308: Is It Making a Comeback??

[floridajpr]

The .308 will never go away. I have hunted with .308 for a few many years now but decided to get a 6.5 CM this year and test it out before the next hunting season. I sifted through all the Hype and just reasearched the 6.5 CM for what it is. It is not some Magical caliber that will do everything better than everything else, not even close. It is still a good caliber to hunt medium sized game in N America but not the best. Somewhere in the middle I think. One thing that did steer me a little bit more to 6.5 CM is I found Norma 140GR SP Whitetail for $19.80 a box which was cheaper than I could find any .308 for hunting. I bought 200 rounds of 6.5 CM. It was not too much cheaper but cheaper. Still have an LR-308 if I need it.
By the way my new rifle is a Bergara B14 Squared Crest. I hope it does well for hunting next season.

 

[Squadguy29]

I’ve been a long range .308 guy for a long time and bought a 6.5 CM a month ago. Working up some loads for the 6.5 now. Norma is great ammo. Make sure to save the brass and give it to someone that reloads.

 

[floridajpr]

I’ve been a long range .308 guy for a long time and bought a 6.5 CM a month ago. Working up some loads for the 6.5 now. Norma is great ammo. Make sure to save the brass and give it to someone that reloads.

I have a Hornady Progressive re-loader. Just have to get some 6.5 CM dies and start studying. I bought the re-loader awhile back but never really had time for it. I believe now is a good time to start.

 

[General RE LEE]

I have noticed a 178 grain ELD-X going ~2500 FPS hits a steel plate at 500 yards with much more “authority” than a 147 grain ELD-M going 2600 FPS.

Don’t get me wrong I’ve recovered every deer I’ve shot with my 6.5 CMs, but the 308 puts them down quick.

 

[vonb]

I have noticed a 178 grain ELD-X going ~2500 FPS hits a steel plate at 500 yards with much more “authority” than a 147 grain ELD-M going 2600 FPS.

Don’t get me wrong I’ve recovered every deer I’ve shot with my 6.5 CMs, but the 308 puts them down quick.

That’s been my experience with both as well. At hunting distances, the .308 seems to put them down quicker.

 

[General RE LEE]

I spent some time at the range yesterday with my 308 pet load 130 grain TTSX over 49 grains of TAC going 3098 FPS.

Sub MOA accuracy out of my 20" Tikka CTR with very little drop out to 300 yards. I think all my other rifles my sit out first part of rifle season.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I was in my local gun store and the guy at the gun counter said the 308 has been real popular lately. We discussed that because of the increase in popularity of hunting suppressed, the 308 does well in short barrels. We also discussed wide availability of factory ammo and reloading components.

Has anyone else noticed an increased interest in the 308 in your area? I think new shooters are finding out 308 ammo, reloading components and load data is widely available and the cartridge is versatile, especially in short barrels.

308 is back baby

I mean it’s versatile, relatively inexpensive, easy to find, will kill anything in North America, moderate recoiling, what is not to love. Although I haven’t taken it out in a bit I have several .308 bolt and .308 semi automatics in the stable

 

[JRob#33]

I spent some time at the range yesterday with my 308 pet load 130 grain TTSX over 49 grains of TAC going 3098 FPS.

Sub MOA accuracy out of my 20" Tikka CTR with very little drop out to 300 yards. I think all my other rifles my sit out first part of rifle season.

I'm also running the 130gr TTSX out of a suppressed 20" Christensen but can only speculate what the velocity is. I will say, of the few animals I've shot...these rounds do a dang good job of putting something down.

 

[StupidLightweight]

The "Three-Oh-Great" will always be popular due to the sheer number of existing guns. It works well on game and offers excellent barrel life, ammo availability, and shines in short barrels down to maybe 14.5 inches, but that's where it ends.

Besides stout recoil, the .308's biggest downside is that it lacks case capacity to fling heavy-for-caliber bullets at meaningful velocity. That's the same problem with the 6.5 Grendel and explains why the 6mm ARC and .22 ARC will take over the non-5.56 AR market. Ballistically, they are better options.

