AR10 range ammo recommendations?

[jlist]

Hi all, I'm new to the the .308 caliber and I'm putting together an AR10 with an Aero Precision 16" mid-length upper with 1:10 twist rate. I'd love to get some suggestions regarding what .308 range ammo to buy that are relatively inexpensive and have reasonable accuracy.

As someone new to the caliber, I'll be shooting at targets 100 yards away with a scope. I'm not shooting long range and for ultimate accuracy. I'm just looking for something that's accurate enough so that I can sight in the scope, and when the target paper looks like crap I know it's not the barrel or the ammo. It's me

[Dano3467]

Right now, there is no cheap 308/7.62x51 range fodder.

Steel case (if your not against it) is actually a fun ammo for starting out.

As your likely to shoot a bunch, before you get really comfortable with the platform. But in the end, it's all up to you.

Later, you will likely want to find something accurate that works good in your particular gun.

You will go through (most likely) many brands (if your not reloading) of manufactures, & bullet types/weights.

Good luck, it's a fun gun,, & even more fun, if you can keep it feed.

[Cowboy T]

Sadly, that's true. Cheap range fodder is not to be found in .308/7.62x51.

If you want (relatively) affordable range ammo like you're describing, it's time for you to start reloading your own. I personally would also recommend casting your own bullets with something like a Lee 0.309" mould. For those saying, "oh, the gas port, the gas port!", yeah, I know. You're supposed to be cleaning your gun anyway, so that shouldn't be a factor.

[hermosabeach]

I shot some bulk pack Australian ammo. It would hit at 1k

Look for 168 and heavier grain bullets as a general rule.

[Ronin6]

Originally Posted by hermosabeach

I shot some bulk pack Australian ammo. It would hit at 1k

Look for 168 and heavier grain bullets as a general rule.

What is the heaviest .308 bullet you are shooting out of your AR10, I’m duplicating M852 Match with 168’s but looking at duplicating M118 Match with 175’s.

[theLBC]

for new m80, i get good results from serbian ppu (prvi partizan).
of course it was a lot cheaper back in the day.

[sigstroker]

Maybe milsurp but I don't think it's much cheaper than anything else.

[BucDan]

80cpr is probably ball park on what you can do nowadays. Just shoot M80 rounds.

[Killer Bee]

I had read my m&p 10 wouldn't like 7.62x51 although I have an abundance of lake city m80

from what I've read, .308win is higher pressure than 7.62x51 as opposed to 5.56x45 being higher pressure that .223rem..

so I was able to find a bunch of 147gr norma tactical for $.70/rd and it runs flawlessly

no idea if the m80 runs in the AR or not, haven't tried it yet myself..

good luck!

[FeuerFrei]

Been using Wolf for years as my steady blaster/plinker ammo because of availability/price.

All my 308 rifles eat that stuff. Accuracy is better than US M80 ball in my experience.

Surplus ammo that I stacked is German DAG and UK Radway Green NATO stuff. Very good accuracy for NATO standard. If you can find it now.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by FeuerFrei

Been using Wolf for years as my steady blaster/plinker ammo because of availability/price.

All my 308 rifles eat that stuff. Accuracy is better than US M80 ball in my experience.

Same here.

[jlist]

Thank you all for the replies!

Looks like the steel case ammo's prices are around 60cpr. Reviews are all over the map, some say very good, some mention reliability issues. I'd love to also hear your steel case ammo experience if you've used it. @FeuerFrei has good experience with Wolf. Tula's also available for slightly cheaper.

[FeuerFrei]

Originally Posted by jlist

Thank you all for the replies!

Looks like the steel case ammo's prices are around 60cpr. Reviews are all over the map, some say very good, some mention reliability issues. I'd love to also hear your steel case ammo experience if you've used it. @FeuerFrei has good experience with Wolf. Tula's also available for slightly cheaper.

Since you will be dealing with a new rifle assembly I suggest you burn NATO spec ammo in it for break in otherwise you'll likely have failures to eject/extract. Most common.

I have found Tula rifle ammo kinda weak for reliable function in Stoner gassed rifles.
Try a box and see after break in w/NATO stuff.

[SigSauerP226]

Are you guys referring to the cheapest steel case Wolf?

[stormvet]

I shoot almost exclusively surplus 308, I buy it in bulk whenever I find a decent sale. Right now I’m mainly shooting some Eastern European 308 that was made in 1979. Been shooting it out of a SCAR 17, M1a scout and a Ruger Precision. More then exceptable accuracy and runs great in them all.

Buy what you can find and don’t worry about accuracy from it unless your shooting for extreme repeatable accuracy. If I do mine part, minus the occasional flyer 1 MOA at 100 is very doable with surplus 308.

[sigstroker]

Originally Posted by stormvet

I shoot almost exclusively surplus 308, I buy it in bulk whenever I find a decent sale. Right now I’m mainly shooting some Eastern European 308 that was made in 1979. Been shooting it out of a SCAR 17, M1a scout and a Ruger Precision. More then exceptable accuracy and runs great in them all.

