Starting .308 Ammo

[Merc1138]

Quick question... Is there a problem shooting cheaper .308 through a rifle that's not bolt action/precision? For example, I'm planning on purchasing a PTR and was wondering if I could just use some Wolf or Silver Bear since I'm a cheap*****.... I'm not trying to go out past 100 yards, just wana get out of the house at least twice a month without paying much for maybe 50-100 rounds down range per session. I need stress relief... $2 a bullet isn't guna help. Suggestions?

Umm, you can find federal premium match for under $1 a round if you shop around.

The problem with cheap ammo, is that it isn't as consistent, can be dirtier, and downrange ends up "all over the place". If you're trying to shoot for accuracy and get as small a group as you possible can at whatever distance, it doesn't do you any good if the ammo you use can't maintain a tight group.

[Twystd1]

If you are simply trying to get a scope on paper at 100 yards or less. Dam near any decent ammo will work.

If you are trying to get groups. That is a whole nuther set of circumstances.
That is why I reload most of my long rifle ammo.

I find Federal Gold Match 168 grainers or the Black Hills Red box will work for MOST rifles to get good groups.

By the way. Since you don't know me from Adam. Give me a PM. There are 6 or 7 fellas here that have shot with me on many occasions. Including Hoffmang, Obeygiant, and few other ugly fellas.

Cheers,
Twystd1

[Twystd1]

oops

[Twystd1]

OOOps again.

[Twystd1]

Maximum OOops.

[Twystd1]

Ridiculously OOps.

[Twystd1]

If you are simply trying to get a scope on paper at 100 yards or less. Dam near any decent ammo will work.

If you are trying to get groups. That is a whole nuther set of circumstances.
That is why I reload most of my long rifle ammo.

I find Federal Gold Match 168 grainers or the Black Hills Red box will work for MOST rifles to get good groups.

By the way. Since you don't know me from Adam. Give me a PM. There are 6 or 7 fellas here that have shot with me on many occasions. Including Hoffmang, Obeygiant, and few other ugly fellas.

Cheers,
Twystd1

[rchman]

Quick question... Is there a problem shooting cheaper .308 through a rifle that's not bolt action/precision? For example, I'm planning on purchasing a PTR and was wondering if I could just use some Wolf or Silver Bear since I'm a cheap*****.... I'm not trying to go out past 100 yards, just wana get out of the house at least twice a month without paying much for maybe 50-100 rounds down range per session. I need stress relief... $2 a bullet isn't guna help. Suggestions?

Nope, no problem at all if you do not care about the groups being up to 5". Not to get into the cheap Russian ammo debate that is going on in another thread, but my brother brought out some Tula and Brown bear yesterday to crack some clays at 100/200 yds and we had a blast. Shooting clays at those distances with $1/round just isn't that fun.

Also, you can get 750 rds of Radway for 40c/round at I think Southern Ohio Gun (or somewhere else) which is right around the Brown Bear price.

[Ziggy91]

Nope, no problem at all if you do not care about the groups being up to 5". Not to get into the cheap Russian ammo debate that is going on in another thread, but my brother brought out some Tula and Brown bear yesterday to crack some clays at 100/200 yds and we had a blast. Shooting clays at those distances with $1/round just isn't that fun.

Also, you can get 750 rds of Radway for 40c/round at I think Southern Ohio Gun (or somewhere else) which is right around the Brown Bear price.

Are you talking about 5" groups at 100 yards? Becasue i'm fine with that... the palm of my hand at that range seems effective, even though i'd be lucky to even get that kind of accuracy

[nrakid88]

I would buy some expensive stuff, and then shoot it from a bench with a front and rear sand bag. That should get you close to your rifles max potential. Then do some groups with cheaper stuff, with front and rear sand bags.

If any of the cheaper stuff is comparable to the expensive, then use that stuff to practice shooting from field positions.

Hell, even cheap ammo will be good for banging steel from field positions.

[nrakid88]

If you want to kill something, I recommend partitions.

[MrPlink]

I am not a precision shooter but I don't have a bolt I have a 308 AR. I have shot the 147 grain prvi stuff and was able to explode water bottles at 100 yds and plink a 6" steel plate at 200 yds. I care more about having fun than precision and I can't have fun at 1 dollar a round

lol. not to hate but my AK can do that with yugo surp!

[CK_32]

Dude save your self some $$ and buy white box and zero that at 100 yards. It will group just fine for you or a newer shooter. Unless your going to be shooting long range comps then zeroing with cheap ammo at 100 yards works. The difference of ballistics with 308 ammo at 100 yards is so small you will probably be more off with your scope line up than from the ammo change.

[UBFRAGD]

My local gun show has a well-known volume dealer that sells FedMatch168's for $140/200 rounds or $.70 a round for fantastically accurate ammo.

Now at the range, when I'm shooting for precision, I shoot REALLY slow, letting the barrel cool with the bolt removed before the next shot, lots of cleaning and fussing, and tons of dry-fire exercises. So a couple cases lasts quite a while.

Another interesting thing to do sometimes is take a variety of ammo to the range. Shoot three shots of one type and spend a long minute inspecting the barrel. Do that for all your ammo. Some ammo shoots REALLY dirty, that's got to effect precision sooner than later.