RE: Is the .308 Dead?
I would be willing to bet the .308 and 30-06 are still the two most popular rounds and rifles sold, next to the .22 rimfire.
Sort of reminds me of the 17HMR and 17HM2, great little rounds but they will never replace the .22 rimfire.
Me personally after looking at the ballistics of most of the Short Mag cartridges they don't offer much. There is no real huge advantage to using them over the standard load and in most cases you would be better off just moving up to the next more powerful standard cartridge. Most of the ones I have looked at only give you a few hundred more FPS with the same weight bullet. Not hardly worth the hassle or expense in my opinion.
The .308 will probably kill just about any critter in the U.S/Canada and if don't think that is enough step up to the 30-06. You will never have trouble finding a gun chambered in them or finding ammo at any store that sells ammunition.
My opinion anyway.
Paul