tell me about the .308

TheClash · #1 10-14-2009, 10:47 AM

so the time is coming in the next little while where i will have to buy a rifle...i am pretty sure i will have to give my beloved .303 back to my uncle...so i will have to get my own haha.

i have heard a few people sing praises of the .308 and i am just curious as to what folks on here think....but more importantly WHY they think what they think. i have shot other calibers and i really enjoy the .270...but i may be looking for something a little different.

so, lets hear it....thanks all

ACKLEY ABE · #2 10-14-2009, 10:55 AM

280

TheClash · #3 10-14-2009, 10:58 AM

ackley i have considered the 280 as well..but would you mind telling me...compared to the 308 and the 270 why you would recommend the 280??

Cappy · #4 10-14-2009, 10:59 AM

The .308 is not a flashy cartridge. It doesn't fly fast, buck the wind like the 6.5's or 7mm's, but it sure works. There are lots of factory rounds available. If you reload they are very easy to load for and to get to shoot. Recoil is on the upper end of mild, so most people can shoot them well. They are suitable for any hoofed game in the province out to any reasonable range.

#5 10-14-2009, 11:01 AM

A totally boring cartridge that shoots well and kills game. Really not much more to say about it. Definitely a great Alberta cartridge that isn't out of place shooting 300 yards.....or more with proper optics and ability.

honda450 · #6 10-14-2009, 11:08 AM

708 or 708AI. Cause its different.

Dang go for a 300WM the only rifle ya will ever need. Nope you will need more.

270 is good too.

Dang its a hard choice sometimes

You will get that 303 yet Clash. I know what it means to ya. Good luck.

#7 10-14-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheephunter

300 yards.....or more with proper optics and ability.

Far more than 300 LOL. the US army preaches a maximum effective range of 800 meters while the USMC preaches a 915 meter maximum effective range. 300 yards is what...275 meters.

The reason I like the .308 can be summed up with the following:

"The .308 is not punishing to shoot, has excellent terminal ballistics, behaves predictably in the wind, and is consistent. While there are quite a few rounds that outperform the .308 in ballistics, there are few, if any, that perform as consistently as the .308. And consistency is accuracy."

There is a reason that quite a few military sniper rifles are chambered with this round.

honda450 · #8 10-14-2009, 11:18 AM

Dang go for a 6.5 X 55. And make that Swede up in Fort Mac happy. I had 2 of those.

ACKLEY ABE · #9 10-14-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheClash

ackley i have considered the 280 as well..but would you mind telling me...compared to the 308 and the 270 why you would recommend the 280??

It's almost a 7 rem mag. It gives up 15 yards on a 10" target compared to the 7 rem and has a lot less recoil. Nice to shoot ...good selection of bullets...and is more than capable for anything you want to shoot. I'm assuming this will be your only centre-fire hunting rifle. I have one and one in 280AI and love em. I don't always use them because I have a few more in the rack. I always have a 300 win behind the seat no matter what rifle I choose to hunt with at the time......because....well...I kinda like my 300's.

You have a lot more bullet choices with an 280 than you do for the 270 (and yes I have a 270 as well). 308....OK...30.06 out to 300 yards basically. Never been a big 308 fan for hunting...dunno why, it's a fine cartridege. 30.06 does what it will and a tad more. (and yes I have three 308's at this time).

My 280AI is on a 700 Mtn Rifle and it does buck a bit....but it is an AI. In a standard hunting rifle I find the 280 a pleasure to shoot. If I was stuck the rest of my life with only a 280 to hunt with...I'd be fine with that.

And that would be, as they say, my 2 cents worth...plus a little more.

6.5 shooter · #10 10-14-2009, 11:50 AM

260 rem all the benifits of the 308 with all the ballistis of th 6.5 bullet and none of the recoil of the 7's and magnums

honda450 · #11 10-14-2009, 11:56 AM

Dang Clash please don't ask what scope ya should put on your new rifle.

It will be a everlasting debate as your cartridge choice.

Splitting hairs sometimes.

Advice: Don't buy a Ford.

