I know that today's Military has dropped the 7.62 X 51/ .308 Win as a Sniper round. Yet it has been a proven performer for more than half a century. Every critter in CONUS has been dropped with the lowly 30-30, so is the .308 Win still viable?
Is the .308 Win 7.62 X 51 still a Long Range Hunting Cartridge?
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340Wby-4-everything
Well-Known Member
Not sure why you think the military and its snipers of the world stopped using the 7.62, but that is not correct. It is still the primary sniper caliber world wide. I read somewhere that socom was going to convert their semiauto snipers rifles to the needmore, but can't confirm if that is correct. If so, it's stupid. The vacation spots our Marines and spec ops troops visit, don't and will never carry a needmore. So if our boys and girls run out of ammo, good luck funding needmore rounds in Somalia, Qatar, any of the " "stans, etc. If the world went to hell tomorrow, all these guys that think all the prcs, needmores and all the other latest and supposedly greatest rounds are the best thing will either be smart and pick up an ar15 and an ar10 or other 308 and a 300 win mag or they will be fools and quickly go the way of the dodo. I'd bet the 308 has killed everything on the planet too. Unfortunately elephants, tigers, lions and rhinos included albeit illegally. Polars and grizzlies legally by Inuits, no thanks. And most everything else is just small stuff that even a needmore might take at short ranges.
I love my 264 Wins and my 300 and 340 Weatherbys, but my first big game rifle was a 308 and I have and always will have several of them. I hunt with one in VA every yr. And for decades it has been a one shot deer slayer and has removed the head of many gobblers. Don't forget Carlos Hathcock hammered many many bad guys all around the 1000yd marker with them and Snipers have killed bad guys at near 1400yds with the 308. So I guess u could say it is certainly qualified to be called a long range round and is very viable if you know your limitations and respect its. As with all rifles, the shooter has to do their part. JOMO
I love my 264 Wins and my 300 and 340 Weatherbys, but my first big game rifle was a 308 and I have and always will have several of them. I hunt with one in VA every yr. And for decades it has been a one shot deer slayer and has removed the head of many gobblers. Don't forget Carlos Hathcock hammered many many bad guys all around the 1000yd marker with them and Snipers have killed bad guys at near 1400yds with the 308. So I guess u could say it is certainly qualified to be called a long range round and is very viable if you know your limitations and respect its. As with all rifles, the shooter has to do their part. JOMOI know for a fact that Carlos favored the Win Model 70 in 30-06. In 2010 Big Green went to the 300 Win Mag in the M2010 and retired the M24. Petty Officer Kyle wasn't using a 7.62 X 51 for any of the acclaimed shots in American Sniper. Not to mention that Navy EOD used Mac's BMG .50 back in 1970 which later developed into Barrets rifle. https://www.americanspecialops.com/special-ops-weapons/ The last 7.62 X 51 I carried was the Original M25. That was back in the First Gulf War. So yup, the 7.62 X 51 is a Sniper Support Weapon Weapon currently at best. 
. End of Rant! Now like Dragnet, just the facts?
. End of Rant! Now like Dragnet, just the facts?
The first 2 comments refer to military use which isn't your question.
First there is the challenge of defining "long range" in hunting as it's not the same for every one and every kind of game and every caliber+chambering.
Modern bullets have much better terminal ballistics than those of 50 years ago.
If the "long range" hunting game is anything deer size. According to all the folks commenting on this forum. 600 yards is "long range" and a 308 will do it.
Flame on...
First there is the challenge of defining "long range" in hunting as it's not the same for every one and every kind of game and every caliber+chambering.
Modern bullets have much better terminal ballistics than those of 50 years ago.
If the "long range" hunting game is anything deer size. According to all the folks commenting on this forum. 600 yards is "long range" and a 308 will do it.
Flame on...
Buffalobwana
Well-Known Member
Stick with me on this. The 308 is better now than before the Creedmoor mind virus took over.
Pre Creedmoor, nobody touted the 308 as an elk cartridge. The 308 was seen, by most, as a minimum, under reasonable ranges.
Even fewer touted the 7mm-08 as an elk cartridge. A bit on the light side.
Now a 6.5 CM, (essentially, a 6.5-308 that is shortened a bit) is the greatest long range Elk killing round ever.
So … the 308 is now way more effective than it ever was since it's simply a "necked up" and lengthened 6.5 Creedmoor.
Pre Creedmoor, nobody touted the 308 as an elk cartridge. The 308 was seen, by most, as a minimum, under reasonable ranges.
Even fewer touted the 7mm-08 as an elk cartridge. A bit on the light side.
Now a 6.5 CM, (essentially, a 6.5-308 that is shortened a bit) is the greatest long range Elk killing round ever.
So … the 308 is now way more effective than it ever was since it's simply a "necked up" and lengthened 6.5 Creedmoor.
.308 is difficult to question on its battlefield merits and storied performance on any game in the CONUS. More efficient than and a short action cartridge vs, .30-06 and .300WM. It can be loaded up and down to meet the situation and the shooter. Suppressed, it can be a kitty-cat and deadly to as many yards as you have reliable dope. Modern projectiles have elevated the old .308 from an "also ran" to a continued venerable and relevant force. I've found that it does everything I need and exceeds my capabilities in most situations. So, I have ceased chasing "new and shiny" for perfecting my skills with known quantities. .308 is all I need, unless it requires my .375 H&H.
Well said!!!
ncwg2boatguy
Well-Known Member
7.62x51 is still the primary fielded sniper caliber in the U.S Military. Some specific units field creedmoors and special purpose calibers for longer range i.e- 300wm, 300 Norma mag, 338 Lapua and 50 BMG for (anti material
) but 308 is still the gold standard.
ncwg2boatguy
Well-Known Member
GunnyHathcock carried a model 70/30.06
rdsii64
Well-Known Member
The 308 Winchester has killed everything from grizzly bears to the taliban. If a 308 is in the woods, anything worth a marinade is living on borrowed time.
Have you tried the .30-30 in long-range hunting?
Stonyman88
Well-Known Member
Why did you bring up that 50 years ago, it's been 58 years since I was in VN, and had a sniper with me a lot, and his was a 308, but deadly.The first 2 comments refer to military use which isn't your question.
First there is the challenge of defining "long range" in hunting as it's not the same for every one and every kind of game and every caliber+chambering.
Modern bullets have much better terminal ballistics than those of 50 years ago.
If the "long range" hunting game is anything deer size. According to all the folks commenting on this forum. 600 yards is "long range" and a 308 will do it.
Flame on...
Upsidedownjack
Well-Known Member
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And Did well!
Upsidedownjack
Well-Known Member
- Joined
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- Messages
- 319
I have an AR-10 308/7.65. Also. 270 win , and 300 WM. All have Killed with one shot, at respective ranges. From Some 50 yds out to Aprox 800 yds. All have been one shot, one Kill.
Is the 308 still a Long range cal? Yes, so is the 22 LR. All depends on the shooter, and What they're shooting AT! Me personally, I like the 300 WM.
Is the 308 still a Long range cal? Yes, so is the 22 LR. All depends on the shooter, and What they're shooting AT! Me personally, I like the 300 WM.
