Author Topic: The lowly .308 (Read 4017 times)

wreckhog · « **on:** October 15, 2009, 01:24:18 AM »

Why is this not a more popular caliber? Just with factory loads at home I have 20 grain plastic bullet training ammo for 18 cents a round (not bullet), and mil surp battle packs for 50 cents a round. That is less than 38 and 357 respectively. The plastic bullets have zero recoil and are a blast with reactive targets. For hunting I get ammo anywhere, lately Federal Power Shocks from Walmart for 70 cents or premium ammo for game up to bear. For targets, I can buy match ammo. Though I don't. For self defense and varmints I can buy 110 grain Hornady TAP. If I want subsonic or any 30 caliber bullet, I can reload. Mil surp brass and bullets are widely available. It is an inherently accurate cartridge. Recoil and muzzle blast are reasonable. So why do I have only one Handi, and one bolt action? I think I want another one. Sweet pre 64 Winchester 100 at the local shop........hmmm.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2009, 01:53:43 AM »

Before buying my 7mm-08 I was looking for a Handi Ultra in .308 Win as I have 1,000's of .308 Win (Calvin) to play with

but no one in my area had a Handi in .308 Win so I will buy a barrel for mine now

MSP Ret · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2009, 01:57:24 AM »

The .308 is a well respected caliber in the Handi with a reputation for excellent accuracy. I have been keeping my eyes open for a .308 barrel for a good price for a long time now....<><....

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:13:40 AM »

I don't own a Handi .308......yet. My .308 is a Ruger M77 MKII, and everything you say about that caliber is true. I don't change around with mine. It likes .308 168 gr. Winchester Supremes and that's what I use for everything. I bought two 200 round battle packs of mil-surp 150 gr., and was unimpressed with them. I shot one battle pack and donated the other to a benefit shoot for muscular distrophy.

Pete

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:18:09 AM »

I too have a Ruger 77 MKII, a Browning BLR, and an L1A1. I reload for it and it is a very good round for 90% of the game in NA. Since it is a short cartridge, guns are lighter and easier to carry all day.

Troyboy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:28:17 AM »

When i consolidated my collection, the 308 caliber rifles were kept. One of these just happened to be a HB handi. I am still working to find what it likes.

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2009, 03:18:31 AM »

Troyboy, I read years ago that the 168 gr. boat tail was ballistically correct for the .308. I tried it and never looked back.

Pete

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:29:38 AM »

I just use 150 gr Coreloks on mine for deer here in the deep south and they work fine. I use 165 or 168s on my 06. Friend of mine shoots hot loaded 130 grains, says they work fine on deer and are flat shooting and kick less.

Hodr · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:47:34 AM »

I bought a 308 handi so I could go elk hunting with my brother in law here in Az. My eyes are not what they used to be so I put on a decent red dot. Result was one shot, one Ladyelk. We had so much fun that my wife bought me a 45-70 and a 223 handi (new condition) at an estate sale and told me to get out and start shooting again. I seem to have had a 357 mag handi in stainlees/nickel follow me home last week. If they all shoot as well as that 308 I will be one happy camper. Now my brother in law and I are contemplating a few varmit hunts up on the Mogollon Rim. He has already started loading for the 45-70, the 308, the 357, how do I tell him I bought the dies the day after I bought the guns? My wife and sister think it's great, they are contemplating a few shopping trips down in Phoenix while we are out in the woods making a noise like a rabbit.

My wife is fantastic, as for my sister " I smile because she is my sister, I laugh because there is nothing she can do about it".

blindhari

fl.hillbilly · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2009, 05:03:24 AM »

the .308 just the #1 sniper rifle cal. of the marine corp. , holder of many long range records , with loads and bullet
weights good for mice to moose , nope nuthin to love about the .308 nuthin at all

all joking aside , its just one of those calibers that quitely gets the job done .

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2009, 05:05:14 AM »

Quote from: wreckhog on October 15, 2009, 01:24:18 AM

Why is this not a more popular caliber?

Its popularity has probably never wained. The .308, as with the .270, .30-30 and 30-06, are mainstay's in the world of hunting and will more than likely always be within the higher level of sales and popularity.

