By this I mean for new purchases. This upcoming deer season I have my oldest boy and now my 12 year old nephew to take hunting (plus two more sons in the wings, 9and 7 yr old). I have a .257 roberts (12 year old)and a .270 win (20 year old). That leaves nothing for me, outside of my 12 ga, but I could get a kimber 84 m classic for under $800 in .308 win. The shop is local ~5 minutes from my house but does it make sense to get a .308 anymore? I thought about getting a 7 mm wsm or a .300 wsm but for a 99% pa deer gunin hilly, woodsy areas a mag seems like a waste. I thought about the 338 federalas well. Any other ideas?
I think that the .308 is still very much a popular caliber that will be around for quite a while yet. I constantly read and hear others give it big props, so I think that you would be fine with one.
Nothing at all wrong with the .308. It's an outstanding cartridge for deer. Not many that are better for your purposes.
As for any reduction in its popularity... that's probably due to folks afflicted with excessive levels of testosterone and bruises brought on by thumping their own chests... Classic symptoms of magnumitis... From your description, there's no need for you to get a magnum.
It doesn't get talked about as much because it has been around for so long. Everybody always talks about the newest rounds. Sort of like you don't hear people talking about the 30-06 as much anymore but the .308 and the 30-06 are probably two of the best you can get for your situation.
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The .308 is nowhere near dead. American deer hunters have been raised on TV shows and marketing brochures to think that a magnum is necessary to kill deer. Uphere in Ontario the .308 is one of the most popular rounds in the field and we hunt moose also with them with excellent success. A .308 will do everything a .3006 will do. No animal will ever feel the 100 fps difference. The nice thing about the .308 is that it can be had in lighter weight rifles. If I was hunting Pennsylvania sized deer I wouldn't buy anything bigger. A 7mm-08 is also a fabulous choice.
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I've owned about 5 different .308's and would never be without one for Pa hunting.Last year I picked up a .308 and a 300 wsm inKimber Montanna's.The Kimber's are the best rifles I've ever owned.
That cartridge is going to be around LOOOOOOONG after you've rotted away, so don't worry about getting one.
Those WSMs are a joke, you don't need those.
Since I just bought a 308 barrel for my Blaser, I sincerely hope the 308 is not dead, but as far as the WSMs being a joke, that comment is obviously from someone who doesn't own one. I own 2 guns chambered in 300 WSM and can do sub MOA with factory ammo all day, and ballistically, there is no joke there either. Look it up!
Is the .308 dead?
