What’s the best “varmint” cartridge? Many would choose a small-caliber round, such as the .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, or even a rimfire cartridge like the .22 WMR.
But the .308 Winchester? That’s just overkill for varmints like prairie dogs, raccoons, and coyotes…right?
Not necessarily. While a .308 is powerful enough for elk hunting, it can also be a useful varmint tool. In fact, there are .308 Winchester cartridges that are specifically marketed for varmint hunting.
Perhaps it’s time to rethink the .308’s reputation as a too-big-for-varmint cartridge.
If you own a .308 Winchester rifle, you don’t need to purchase a new firearm to go coyote hunting. With the right ammo (specifically, light bullets), your bolt-action or AR-style .308 Winchester rifle will do just fine. And, with this round, you can increase the distance at which you hunt. Suddenly, you can take coyotes at 300, 400, even 500 yards and still have plenty of power.
Top .308 Ammo for Varmint Hunting
Don’t assume that .308 Winchester ammo is overkill for varmint hunting. With the right selection of ammo, you can control varmint population and still have a clean, useful pelt. And if you have the skills, you can use the .308 to harvest varmint at 300, 400, and even 500 yards.
Remington 700 .308. Overkill, or just the right tool?
110-grain Nosler Varmageddon
Perhaps the lightest .308 hunting round on the market, this 110-grain .308 round comes flying out of the muzzle at a speed of 3,150 fps. The tipped bullet provides exceptional terminal ballistics, making it a great choice for high-volume varmint control. It would be perfect for an afternoon prairie dog hunting. It would also make a good choice for new or small shooters, as the lighter bullet will deliver an easier recoil, especially in an AR-style .308 rifle.
125-grain Custom Lite (Hornady)
When advertising the Custom Lite brand, Hornady emphasizes reduced recoil and lighter muzzle blast. It achieves this soft recoil by using lighter bullets; in this .308 product, the bullet of choice is a 125-grain option. With a ballistic tip, the round maintains aerodynamics while allowing for rapid expansion.
130-grain Varmint & Predator (Federal)
With a top-quality bullet design and Federal’s reliable brass, bullet, and primer, this is an ideal option for varmint hunting, including coyote. At 130 grains, it can still be used for prairie dogs and other smaller game animals. This light round has an impressive muzzle speed of 3,050 fps, while the energy is over 900 ft-lbs after 400 yards.
130-Grain VOR-TX Rifle (Barnes)
Another 130-grain option, this round comes from Barnes, one of the most trusted names in ammunition. These rounds use an all-copper profile that maintains its weight yet provides double-diameter expansion. These premium hunting rounds have impressive statistics; most notable is a muzzle speed of 3,125 fps.
150-grain Barnes TSX (Federal)
Federal loads Barnes’ all-copper bullets into their own ammunition. This 150-grain ammunition has a muzzle energy of 2,648 ft-lbs. But the most impressive feature may be the way the bullet expands into cutting petals that create maximum damage to the target.
Kenneth hunting varmints in Wyoming with a bolt action rifle.
150-grain Superformance SST (Hornady)
Superformance ammunition from Hornady is known for advanced accuracy and increased speed. It uses consistent primers and high-quality cases, and maintains excellent performance at a distance. At 400 yards, the round delivers 2,151 fps of speed and 1,540 ft-lbs of energy.
150-grain Super-X Power-Point (Winchester)
The Power-Point bullet, which is loaded into a wide selection of cartridges, goes beyond a typical soft point. The bullet includes small skives at the front of the copper jacket. These groves create reliable expansion while allowing the bullet to drive deep into the target.
150-grain Gold Dot Soft Point (Speer)
The Gold Dot brand is best known for self-defense ammunition, especially among handgun users. However, this rifle cartridge is an ideal option for hunting as well. With a 150-grain bullet, it may be too large for small varmints, but it’s a reliable option for coyote and powerful enough for wild hogs.
Let’s examine what you need from a varmint-hunting .308 round. With this knowledge, we can then look at some of the top .308 products for varmint hunting.
What is a “Varmint”
A “varmint” is generally defined as a pest animal, one that is not protected by significant game laws. This language means dozens of potential targets can be considered varmints. It just depends who you ask! Because of this, it’s difficult to choose the top .308 Winchester rounds without narrowing down the type of game we are selecting for
Types of Varmints
Most would agree that coyotes, raccoons, and opossums are varmints. Prairie dogs would make it into this category as well.
Hunting prairie dogs with .308
What about hogs? A bruising wild pig is one of the toughest targets in North America; Often hunters need something a bit heavier to drop these pests, but even pigs can be taken with lighter rounds like 5.56×45.
It’s a complex topic, so for today, we’ll stick with classic varmints that are popular targets for American hunters. This means prairie dogs and coyotes, as well as raccoons and opossums.
What to Look for in a .308 Winchester for Varmint Hunting
Lighter Bullet
For varmints, you need to go lighter. The typical size for a .308 Winchester round is about 150 to 165 grains; we’d recommend nothing larger for varmint, especially for prairie dogs. For most varmints, a bullet at 150 grains or lighter is the best option. As we’ll show, there are plenty of low-weight options for varmint hunting, and these rounds have the right design for effective ballistic performance.
Steer clear from using FMJ ammo for varmints. Instead, try soft point or expanding rounds.
Expanding Round
Like all hunting rounds, you need something that will expand and create a larger wound channel. Leave the FMJ rounds at home and choose a hollow point, soft point, or ballistic tip for varmint hunting with a .308 Winchester.
Order Cheap Ammunition from the Top Names in the Industry
If a varmint is bothering your property, and all you have is a .308 Winchester rifle, these cartridges can turn your big-game .308 Remington rifle into a varmint-control machine. And, as a bonus, you’ll have excellent reach the next time you hunt coyote or prairie dogs.
