Who hunts with a .308?

[TxAg]

Been a long time since I've shot one.

I know it's more than enough for TX. Just want to hear some likes and dislikes, some pointers, and general info you feel like sharing.

[Dakota7493]

I shot my first deer with my dad's .308. Been looking to get my own soon. I'm tuned in.

[BuckRage]

I'm not sure there are any down sides to using a 308???? Its not a bow?

[Jspradley]

I've killed 4 critters this year with my .308 DD5. Within the normal ranges that most folks would hunt around here there really is no downside.... ammo is cheap and plentiful and plenty of juice for any animal in TX

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[Gradams]

No downside

[Catfish270]

I used a .25-06 this year, but used the .308 last year an killed a buck. One of my favorites.

[randal]

Not bad if you don't plan to shoot real far.. Only .308 I have is an ar but I only use it to pig hunt and coyote hunt..

[Tuffbroadhead]

IS there any other caliber?? HEHEHEHHEHE

[GTRH8R]

Love it. Versatile round. I have two I hunt with. It'll mess up a critter close. Had a pass thru on a pig that took a leg off.

[30-30]

Not to hijack, but other than action length and bullet selection, are there benefits to a 308 over 30-06?

[BuckRage]

Originally Posted by randal

Not bad if you don't plan to shoot real far.. Only .308 I have is an ar but I only use it to pig hunt and coyote hunt..

huh? one of the better long range rounds available....

[randal]

Originally Posted by BuckRage

huh? one of the better long range rounds available....

If I remember right I thought it looses quite a bit of energy past 300.. Punching paper would be different IMO..

[DRD]

20+ Tx WT and counting though I handload and have always shot mine on the fast end around 2800 fps. No issues, very accurate, low recoil. If you feel the need to hot rod it up... used the Hornady Superformance loads with SSTs this year and impressed so far. It runs about 3000 fps (verified with my chrono) depending on your barrel length - longer is better - with 150 grain bullet and is bad medicine. Take my 7mms and 300s with me, but usually grab the "little" .308 on the way to the stand. This year one DRT, one 15 yds and piled up.

[Stan R]

My only hunting rifle... switched from a 30-06

Love my Savage.. Using it in the AM.

[kabanh]

It's all I use it's harvested many of animals

[Mike D]

I do from time to time.

Downsides? Nope can't think of any.


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[bakin7005]

Only rifle caliber needed (besides 5.56 for zombies). Love my WBY Vangard.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by randal

Not bad if you don't plan to shoot real far.. Only .308 I have is an ar but I only use it to pig hunt and coyote hunt..

Huh?

This is my dope chart for my 308 with 175 grain Berger hand loads. If 1000# of energy is what the generally discussed minimum energy for whitetail, looks like I'm good to 750-800 yards.




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[howabouttheiris]

I do. Fantastic round for hunting and always available.

[RJH1]

Its ok, but I prefer a 3006, it is like a 308 all growed up:-) I personally would only go with the 308 over the 06 in an auto, but the 308 is a good caliber. I like it the best of the short action cartridges. Good luck

[llbts1]

Isn't it considered a sniper round? I think it used to be the standard. It's my go to rifle.

[TxAg]

Keep it coming. Thanks. Loving it

[bwssr]

I do and wife has her own

[bboswell]

I do and it is fun to shoot but I'm bored with it. It will get re-barreled someday to ? 7-08 AI maybe? Or one of the 6.5's maybe

[GrapeApe]

I love mine. I've killed plenty out to 7-850 yards with a buddy's gun. I generally don't shoot deer that far because I don't really want to haul a carcass that extra distance when I'm on foot. Y

otes, pigs, anything else is gonna drop if it's in the crosshairs.

Just picked up my own and I'm stretching it out to 800 already with no problems. Yotes are dropping like rain and pigs are getting nailed with no concern for accuracy or energy.

I honestly can't think of anything in North America that I wouldnt hunt with it. Good shot placement and the .308 is the answer for me.

[Tractorguy]

308 love it!!! I have several and it is the commercial round that the 7.62x51 military round is based off of. Notably - it was considered the most popular hunting cartridge for big game world wide for a long time, because of its range and terminal performance.


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[RMW]

It will do the job with ease

[32drawlength]

Originally Posted by Catfish270

I used a .25-06 this year, but used the .308 last year an killed a buck. One of my favorites.

^^^Exactly this for me too

Also dropped a 220# pig @ 260 yards a couple of weeks ago with 308

[Leon County Slayer]

My go to hunting rifle for pigs and some deer hunts is my sps tactical .308. It's super accurate and knocks down everything in front of it every time. Had one deer run 40 yards on a lung shot with no shoulder hit on it and everything else was DRT.

[Iehooligan11b]

My go to rifle when I gun hunt is a bolt action 308. Killed multiple deer, hogs, black buck and a ram with it. Can't complain one bit.

[Leddy]

I have used the Remington on SPS tactical for 7 years now running the Hornady 168 go Match AMAX. It has harvested many whitetail, 2 aoudads, red stag, fallow and black buck all one hitters.

This past season my daughter and niece both used it to take their first deer. They used the Hornady reduced recoil load 120 gr. I am pretty sure with this load the recoil is less than a 22-250. As well they both where 1 shot takes.