Buy what you can find and don’t worry about accuracy from it unless your shooting for extreme repeatable accuracy. If I do mine part, minus the occasional flyer 1 MOA at 100 is very doable with surplus 308.

Hmm, pre-wall, so it's not Czech or Yugo. Greece?

[stormvet]

Originally Posted by sigstroker

Hmm, pre-wall, so it's not Czech or Yugo. Greece?

Not sure, could have just been sitting in a ammo bunker for decades in any number of countries.

[BC9696]

Try Unicorn Arms for cheap .308 ammo.

[jsanch03]

Gunmagwarehouse.com has some bulk surplus that’s Czech made. It has a blackened primer, it’s berdan and it is corrosive. I bought a 1k rounds of it for $400 from an estate sale. Some people are discouraged or unfamiliar with corrosive ammo and will stay far away from it but I’m very familiar with corrosive ammo and know to clean the weapons really good. The site has it for 80 cents a round which I feel is way high for 60’s or 70’s made 762 nato but the 20 rounds I’ve tried all went bang and grouper fairly well.

[Killer Bee]

NORMA TACTICAL AMMUNITION - 308 WINCHESTER - 150 GRAIN FULL METAL JACKET - 20 ROUNDS - BRASS CASE

$.95/rd in stock at miwall

F that random unpredictable steel crap

I run it exclusively in my AK but then I don't expect much more than minute of barn door from it either

the leftover premium norma brass is value added

I don't reload but I save it anyway for sale or trade

get on ammoseek, there's 147gr pmc $.82/rd and probably a few other better options for an AR

if you insist on russian steel though, plenty < $.70/rd

just beware of hundreds of testimonies against it - this guy sums it up pretty well

Steel ammo, unless its premium such as high hornady steel match, is usually associated with low quality, corrosive primers, weak and inconsistent power charges, and all sort of problems.

Its not really a good choice for AR patterns, most of the time.

I would stick to brass ammo for precision style rifles (308, 223). If you want to plink all day with cheap ammo, get a platform designed for it. (.22, 762x39, etc)

good luck!

[19K]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

NORMA TACTICAL AMMUNITION - 308 WINCHESTER - 150 GRAIN FULL METAL JACKET - 20 ROUNDS - BRASS CASE

$.95/rd in stock at miwall

F that random unpredictable steel crap

I run it exclusively in my AK but then I don't expect much more than minute of barn door from it either

the leftover premium norma brass is value added

I don't reload but I save it anyway for sale or trade

get on ammoseek, there's 147gr pmc $.82/rd and probably a few other better options for an AR

if you insist on russian steel though, plenty < $.70/rd

just beware of hundreds of testimonies against it - this guy sums it up pretty well

Steel ammo, unless its premium such as high hornady steel match, is usually associated with low quality, corrosive primers, weak and inconsistent power charges, and all sort of problems.

Its not really a good choice for AR patterns, most of the time.

I would stick to brass ammo for precision style rifles (308, 223). If you want to plink all day with cheap ammo, get a platform designed for it. (.22, 762x39, etc)

good luck!

What modern commercial steel ammo has corrosive primers? I don’t even think there is surplus steel case 7.62x51/308win as No nato countries make it.


There’s definitely been modern brass military surplus that DOES have corrosive primers in it.


As far accuracy, minute of man is all that 7.62x51 was designed for. Your run of the mill M14, G3, FAL getting 2-3moa using m80 ball is perfectly acceptably. Steel case ammo will give you the same amount of accuracy.

An AK getting barn door accuracy,(I’m sure it’s an exaggeration) has more to do with the shooter rather than the rifle or ammo.

If you do want good accuracy don’t buy 7.62x51mm, stick to buying 308win.

If 2-3+ moa is fine for you, standard 1st world country M80 ball will be fine.

[theLBC]

before you buy a lot of anything, make sure your range allows it.

[smoothy8500]

Originally Posted by theLBC

before you buy a lot of anything, make sure your range allows it.

Good point since a lot of FMJ choices have bi-metal jackets.

[robert101]

This is another example of why reloading is a viable option - especially in calibers like 308. I shoot cheap Hornady 150 bullets. I think I still have a good supply of primers but that has been the Achilles heal these days. Look into this hobby as it maybe the solution to your long term needs.

[SanDiego619]

I shoot steel and some stuff I bought before the BLM and COVID bs made stuff expensive, it is brass and was cheapest at the time. Now, I'd just get steel, and I am saving all my brass for when components are cheaper and more available.

[Mute]

Current prices on .308 are still on the high side. Cheapest you'll find is steel cased stuff for about $0.64/round. Anything that's match grade quality will be over $1/round.

[Tim padilla]

People bashed it but I had great luck from ZQI M80 7.62 ball ammo made in. Turkey. At a time it was no more expensive that some steel case and this was fully reloadable brass cased boxer primed Milspec new production ammo.
A far second but decent was silver/brown bear steel case. My Fal and G3 copies chew this stuff up like spicy edamame at a sushi bar.