Why did the .308 score so low in the poll?

Selkirk · #1 11-27-2008, 08:39 PM

G'day All

Brad09 recently ran a thread called; "Okay, so now I'm Confused Again...". In that thread he posted a poll, asking us to vote on three different cartridges (.308 / .270 / .30-06). Link; http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=22804

The order of the poll results was pretty much what I expected:

#1) 66 votes (53%) for the .30-06 Spring.
#2) 46 votes (36%) for the .270 Win.
#3) 15 votes (11%) for the .308 Win.

What surprised me was that the .308 only got 15 votes. I expected the .308 to come in 3rd, but I did not expect it to be such a 'distant' 3rd ... only 11% voted for it!

What's your take on why the .308 scored so low?

catnthehat · #2 11-27-2008, 08:49 PM

Because it is considered "underpowered " by many hunters these days , I think.
Ask to compare a 6.5X55 to a 708 and 308, and the 308 will come in last as well, but those three are even closer than the .270 and '06 are to the 308!

John Wooters wrote a very good article quite a few years ago about the 308.
he noted that it wasn't sexy, wasn't a magnum, didn't have blistering ballistics, but for all those downfalls it worked so well it was actually boring!

I tend to agree with him.....
Cat

#3 11-27-2008, 08:54 PM

The .308 is inherently wickedly accurate, more so than the '06. Don't know why, but that just what I read. I'd hunt with one if I didn't have a bunch of others.

spurly · #4 11-27-2008, 08:57 PM

The 308 has always been extremely underated, but is a very good cartridge. It is inherently accurate, and very easy to shoot.

catnthehat · #5 11-27-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitrdun

The .308 is inherently wickedly accurate, more so than the '06. Don't know why, but that just what I read. I'd hunt with one if I didn't have a bunch of others.

One of the big things it has going for it ( and all the other rounds derived from it) is its low recoil.
1/2" of powder capacity makes a big difference in the accuracy department!
I have somewhere around 6 long range target rifles in 308, and use them all.
I don't hunt with one either, but I sure handload for a bunch of fellas that do - it's about the most popular caliber I load for.

Mintaka · #6 11-27-2008, 09:06 PM

.

catnthehat · #7 11-27-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mintaka

It's all propaganda TF.
"Thirty ought six" has a better ring to it than "three O eight"
Look at the .243! It's Remington counterpart the .244 never gained in popularity until they renamed it the 6 millimetre magnum.
Having said that I don't know why the "7X57 Mauser" never took off in popularity, I know I would like to own a "7X57" ...that sounds cool!
For some reason too much effort is spent on caliber and not on bullet construction, rifle fit, and shooting abilities, although it does make for some interesting conversation.

X2!

cat

Buckhead · #8 11-27-2008, 09:13 PM

The .308 is just a shortened 30-06, therefore it has no real purpose.
If I want my 30-06 to shoot slower I just use less powder - what do I need a 308 for.

The .308 is for sissys and little girls.

swift1 · #9 11-27-2008, 09:34 PM

The 308 is an almost even match to the 3006 and it does it with much less powder, an extremely efficient caliber (but not as sexy as other cals) + plus the advantage of a short action + less recoil + alot of target shooter use it + most tactical military / law enforcement use it so there must be something to this boring little caliber. I have a custom built 308, formerly 7mm RM fan and just love it, very accurate.

catnthehat · #10 11-27-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckhead

The .308 is just a shortened 30-06, therefore it has no real purpose.
If I want my 30-06 to shoot slower I just use less powder - what do I need a 308 for.

The .308 is for sissys and little girls.

Whatever!

Cat

Cappy · #11 11-27-2008, 09:40 PM

The .308 is a relatively boring round. There is nothing "sexy" about it. It shoots a moderately weighted bullet at a relatively moderate speed. It is however an excellent round , it has moderate recoil, very easy to shoot accurately and the moderate speed allows you to use standard hunting bullets quite effectively as they hold up to the impact speed.

I have two and they have dropped quite a bit of game. I have shot them so much that they are pretty much extensions of me now. I have two other rifles based on the cartridge a .243 and a .260AI and they are turning out to be great too.

