308 Winchester Caliber Opinions...

Last week I used my Sauer 202 stutzen .308 to take this elk, with a 180 grain Nosler partition through the upper chest at about 120M range. Results were dramatic and predicable. Death dash of about 50 M, massive bleeding, broke a rib on both 'in' and 'out' sides, and the far side scapula, and provided an exit wound. I have been using my .375H&H the last few years for hunting elk and bears, gaining experience with it for my next trip to Africa. But the .375 never killed the three elk or one bear I shot with it any quicker than the 8-10 elk and moose I have shot with a .308. I understand that the power of a .375 is sometimes needed in Africa, but my expereinces make me wonder why I sometimes carry heavier rifles for local hunting.
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Nice elk!

My wife took a big elk cow with her .308 last month. She used her Ruger FTW and a factory Barnes Vor-tx 168 gr bullet.. I ranged the shot at 124 yards just before she pulled the trigger.. She put the bullet in the bread basket and dropped the cow in her tracks..

.308 can definitely do the job on elk.. no problem..

We've been eating good for the last few weeks as a result :)
 
I own 2 rifles in it, a Sako 85 & a Springfield M1A. Both shoot flat & do their job well. On my last Safari, my PH had a loaner rifle in 308, heavy barrel, suppressed for long distance shooting.
 
My friend Jim, hunted Africa many times, he used his .308 a couple times, did great on plains game. Excellent round, I would not hesitate to use a .308{
 
The 308 is my favorite round here in the states. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at Paw Print Safaris and Proppy handed me a 308 loaner to take my giraffe with. One shot to the neck and he was down. Great round
 
Recently I resuscitated an old compact Ruger m77 in 308 to use as a mountain rifle/loaner. I have been pondering why I don't care for it much. It is a fine caliber. I guess it is because my first high power rifle was a 7.65 Argentina Mauser, which is close to a 308, but kicked me mercilessly when I was a skinny kid.

bilmcc: If that Ruger Compact has the 16 inch barrel, that might be why you don't like it much. Yes, it's very compact and "handy" is a common term applied to the short, short barrel. The performance suffers when compared to a 20 or 22 inch barrel and the report has quite a bit more bark to it.
 
bilmcc: If that Ruger Compact has the 16 inch barrel, that might be why you don't like it much. Yes, it's very compact and "handy" is a common term applied to the short, short barrel. The performance suffers when compared to a 20 or 22 inch barrel and the report has quite a bit more bark to it.
Yes, i might the 16" are so short but in this round there are less lost of performance than others calibers...
My rifle have a 18" barrell with a twist of 1:12"
Without risk and even with a normal charge the 165 gn bullets flight at 2600 fps easily!
But yes... in a 20" or 22" barrel te vellocity are increased 100 fps more ... minimum...
 
I finally got around to measuring. It has an 18 inch barrel. The only other rifle I have with that length barrel is a Marlin Guide Gun. I put a limb saver on the 308, and it shoots ok now. Seemed a bit extreme for a 308. I have been using 150gr, but I probably should step up to 165 or 180 grain. Could be useful in the black bear woods. Working out these details keep life interesting.
 
Yes
I finally got around to measuring. It has an 18 inch barrel. The only other rifle I have with that length barrel is a Marlin Guide Gun. I put a limb saver on the 308, and it shoots ok now. Seemed a bit extreme for a 308. I have been using 150gr, but I probably should step up to 165 or 180 grain. Could be useful in the black bear woods. Working out these details keep life interesting.

Yes, pal, if you turn to he 165 gn the shorty barrel of the 308 you will improve the power shock and the bullet effects
You will see!.... Good shots!
 
308Win is a CARTRIDGE and not a CALIBER.
It is an excellent round and I like to use 150gr Nosler Partitions over a max charge of Win748 powder and a mag primer.
Sometimes I use a 130 or 150gr Barnes TTSX bullets.
Animals shot properly go down and you have meat in the freezer. I have not shot animals like elk or moose but it will do the job. I have taken deer and pigs as well as an odd squirrel.
My main 308win chambered rifle is an old Rem Mohawk 600 with an 18" barrel. It has been customized and is very accurate and light weight
 
I'm late getting into this discussion, but I use a Kimber Adirondack 308. I dropped my largest black bear, 450 lbs., in its tracks. You also have the option
of using factory light magnum loads which are around 200 ft/sec faster. I plan
to try the new Federal TLR in 175 grain on just about everything in North America,
except the varieties of larger bears.
 
Hi Marco, I used my CZ550 Mannlicher 308 using 165gr Sierras to take my Kudu

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My Ruger scout has the 16.25" barrel. It sends 150 gr TTSX 2700 fps. That bullet has a ferral hog and antelope to its credit. The antelope was 200 yards quartering towards. Shot point of shoulder it was found in the rear quarter just bruising the meat. Carried the same for elk this year. Shots are close with a long one being 200 yards. I had confidence it it's ability. I might step up to a 165 but the 150 ttsx and federal 150 soft shoot so accurate in pleased.

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My Ruger scout has the 16.25" barrel. It sends 150 gr TTSX 2700 fps. That bullet has a ferral hog and antelope to its credit. The antelope was 200 yards quartering towards. Shot point of shoulder it was found in the rear quarter just bruising the meat. Carried the same for elk this year. Shots are close with a long one being 200 yards. I had confidence it it's ability. I might step up to a 165 but the 150 ttsx and federal 150 soft shoot so accurate in pleased.

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Dear John... If i use this round, Imight I still using the 150 gn bullet... The ttsx bullets works better than beter the velocity is...
I use the 168 gn and even with 18" barrel in my "shorty" 308 the performance are very good, but 150 do its better, i think!
The fps fall in a short barrel are a problem in his type of ammo...
Keep the 150 and be happy hahahaha!!
 
I LOVE the .308 Win....it's my all-time favourite round. However, more and more I'm finding myself in shrinking company as people become infatuated with the flashier short magnums. Those guys love to point out to me the superior ballistics of those calibers, but since I don't like to shoot long distance, they have been unable to convert me. I have killed coyotes, mule deer, many whitetails, black bear, elk and moose with mine...all with very satisfying results. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use it on a PG hunt on anything except maybe eland. Now if only I had it's little brother the 7mm-08! :)

My largest animal so far with my .308 Win. Made it 30 yards and tipped over backwards!

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Nice moose and a handy rifle!
 
Great!!! Good shot... Wich point of sierra are you used?
I used Gamekings on my Kudu but Sierra Pro Hunter would also work quite well. I also have Load data if you need it
 
Yes, I'll be gratefull, thanks!....
A wise man learn until the dead, fellow!(y)
As you can see in my Picture I'm using a CZ550 Mannlicher Carbine, I load 42Gr of Winchester 748, others may have other loads to try but I get some close groups out to 200 meters certainly good enough to drop that Kudu with one shot
 

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