Prepper Podcast Radio Network- by James Smith
“My first shot at a hog with an AMAX out of the 300 SAUM was spectacular. Hit in the neck at 258 yards and there was only a little piece of fur holding the body together at that point. Good terminal performance.” – Mark Swab’s appraisal of the Hornady .308 AMAX sniper ammunition round
Despite rising unemployment, record number of people on public assistance, the US Government via the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a solicitation for more sniper ammo, in this order – they are requesting 141,160 rounds of ammunition (7,058 boxes) of Hornady .308 Winchester 168gr A-MAX TAP Ammunition.
This is not their first foray into purchasing sniper ammunition. In September 2012,we reported DHS’s intent to purchase 176,000 rounds of the .308 caliber 168 grain ammunition. And surprisingly, they abruptly cancelled the solicitation.
There has been no further requests for the ammunition until recently.
Sniper Ammunition
What makes the .308 ammunition so deadly is the long range capability of the round. The ability is called ballistic coefficient, or the efficiency of a projectile in overcoming air resistance as it travels to its target. According to Speer Reloading Manual Number 13, the .308 165 grain has the highest coefficient of any hunting rifle round:
- .224″ (.22) 55 grain, BC .255
- .243″ (6mm) 90 grain, BC .385
- .243″ (6mm) 100 grain BT, BC .430
- .257″ (.25) 100 grain BT, BC .393
- .257″ (.25) 120 grain BT, BC .435
- .264″ (6.5mm) 120 grain, BC .433
- .264″ (6.5mm) 140 grain, BC .496
- .277″ (.270) 130 grain BT, BC .449
- .284″ (7mm) 145 grain, BC .457
- .308″ (.30) 150 grain BT, BC .423
- .308″ (.30) 165 grain BT, BC .477
- .311″ (.303) 150 grain, BC .411
- .323″ (8mm) 150 grain, BC .369
- .338″ (.338) 200 grain, BC .448
- .375″ (.375) 270 grain BT, BC .429
Hornady ammunition is not for the budget minded, and the Federal government will pay a premium price for their sniper ammunition: approximately $1.20 for each round, when they can get a lower grain .308 round for as little as $0.69 for a 147 grain .308 round from Lucky Gunner.
http://www.prepperpodcast.com/sniper-ammunition-homeland-security-revives-the-purchases/
I use the .308 150 grain because I was getting it cheap, and I didn’t know anything about ballistic coefficients when I started shooting, but I probably get a lot more range time than anyone who works for the Gestapo.
How much, JR?
Cheapest I’ve been able to find is Hornady 178 g, @ $25/20. Kinda steep.