Becuse of their small powder volume and better efficiency you can get them to shoot closer to their max potential out of short barrels. Try getting a 300Win mag or 30/06 to shoot close to their max velocities out of a 20" barrel. All you get is more blast and a bigger flash, but the drop off in velocity from their max is more substantial.

Nothing wrong with a .308 - just blah

Selkirk · #12 11-27-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckhead

The .308 is just a shortened 30-06 . . ."
.

FAIL!!!

The .308 was derived from the .300 Savage:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.300_Savage

LuckySeven · #13 11-27-2008, 10:19 PM

YUP..........chock it al up to MAGNUMITIS of the brain !!!
Why do you think they came up with ULTRA MAGS...bigger, better, faster ....WOOHOO !!!!!

...Oh, and YES, I have a 7mmRUM as well.

#14 11-27-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckhead

The .308 is just a shortened 30-06, therefore it has no real purpose.
If I want my 30-06 to shoot slower I just use less powder - what do I need a 308 for.

The .308 is for sissys and little girls.

You need to do you homework before posting.

Grizzly Adams · #15 11-27-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggerFinger

FAIL!!!

The .308 was derived from the .300 Savage:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.300_Savage

Got to question this. Wikipedia is a user input information source. Just like a computer, garbage in, garbage out.

If you disagree with what is written, you are free to correct it, without having any valid academic qualifications. What became the 7.62 Nato, Winchester adopted it as the .308 Winchester, was developed by the US military, as a more efficient version of the 30/06. Less materials required, shorter cycling in automatic weapons, and only marginally less power. I guess,if you wanted to carry this argument far enough, you could make claims, that the 30/06 was developed from the 8X57.
Grizz

Okotokian · #16 11-28-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggerFinger

What's your take on why the .308 scored so low?
[/LEFT]

I don't think it has much to do with the comparison... I think it's just a reflection of the percentage of people that actually own one. I would bet that people who owned a .270 voted for the .270, those with a 30-06 voted for that, and so on. Some exotic caliber might actually be the "best" (however you want to measure that) at taking a particular animal, but if only 1% of the people on the board own one, it probably isn't going to get very many votes.

sbtennex · #17 11-28-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mintaka

It's all propaganda TF.
Look at the .243! It's Remington counterpart the .244 never gained in popularity until they renamed it the 6 millimetre magnum.

The .244/6mm Remington started out on it's left foot. It was doomed as a reaction to Remington's own marketing - they sold it as a varmint gun. The .243 was being marketed as a dual purpose caliber and guys like Warren Page promoted it as a good deer gun with 100 grain bullets. The .244 came out with a 1-12 twist and wouldn't stabilize the 100's. Eventually they saw the light and brought out a 1-10 but the damage was done and it never recovered, never really gained popularity. That was odd, because it's a much better designed cartridge than a .243 - and capable of more impressive ballistics, being designed for a longer action. But then Remington continues to make some ridiculous marketing decisions even today - SAUM's, weird and ugly rifles and so on.

Selkirk · #18 11-28-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

"Got to question this. Wikipedia is a user input information source. Just like a computer, garbage in, garbage out.

. . . "
.

True ... Wikipedia can be a good source, but you have to watch for 'questionable' statements and info. In this case, I think the Wikipedia summaries on the .308 Win., and it's parent case (.300 Savage) are fairly legit.

For interest sake, here's another two links on the .308 Win.;

- http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html
- http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

Keep it cominig Laddies & Lassies! With the exception of Buckhead's 'Words of Wisdom'

, we're getting some good responses.

EagleEye54 · #19 11-28-2008, 12:00 PM

The 308 has been around for a long time and is today a rather ho-hum cartidge in the hunting world up here. It is a great cartridge but it doesn't generate the excitement of a 270 WSM or even an old 30-06. I think you'll see a lot more use in the eastern USA.

Perhaps the reason for the low vote on an Alberta based forum board has to do with the topography we hunt in. Most folks I know stick with long action rigs with some reach to drop deer at longer range on the open fields. Not that the 308 isn't up for the job, but some perceive that it is not. I'd bet that if you asked this question in a place like Alabama, you'd likely get a whole different vote pattern.