Each is such an established cartridge that there is probably very little the hunting press can write about that hasn't already been written. Only when a new rifle is offered or, in the case of Hornady's Leverevolution .30-30's, a new type of ammo, is anything seen in the mainstream press.

Wal Marts in my area used to have an ammo rack in a center isle during hunting season that was filled with all four calibers Perhaps some proof of which calibers are the most popular.

And then, perhaps there are those who just want to talk about something different.

Default · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2009, 05:27:39 AM »

I think all one has to do to check the popularity of this fine cartridge is to go to a site like , Ables ammo ... And once you have gone through all the modern arms they have listed there that they have or can get and you'll see time and time again that the 308 tends to be " Sold out at the moment " more then alot of other calibers in the same exact rifle ...

The good ol' 308 (7.62x51) will always hold a place with me , It is the caliber i took my first buffalo with... Two complete pass throughs on a 1400+ pound animal says alot to me , maybe I'm just funny like that..

I wouldnt hesitate to use it on ever thing in north america except the big bears (loaded right) , Yet if push came to shove I would use it on a grizz if no other options were present ( and be silently happy that i wasnt carrying a 22 hornet

)

But i have to go with Hillbilly on this one "nope nuthin to love about the .308 nuthin at all

"

Default

Lefty Dude · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:04:56 AM »

I too have a .308 for my Handi-rifle, and hand load Nosler 168 gr. balistic tips behind Varget powder.
If you have a Handi a .308 is a must have barrel.
I got mine thru the barrel accessory program. I ordered it with front & rear iron sights and it also came with the scope rail. At the time it was an additional $45.00 for the Iron sights. The Irons are tall enough that when the scope is removed the scope rail does not interfer with the Irons.
This is my, " if it all goes to hell in a handbasket, barrel". My Emergency & Survival gun.
I also have an emergency box with bullets, powder, primers, reloading dies and a small Lee hand press plus 200 rounds of loaded ammo. This I carry in my Tahoe always with the Handi-.308.

Yep, the Handi in a .308 is a must have piece.

mannyrock · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:25:20 AM »

The .308 Winchester is extremely poplular. It is consistently listed as the 5th or 6th most popular factory ammo sold in America every year.

It will easily take anything from woodchucks through moose.

G&A Magazine, in an article about a year ago, to the surprise of everyone, ranked the .308 Winchester as the finest all around hunting cartridge in the world. I believe the .30-06 ranked second.

And, with the new Light Magnum ammo, if you need it, it has the same energy as a standard factory .30-06 load.

It is so quietly perfect, that there is simply nothing to talk about. Nothing to fuss over or fool with. It is boring in its perfection.

And yes, you can hit targets at 1,000 yards if you need to.

Regards

Mannyrock

jim36 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:34:00 AM »

Next to my 45 70. my 308 bull bbl is my "sweet thang'. especially with 165 gr nosler bt under 42 gr of varget. Super shooter!!!!

Jim

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #15 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:37:27 AM »

My .308 handy shoot great, I think it's kinda boring thou and my .357 are more fun and the .45-70 has the wow factor so the .308 just don't get talked about much. She'll take a deer or elk right now thou.

canon6 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:40:02 AM »

Before my shoulder went south I have had a bunch of 308's. Most have been in the scout configuration and I have killed antelope, deer, and elk with one. Most were killed with the Nosler Ballistic Tip. Doug

Diesel40 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 15, 2009, 08:08:03 AM »

As far as the handi's go, which of the models in 308 do you like? The handi or survivor?. I had planned on getting one of the survivors in 308 last year, but had a change of plans I still want one.

watkibe · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2009, 08:30:06 AM »

It's kinda weird, but my Remington 788 in 308 is perfect, so I don't shoot it as much now. And only accurate guns are supposed to be interesting... I get really interested in helping a gun that wants to be accurate to fulfill it's dreams.

J. J. Magnum · « **Reply #19 on:** October 15, 2009, 09:43:04 AM »

My first Handi-"rifle" was a Survivor in 308.