I think it is awesome for what I use it for.

[dac6933]

Great round......short and long range.

[bullets13]

.308 is my go to gun.

[gatorgar]

Winchester Super X 150gr. DPMS Sportical about a 100lb boar at about 50 yrds. This is the entry. Poor piggie thought he was in the clear when he bolted towards the brush. Dead before he hit the ground.
In starting to like this round

[2oddBucks]

Shot 308 for years but switched to 7m08
Never looked back! All you need for deer in Texas and easy to handle !

Big fan of Remnington model Seven

Hand loaded for years!

[gatorgrizz27]

I don't own one yet, but it's probably going to be the next gun I pick up for specific uses. The .308 has some advantages over other similar cartridges for a few things.

1. Delivering relatively large, heavy bullets at close range, like a 170-180 gr Partition where you want a deer down in thick brush.

2. Short barrels. The .308 doesn't lose much velocity going to a 20" or even shorter barrel, and the muzzle blast won't be as severe as many other Carbine length rifles.

3. Lightweight rifles for big game. I have zero interest in shooting a 6 lb .300 magnum, or shooting an elk with a .243. The .308 is a pretty decent middle ground between muzzle energy and recoil.

That's not to say that it won't do normal stuff like shooting a deer at 250 yards as well as anything else out there, they are just reasons I will be getting one. I've already got a .223, 6.5, and .30-06 so I don't really "need" anything more in terms of ballistics, it is the total package that makes it appealing.

[TacticalCowboy]

It should be ok if you use a premium bullet, and only plan on shooting does at 50 yards and less. For any larger job, you may need to look into a 300 mag.

All kidding aside, it'll do just fine.

[mpotts]

Originally Posted by randal

If I remember right I thought it looses quite a bit of energy past 300.. Punching paper would be different IMO..

I shot a 290 pig at 340ytd I shoot a 125 gr
Sierra out of mine complete pass through
And pig went 50-60yrds

[TexMax]

Originally Posted by gatorgrizz27

I don't own one yet, but it's probably going to be the next gun I pick up for specific uses. The .308 has some advantages over other similar cartridges for a few things.

1. Delivering relatively large, heavy bullets at close range, like a 170-180 gr Partition where you want a deer down in thick brush.

2. Short barrels. The .308 doesn't lose much velocity going to a 20" or even shorter barrel, and the muzzle blast won't be as severe as many other Carbine length rifles.

3. Lightweight rifles for big game. I have zero interest in shooting a 6 lb .300 magnum, or shooting an elk with a .243. The .308 is a pretty decent middle ground between muzzle energy and recoil.

That's not to say that it won't do normal stuff like shooting a deer at 250 yards as well as anything else out there, they are just reasons I will be getting one. I've already got a .223, 6.5, and .30-06 so I don't really "need" anything more in terms of ballistics, it is the total package that makes it appealing.

Ya know for not having one you pretty much nailed that

[TexMax]

For a purely hunting rifle I'm not sure I'd own a 308 over 20".

[dbwilson]

I've used mine a couple of times and it definitely does the job, neither buck took another step. In my opinion it's a bit too much rifle for Texas unless you plan on taking long shots.

[limbratgod333]

Shot 270win and 270wsm for years, bought myself a rem sps varmint 308 last year and only had the opportunity to kill some.pigs with it. Shot my largest buck to date with it this year DRT, I wanted a heavy barrel rifle for stand hunting but I didn't want a magnum load. I love the 308 don't think I'll go back to another caliber here in texas. Of and when I go back to the mountains I'll shoot my 7mm.

[Pullersboy]

Originally Posted by randal

Not bad if you don't plan to shoot real far.. Only .308 I have is an ar but I only use it to pig hunt and coyote hunt..

I'll bet ya Carlos Hathcock (if he were still alive) and many other snipers would disagree. .308 is plenty in the hand of someone who knows how to shoot and has capable weaponry.

[chrisk]

I used a .308 this year for the first time. We have been forced to use shotguns and muzzleloaders for deer up here until this season. I used hand loaded 150 grain SST's. both were pass thru shots. My youngest daughter used the same rifle but used Federal 150 grain soft points.
Four shots resulted in three dead deer and a log that was already dead��

[Dejashoot]

They do a fine job on critters large and small.

This is one of my favorites - tree rat at 100

[Bowyer]

I'm a little sentimental about the 308. Killed my first deer with a rifle using a borrowed 308 and a couple of the coolest shots I ever made were with a 308.
And it doesn't hurt that it can be loaded up to almost 30-06 performance or loaded down for less recoil and still be awesome against deer and hogs. Good for anything from squirrel to buffalo

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[x1jett]

After shooting pigs with a .308 back in 2011, I gave up on my 7 mag for good. The .308 puts pigs on the ground. It's also a great round for deer.

[cajuntec]

Absolutely one of my favorite chamberings. I own (and hunt with) several, including a TC Encore 15" barreled pistol.

All the best,
Glenn

[kyle1974]

I bought my son one for christmas. There are so many factory loads for the gun it's unreal. currently using the hornady reduced recoil 125 grain sst, then when he gets older he can move up to full loads. It's not really "the best" at anything, but it's a good all around round I believe.

[Wil Taylor]

I just love mine.