Help me fit this .308 in my stable

[MarkOrtiz]

Ok, so I have always thought of .308 as kind of boring. My wife and I use a .270 win for deer and pronghorn. My kids both shoot 7mm-08. I have wanted something a little bigger for elk and am looking at a 7mm PRC (4-500 yard everything gun). Now my wife just inherited a Browning x-bolt medallion in .308 and I am trying to figure out what to use it for. 22" barrel 1:12 twist.
We hunt mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and black bear. I can't think of anything that the .308 does better over the others. Do I just buy bulk ammo for it and just use it to get myself and my wife more trigger time? I guess the heavy bullets would do good for black bear. Anything else you guys can think of so it doesn't just sit in the safe?

 

[General RE LEE]

Reload. I’m in stand right now with my 308 loaded with 130 grain Barnes TTSX over 49 grains of Ramshot TAC powder.

3175 FPS so point and shoot to 300 yards. The 308 is very versatile and there is tons of reloading info.

If just shooting box ammo, I’d buy bulk match ammo and trigger time.

 

[Wildhorse]

You cant go wrong with a 308 any direction you choose is fine just dont let it sit. It will grow on you more and more you play around with different loads

 

[wildwilderness]

Its a good rifle to save for posterity. Someone will eventually use it, maybe the grandkids when they come.

 

[999delta]

With that barrel length and twist not sure you can get the heavy bullets to stabilize. You might see them going through the paper canted and not very accurate. The 308 that I've shot 175 or heaver have been 1 in 10 or 1 in 11 with 26'" barrel and pushed hard.

 

[elkguide]

Since it sounds like it won't fit well in your safe, I'll be kind and store it in mine.

Good all-around caliber with so many options in different bullet weights.

 

[49ereric]

Better heavy brush rifle than a .270 shooting 180’s but that twist rate may be poor.

 

[axeforce6]

Find a load with 168 eldm’s and kill all kinds of stuff.

 

[menhaden_man]

I was smacking small rocks out to 715 yards with my 308 (20” barrel) a few weeks ago. Most 170-180 bullets with 42.5 grains of Varget will do it. Slooooowww but accurate. X bolt is nice too.

 

[bnewt3]

Dead is dead. I think, generally speaking, these days too much thought is put into this cartridge vs that.

I got my T3x in 308 because I'm not the type to have a specific rifle for each species, one and done for me......OK not one but not 8 either. I won't take any shots on game beyond 400 or so. And I wanted something cheapish to shoot and to be able to get ammo anywhere anytime.

According to the chart on this site a 1:12 *should* be fine for up to about 200gr

https://www.ammoman.com/blog/308-twist-rate-chart/

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[SBFD63]

It's the hunting version of the NFL "game manager" quarterback. It is not sexy but it gets the job done.

I spent 12 years between trading one off and buying the next.ill always have one around now.

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[saltfork]

Always room for a 308. It's my 0-500 do everything gun

 

[wyogoat]

I agree…everyone needs a .308. I wasn’t aware the Brownings were 12 twist, I would have assumed 10. 168s shoot well for me out of my 1-10 and I’ve had good results on elk with that bullet. I bet they would shoot out of that…

 

[HandgunHTR]

I have wanted something a little bigger for elk and am looking at a 7mm PRC (4-500 yard everything gun). Now my wife just inherited a Browning x-bolt medallion in .308 and I am trying to figure out what to use it for.

You already answered your own question. The 7 PRC is 7-800 yard do everything. For 4-500, a 308, or even your kid’s 7-08, is the perfect match.

 

[MarkOrtiz]

Reload. I’m in stand right now with my 308 loaded with 130 grain Barnes TTSX over 49 grains of Ramshot TAC powder.

3175 FPS so point and shoot to 300 yards. The 308 is very versatile and there is tons of reloading info.

Yeah my 270 shoots the Barnes 129 lrx at 3170-3180.

I’ve got Federal 150s, Federal 180s, Sierra 165s, Black Hills 168 match, and Remington 180s. I guess I’ll see what it likes and just shoot it. I’m sure it will be useful with those heavier bullets at some point.
Thanks guys

 

[jimh406]

Length of the bullet is a factor for stabilizing not just weight. I don't know accurate this site is, but it at least mentions different bullet types. https://www.ammoman.com/blog/308-twist-rate-chart/. You can always shoot what you have to see if it groups with them.

That being said, 308 is a fairly cheap round to shoot with factory/bulk ammo. I think 150-165s are optimum for a general purpose hunting load. The wood stock will probably be nice to hold when it's cold.

It's obviously not going to shoot as flat as a 7 prc or have as much energy.