The humble 308 Win still a classic Bushveld caliber

[dmyers]

Given the quality of hunting bullets, I believe the 308 is now better than the 30-06. Almost identical downrange results with less kick and shorter action.

I own both as my two primary hunting rifles. Love both. If I had to choose- 308.

 

[CBH Australia]

Classic should never be confused with common.

Can you elaborate?
I have owned several .308 and it’s just worked that way that’s I went with .308 going Fwd, I always wanted something that had a little more appeal than the common .308 but the .308 is we’ll suited Australia.
,375 H&H is a Classic, A 7x57 is a Classic and the 7mm-08 it’s ballistic twin is pretty good but that is the only rifle I have in a less common chambering So one day I would like a really nice rifle in a Classic.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Can you elaborate?
I have owned several .308 and it’s just worked that way that’s I went with .308 going Fwd, I always wanted something that had a little more appeal than the common .308 but the .308 is we’ll suited Australia.
,375 H&H is a Classic, A 7x57 is a Classic and the 7mm-08 it’s ballistic twin is pretty good but that is the only rifle I have in a less common chambering So one day I would like a really nice rifle in a Classic.

@CBH Australia
Chris start saving your pennies mate and get a classic stalking Rigby rifle in 275 Rigby. You could get a more classic 7x57. I think they were on sale in QLD for about $12,000.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

On sale, impulse buy ohh ok i should get one.
I cant really afford it at present and i would be pretty caurltious where i took it.
Add a suitable scope to the budget and yep up goes the price. Do they offer rings? I may as well get some steel rings custom blued to match.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

On sale, impulse buy ohh ok i should get one.
I cant really afford it at present and i would be pretty caurltious where i took it.
Add a suitable scope to the budget and yep up goes the price. Do they offer rings? I may as well get some steel rings custom blued to match.

@CBH
Chris while you at it throw in a 375 and a 416.
Fortunately dreams cost nothing.
BOB

 

[shark_za]

Is a Toyota Corolla a classic or just a workhorse?
Its .243 child has become a classic but the poor old .308 will always live in its classic brothers shadow.

Its a wonderful useful caliber but a classic it is not.

 

[mdwest]

Is a Toyota Corolla a classic or just a workhorse?

It depends on your definition of classic... perhaps you have developed your own definition that is different from the worlds most accepted dictionaries? Or perhaps you are considering it only from a South Africa perspective (although I think many South Africans might disagree with you)..


By the dictionary definition, it is indeed a classic... its been around a long time, and it is proven to be a quality vehicle (the definition of quality isnt high price or cost.. it is value that exceeds cost)..

There are numerous web pages dedicated to the Toyota Corolla as a "classic"

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-for-sale

https://www.automobilemag.com/news/1979-toyota-corolla-for-sale-craigslist-ad/

https://cars.oodle.com/toyota-corolla/for-sale/antique-classic-cars/


The Corolla has won countless awards over the years for its design, quality, and capabilities against other cars in its class.. Its still winning awards in 2019 and 2020..

https://www.toyota.com/corolla/awards/


There are even people that collect toyota corollas due to their appeal...

So how does the Toyota Corolla not meet all of the requirements of the definition of classic? Its stood the test of time, proven to be of quality, and people have loved them for generations.. Just because its common, does not prevent it from being classic at all..

No different than the 308... It has also stood the test of time.. has proven itself fully capable of everything it was ever intended (largely why it has stood the test of time), people love them and have loved them for generations, etc..etc..

Another dictionary definition of classic is "simple and timeless so that it will always be fashionable". Im pretty sure a cartridge that has been around seven decades that is one of the top 5 selling cartridges on the planet every year and has been for decades (not including military sales of the 7.62x51 NATO), that is easily reloaded and requires no special tools, etc.. meets the definition requirements of "simple", "timeless", and "fashionable" as well..


If being a workhorse is a disqualifier for being classic.. does that mean 30-06 is also not a classic? What exactly qualifies a 30-06 that disqualifies a 308? (mind you, capability and versatility are not qualifiers in any way according to any definition found in any acceptable text)..

And how is 243 a classic.. when it is younger, far less prolific, far less used, and far less accepted in just about every intended application, than its parent, the 308? (I agree with you by the way.. the 243 meets the requirements of the definition of classic.. the question is.. if you think the 243 is a classic, how exactly can the 308 not be one.. as "living in the shadow" of another cartridge isnt a disqualifier by any accepted definition)..

 

[curtism1234]

My 308 is Browning BLR, bought because held 4 rounds and can shoot further than the 30-30.

In retrospect, I should have bought the BLR in 300wsm. The 308 does the job on 200 pound animals but I still prefer the flat out wallop the 7mm rem mag, 300wsm/win mag has.

I've only shot 5 animals with the 308 with 3 different bullets. I'm still searching for the right load. Going to try the Hornady 165gr sst superperfomance locally this year - Maybe that will give me the right amount of power, expansion, and penetration I'm looking for.

 

[mdwest]

I’ve shot superformance in a couple of calibers and gotten good results. Haven’t tried it in 308 yet though..

Have you tried Barnes factory vor-tx 165 gr yet.

The Barnes is lights out accurate in all of my 308’s and the Barnes TTSX reputation for terminal performance is well known..

