.30-'06 and .308.

[rrstein82]

Got the itch to get a new rifle. Currently have a .30-'06, .300 WM and 6.5 CM (Weatherby Vanguard, Christensen Arms Mesa, and Christensen Arms MPR, respectively). Considering picking up a Benelli Lupo in .308, since it's a widely available caliber and I don't have one. Is that too much overlap?

Obviously it doesn't matter, buy what you want, but curious as to what others think.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I like the 308 but it dosent take the place of any of my other cartridges. Ive played with a lot of different bullets in the 308 over the years and have settled on 130-150g bullets. For anything heavier, I use an 06 or something else.

 

[ktm450]

I agree with AK; a .308 with 150’s can get around 3000FPS (reloads) and I have killed a bunch of deer and elk with 1-shot drops. It’s a nice round to use in a compact package with tons of easy to find components/data.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

While I have a 308, I’m not thrilled about what it can do for me (commercial ammo). From a ballistics perspective, it is overrated with most commercial ammo; hand-loads or Super Performance changes things (but now your at 30-06 to 300 WM velocities).

Your 30-06 and 300 WM have you covered for larger game.

Your 6.5 CM is better than the 308. It’s faster at all distances. Once you hit 200 yards or so, it has more energy than the 308 (some folks care about energy). The 308 does have a larger diameter but realistically, that 0.044” doesn’t mean a whole lot in and of itself.

On a more serious note, I totally understand wanting a new rifle. However, the current offerings in the Lupo line don’t do anything for you as you have it covered. But if I had to chose, I’d take the 270.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I have an 06, 300 win mag, and a 308. I picked up a 308 with a 18" threaded barrel to use with my can. 06 and 300 are 22" and 26" barrels, they turn into KY long rifles with a can. They have there place, but I would consider it overlap if the barrel length was the same as your 06.

 

[ScottSchiller197]

I had previously kicked around the same idea, i have a 300WM, 30-06, and a .308. Nice having a few rifles to shoot while they cool at the range and being able to somewhat use the same bullets but for any real hunting reason i don't think it makes sense. I always pickup the 300WM no matter what I am hunting. Buddies all run 30-06. cant go wrong with any but splitting hairs with all of them.

 

[Rifles And More]

Short answer - yes it's overlap, but do what you want. I'll never advise against buying another rifle. The 308 is a great caliber.

 

[Laramie]

I think it's a great idea from an ammo availability standpoint. .308 has been around forever and there will likely be ammo around forever.

 

[TxxAgg]

Maybe a 223 or 243?

 

[hodgeman]

A .308 won't do anything for you that your existing rifles won't already do.

That said, I've done a lot of hunting with a .308 and I like it. It's particularly useful in lightweight carbines.

 

[Dhbwa]

Unless factory ammo is a priority reconsider the 7mm-08…..

 

[Lawnboi]

I’d be more inclined to have a few spare barrels and a mountain of components around rather than another rifle in the safe.

 

[rrstein82]

I think it's a great idea from an ammo availability standpoint. .308 has been around forever and there will likely be ammo around forever.

I think this is pretty much it. I definitely see the overlap between the 3 rifles; I can't imagine a .308 will do anything for me that the 30-06, 300 WM or 6.5 CM won't cover. Problem is ammo availability. I live in Los Angeles, so can't get anything online. When I picked up my 6.5, I spent a week trying to locate ONE box of ammo...and failed. So I purchased reloading equipment and made a few hundred rounds. Got the job done, but I found that unlike others who truly enjoy the handloading/reloading process for the customization aspect, for me it was just a means to have something to shoot. 6 months or so later, there's still no 6.5 ammo...but there's plenty of .308...

 

[WRM]

If it's mostly for the shooting aspect, then get one. As many others noted, the round doesn't add much to what you have now for hunting.

I'd look at the Kimber Adirondack if I was buying one. Super compact package. Should sell easy later if you decide to part with it.

 

[USMC-40]

Nothing wrong with a short, compact .308 - around 18” in my mind is perfect. The .308 is one of the most underrated calibers (along with the .30-06) - truth is, it’s not very exciting from a ballistic standpoint, but it works. And it’s very easy to reload for.

 

[Rich M]

308 is almost a 30-06 and is a fine rifle.

 

[sndmn11]

In what is offered in that rifle I would do the .243

 

[WRM]

Or a .223. Then you could kill anything. There's a thread that proves it.

 

[DoubleDown]

6.5 and 300WM get you cover all around except dangerous game.
30-06 it’s great do it all 1 rifle battery.
308 all purpose too, just little behind it.
If you really want something new 6.8 western get my vote. I’ll wait till more manufacturers start making rifles for it.

 

[Coldtrail]

I did some CWD deer eradication where shooting 10-15 deer a day was common. I used the opportunity to test some rifles and bullet combos in real world conditions. Prior to this I was a 30.06 guy and used that caliber for years, after shooting .243, .270, .308, and the '06, I went .308 with 150gr and never looked back, one shot drops were the norm at anything under 300yrds. Mathematically it never made sense, but real world I'm sold on my .308