Today, I can't imagine building or buying a new rifle in .308. Modern bullets in short-action cartridges like the .22 Creed, 6 Creed, .243, 6.5 Creed, .260 Rem. or 7mm-08 offer better ballistics with less recoil.

 

[Jake Larsen]

The "Three-Oh-Great" will always be popular due to the sheer number of existing guns. It works well on game and offers excellent barrel life, ammo availability, and shines in short barrels down to maybe 14.5 inches, but that's where it ends.

Besides stout recoil, the .308's biggest downside is that it lacks case capacity to fling heavy-for-caliber bullets at meaningful velocity. That's the same problem with the 6.5 Grendel and explains why the 6mm ARC and .22 ARC will take over the non-5.56 AR market. Ballistically, they are better options.

Today, I can't imagine building or buying a new rifle in .308. Modern bullets in short-action cartridges like the .22 Creed, 6 Creed, .243, 6.5 Creed, .260 Rem. or 7mm-08 offer better ballistics with less recoil.

Touché

just built one on a super lightweight platform with 16.5” barrel. Already thinking about re-barreling to 6 Creed haha


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[General RE LEE]

Decided my Tikka CTR 308 needs more love. 20” barrel and just hammers with handloads. Plan is to go retro and shoot it non suppressed at the range as a “trainer”. Probably will take it hunting next and leave the longer/suppressed gun at home. 20” 308 is pretty sporty and still getting good velocities.

 

[Tx270WT]

Quite impressed with my new load this season. 165 grain tipped match king getting 2823 @ 2k elevation. Holds together nicely on deer size game. Sub half MOA at the bench. Being slung out of a tikka alpine with a 22” barrel topped with a silencer co scythe Ti sure leaves an impression.

 

[BigNate]

All the flat bill hat man bun skinny jeans types have their toys.

 

[Tanner]

I could use a 308 with 155gr Scenars for all of my big game hunting for the rest of my life and not miss a wink of sleep over it.

 

[Moose83]

I could use a 308 with 155gr Scenars for all of my big game hunting for the rest of my life and not miss a wink of sleep over it.

Do you have any eld-m/tmk experience? If so, how would you compare a scenar's performance to them. Scenars don't get a lot of love on this forum, but it's hard to argue with the results on the "deceased via scenar" thread on the campfire. Thanks.

 

[Tanner]

Do you have any eld-m/tmk experience? If so, how would you compare a scenar's performance to them. Scenars don't get a lot of love on this forum, but it's hard to argue with the results on the "deceased via scenar" thread on the campfire. Thanks.

That’s a good question. I do have ELDM experience but it’s very limited, and none with the TMK. Both the ELDM and Scenars I’ve seen penetrated deep and broke big bones just fine though, which is what I am mostly interested in.

I was definitely was a “deceased via Scenar” thread disciple and took Pat Sinclair’s advice on the 155 Scenar to heart. I set up a 300 WSM Kimber Montana with 155s at about 3150 as a guide rifle for my sheep/caribou/bear/goat hunts in Alaska and between myself, buddies, and clients we killed a lot of shit with that setup, and it was always devastating. I only killed a few elk and deer with the 308 and 155 but it was also a great combo and it’s one I’d have a lot of confidence in no matter where you were hunting.

Out past 5-600 that load gets walked all over by anything 6, 6.5, and 7 but I still love it for an all purpose killing setup.

 

[Moose83]

Good summary, thanks for that. I may have to give them a try one of these days.

That’s a good question. I do have ELDM experience but it’s very limited, and none with the TMK. Both the ELDM and Scenars I’ve seen penetrated deep and broke big bones just fine though, which is what I am mostly interested in.

I was definitely was a “deceased via Scenar” thread disciple and took Pat Sinclair’s advice on the 155 Scenar to heart. I set up a 300 WSM Kimber Montana with 155s at about 3150 as a guide rifle for my sheep/caribou/bear/goat hunts in Alaska and between myself, buddies, and clients we killed a lot of shit with that setup, and it was always devastating. I only killed a few elk and deer with the 308 and 155 but it was also a great combo and it’s one I’d have a lot of confidence in no matter where you were hunting.

Out past 5-600 that load gets walked all over by anything 6, 6.5, and 7 but I still love it for an all purpose killing setup.