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Understanding the 308 win

I have probably owned more rifles chambered in 308 then any other cartridge over the past 40 years. It's a great cartridge that has served me well for hunting, competition, or just plain shooting/plinking. While, over the past dozen years or so, I have switched to the the 6.5's for their ballistic performance, I continue to enjoy shooting my 308's which are in a multitude of configurations. Probably one of the most charismatic(and accurate) of my 308's is a Remington limited edition of the Vietnam era M40 Sniper, purchased about a dozen years ago. Shown at the bottom of this photo with a period Redfield 3x9 Accu-Track with mounts. Both used in sniper shoots.
5F9B2410-D1D3-411E-A208-AB3EC8A5F9E5.jpeg
 
Seymour said:
I just traded back for a Remington varmint special chambered in 308. I actually purchased this gun 11 to 12 years ago it was to be my first 308. A friend traded me out of it before it ever fired it. Standing rule was if you get rid of it I want first shot at it, so long story short a decade later I have it back. So now I want to understand what this round is capable of. I don't care if it can kill elk at 1000 yards I just wanna now how other shooters enjoy theirs, like I said this is my first experience with this cartridge and I want to know what it's capable of.

I'm a reloader don't plane on running factor ammo. Basically trying to figure out is the 308 worth any effort or rebarrel to something else.

Thanks for any input as fair as use goes Texas white tails and hogs at what ever distances it's capable of shooting for that type of game.
Click to expand...
 
Seymour said:
I just traded back for a Remington varmint special chambered in 308. I actually purchased this gun 11 to 12 years ago it was to be my first 308. A friend traded me out of it before it ever fired it. Standing rule was if you get rid of it I want first shot at it, so long story short a decade later I have it back. So now I want to understand what this round is capable of. I don't care if it can kill elk at 1000 yards I just wanna now how other shooters enjoy theirs, like I said this is my first experience with this cartridge and I want to know what it's capable of.

I'm a reloader don't plane on running factor ammo. Basically trying to figure out is the 308 worth any effort or rebarrel to something else.

Thanks for any input as fair as use goes Texas white tails and hogs at what ever distances it's capable of shooting for that type of game.
Click to expand...
I have shot a bunch of Texas white tails and hogs with mine. I use a bonded core 146 grain bullet for both. Pretty flat shooting with this bullet and all 1 shot kills.
 
MudRunner2005 said:
First, that's the right attitude to have towards a cartridge. Most folks go into a cartridge expecting this or that, or something they once read on the internet. Second, barrel life will be nearly infinite. Third, you will enjoy the .308 Win, as long as you have a good barrel in that rifle.

It gets underestimated these days with all the CreedWhore craze, but it's still the original LR target badass.

Get a box of Lapua brass. Get a box of Berger 180 Elite Hunter bullets. Get some Varget powder, and Federal 210M or CCI BR2 primers. Start around 40gr of powder and work up your load to pressure. Nearing the top-end of the pressure spectrum, you should find a very accurate load. This will be a good starting point.
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I love my HB 308 Remington and use 44gr of IMR 4064 with the 168gr Sierra. At 100 yards in can put 5 in one hole. You'll have to play with bullet seating depth to tweak it out though.
 
I have the exact same rifle (mid '80's new purchase). Working on load development now. It's always liked 168/165 gr Hornadys and I have taken multiple deer with it over the years. I'll let you know what my results are if you do the same. I know I know different rifles, even if they are the same, will like different recipes but what the heck. Might lead to some more research...and that's fun ..to me.
 
Seymour said:
I just traded back for a Remington varmint special chambered in 308. I actually purchased this gun 11 to 12 years ago it was to be my first 308. A friend traded me out of it before it ever fired it. Standing rule was if you get rid of it I want first shot at it, so long story short a decade later I have it back. So now I want to understand what this round is capable of. I don't care if it can kill elk at 1000 yards I just wanna now how other shooters enjoy theirs, like I said this is my first experience with this cartridge and I want to know what it's capable of.

I'm a reloader don't plane on running factor ammo. Basically trying to figure out is the 308 worth any effort or rebarrel to something else.

Thanks for any input as fair as use goes Texas white tails and hogs at what ever distances it's capable of shooting for that type of game.
Click to expand...
I have had a 308 for most of my 68 years and still do. Just not the same one. I was weened on the 308 in Army basic training. I love it! I went through about 6 diferant 308s and now have a Howa 1500 Mountain rifle in 308. I worked up a load for the 308 years ago. It shoots accuratly out of all the 308 rifles I have owned. 165gr. SPEER B.T.S.P. #2034. 42.0gr. IMR 4064 CCI #200 Primer. This is the only load I load for 308 because it works so well. The 308 cartridge is slightly shorter than the 30-06. Compaired to the 30-06 the 308 is oly a few hundred F.P.S. slower than the 30-06. The liter 150 and 145 grain bullets are not as accurate. You have a great hunting rifle there my friend. Take good care of it and it will take good care of you!!!
 
Absolutely perfect all around caliber. I call it a short action 30-06. A round you can give your son or daughter that they can use for life. I Hunt deer with 165-180 grain accubonds, target rounds with 168 Berger's, then have fun with plinking rounds using 180 and 200 grain bullets with blue dot for no kick fun rounds(sub moa at 100yrds) or use some trail boss for subsonic. I use my 308 as the "go to" all around fun shooter that happens to be very accurate. Of course confirm your barrel twist to match bullet weight. And definitely research the charges of pistol powders to be safe. You don't want to double charge or over charge those things or you will destroy your gun and body! I have 3-308s and all like bullets above 150 grain, but you have a load of options. All my rounds are loaded to the barrel lands and the accubonds are flawless in hunting. Good luck
 
Great caliber, might be one of those "if I only could have one rifle" kind of rigs. Try starting at about 41.5 grs of Varget, RL-15 and IMR-4895 powders (lotta good ones but those always work), Lapua brass, CCI BR-2 primers and 165 gr, NAB, Nos Part, Barnes-TTSX, Sierra game changer, Bergers. You'll find something in there that is a tack driver and kills stuff like lightening. Several rifles love that 43 grs RL-15 and a couple have loved 44 grs, Varget. Good luck. Come to think of it, I load for five different .308s and a couple of .243s (friends and family) and I have a .260, 3-7mm-08 but I don't own a .308....Whuuut? Hmmm, maybe I need one of those to complete the .308 based cartridges--I did just buy a second gun safe and after the big expansion move have room for 6 more firearms.
 

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