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Surprised at lack of .308 prominence ...

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Surprised at lack of .308 prominence ...

Old 11-30-2012, 07:07 AM
  #21  
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While there are certainly a lot of great cartridges out there for hunting medium game, my personal preference is and has been for about 2 decades the 308 Win. I have and still do hunt with a myriad of others from time to time ... from 6.5x55 Se to 444 Marlin.

The 308 Win. coupled with a quality 165 gr. bullet, the round is bad medicine on deer out a lot farther I can proficiently hit inside a 10" circle. And I consider my self a decent shooter.

Where I hunt, from tree stands and blinds, here in the SE USA my typical shot seldom exceeds 150 yards, and more often than not is inside 100 yards. About any decent center fire cartridge will kill deer at these distances. But I usually tote my 308 Win.

No doubt about it, the most popular 30 cal. cartridge down this way is still the 30.06 Spr. I don;t see that changing anytime soon !!! I have no arguement with that at all. Great and very versitile cartridge. In fact a Browning BBR in 30.06 Spr. was for years my favorite hunting rifle.

As far as short vs. long action? About the only advange of the short action that I think comes into play is a tad less weight and shorter overall length because the receiver can be shorter.
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Old 11-30-2012, 07:24 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by SecondChance
As was the 30-06(7.62x57) till NATO adopted the 308 for lighter weight of ammo in bulk. Was all they had in 'Nam. Havent heard the trunk monkey tag in a minute!!!!

Yes Cypress, the M60 uses 308 and 249 uses 223 ammo.
And the 308 does show a more inheritable accuracy over the 30-06 for the type of work it is fashioned for. Thats why more police depts use/used the 308 over the '06, for which they are now many going to the 338 Lapua.

The 30-06 is actually 7.62x63.
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Old 11-30-2012, 08:36 AM
  #23  
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love my .308 Browning A-Bolt ! Won't hunt with anything else !
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Old 11-30-2012, 06:44 PM
  #24  
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Thanks for all the great replies. Didn't intend for it to turn into an 06 vs. 308 thread. I see some advantages for the 06 in different environments (longer action permits greater range of grains, some additional oomph, etc). But for the specific application of whitetail in the SE, I think it's difficult to argue against .308 as the total package.

I will also add that I don't think the weight is the primary advantage of short actions when it comes to brush hunting. It's the maneuverability coupled with the ability to chamber an additional round in a bolt action without taking your eye away from the scope.
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Old 11-30-2012, 10:49 PM
  #25  
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I wonder if magnum-itus bubble will ever burst and change directions or if it's a right of passage amongst all young/new hunters?

that's like sure a .300win.mag is a better elk/deer rifle, but when 99% of your hunting will be small eastern deer, a .270 is probably a better choice.

just get 2 rifles

I do want a .300wsm, as well as a .308
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Old 12-01-2012, 06:03 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by salukipv1
I wonder if magnum-itus bubble will ever burst and change directions or if it's a right of passage amongst all young/new hunters?
Do you drive a Model T to work? Good enough is one thing, but better is better. To each their own. There's nothing wrong with a .308, and a lot of things right about it, but it's far from my first choice as a hunting rifle.
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Old 12-01-2012, 09:04 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by VAhuntr
The 30-06 is actually 7.62x63.
Yes it is. Been deer hunting all week dawn till dark and should have been in bed and not on the computer!!! Thanks.
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Old 12-01-2012, 09:20 AM
  #28  
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While I don't have one.... the .308 is a great all around cartridge, and certainly arguments can be made it is one of the best ever. It can do 99% of anything most folks would use it for. I think the reason its not as popular is because of all the other options out there, especially with so many magnums these days. Too many folks think you need the most power you can get, or you cant possibly kill anything. I've personally seen a shift away from magnums with all the guys I know, they are now shooting 7mm-08, .243, .308, etc.
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Old 12-04-2012, 06:46 AM
  #29  
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Default What goes around...

comes around. And people have been rediscovering the .308 and 30/06 and 7mm Mauser and ...

The U.S. Army was using the 30/06 one hundred years ago, and the .308 in military form some fifty years ago. And they remember the 7mm Mauser carried by their Spanish adversaries, nearly 115 years ago, in the Spanish-American War.

Some things do get lost over the years. Some people don't quite live that long.
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Old 12-05-2012, 09:42 AM
  #30  
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Thumbs up Good cartridge!

I don't think people will ever agree on the best cartridge. Nature of the beast, I guess. I have a .308 and an /06. Love 'em both, though my yougest son has latched onto the .308. It has an 18.5" barrel, while my /06 has a 24". The way I can load the /06, there is 400 fps difference in the velocity with most bullets. All it seems to mean for woods hunting here in PA is I have to use heavier bullets in the /06 than the bullets that will perform well in the .308. If a person does more field hunting and taking shots over 200 yards, then maybe the .270s and 7 mags have a bit of an edge. Can't see it for shots up to 150 or so.
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