Why No Love for The .308 Winchester

[Aussie Wanderer]

The first and only time I had scope brow was with a Ruger M 77 in .338 Win Mag. This rifle was actually easier to shoot than my Ruger M 77 in .300 Win Mag.

Me too, kissed me on the bridge of the nose and bled like a bitch. Very embarrassing at the range

 

[M1Garand]

I know this is off the subject, but I have been studying the .270 for a little while now. I know I’m going to ruffle some feathers here, but the .270 does 75% of what the 7mm Rem Mag can do. The advantage to the 7mm Mag, really only about 25 yds extra range, and only in all reality, a 10% to 15% increase in energy. When I figured this out, I was a strong 7mm Rem Mag guy. I was dumbfounded. And , here is something I learned that was dumbfounding to me. If you hand load the .30-06 nowadays, it will equal the 7mm REM Mag. I know what someone is going to say though, the 7mm Mag shoots flatter. Yeah, for practical hunting distances, the 7mm Mag only has a half inch to 1 inch advantage. You have to get past 1000 yds to see an actual advantage.

David Petzal wrote an article several years ago IIRC basically saying there wasn't anything the 7RM could do the 270 Win couldn't with similar bullets (140-160 grns compared to 130-150 grns) and typically with a shorter barrel and less powder. I looked at the ballistics in those weight groups and he was right. Not a lot of difference. IMO the real advantage and where the 7mm RM really shines is with 175s+ grn bullets.

 

[PJGunner]

I hope the link works. This is a video where Ron Spomer compares the 7x57 against the .270 Win. He mentions that handloaders can load the 7x57 well past published loads but says it's not a god idea, then does the comparison of the two cartridges using 150 gr. bullets. Note the speed of the 150 gr. bullet. I load the 7x57 and based on the velocity he shows, he's doing like I do; using 7-08 data. I saw a couple other errors but they were minor. For the record, I run the 150 gr. Nosler Partition at 2880 FPS from a 22" barrel. Compare that to his numbers. Not bad from a cartridge from 1892.

Paul B.

 

[GregoryB.]

Just ordered a couple hundred 165gr BT’s and Solid Base seconds to try in a rifle I am currently having rebarreled to 308. Will try and find a good load with some fresh Varget I recently picked up.

 

[FOTIS]

Nothing wrong with the 308. Not much one can not do with it. I have a few but the sako finnwolf is my favorite.

 

[JD338]

Nothing wrong with the 308. Not much one can not do with it. I have a few but the sako finnwolf is my favorite.

Love that rifle!

JD338

 

[3 Meter Para Bellum]

Engaged steel target up to and beyond 1K with it.
Let a friend use for WY-SHOT a couple of year ago, and he placed in the top 3 with it.
Holland brakes work good!

I always like hearing about someone using a Darrell Holland product. I have a amorers course on the Savage 110 series rifles by Darrell. He knows his stuff.

 

[Darkhorse]

For nearly 15 years my main rifle was my LH Rem. Model 700 in 7mm mag. Then I bought a 300 WM for an elk hunt and liked it so much it became my main rifle another 10 years of so. But I got older and started hunting a lot from ground blinds and those long barreled magnums didn't feel so good anymore in our thick habitat.
So I searched for a LH .308, there's not many out there that I wanted. Finally I settled on a LH Tikka lightweight, stainless with synthetic stock. I put a Zeiss 3X9 scope on it. After one season it became my main deer rifle.
So far I've only hunted with 150 grain bullets and what has amazed me is how well it kills above other rifles we have had, something the paper ballistics doesn't reveal. I've shot at least a dozen hogs with it and every single on has dropped dead right there.
Same goes for deer. I've shot about the same number of deer with the same results. Some of the kills were dramatic. This cannot be said by any other caliber I have or have had.
The 308 has to share hunting duties with my custom flintlock but unlike my other rifles I really like hunting with my 308 and carry it at least half the time.

 

[Guy Miner]

For nearly 15 years my main rifle was my LH Rem. Model 700 in 7mm mag. Then I bought a 300 WM for an elk hunt and liked it so much it became my main rifle another 10 years of so. But I got older and started hunting a lot from ground blinds and those long barreled magnums didn't feel so good anymore in our thick habitat.
So I searched for a LH .308, there's not many out there that I wanted. Finally I settled on a LH Tikka lightweight, stainless with synthetic stock. I put a Zeiss 3X9 scope on it. After one season it became my main deer rifle.
So far I've only hunted with 150 grain bullets and what has amazed me is how well it kills above other rifles we have had, something the paper ballistics doesn't reveal. I've shot at least a dozen hogs with it and every single on has dropped dead right there.
Same goes for deer. I've shot about the same number of deer with the same results. Some of the kills were dramatic. This cannot be said by any other caliber I have or have had.
The 308 has to share hunting duties with my custom flintlock but unlike my other rifles I really like hunting with my 308 and carry it at least half the time.
View attachment 26579

Good looking rifle except for that doggone wrong-side bolt.. Congrats on the buck as well. I think those deer figure out you've got a Tikka and know that they're gonners, so they just fall down and die at the shot. Excellent psychological warfare!

