Curious about the 308

[snuffer#1]

I see alot of other calibers talked about . But I don't see much on the 308. From what literature I've read the 308 is probably the most accurate of them all. They are an excellent caliber for deer. Very good velocity on the 150 gr. and the 165gr. I was thinking of getting either a 270 or a 30-06, but know I have my eyes set on getting a 308. What are yall's thoughts?
                                                                                               thomas

[Jimbo47]

I've often wondered the same, and you are right, you don't hear much about those calibers.

Could be that they are just getting the job done, and are boringly efficient, so thus the reason for the lack of anyone posting about them.

Since you are leaning toward the .308 I think that is a good choice and from posts I've read, they are accuate shooters in the Handi, but any of the one's you've named can say the same!

Standard answer on this forum to your question though, is to get all of them!

[PartsMan]

You don't hear much because there is not much to say.
It just works.
It shoots medium weight bullets at medium velocities with inherent accuracy.

[Dillohide]

The 308 is a great caliber that I unfortunately do not have yet. It's a short action round developed off the 30-06 to be more accommodating in automatics. The main difference between the two is that the 308 is loaded up to reach almost 30-06 ballistics and the 30-06 can be loaded down to the 308. My Handi 30-06 load for example is a 308 ballistic equivalent ... 150 grain SP with 57 grains IMR 4350. Very accurate with not quite the sharp recoil of a standard 30-06 load. With a 308 I could achieve the same ballistics with less powder making it a little cheaper to hand load.

[Mac11700]

The 308 barrels can be a bit finicky to find the right load for...but once you do..they usually are pretty accurate...I had a re-stocked survivor that has one of the longest throats on it of any of my rifles...which made developing any hand loads with it difficult...and I had to go to the 190-200 grain match Kings to get it to touch the lands...It did good for me otherwise...shooting Norma factory ammo and Federal Match ammo in it...groups averaged 1/2"-3/4" at 100...my neighbor bought it from me a few years back...he took over 40 deer with it...before selling it to his brother who has taken almost the same...Winchester 150 power points shot thru it under 1/2" at 100...

Mac

 

[quickdtoo]

I've got one of the .308" bull barrels from a Survivor in a camo lam stock, it shoots the 168gr match TSX real well with a near max Varget load, no trouble reaching the lands with that bullet at 3.052", although I'm using their recommended .050" off the lands at 3.00". Current production extractor barrels have no issues with sticking brass like the ejectors did.

Tim

[JKump]

I have a Survivor 308 bull barreled rifle.  I switched to a Monte Carlo stock.  Mine seems to like the 180 Federal Fusions.   I can not complain.  More than accurate for deer.  Mine also has the extractor.  Never a hanged brass, knock on wood.  This rifle just gets it done.  Have had several people ask for it, can't get rid of it.  I have less than $500 in the rifle and scope (Nikon 4x32 Prostaff).

[fanner50]

My .308 started out as a Survivor and is now a "full stock" Stinger. It will put 3 rounds of Federal 180 gr in 1" @ 100 yds. It took a Muley doe at 330 yds and a 14" Antelope at 320 yds. this year. I was going to re-bore and chamber it to a .358 but have deceided to leave it alone. I'll be taking it elk hunting this weekend. .308 is a great choice.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/montanajustice/mannlicher308-2.jpg


  - F50

[AKbuilder]

Just watch it if you think a Rossi .308 is the same as a Handi.  They are not, this noon it was about 13 degrees outside and my GF spotted two deer on a hill nearby.  So I grabbed the Rossi and crawled just under a 1/4 mile to get a good shot on the pair.  The buck had a pretty good rack and I have an any deer tag, so I put the cross hairs on the scope on his chest and squeeze the trigger.  Click, check the safety, it is ready to fire.  Check the chamber I am sure I loaded it.  Sure enough light strike on the primer, swap in a new round, cock it and click again.  I cock it and click a total of three times on that round. Never a bang or even a phiiiiit.  Guess where that Rossi is going, not hunting with me again.  Ammo was RP .308 factory, fired fine during sighting a couple of weeks ago.  So if I get to go hunting again, I am taking the Rem 710 in .30-06.

Thanks,
Paul

[quickdtoo]

Paul, I wouldn't blame the rifle, cold temps and any oil/grease can defeat any firing pin mechanism, degrease it and it should work fine, use a dry lube if you want.

Tim

[Foggy]

The parent round for a 308win was a 300savage the reason for the development was the short neck on the 300savage was not good for semmi and full auto rifles for the military

[Dillohide]

That's right! Can't forget the 300 Savage developed for the short action Model 99 lever action in the 1920's, who's parent round would have been the old 30-06. Then came the 7.62 mm NATO ... 308. Guess that makes the 30-06 Great Grandpa.

[mogwai]

The 308 barrels can be a bit finicky to find the right load for...but once you do..they usually are pretty accurate...I had a re-stocked survivor that has one of the longest throats on it of any of my rifles...which made developing any hand loads with it difficult...and I had to go to the 190-200 grain match Kings to get it to touch the lands...It did good for me otherwise...shooting Norma factory ammo and Federal Match ammo in it...groups averaged 1/2"-3/4" at 100...my neighbor bought it from me a few years back...he took over 40 deer with it...before selling it to his brother who has taken almost the same...Winchester 150 power points shot thru it under 1/2" at 100...

Mac

 

I've put less than a box of shells through mine, but it routinely shoots <2 MOA with cheapo Federal 150s.  I have not tried to tune a load for it, one of my friends has borrowed it the past 2 seasons for deer hunting and he likes to use factory stuff.  When I finally get it in my hands, will mostly use it to track my USH 20 ga ballistics.  Those Hornaday SSTs are EXPENSIVE.   

[fish280]

my son's heavy barrel electroless nickel handi shoots plain ol' winnie 150-grain power points into nice 1-inch groups, sometimes sub-inch. i suppose i could mess with handloading and bedding to shrink groups, but why bother? it's a hunting rifle, and he much likes it. a bit heavy but way compact. carries lighter than it is.