Can 308 do everything you need a rifle to do under 600 yards?

[med358-boise]

Modern 175-178 grain 308 bullets designed for long range hunting (High BC and lower required impact velocity most around 1600 fps) with a muzzle velocity of 2550 are traveling at 1800 fps+ at 500 yards.

If I was trying to make an effective longer range 308 Win hunting cartridge, I would take a good look at the 190 grain Nosler ABLR with its 1300 fps minimum impact velocity and launched at 2390 fps (very achievable) it is still doing 1550+ at 750 yards which is 120% of minimum impact velocity.

There are a 1/2 dozen powders available that make a muzzle velocity of 2600+ with a 22" very achievable with a 175 in a 308 Win with enough margin to find an accurate load.

Of course, you have to be a capable shooter and have a capable rifle.

Minimum impact velocity for bullet manufacturers typically refers to the lowest velocity at which a bullet reliably performs as designed upon impact. This includes expansion, penetration, or fragmentation, depending on the bullet's intended purpose.

 

[memtb]

If I was trying to make an effective longer range 308 Win hunting cartridge, I would take a good look at the 190 grain Nosler ABLR with its 1300 fps minimum impact velocity and launched at 2390 fps (very achievable) it is still doing 1550+ at 750 yards which is 120% of minimum impact velocity

And if a shot is offered @ really close range……a quick "reverse stalk" of several hundred yards can be used to prevent the bullet from "coming from untogether" due to high velocity impact!

Oh wait……disregard this, I thought that I was on one of the "needmoor" threads! memtb

 

[Greatgrandad]

Wow, you might as well use a FMJ at longer range and call it a hunting bullet! If you think a 175 grain bullet at the muzzle doing 2550 is going to do anything but poke a hole, probably in and never come out, at any distance beyond 500 yards, where it is already down to an anemic 1700 fps, your talking more wounded game than will ever be possible to recover than using a 223 @ half that distance.

Then in reality, your talking having good enough accuracy to hit a 2 to 3" kill zone, that means you need .5" at 500 yards from that load, with absolute perfect doping and execution with no human error from the hunter??

Take that to 600 yards, and even if the hunter was super human and could execute perfect shot placement the load isn't capable of that kind of accuracy and at now around 1500 fps a Ruger Blackhawk in 30 carbine is a better choice if it's used inside 50 yards?? Something I know no capable handgun hunter of trying to do!

My opinion the 308 is better suited to 168 or 150 grain bullets, with fairly capable success under 500 yards. Yes in a perfect situation, and conditions, 500 yards would be a possible situation on game deer size or smaller. To expect anything more to me is wishful thinking.

I also will saying after 7 decades hunting, I would never limit myself knowing the conditions and circumstances encountered in real life huning to set out intending on using a 308 with the best loads, for anything larger than deer beyond 400 yards. But I'm not confusing target practice, with real world big game hunting! This is just how I would handle this proposed scenario, but to each their own, I just have to allow a tiny bit for my practical abilities, since I am just hair less than perfect with execution in the field. I like to be practical.

Huh? Have you ever used Berger VLD's for hunting? Many of us have/do, and we have had good success with many. While I don't "typically" hunt with them in my 308's (Please read my previous posts for bullets used) in my 26" 308, I can drive the 175's to 2,700 fps. At my altitudes, the 175 VLD launched at 2,700 fps still has 1,950 fps at 600 yards and 1,477 ft/lbs. Here is there 175 VLD "Hunting"

30 Caliber 175 Grain Very Low Drag (VLD) Hunting Rifle Bullet

The Berger VLD Hunting Bullet is the flattest shooting hunting bullet in the industry. Berger VLD Hunting Bullets are popular for long range hunting.

bergerbullets.com

As for wounded game with my 308's out to 600 yards, and some beyond that, I have yet to lose an animal hit with my 308's. Like you, I have over 6 decades of real world hunting experience with numerous calibers and loads. Several of those with 308's.

Were do you derive a "2 to 3" kill zone" on deer, pronghorn, elk, etc???

 

[Bobcatter]

Were do you derive a "2 to 3" kill zone" on deer, pronghorn, elk, etc???

That is all you have when you limit yourself to no expansion with a .3" drill bit, simple math, but it's your fairytail, carry on!

 

[fseaman.js]

Such a heated debate.

The 308 has done everything. Including beyond 600 yards. Documented. So there should be no debate on that.

If I had to have one rifle to do everything, would I choose a 308 or some other 30 cal?

From prairie dogs to moose, of the 3 mentioned, 300 WSM, 308, 30-06, I'd have to go with the 300 WSM. 110 V-Max to 212 LRX. One rifle could actually do it. At all tasks, adequate. A large percentage, great. Even some stints at extreme long range target or steel. The build would take some consideration, twist, length and weight.

Carry on.

 

[Greatgrandad]

That is all you have when you limit yourself to no expansion with a .3" drill bit, simple math, but it's your fairytail, carry on!

Sounds very much like someone who doesn't have any real experience with using proper bullets loaded in a 308 for longer distances. None of the bullets I, and many others, have used in the 308 have acted as a ".3 drill bit". You do understand those Bergers do expand?

 

[med358-boise]

Like so many other threads, I am reminder of a quote from one of the world's great economists:

"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." - Thomas Sowell

 

[436]

Like so many other threads, I am reminder of a quote from one of the world's great economists:

"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." - Thomas Sowell

Love Thomas Sowell, a brilliant man. Cheers

 

[Greatgrandad]

For your entertainment. A few longer kill shots with the old 308W. I really like the 875 yard elk kill.