Author Topic: .308 win (Read 1544 times)

BlackWolf · « **on:** July 03, 2006, 05:58:11 AM »

All around good caliber, enough for deer/elk/black bear/etc, light on recoil - big on performance. What are the downsides to this caliber? Out to any reasonable range it seems like enough gun on paper. Why don't I see many threads about this caliber on here?

BW

sniperVLS · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2006, 06:47:08 AM »

You might not see a lot of talk about it because like the .270 and .30-06, its used for everything and theres not much else to say about it.

If you pick the right bullet and put it where it needs to go, it'll do the job just fine

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2006, 04:49:10 AM »

You don'’t see many threads about the 308 Winchester because after 52 years it is a washed-up, has-been cartridge whose functionality has been supplanted by more modern offerings. Smart riflemen around the world are trading in their .308's for rifles chambered in the newer cartridges. Used .308'’s are piling up at the dealers who find themselves with too much inventory in used .308 Win and often refuse to take one in trade.

Hot stock tip for the week: “ENRON”.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2006, 05:31:08 AM »

I traded my 300 Win mag in on a 308 Win last year because.... I like to reload for the 308 since components are very common because of its 52 year history and is still a NATO round today. The options for brass are many and often inexpensive. The other end of the spectrum is the match grade brass and bullets as well. No other cartridge has these claims to fame while being a great big game round. The 308 is efficient and effective and inexpensive and available everywhere.

Cheese

nomosendero · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2006, 08:50:29 AM »

Good one, Coyote Hunter!

1armoured · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2006, 05:22:02 PM »

Way to go, Coyote.

We should dream up some alternative descriptions for SM's, SSM's, and WSSM's for a laugh.

Blackwolf,
I find the .308 does everything I ask of it,
with relatively inexpensive (and available) quality components and surplus ammo.

It makes a difference down this end of the World, where things can get expensive, or are just not available when you 'need' them.
Also, I can use the same powder I use in the .222 and .223 .

Downsides ?
None except those of our own making !

My sporter setup with it's hard rubber pad, for Hunter Silhouette gives me a bit of a boot off the bench, or prone, with my Max loads, but I can shoot an 80 shot match without any discomfort when I'm shooting silhouette. (I'm just 'so' focused as well !)

cheers,
Sean in 'Godzone'

tanoose · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2006, 02:30:39 PM »

Sniper there is nothing wrong with the 308 the 308 and its 150 grain bullet will give you the same and with some bullets higher velocitys then the 30/06 if you need some caliber with higher velocitys any of the 300 magnums will do. There isn't a new caliber out there that will do any more then any of the older ones.Ne w calibers are generated so that new rifles can be made , why? money, hey nothing wrong with buying new rifle s but be careful of which new caliber you buy as some of them may not be on the market 10 years from now. Already federal has dropped a couple of 338RUM loads and even remington only sell one rifle now in that caliber and i beleive if you want a 416 you have to go to there custom shop.

DavOh · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2006, 03:40:53 PM »

I have to say that there's only a few critters on the North American continent that I would not take my .308 after... Granted there may be some tweaking to loads and bullet choice(one of the great things about the .308, is the versatility of loads available).

IMHO the .308 is THE caliber that all shooters and especially hunters should have in their safe. I'd rather carry a .308 than a .30-06, and most expecially rather than a .270. Alot of that is my familiarity with the round and with my rifle(an OLD Remington 788 B/A in .308). Inside 300 yds(which is more than enough distance for where I hunt) whitetail live at my mercy(when I'm given a shot that is

). And though I have yet to go elk hunting, I assure you that it will be that beat up old Rem 788 that will be in my pack. Anything short of the big bears and possibly Bison(not sure), and the .308 is my choice...

150 Gr remington Corelokts for white tail(reliable 1/2"-1" groups at 100yds in my that old rifle), and prolly step up to what ever 180Gr load shoots best for elk....

Anyone who tries to tell you that the .308 is a substandard round for hunting is either trying to sell you a new rifle, or a comedian(coyote haha)... Deer do not grow thicker and thicker hides every year, therefore you do not need the latest and greatest whiizbanger-super-duper-spiffy special caliber. Beware those who preach the gospel of the church of the all-mighty-holy-magnums...

Cheesehead · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2006, 03:54:07 PM »

Go to the ammo store in 10 or 20 years from now and its easy to guess what you will find on the shelf. The 308 Winchester will be there. Not the wsm or the wssm or the ultras. That might even be next year.

Cheese

T.R. · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2006, 01:40:59 AM »

Nearly every Fall since 1967, I've taken a fine elk for the freezer. Most fell to my .308 rifle and "plain" 180 grain factory ammo. Average distance for most of my shots is about 125 to 225 yards. My .308 gets the job done without heavy recoil or pricey ammo. .308 is a KEEPER!
TR

sniperVLS · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2006, 05:01:12 AM »

Quote from: T.R. on July 19, 2006, 01:40:59 AM

Nearly every Fall since 1967, I've taken a fine elk for the freezer. Most fell to my .308 rifle and "plain" 180 grain factory ammo. Average distance for most of my shots is about 125 to 225 yards. My .308 gets the job done without heavy recoil or pricey ammo. .308 is a KEEPER!
TR

Mr. Joe · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2006, 03:44:40 AM »

The GREAT .308! What to say about the great .308 winchester.

