Thread: Advice on standard ammo vs premium ammo...

Hey guys,
Im looking at getting a few boxes of 7mm08 ammo and I'd like to know what your thoughts are regarding standard (federal blue) / premium (hornady eld-x) ammo?
Is it worth the extra money? I split my hunting 50/50 Bush and open County and generally don't shoot over 400m
I also don't reload..... Yet.
Thoughts?

go see if your local gunshops can do "goody bags" of different types of ammo. then try each one out for grouping. you will find some cheap ammo performs better then expensive in some rifles and visa vera.
my 7mm loves hornady 162gr but hates fedearal, friends tika same caliber prefers federal over hornady

ok...so the federal blue box has great reputation for making just about any rifle group well...from the little of it Ive used it kills well too.
mate bought new browning bolt action and 2 boxes of hornady superpreformance ammo...of that 40 rounds 2 flattened primers,one has gas leak around primer and one outright blew primer out.....there is NO WAY IN HELL I will ever put it through any of my rifles.....
$2 a shot Vs $3 a shot comes into it too..... if you doing ok with the blue box I wouldnt change.

All i shoot with is hornady sst my tikka 7mm08 loves them never had a issue with them. I only use them for hunting so not worried about paying $3 a shot not out there shooting packets for the hell of it. Also i opened up my dpt the other day and its as clean as the day i brought it. no un burnt powder etc.
Also try your local rural supplies like farmlands etc for better pricing

What does your rifle shoot best and what are you happy with accuracy wise, I've had cheap ammo shoot great and expensive ammo shoot bad and the opposite in an ideal world our rifles would shoot cheap ammo the best.

Premium ammo usually has "better" projectiles, which really only make a difference in large game. Monolithic projectiles make a difference in buffalo, eland or larger thick-skinned game, but anything in NZ that doesn't live in a zoo should succumb to JSP or JHP pointy things, as long as the trigger puller does their bit. However, if the rounds aren't on target, they won't kill anything, so establishing accuracy of a particular round in your firearm before the hunt is critical.

Xtightg
I have a tikka and it loves the federal blue although I've just run out, I've also just had a dpt can fitted so will have to sight it in. Last year I shot a stag down south at about 400 (which for me is a long shot) and I just want to be sure I'm using the best, prob just in my head haha

Yeah you're right, $3 is cheap.

If it loves the blue and you are getting results stick with it

Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciate it.

Yep, if you're dropping them with blue box, carry on.

If you're gonna do a lot of shooting, then it might be an idea to buy some blue box in bulk and see if you can get it for a really sharp price .

Or look at getting a reloading kit...

I have a tikka t3 7mm08.I've used remington corelokt for practice on gongs out to 400m,because its the cheapest ammo my local stocks(I don't reload either).I have a couple packets of hornady superfomance that I got with the rifle.I've used both on deer and I can't tell the difference,don't think the deer I've shot could either.I agree with previous comments though,find something your rifle likes.Don't buy into the hype, expensive may not always be best!.just my 2c

The blue box Federal runs 150 gn Speer Hotcore. Great pill for hunting and if your rifle shoots it well then stick with it. The one downside is that it has the BC of a brick, so realistically best not to push it behind 300 yards. Most deer shot in NZ are 200 yard sale or less. You could try the Hornady 150 ELDx and if they shoot accurately in your rifle then you can extend your range to 500 or so. Or if you know some one who can reload for you then the worlds your oyster

200gn Hornady Precision Hunter 300WSM Ammo works bloody good in my new Kimber Montanna but at $104 a box my arse did pucker.
First factory ammo I have brought in 20 years!

Like everyone else has said try a few out and decide from that. I have used eldx in my 308 and it grouped average then I tried SSt's and they were waaaaay better and a bit cheaper. Fed Blue box always seems to go good in any rifle I've used too