Which .303 British ammo?
 

I'm torn between two commercial .303 British loadings for deer hunting. The Federal 180 grain SP and the 180 grain Winchester Powerpoints. My rifle shoots well with both but I was hoping someone has some experience with these rounds and could tell me how they perform on game.

A few years ago I hunted with an Enfield P14 chambered in .303 Brit. I liked the Federal 180 gn softpoint myself, shot a 4 point in Chaz with it, but I suppose either would work OK. With a double lung, the 4 point only made it about 30 yards after a dose of the Federal. I recon you could drop a Moose with that round if you hit him proper.

Winchester 180's are great, I know you didn't list it but stay away from the Remington Core-Lokt stuff. Couldn't make a single decent group using that ammo.

I have found that most guns are far more accurate than the shooters wielding them, regardless of ammo choice.
But that's my opinion, and its worth what you paid for it.

If your rifle is shooting either brand reasonably well, then shoot the one you like the best.

If both types work about equally well, I would buy the cheaper so I could buy more to practice with. As for which bullet is better, you are not hunting grizzlies in a thicket. You are shooting white tails. Any 180 grain bullet made by more or less reputable manufacturers is going to be more than enough. I killed white tails using everything from shotgun slugs, 100 grain .250s through 180 grain 30-06. The secret is that if the round is accurate and you are using a bullet made for hunting, bullet construction does not make a heck of a lot of difference. I can't speak to FMJ or competition bullets but I would bet they would work just as well. A lot of what is out there is pure marketing hype and personal prejudice at least for white tails.

Either will work for deer. I agree, shoot the cheapest one if they shoot the same.

Ditto "UncleNorby".

Did you try any in the 150 gr. to 165 gr. range? The 180 gr. will take up a good deal of cartridge space that could be used for additional powder charge ... i.e. higher muzzle velocity. I have killed a ton of game with a 165 gr. , 30 cal. bullet out of a 308 Win. Not much difference, ballistically speaking, between a 308 Win. and and the 303 Brit.