TheClash · #12 10-14-2009, 12:06 PM

haha honda....no i know you just put any old cheap scope on as optics don't really matter that much

i am only asking because i don't plan on having a whole safe full of different rifles....and i like something that shoots a little softer.....i don't mind recoil actually..it doesn't really bother me..i just get more "enjoyment" out of a softer shooter. my .303 is barely noticeable and i love to shoot it......plus it is always fun to watch people fight, right??

honda450 · #13 10-14-2009, 12:14 PM

Nope I only use Leupolds Clash.

Consider a 2506?

CNP · #14 10-14-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheClash

haha honda....no i know you just put any old cheap scope on as optics don't really matter that much

i am only asking because i don't plan on having a whole safe full of different rifles....and i like something that shoots a little softer.....i don't mind recoil actually..it doesn't really bother me..i just get more "enjoyment" out of a softer shooter. my .303 is barely noticeable and i love to shoot it......plus it is always fun to watch people fight, right??

If you like softer, don't pick up a lightweight/featherweight/mountain rifle unless of course you want less weight in the mountains. I'm anti-magnum because I'm recoil shy but pretty much any big game rifle is going to smack you if it is light. .308 in lightwieght (6 lbs) hurts

..........a .308 8 lbs or more is much more "enyoyable" to shoot.

TheClash · #15 10-14-2009, 12:51 PM

i am not a light weight rifle fan to be honest...i prefer to shoot a traditional wood stock...and don't mind to carry a bit more weight (just burns more calories right!!)

i am just curious as to different calibers.....like i have said i have shot a 270 a lot and i don't mind that..but again interested in different options etc...

CNP · #16 10-14-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honda450

Nope I only use Leupolds Clash.

Consider a 2506?

Just put a Falcon Menace 4 -14 X 44 on my Ruger Hawkeye 25.06. It weighs in at 9.7 lbs (rifle/scope/sling/bullets). Very nice to shoot

honda450 · #17 10-14-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehntr

Just put a Falcon Menace 4 -14 X 44 on my Ruger Hawkeye 25.06. It weighs in at 9.7 lbs (rifle/scope/sling/bullets). Very nice to shoot

I like 2506 too. I put a Harris bipod on mine. But even without it ehntr mine is probably way heavier than yours I have a Leupold VX-3 on it.

Cappy · #18 10-14-2009, 01:41 PM

If you want a do it all rifle than a .308 will fit the bill (among several others) It will not sacrifice much if you decide to go with a shorter barrel in the 18-22" range. (both of mine sport 20" barrels). By doing so you could go with a quick handling rifle that would be home in the woods, yet still have the ability to reach out a little farther.

Troller, just because the military touts the 800m effective range of the .308 doesn't mean there aren't better out there. Effective hits are a lot different on human targets than those on game animals. I'm a big fan of the
.308, having fired thousands of rounds down range with it. As such I have also learned it limitations. Trying to make effective hits with a .308 at those long distances once the wind has picked up takes a lot of skill and is very difficult to repeatedly do. There is a reason the Canadian army has moved to the C14 (.338 Lapua) as it primary sniping weapon, relegating the C3 primarily to a training role. (although it still gets some use overseas) 600m and in things get quite a bit easier. Big reason so many sniper rifles are chambered for it is because it was the NATO standard that was available from about 1950 on.

Okotokian · #19 10-14-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troller

"The .308 is not punishing to shoot, has excellent terminal ballistics, behaves predictably in the wind, and is consistent. While there are quite a few rounds that outperform the .308 in ballistics, there are few, if any, that perform as consistently as the .308. And consistency is accuracy."

There is a reason that quite a few military sniper rifles are chambered with this round.

Interesting. I've never shot a .308 but always wondered why one would pick it over a 30-06 if you were in the market for a non-magnum .30 cal. Ammo selection and availability is very good for the .308 but it's great for the 30-06. Balistics are good but the 30-06's seem a touch better. Not sure if the recoil difference is THAT noticable. I don't find the 30-06 punishing at all. Weight? A little I guess, but brand and contruction of rifle seems to affect weight more. Perhaps accuracy is the difference?

Mind you, if I wanted a particular .30 cal rifle and it was sitting there on the shelf in .308 and I'd have to wait two months for the 30-06 I might just grab the former and figure I'll probably never notice the subtle difference in real life.

outbackpat · #20 10-14-2009, 04:01 PM

Get a 300mag, you said recoil wasen't a factor. You only notice recoil if you miss. It's a little reminder!