Understanding the 308 win

[MudRunner2005]

You could always talk yourself out of trouble with you hand in the cookie jar LOL

Well... You get in enough trouble in your life, you will learn how to get out of it, too.

 

[TejasRider]

IMO, its the best all around cartridge there is. Easily capable of taking any North American Big game, and it can be loaded down to 110gn bullets for varmint hunting.

With 168 or heavier, tight groups at 1000yards is no problem, tons of data for reloads, tons of components, barrels, low recoil, etc.

There are cartridges better for long range target, there are better varmint rifles, there are cartridges that have more energy for hunting, but I dont see any that can "do it all" as well as the 308. It would be my choice if I could only have one.

Shoot it, and enjoy it!

I have to agree completely. If a buddy called and said "grab a gun" with no further details it would likely be my .308 coming with me.

 

[lefty308]

I have to agree completely. If a buddy called and said "grab a gun" with no further details it would likely be my .308 coming with me.

Yes sir. Cant really ever go wrong with a 308

 

[436]

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.

I actually have used a .308 in many types of rifles both on and off the job; so to speak, and found nothing wrong with the .308 Win/7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. It's a wonderful cartridge and my go-to cartridge'..., for just about anything, yes within reason. Most of my usage was with the 147gr FMJ and/or the 168gr & 175gr match Mk's loads. When I did take one (sporting version) to the game field, I shot everything from 100gr to 200gr bullet depending on the game or varmint. So let say it as oh... I don't know; 175gr class bullet; with 900 fpe at 1000, which is "just" under a .44 Mag at the muzzle, I'm guessing. So, as you step back in the yardage it just gets better... with that said it is a lethal cartridge no doubt. Is it a 1000 yard meat gun, NO! could kill at 1K with the right bullet placement, yes'.., most cartridges will but it's really not a big game cartridge at that distance, however, it does a heck of a job on paper at 1K. and if you can hold the waterline and read wind you can do some real damage to targets at 1K, in fact, I was just messing around one day and I managed to clip at Ground Hog at 1014 yards off a bi-pod rest in two rounds. In matches, over the years, in and out of the United State... I've used the .308 Win with a 175gr in many 1K matches and never felt handicapped. It really is a remarkable cartridge case, and the proof is in the many wildcat cartridges it spawned over the years that became legitimized by the gun industry, now that high praise indeed. So... "Yes, the .308 Win is well worth the effort."
Here's a couple of my favorites. Good luck.

 

[Rflshootr]

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.

Unless I'm mistaken, Remington put 12 twist barrel on their 308 varmint rifles including my 308 VLS. My rifle is capable of 5 shot 1/2" groups and less with 168gr and lighter bullets. I have never been able to get heavier bullets to shoot these size groups. Anything heavier and the groups would open to .75-1.00. Even Berger's twist calculator says 185 VLDs are marginally stable with a 12 twist. Just something to think about when you order bullets. Personally, I'd go with 168's or lighter, whatever suits your need.
And btw, 165's @2700fps are perfectly capable of a 600 yard shot on deer.

 

[Seymour]

My apologies for not responding sooner. Being a John Deere field tech this time of year makes for a long day.

I wish I could go back and respond to each of you but my thumbs would hate me.

I thank all of you who have shared input on this cartridge especially load data, other than the pile of book I have I didn't know where to start.

Of all I have read from y'all what surprises me is the use of heavy for caliber bullets. I guess I alway thought everyone ran lighter bullet due to case capacity.

Again I thank you all, and really appreciate the fact that y'all will share your acquired info with people.

 

[Seymour]

And thank you for sharing photos of your rifles each one is outstanding!

 

[BW64]

Tp pic 5 rounds 195 SMKT with Varget
Bottom pic 5 rounds 175 SMKT with 4064 26" tube @100. I've had both out to 1880 with goo success.

 

[Poppadoer]

Don't get much better than that.

 

[Reloder28]

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4977783/1

Seymour,
If you peruse the attached thread you will see dozens & dozens of kills beyond 300 yards with a 308 & 155 gr Scenar's from Lapua. Pictures are worth a 1000 words.

I own five 308's. I have one load I can use in all of them very accurately, 48.5 gr Varget with a 155 Scenar @ 2900 fps. Not too shabby from a short little cartridge.

308 Winchester was my first rifle at 18 years old. At 60 years of age it is still my number one & I have been an avid reloader since I was 12. So, I have had many choices over the years.

 

[JohnCZ]

I enjoy my 308, I have a Remington 700 LTR and it is a nice little rifle, I mainly shoot 168gr BTHP or 168gr Nosler BT over AR2208 (Varget) and limit the range to 600m. Having a 300wm for longer ranges adds to the likability of the 308win.

All that said, more recently the trends toward 6.5 etc have kicked it out of favour with gun writers, this doesn't mean that the 308w doesn't perform and perform well within its planning range.
It is unfortunate that many younger hunters will read some of the utter dribble about the 308 on the internet and bypass what is one of the best intermediate range cartridges developed for medium game.

 

[e1harris]

My 20" 308 Win firing 180gr Swift A-frames at 2536 fps is good on Elk out to about 450 yards.

 

[Gobbler256]

I truly enjoy following these threads but I have 1 request for us novice loader/shooters.
Please, when you post a load please also provide your muzzle velocity for that load. This would be a big help in calculating ballistic data on the loads,
Thanks in advance!

 

[Rflshootr]

My 20" 308 Win firing 180gr Swift A-frames at 2536 fps is good on Elk out to about 450 yards.

Just curious if you've ever looked at Berger 168 VLD's. At 2650 (easily doable) you'd have much more velocity and energy at 450 and could even extend your range. Just something to think about.

Berger 168VLD Hunting @2650fps

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.308 inches	Zero Range	100 yards
Bullet Weight	168 grains	Sight Height	1.50 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.255	Muzzle Velocity	2650 fps
Temperature	40 F	Wind Speed	5.00 mph
Altitude	500 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (inches)	Windage (inches)	TOF (s)
100​	2472​	2280​	-0.00​	0.38​	0.12​
150​	2386​	2124​	-1.33​	0.85​	0.18​
200​	2301​	1976​	-4.20​	1.52​	0.24​
250​	2218​	1836​	-8.70​	2.40​	0.31​
300​	2137​	1704​	-14.97​	3.50​	0.38​
350​	2058​	1580​	-23.15​	4.83​	0.45​
400​	1980​	1463​	-33.38​	6.40​	0.52​
450​	1904​	1352​	-45.82​	8.24​	0.60​
500​	1829​	1248​	-60.67​	10.35​	0.68​

Swift 180 A Frame @ 2536

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.308 inches	Zero Range	100 yards
Bullet Weight	180 grains	Sight Height	1.50 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.400	Muzzle Velocity	2536 fps
Temperature	40 F	Wind Speed	5.00 mph
Altitude	500 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (inches)	Windage (inches)	TOF (s)
100​	2317​	2146​	0.00​	0.52​	0.12​
150​	2211​	1955​	-1.61​	1.17​	0.19​
200​	2109​	1778​	-5.00​	2.10​	0.26​
250​	2009​	1613​	-10.35​	3.33​	0.33​
300​	1912​	1461​	-17.86​	4.88​	0.41​
350​	1818​	1321​	-27.75​	6.78​	0.49​
400​	1727​	1192​	-40.28​	9.05​	0.57​
450​	1640​	1075​	-55.72​	11.71​	0.66​
500​	1556​	968​	-74.40​	14.79​	0.76​