stonewall50
New member
I would like to get good at rifle shooting. I've always been meh. I got the rifle. I need ammo now. I'm not sure about what kind of ammo I should get. I want consistency, but price is a factor.
Target .308 ammo?
- Thread starter stonewall50
- Start date
I take it you don't reload so I will stick to results with factory ammo.
One of my .308s shoots 150 grain Federal Gold Match SMKs slightly better than 168s or 175s.
My other one favors the Federal Gold Match 175s.
Both shoot the Federal Gold Match 168s pretty well.
Those are pretty much the gold standard of .308 match ammos.
Black Hills ammo also uses 168 SMK bullets and performs well.
Factory Norma 168s and Nosler Match 155s also perform well.
You should be able to find something that your rifle likes among that list.
One of my .308s shoots 150 grain Federal Gold Match SMKs slightly better than 168s or 175s.
My other one favors the Federal Gold Match 175s.
Both shoot the Federal Gold Match 168s pretty well.
Those are pretty much the gold standard of .308 match ammos.
Black Hills ammo also uses 168 SMK bullets and performs well.
Factory Norma 168s and Nosler Match 155s also perform well.
You should be able to find something that your rifle likes among that list.
waveslayer
New member
+1 FGMM is what you want. Blackhills is good but majority will get smaller groups with FGMM. go 175 if you are going for distance, if yout stay below 600 yards or even 800 stay with the 168gr.
do you reload?
Pardon me for stating something pretty obvious - when you're checking out the ammo do it with the rifle sand bagged or in a lead sled or whatever it takes to take as much of the human factors out of the equation as possible.
Once you find the ammo that YOUR rifle likes then you can begin 'training up' to shoot as well as you can with lots of confidence in the ammo you're using.
Once you find the ammo that YOUR rifle likes then you can begin 'training up' to shoot as well as you can with lots of confidence in the ammo you're using.
I have a couple of .308 "target" rifles (heavy profile, high quality barrels-tuned actions-sand bag friendly stocks) that aren't really ammo sensitive. Most rifles ARE more selective as to what ammo shoots well and you'll have to find which brand/type ammo your rifle likes best. Federal Gold Medal is almost universally fairly accurate in a wide variety of rifles. Good ammo isn't cheap but you may find some lower priced ammo that is suitably accurate for your needs. You're going to have to buy and shoot until you find that combination.
stonewall50
New member
waveslayer
New member
then stick with FGMM you will be GTG
Discussed on a similar thread recently...
What's been said above is correct, FGMM or Black Hills.
Even if you need to switch to something less expensive for more trigger time (which is always important)- the match ammo will give you a reference as to what the rifle is capable of.
Since you say you're "meh", start from a very solid rest/bag (or lead sled) to take out as much shooter error as possible. Proper form, trigger press, etc.
Try to get some evaluation from an RSO or experienced shooter at the range that can watch you and evaluate what you're doing. The only way to improve, is to figure out how to improve your form, and send a lot of lead.
What's been said above is correct, FGMM or Black Hills.
Even if you need to switch to something less expensive for more trigger time (which is always important)- the match ammo will give you a reference as to what the rifle is capable of.
Since you say you're "meh", start from a very solid rest/bag (or lead sled) to take out as much shooter error as possible. Proper form, trigger press, etc.
Try to get some evaluation from an RSO or experienced shooter at the range that can watch you and evaluate what you're doing. The only way to improve, is to figure out how to improve your form, and send a lot of lead.
kilimanjaro
New member
There is some Austrian Hirtenberger NATO surplus at Aim Surplus right now, about 50 cents a round, but it comes pretty close to match quality.
Hirtenberger is the cream of the surplus manufacture, I shot up a case I bought in the 1980s, was so impressed with it I bought two more and tucked them away.
If you don't reload, save your brass anyway, another reloader will want it or you can scrap it for a couple of bucks.
Hirtenberger is the cream of the surplus manufacture, I shot up a case I bought in the 1980s, was so impressed with it I bought two more and tucked them away.
If you don't reload, save your brass anyway, another reloader will want it or you can scrap it for a couple of bucks.
That's a good price...
Classic has it for $.72/round, nearly 50% more.
Those guys are nuts...
https://www.classicfirearms.com/762x51natohirtenbergerammo360bp
Classic has it for $.72/round, nearly 50% more.
Those guys are nuts...
https://www.classicfirearms.com/762x51natohirtenbergerammo360bp
stonewall50 said:
Fact#1 precision costs extra money. No way around it. Be aware just because the box says "Federal Gold Medal Match" and costs $38 is NO guarantee YOUR barrel will like it...
What twist rate is your barrel ? You will probably have to spend some trigger time experimenting with different brands and bullet weights.
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precision_shooter
New member
Your rifle will tell you what ammo it likes best...
I've had rifles that shot Federal GMM very well, and others that wouldn't shoot it as well as others.
I would buy a box of each of the below brands and varying bullet weights and let your rifle tell you which one it likes. (This list may not be all encompassing, anyone else, please add to it as you see fit)
150gr, 165gr, 168gr, 178gr
Black Hills (Regular or Moly coated)
Federal Gold Medal Match
Hornady Match (BTHP and AMAX) (My smallest ever 5-shot group was shot with this ammo)
PRVI Partisan Match
There are plenty more, but when I was buying factory ammo, these are the 4 I would try in new rifles to find the one it liked the best. I always had one-two of the shine above the others in a particular rifle.
