Re: Good quality inexpensive .308 ammo?
If you are shooting a savage rifle with 1:10 twist, you need a heavier bullet.
My first bolt gun was a remmy 700 in .223. I found PMC to be quite good considering the price($7 a box). They are 55g, and my gun is 1:14. I can shoot 1" groups pretty regularly at 100 yards.
So I figured, if it's good enogh in .223 it must be good in .308...WRONG!!! at least for my 10FCP-K. I struggled for 100-200 rounds to get any kind of group or consistency. Started thinking I just couldn't handle the heavier recoil over my .223 or that my scope was junk or something. Then I talked to a guy at the local gun shop and he suggested that 147grains is probably too light for my 1:10twist rate and suggested heavier bullets. So I went to Hornady 168g match ammo and finally saw sub-MOA. Sure, the match grade helped, but the PMC would wander left and right as well as up and down, so I don't think it was just an inconsistent powder charge.
Unfortunately, other than that Privi stuff, you won't find surplus ammo with bullets that are 165g or heavier that is also under $15 a box.
So basically, unless you are OK with 2-3" groups at 100 yards, you're gonna need to either spend the extra $ or reload.