Guy

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

For nearly 15 years my main rifle was my LH Rem. Model 700 in 7mm mag. Then I bought a 300 WM for an elk hunt and liked it so much it became my main rifle another 10 years of so. But I got older and started hunting a lot from ground blinds and those long barreled magnums didn't feel so good anymore in our thick habitat.
So I searched for a LH .308, there's not many out there that I wanted. Finally I settled on a LH Tikka lightweight, stainless with synthetic stock. I put a Zeiss 3X9 scope on it. After one season it became my main deer rifle.
So far I've only hunted with 150 grain bullets and what has amazed me is how well it kills above other rifles we have had, something the paper ballistics doesn't reveal. I've shot at least a dozen hogs with it and every single on has dropped dead right there.
Same goes for deer. I've shot about the same number of deer with the same results. Some of the kills were dramatic. This cannot be said by any other caliber I have or have had.
The 308 has to share hunting duties with my custom flintlock but unlike my other rifles I really like hunting with my 308 and carry it at least half the time.
View attachment 26579

Seems a little like the older we get the more we realise things don't have to be difficult. Like you, I have had a multitude of rifles with big cases, but these days I find myself grabbing the mild mannered 7/08 more often than not, the little brother to your 308. Nice rifle and deer. Looks like it made a pretty good hole judging by the wet patch behind its front legs.

 

[Vince]

The Tree O’ Ate has been proven sufficient over time and acquitted itself well.

With that said I’m a fan of bigger bores and prefer the .338 diameter or if going smaller the plethora of 6.5 cartridges. I wouldn’t sneeze at the .308 Win it’s just a little too pedestrian for my taste.

Vince

 

[Darkhorse]

That buck may have suspected he was a goner because he wouldn't stop and give me a good shot. He just went at a fast trot up an old logging road and any moment one step to the left and he would have been gone.
I didn't really want to take the shot because of how fast he was going and how far away he was. But I've
shot a lot of running deer. And I was there. And he was there. And I was shooting a Tikka in 308........
It was 297 long steps to where he fell DRT at the shot.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

That buck may have suspected he was a goner because he wouldn't stop and give me a good shot. He just went at a fast trot up an old logging road and any moment one step to the left and he would have been gone.
I didn't really want to take the shot because of how fast he was going and how far away he was. But I've
shot a lot of running deer. And I was there. And he was there. And I was shooting a Tikka in 308........
It was 297 long steps to where he fell DRT at the shot.

Confidence in our rifles leads to acquiring more ability I think as you proved. That was good shooting. What is the load in your 308?

 

[Darkhorse]

I was shooting Hornady 150 grain SST's, the first factory loads I've hunted with in 40 years. When I got the rifle years ago I didn't have time to work up a load so I bought a couple of boxes of 150 Interbonds which I really liked but they stopped making them in any quantity, so I switched to the SST's.
These are the ones with special powder that gives increased velocity but I can't recall the name. My velocity is supposed to be around 3,000 fps.
The performance on game is one reason I haven't taken the time to do any load development yet.

 

[xphunter]

I always like hearing about someone using a Darrell Holland product. I have a amorers course on the Savage 110 series rifles by Darrell. He knows his stuff.

Darrell is a good friend, who also makes good products, and is a good teacher

 

[Ralt71]

I've grown to hate the 308 over the years. My nephew hunts with one and I can't tell you how many deer we have had to track that had good shots on them. My cousin who I hunt with every year has had two different 308's as his primary, he's a good shot, has been hunting many years.. and we track his deer often. When i hear a shot and a follow up or two, I know he's the one shooting trying to keep those things down haha. I won't buy one because of this fact.

 

[PJGunner]

I've grown to hate the 308 over the years. My nephew hunts with one and I can't tell you how many deer we have had to track that had good shots on them. My cousin who I hunt with every year has had two different 308's as his primary, he's a good shot, has been hunting many years.. and we track his deer often. When i hear a shot and a follow up or two, I know he's the one shooting trying to keep those things down haha. I won't buy one because of this fact.

I have to ask, what bullet is he using? I've been using the .308 on deer ever since I bought one back in 1973. I'm trying real hard to think if I've had to shoot more than once on a deer and frankly, I just don't remember. I started with using he 150 gr. bullet and while it worked it mangled up too much good eating meat to suit m. The few that were shot with 180 gr. bullets usually dropped on the spot but it wasn't until I it on the 165 gr. Speer hot Core that I felt Nirvana. Closest shot was a 150 gr. Sierra at 6 feet.. Very messy. Longest shot on deer was 426 paces on a big Nevada Mule deer my buddy had winged but was getting away. Bullet was a factory Winchester load with the 150 gr. Silvertip IIRC. One and down. I don't remember very many deer traveling very far after the 165 gr. Speer hit them. Maybe 20 to 30 feet and down.
Paul B.

 

[JD338]

I think the 308 is a terrific round. I've taken several deer with 150 and 165/168 gr bullets, all dead from 1 shot.
Chasing deer that were wounded with a 308 sounds more like operater error.
I'd question the bullet he's using and his shot placement.

JD338

 

[RL338]

When i hear a shot and a follow up or two, I know he's the one shooting trying to keep those things down haha.

I’ve never needed a follow up shot with my 308. For years I use the good old 150gr SP , sure sometimes they did a short run until the oil pump ran dry.
The 130gr TTSX is now the preferred bullet in the 308 here.

 

[swampghost]

I have one that has had about 23 shots fired at deer with 18 of those coming home with me. The first couple I shot at twice, had a run of about 13 or 14 straight that went straight down, missed a couple and a few more one shot kills. I think the longest trail I have had was about 60 yards. Ain't nothing wrong with the 308!