308 Win rounds are blue polymer-tipped, spitzer boat tail, lead-free projectiles available in three different bullet weights. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
Barnes Vor-TX is premium factory ammunition loaded with the company’s world-renowned projectiles. Whether hunting North America, Africa, or anywhere in between, Barnes has been there. The TSX bullets of the Vor-TX ammo offer maximum tissue and bone destruction while also bringing pass-through penetration and “devastating energy transfer.”
The Tipped Triple Shock, or TTSX, used on the .308 Win rounds are blue polymer-tipped, spitzer boat tail, lead-free projectiles. Barnes delivers three options in .308 Win Vor-TX TTSX:
- 130-grain .350 BC, 3,125 FPS at the muzzle
- 150-grain .440 BC, 2,900 FPS at the muzzle
- 165-grain, .470 BC, 2,700 FPS at the muzzle
The Barnes Vor-TX retails around $52.99.
2. Hornady Outfitter
The .308 Winchester variant comes loaded with Hornady’s copper alloy GMX bullets. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
The new line of Hornady Outfitter ammunition is, as the name suggests, built for hunting with features desired by outfitters who earn their keep in harsh conditions. Nickel-plated casings are advertised as watertight with both the primer and case mouth sealed, as well as a “waterproofed case” built to perform even in adverse conditions. The .308 Winchester variant comes loaded with Hornady’s copper alloy GMX bullets — acceptable in areas requiring non-lead projectiles, yet capable of performing well on big game.
Hornady Outfitter .308 Win ships in a 165-grain GMX with a .447 BC and muzzle velocity of 2,610 at the muzzle. The load is priced at $35.99.
3. Sig Sauer Elite Hunter
Sig Sauer’s Elite Hunter Elite Hunter Tipped rounds use nickel-plated casings and blackened-jacket boat-tail bullets with a controlled expansion yellow tip. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
Sig Sauer’s line of hunting ammunition continues to fly under the radar, yet Elite Hunter has been proving itself in the field. The new Elite Hunter Tipped rounds use nickel-plated casings and concentric blackened jacket boat-tail bullets with a translucent yellow controlled expansion tip.
While the rounds are ideal for deer-sized game, there are reports of Elite Hunter taking down much larger game. We like the Elite Hunter Tipped in .308, but for those seeking alloy bullets, Sig also offers an Elite Copper option better suited to smaller deer, hogs, and varmints.
Sig Sauer Elite Hunter Tipped ships in 165-grain loads with a .530 BC and a velocity of 2,840 FPS at the muzzle. Elite Hunter offers a price tag of $36.95.
4. Federal Premium Terminal Ascent
Federal Premium’s Terminal Ascent match-grade, bonded, all-range bullets are designed to have the BC of a match bullet yet the terminal hunting performance to cleanly harvest big game from 50-yards and beyond. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
Federal’s new-for-2020 Terminal Ascent rifle ammunition delivers a match grade, bonded, all-range bullet. The load is designed to have the same ballistic coefficient of a match bullet yet the terminal hunting performance to cleanly harvest big game from 50-yards and beyond. The projectiles feature a copper shank and bonded lead core, but it’s the dual AccuChannel grooves that company engineers say brings accuracy at distance. Terminal Ascent’s .308 Win option offers the highest BC we’ve found in hunting ammo and, as such, is the best choice for long-range .308 hunters.
Federal Premium Terminal Ascent ships in a 175-grain version with .536 BC and a velocity of 2,600 FPS at the muzzle. Terminal Ascent retails for $47.99.
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