To start off, its performance is the same as the 30-06 for all efects and perposes and we all know that either round can cleanly kill any animal in N. America so long as the shooter is not a slob and the bullets are constucted acordingly. I have noticed in my balistics guide that on average, .30-06 loads are 80-90 feet per second faster. Now 80-90 fps is nothing, but i dont find this acurate. I think this is because these stats. are taken from a 24 inch test barrel. Most all of the .30-06's and .308's i see however use 22 inch tubes. With my chronograph, using the same loads i show the .308 to be in most cases within 10 feet per second and somtimes a few faster. I think this may be due to the fact that the .308 operates under slightly higher pressure and is not effected as much by a shorter barrel. The rounds are equaly flat shooting as well. The difference in drop at 500 yards is somthing like 3.5 inches wich is nothing.

Ok, now ive shown why the .308 is the .30-06 equal, but here is why i like it more. First, the .308 winchester is a short action cartridge. Some may not care, but there are several reasons why this is important. The first is the rifle its self. I have found in my own two rifles, that the .308 is roughly 1.5 inches shorter with the same barrel length. This may not seem to be much, but when afeild in rough country, it makes all the difference in the world. (just ask somone who totes a magum around). Also, the .308 boasts better acuracy due to a stiffer action, and shorter powder colum in the case its self and several other reasons for wich i have no idea. Both rounds are good shooters, so this doesnt really matter to me, but it does to some so i threw it in there. The .308 also has less recoil wich makes it easyer to shoot and practice with. Another major factor is ammo availability. I know you can get .30-06 ammo easily in the U.S, but .308 ammo is easy to find anywere in the free world thanks to NATO!

Some folks say that the .308 doesnt handle the heavy loads as well such as the 220 grainer. Again, this just isnt true in my experience. I have loaded several 220 grain loads, and found the acuracy to be good, and thevolicty and consistancy to be satisfactory as well.

I like the .30-06 very very much and i find it the equal of the .308 in performance. But were as the .30-06 has no advantage over the .308, the .308 has the above advantages wich are enough to make it, in my humble opinion the best all around cartridge, and my personal favorite. I have many other rifles, but i only use the .308. Its got it all.

Terrill · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2006, 02:11:21 PM »

I don't mention them much because I'm either shooting one of mine or building another! Four in the safe and another one waiting for a stock.

longwinters · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2006, 12:11:41 PM »

Terrill,

Very interesting looking rifle. Can you share the details?

Long

Terrill · « **Reply #14 on:** July 25, 2006, 12:41:05 PM »

Thanks Long,
It's a Ruger MkII (.308 of course)
I've cut the barrel down to 19" and then re-crowned it. I'm using a fast powder so I have not lost much vel. at all with the short barrel. I made walnut insert from a tree off of my land to replace the standard factory pastic inserts. The sling and buttcuff is my handiwork. The rifle has always shot well before and after cutting the barrel back. 3/4" groups on average.
The whole idea was just to get a walk-around rifle that would be easy to carry without having to go to a whimpy thin barrel.
Almost forgot, Leupold fixed 6x scope.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** July 25, 2006, 02:07:21 PM »

Quote from: Terrill on July 25, 2006, 12:41:05 PM

... It's a Ruger MkII (.308 of course)... I made walnut insert from a tree off of my land to replace the standard factory pastic inserts. ...

Bought a similar rifle (blue steel instead of stainless) in .300 Win Mag. Called Ruger and ordered the synthetic inserts to replace the walnut ones it came with.

Looks nice!

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2006, 05:34:03 PM »

Nice rifle.

Sourdough · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2006, 05:49:29 AM »

The .308 is a great cartridge for the lower 48 states. A little light for Elk, and the smaller Moose down there, but adiquate. It is deffinately not an Alaskian gun. Oh, in Alaska it will work great for Sheep, Caribou, and Black Tail Deer. BUT it is not adiquate for those big BROWN fellows that hang out in the same areas. Up here we have to go loaded for bear litterally, and the .308 just does not cut it. The optimal bullet for the .308 is the 165gr, and that bullet is too light for Moose and Bears. Every couple of years a young GI will ask to join my hunting camp, first question is "What are you shooting?" When he says a .308, orn 30-30, I loan him a .35 Whelen or a .350 Rem Mag.

savageT · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2006, 06:21:35 AM »

Posts: 1197

Re: .308 win
« Reply #17 on: Today at 10:49:29 AM »

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The .308 is a great cartridge for the lower 48 states. A little light for Elk, and the smaller Moose down there, but adiquate. It is deffinately not an Alaskian gun. Oh, in Alaska it will work great for Sheep, Caribou, and Black Tail Deer. BUT it is not adiquate for those big BROWN fellows that hang out in the same areas. Up here we have to go loaded for bear litterally, and the .308 just does not cut it. The optimal bullet for the .308 is the 165gr, and that bullet is too light for Moose and Bears. Every couple of years a young GI will ask to join my hunting camp, first question is "What are you shooting?" When he says a .308, orn 30-30, I loan him a .35 Whelen or a .350 Rem Mag.

Sourdough......You're up there and I'm down here where the "Brownie's seldom show up. I hope you might consider what our Native Americans have used for many moons to harvest local moose, elk,..........etc, etc. Would they not tell you an old 30-30, 30-06, .308 are all they need? "Brownies.......Well now hold on there Pilgrim...... Do ya really like bear meat that much?"
Jim

Don Fischer · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:01:37 PM »

Some of those Indian's were power crazy and used bows and arrows!

Mr. Joe · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2006, 10:59:13 AM »

.308 is certinly not ideal for bear and moose, but it will work. My grandfather hailed from alaska and killed several brownies with 180 gr. .308 loads.

The .308 does everthing the .30-06 will do. It just does some of them a little better IMHO.

DavOh · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2006, 01:10:39 PM »

Quote from: Don Fischer on July 26, 2006, 12:01:37 PM

Some of those Indian's were power crazy and used bows and arrows!

I'm no indian, but I'm still power crazy enough to use Bow and Arrows!