Never looked back. I also have a Ruger 77 International in 308 that is superb. Nice all around caliber.

wreckhog · « **Reply #20 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:38:01 AM »

I like the Survivor setup for one handed bipod shooting. Paper and inanimate objects. A regular syn stock for carrying. If I ever buy a long enough bolt, I'll give the thumbhole lami a go. That works real nice with my Encore and low rings.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #21 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:15:06 PM »

Yup, I agree the 308 is an excellent caliber and quite popular in our handis. Mine is a fat and stiff survivor barrel with the rim cut to allow 307 Winchester to be fired in it. Shoots GREAT!!

I like rimmed cases in my hands...

CW

spikehorn · « **Reply #22 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:57:11 PM »

Quote from: Diesel40 on October 15, 2009, 08:08:03 AM

As far as the handi's go, which of the models in 308 do you like? The handi or survivor?. I had planned on getting one of the survivors in 308 last year, but had a change of plans I still want one.

I picked up one of the Dick's SG synthetic camo stoked heavy barrel Did the JB bore paste thing and put a Nikon prostaff 3X940 and haven't looked back! 150gr rem corelokt shoots sub MOA when I do my part. Got it for $249 it was on sale for $259 and I had a $10 coupon. I also have a Stevens 200 in 308 win. This one shoots sub MOA also with wolf 150gr FMJ no less. It's my woodchuck gun. I also have a 1916 Spanish Mauser Short Rifle in 308 win, but don't shoot this one very much I'm not real good with open sights, although I did manage to hit a gallon jug of water at 250 yards with it. My son will probably be the next to get a handi 308.

tykempster · « **Reply #23 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:23:50 PM »

Reloder 17 and 208 grain Amaxes takes the 308 to new levels of performance, 2500+ fps!

Saloon slug · « **Reply #24 on:** October 15, 2009, 05:00:47 PM »

Quote from: J. J. Magnum on October 15, 2009, 09:43:04 AM

My first Handi-"rifle" was a Survivor in 308. Never looked back.

It is still my only Handi at the moment. I could give up a lot of other cartridges in my arsenal but the .308 aint one of them

45-70.gov · « **Reply #25 on:** October 15, 2009, 05:45:38 PM »

no 308 handi yet

will get the 30-30 for the rim before i do....... probly

have 7 308s tho

howa with 3x9 luepold is my go to boring gun...not real accuate but shoots EVERYTHING good
rem 742carbine been with me 35 years 1x4 leupold extended mags....used to be go to gun [hunt or security]
don't shoot the others much
can't wait to try out the ar-10....its a little heavy tho

Sourdough · « **Reply #26 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:57:43 PM »

My first Hi-power rifle was a Parker Haile in .308. I used it for everything for 11 years, it was the only rifle I owned. I took Caribou, Black Bear, and lots and lots of Mule Deer. A few Whitetails, shot the heads off a few Turkeys, and bunches of Coyotes.

Then I got my first 30-06, the .308 hasn't been shot since. It hasn't been out of the vault in over 20 years.

Lefty Dude · « **Reply #27 on:** October 15, 2009, 07:08:34 PM »

Any one shoot Cast bullets in their Handi-.308 ?

I have some laser-cast Tru-Shot 200 gr. GC leads I am going to play with this Fall. The nice thing about the Handi is I can seat this long bullet short in the case. And not worry about an excessive cartridge length not feeding properly. I have three powder I use for my 30-30, and my 30 Remington 141 pump gun reloading & shooting cast bullets. Reloader 7, Accurate 5744, and IMR-SR4759. All three powder do well for 30 caliber.
I wonder which one will shine in the .308 Handi ?

maglvr44 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:04:49 PM »

I much prefer the 7.62x51R

peternap · « **Reply #29 on:** October 16, 2009, 04:16:31 AM »

I might as well be the one to make all the .308 owner mad.

First, the .308 is a fine cartridge and I have several.
That said, the only reason for the 308 is to have a 30/06 class cartridge in a shorter action.
There is some argument that it's more accurate but I've never seen it.

In a single shot like the Handi, there is absolutely NO reason for one, unless you don't want to rechamber and can't find an 06.

The 06 will do everything the 308 will do and then some at a slightly lower pressure.