 

[Philip Glass]

Their was a time in South Africa where hunters and shooters generally chose from 4 calibers if you were looking for a new rifle ie 3006 ,308 , 270, 243. Most hand me down rifles were usually.303 Brit or 7x57 mauser. Few hunters had a .375 in the safe.
During the last 20 years Or so many new calibers have become available to the general hunting public. We have seen the short magnum craze, the 6.5 mm craze from Grendel to Creedmore to Lapua etc.
so imagine my surprise when all 5 hunters sittting around our camp fire during a hunt last season in Limpopo were using the good old .308win.
Makes included Savage,Remington, Brno and Blaser. Some old some new.
When asked why each hunter had chosen this particular caliber the consensus was that it was a caliber they had grown up with and it had worked for Pa.
I guess the more things change the more they stay the same! It would be interesting to hear from other hunters what the go to caliber is in their areas.

Good caliber no doubt.

 

[curtism1234]

I’ve shot superformance in a couple of calibers and gotten good results. Haven’t tried it in 308 yet though..

Have you tried Barnes factory vor-tx 165 gr yet.

The Barnes is lights out accurate in all of my 308’s and the Barnes TTSX reputation for terminal performance is well known..

I have not tried the Barnes. I may put that on the shortlist

 

[Fastrig]

I have not tried the Barnes. I may put that on the shortlist

Give the Norma Bondstrike a go...308 win, 180 grain, nice flat shooting round...accurate.

 

[curtism1234]

Give the Norma Bondstrike a go...308 win, 180 grain, nice flat shooting round...accurate.

I have a bunch of 180gr norma oryx I bought on clearance. My rifle doesn't like 180gr corelocts (round nose or pointed) but for the price i paid it is worth the gamble.

 

[MS 9x56]

I have a bunch of 180gr norma oryx I bought on clearance. My rifle doesn't like 180gr corelocts (round nose or pointed) but for the price i paid it is worth the gamble.

Every rifle is an entity unto itself. My Dad and I had the same make model and caliber rifles. His liked remington core locts mine preferred Hornady.

 

[Fastrig]

I have a bunch of 180gr norma oryx I bought on clearance. My rifle doesn't like 180gr corelocts (round nose or pointed) but for the price i paid it is worth the gamble.

Hit and miss with Corelocts with my rifles, some like them some don't. Never had an issue with Norma rounds. Use the Oryx in my 9.3x62 with great results. Good luck!

 

[MS 9x56]

Hit and miss with Corelocts with my rifles, some like them some don't. Never had an issue with Norma rounds. Use the Oryx in my 9.3x62 with great results. Good luck!

One of the best things about the 9.3 is that it is not fussy. Haven’t found a bullet yet that won’t group at least 1 1/4” at 100 yards same with powders some are faster than others but no pressure issues and standard deviation varies between 5 to 20 FPS . I plan on using my 308 savage 99 with 165 grain round noses for deer this year.

 

[Fastrig]

One of the best things about the 9.3 is that it is not fussy. Haven’t found a bullet yet that won’t group at least 1 1/4” at 100 yards same with powders some are faster than others but no pressure issues and standard deviation varies between 5 to 20 FPS . I plan on using my 308 savage 99 with 165 grain round noses for deer this year.

This is my first 9.3x62 but have to say it has quickly become a favorite of mine. I've only shot the 285/286 grain rounds through her so far and looking forward to seeing how she performs with a lighter bullet. If I had to choose one gun right now to keep and sell the rest it would come down to the 9.3x62 and my 300 win mag. Probably the 9.3x62 would win out as there really isn't much is can't do within the ranges I hunt (300 and under) and it's better suited to bear and DG (if not entirely legal for the later in some places). If the 230 grain EcoStrikes pan out like I hope they do, I'll give those a go on white tail.

 

[CBH Australia]

@mdwest , I guess it’s just peoples perception we are getting at .
Nothing wrong with .308 I’ve had several sporters it worked out that way.

But in Australia some have a thing for .270 and others, it seems the 7x57 has some nostalgia . Never had either but my 7mm-08 possibly fits that space for performance

Without debating technically correct definition the common .308 sometimes seems to be just that where many consider some of he others seem more desirable as a they hold some allure to many as classic or have some prestigious history or status among cartridges.

I want a .300wm it holds some appeal.but the. 270 comes to mind as something that gets more respect than the common .308.

 

[MS 9x56]

This is my first 9.3x62 but have to say it has quickly become a favorite of mine. I've only shot the 285/286 grain rounds through her so far and looking forward to seeing how she performs with a lighter bullet. If I had to choose one gun right now to keep and sell the rest it would come down to the 9.3x62 and my 300 win mag. Probably the 9.3x62 would win out as there really isn't much is can't do within the ranges I hunt (300 and under) and it's better suited to bear and DG (if not entirely legal for the later in some places). If the 230 grain EcoStrikes pan out like I hope they do, I'll give those a go on white tail.

I have taken game with 286 grain privi partisan, 232 grain Norma Vulcans, and 250 grain Nosler accubonds. All have worked very well and I haven’t had to shoot anything twice. There is a lot to like with Mr Bocks creation. I heartily endorse it and look forward to taking it to Africa with me.

 

[RayAtkinson]

Ive seen more elephants killed with a .308 than any other caliber, so guess the 308 finally grew up to be a big boy...I suggest the .308 nay sayers go watch a elephant cull someday and watch those big pachaderms crumble before those milsurp autos in .308 caliber and quit reading those damn gun magazines..