I've had rifles that shot Federal GMM very well, and others that wouldn't shoot it as well as others.
I would buy a box of each of the below brands and varying bullet weights and let your rifle tell you which one it likes. (This list may not be all encompassing, anyone else, please add to it as you see fit)
150gr, 165gr, 168gr, 178gr
Black Hills (Regular or Moly coated)
Federal Gold Medal Match
Hornady Match (BTHP and AMAX) (My smallest ever 5-shot group was shot with this ammo)
PRVI Partisan Match
There are plenty more, but when I was buying factory ammo, these are the 4 I would try in new rifles to find the one it liked the best. I always had one-two of the shine above the others in a particular rifle.
"...Your rifle will tell you what ammo it likes best..." Exactly. Since you don't reload, you'll have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. The price of said ammo means nothing. However, if your rifle isn't a target rifle, buying match grade ammo will get expensive and frustrating quickly. Match ammo does tend to shoot better, but a hunting rifle rarely has the barrel to do so optimally.
The Federal stuff may not be available. Midway is listing it as out of stock, no back order. Grafs doesn't list it at all.
The Federal stuff may not be available. Midway is listing it as out of stock, no back order. Grafs doesn't list it at all.
To the OP:
In your post you said you wanted to get good at rifle shooting. That means you will need to shoot a lot to do that. I would recommend as much milsurp as you can afford at first, shoot it up, it will probably do decent groups and concentrate on getting to know the rifle and technique before you spend a dollar or two per round on match ammo.
Then get a box or two of the stuff already listed and get really serious in finding out what the rifle likes, like the other guys have said and you are on your way.
In your post you said you wanted to get good at rifle shooting. That means you will need to shoot a lot to do that. I would recommend as much milsurp as you can afford at first, shoot it up, it will probably do decent groups and concentrate on getting to know the rifle and technique before you spend a dollar or two per round on match ammo.
Then get a box or two of the stuff already listed and get really serious in finding out what the rifle likes, like the other guys have said and you are on your way.
I wish I could remember where I've seen it... but there's a company (or more) packaging smaller amounts of rounds (I believe ten) of several different brands of match ammo together for shooters of factory ammo so they don't have to commit to a box of 20 only to shoot five and find out their rifle doesn't like it. Makes a lot of sense.
kilimanjaro
New member
I'm with Monk on this one. Go out and get some good quality surplus ammo and shoot it up this year. Learn how to sight, hold, squeeze, and breathe. Then start getting concerned about if you are going to have better groups with better ammo, once you've gone through several hundred or a thousand rounds.
You can spend a lot of money on expensive ammo while you're not taking care of a flinch, slapping the trigger, or tensing up expecting the recoil, that kind of thing, none of which will improve by adding six bits a round to your costs.
Try the Hirtenberger if there's any left. It's MOA surplus, none better.
You can spend a lot of money on expensive ammo while you're not taking care of a flinch, slapping the trigger, or tensing up expecting the recoil, that kind of thing, none of which will improve by adding six bits a round to your costs.
Try the Hirtenberger if there's any left. It's MOA surplus, none better.
waveslayer
New member
I would even go as far as get some training. take a long range class or something that will teach you when to shoot, during the respiratory pause, trigger press, and follow through, trigger reset, running the bolt, calling your shots, learning the wind and ballistics... you will get there. but to know what your rifle can do good ammo is necessary, plinking rounds are good to get down range but I'm from the school of thought that says, have the best ammo to know what I'm doing wrong in my shooting form, or if it's my gun that's not holding true... you need to know the capabilities of your set up.
How about doing something that really works and is not expensive (after the initial expense)
Buy yourself a good quality bolt action .22 rf rifle, buy some good quality ammo for it. Shoot it a LOT, keep records of your shooting, DON"T use a bipod, bag, stand, rest, support etc. Use a sling, your arms your muscles and your eyes.
Shoot from prone, shoot from sitting, shoot from (gasp!) standing (offhand).
Just shoot shoot and shoot some more.
After you have mastered the .22, (and it ain't easy) then move on to the centerfire rifle and it's expensive ammo.
If you cannot shoot a consistent 3" group from prone with a .22, don't bother with trying the more expensive stuff, you're just wasting your time and developing bad shooting habits.
The relatively slow .22 rf bullet = long barrel time which DEMANDS good form, good follow through, good breath control and trigger control.
Buy yourself a good quality bolt action .22 rf rifle, buy some good quality ammo for it. Shoot it a LOT, keep records of your shooting, DON"T use a bipod, bag, stand, rest, support etc. Use a sling, your arms your muscles and your eyes.
Shoot from prone, shoot from sitting, shoot from (gasp!) standing (offhand).
Just shoot shoot and shoot some more.
After you have mastered the .22, (and it ain't easy) then move on to the centerfire rifle and it's expensive ammo.
If you cannot shoot a consistent 3" group from prone with a .22, don't bother with trying the more expensive stuff, you're just wasting your time and developing bad shooting habits.
The relatively slow .22 rf bullet = long barrel time which DEMANDS good form, good follow through, good breath control and trigger control.
waveslayer
New member
my method really works, like skinning a cat, several ways. [emoji12]