Cost effective 308 match ammo, NSW

[Biscuits]

Have moved from England to Sydney.
I'm surprised - not in a good way - about the cost of 308 ammo.

Can anyone recommend some:
- plinking ammo
- match ammo; suitable for up to about 900 metres / 1000 yards & able to do a 1MoA 100 yard group. (so maybe not something with the Sierra MK 168gr bullet, which afaik heads south at ±500 metres)

With the cost of 308 cartridges, I don't feel like buying a few of evertihing to see how it goes

On the plinking side, I've used PPU before, but my 308 rifle doesn't agree with it. There's some ok priced hunting ammo, such as Hornady 150gr American Whitetail, or S&B soft points, so maybe i could use that for plinking?

Then there's the match ammo. Seems to be about $80 a box. Any ideas?
I used to use Hornady 155gr ELDM or GGG 155gr. Neither seem to be available... there is 168gr ELDM around but that is ±$80 a box. Would like to find something a bit cheaper, that works.

[No1Mk3]

NSWRA Store, Norma Match 155g $65, ADI Match 155g SMK $58, buy the ADI by the can it works out at $57.a packet

[bigrich]

ADI 168gn match would be the pick IMHO . if i were you i'd learn how to reload , especially if your considering shooting to 1000 yards with a degree of accuracy . plinking in a 308 isn't a cheap exercise at any rate . that's what 22lr is for .

[bladeracer]

If the cost is an issue then you really will have to load your own, and you'll eventually be making better ammo than you can buy.
The ADI bulk stuff is probably going to be your cheapest bet for good factory ammo.

I don't recall the price, but I bought a few thousand 168gn SMK seconds from Cleaver real cheap a few years ago. I haven't bought bulk .308" ELDM's but they do ELDM bulk specials occasionally as well, you need to subscribe to get notified immediately though.
Bruce Bertram makes cheap bullets suited to plinking and hunting.
Buy primers by the 5000, and 4kg bottles of powder and you'll have the cheapest jacketed .308 ammo you can get.
HRBC and others do good cast bullets you can use for plinking ammo, under 20c apiece. With bulk primers and powder you should be able to load cast ammo for under 50c a round, and when you start casting your own bullets, even less than that.

But for simply practicing your shooting and putting the most rounds down range you really need to be practicing with a .22 rifle.

You made me curious so I had a quick look at UK prices. Cheapest I found was Geco FMJ for £20, or about $42 a box. The cheapest stuff there seems to be NATO FMJ stuff. ANZAC Range has ADI 155gn SMK at $1400 for 480rds. https://www.nswra.org.au/products/308-sierra-thales-ammunition
I saw this stuff in the UK for £42/20rds, or $88/20 here. I'm guessing with ammo limits there they don't sell much bulk ammo?

Screenshot 2025-06-15 074003.jpg (38.49 KiB) Viewed 529 times

Have moved from England to Sydney.
I'm surprised - not in a good way - about the cost of 308 ammo.

Can anyone recommend some:
- plinking ammo
- match ammo; suitable for up to about 900 metres / 1000 yards & able to do a 1MoA 100 yard group. (so maybe not something with the Sierra MK 168gr bullet, which afaik heads south at ±500 metres)

With the cost of 308 cartridges, I don't feel like buying a few of evertihing to see how it goes

On the plinking side, I've used PPU before, but my 308 rifle doesn't agree with it. There's some ok priced hunting ammo, such as Hornady 150gr American Whitetail, or S&B soft points, so maybe i could use that for plinking?

Then there's the match ammo. Seems to be about $80 a box. Any ideas?
I used to use Hornady 155gr ELDM or GGG 155gr. Neither seem to be available... there is 168gr ELDM around but that is ±$80 a box. Would like to find something a bit cheaper, that works.

[flashman]

HI you need to reload and cast your own bullets for cheap plinking ammo it"s fun learning all the time.........

[Bugman]

Exactly. Reload and experiment etc. All the fellows and gals I know who shoot from 800m down to 300m load their own ammo for each such event. Just use factory ammo for "plinking" imo. ( Still would be expensive though). Join a rifle club and ask other members what they have been loading. There is a lot of good info and advice out there.

[fussy]

In Sydney, you want to shop locally.
By the time you find cheap ammo elsewhere, you need to add 'dangerous goods' freight costs.

Having been in this game for 30+ years, I agree with the above, reload.

Even a basic set up like a Lee Loader just needs a hammer and a non-carpeted room. And if not using magazines, no need to crimp, etc.
TALK TO YOUR LOCAL CLUB.
Plenty of people will be upgrading and want to off set the cost by selling their older (still functional) gear.
Shooters, funnily enough, are pro-gun and are happy to see new club members. If that means helping you source gear, so be it.