Copidosoma · #20 11-28-2008, 12:01 PM

You won't get much of an ego boost showing up in hunting camp with a 308.

You will get alot of dead animals and ragged holes in paper but apparently that isn't the cool thing to do.

Okotokian · #21 11-28-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Copidosoma

You won't get much of an ego boost showing up in hunting camp with a 308.

You will get alot of dead animals and ragged holes in paper but apparently that isn't the cool thing to do.

I recall reading a comment from a hunting guide in some magazine. He said he liked to see guys showing up with a 30-06. He assumed they probably knew how to use it well. He wasn't so sure about some of those shiny new short magnums, etc.

The three best, most experienced hunters I know (A father and two sons. respect them tons) use a well-experienced 30-06, .270, and .280 respectively, and I've eaten a lot of moose and elk at their place. They really aren't into guns at all. They are into hunting.

roger · #22 11-28-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mintaka

the "7X57 " .

to me this always immediately reminds me of a pair of binocs

personally, ive never been a fan any of the 3..no real reason...

altogether the 270, 3006 and 308 are to shooting sports, what neopolitan is to ice cream!!

wayne · #23 11-28-2008, 04:40 PM

Ya, there might have been a bit of voter apathy going on there too. 127 votes is not much to go on. I didn't vote because they didn't have 'none of the above'.

#24 11-28-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spurly

The 308 has always been extremely underated, but is a very good cartridge. It is inherently accurate, and very easy to shoot.

My first deer was taken with my dad .308 Winchester lever action. Still one of my favorite guns. Very accurate to. People push them aside to quick.

Grizzly Adams · #25 11-28-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggerFinger

G'day All

Brad09 recently ran a thread called; "Okay, so now I'm Confused Again...". In that thread he posted a poll, asking us to vote on three different cartridges (.308 / .270 / .30-06). Link; http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=22804

The order of the poll results was pretty much what I expected:

#1) 66 votes (53%) for the .30-06 Spring.
#2) 46 votes (36%) for the .270 Win.
#3) 15 votes (11%) for the .308 Win.

What surprised me was that the .308 only got 15 votes. I expected the .308 to come in 3rd, but I did not expect it to be such a 'distant' 3rd ... only 11% voted for it!

What's your take on why the .308 scored so low?

I guess all the 7mm Rem. guys must have been out hunting, when the survey was done.

Grizz

fluxcore · #26 11-28-2008, 05:16 PM

Im not two concerened with stopping power when I can keep a 308 inside a softball at 600yrds

A well placed 308 at 100 to 300yrds will drop anything around here. Ive seen an elk taken at 500+yrds that droped like a stone with the cute little round. I think its all preference

sullijr · #27 11-28-2008, 05:26 PM

My first deer was shot with a 303, 215 gr bullet cause thats all that was available at the time.The reason of the results in the poll could be the age of the voters,The older would have voted 3006,270 then 308 and and younger for the speed

Buckhead · #28 11-28-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggerFinger

FAIL!!!

The .308 was derived from the .300 Savage:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.300_Savage

The 30-06 was designed in 1906 and used as its parent case the 30-03.
The .300 Savage was not designed until 1920. As the case dimensions of the .300 Savage are almost IDENTICAL to the 30-06 what do you suppose happened? Coincidence - I think not.

Buckhead · #29 11-28-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitrdun

You need to do you homework before posting.

I've done 39 years of "homework". Started shooting when I was nine. You do the math.

Cal · #30 11-28-2008, 07:16 PM

I think a fellow could own any of the three, be convinced that he had the perfect gun, and be completely right. The three are realy close on paper, in the real world you'd never tell the difference. I wanted a 30-06 when I first went to buy a gun, in the rifle I wanted they didnt have it so I picked a 270 because I had heard that killing power was identical but the 270 shot further. If all around callibers are at about the middle of the spectrum I would say that the 308 is the exact middle, very good at a variety of things but with no particular strength to set it appart.