.308 fans/owners?
 

Still trying to decide on the best rifle & chambering for my first deer rifle. My father-in-law just bought a 1 yr old Model 70 in .270 that he said I could use whenever I want. I still want a gun that I can call my own, however.

I hear a lot of talk about a lot of various rounds, but the .308 isn' t mentioned too often. Is anyone here a fan (or opponent) of the .308? I' ve been reading up, and many prefer it to the .30-06 (mostly in smaller size mountain rifles).

What are your opinions?

I don' t plan on too many long shots (300 yds is really pushing my limits). I' m trying to decide between the 7mm-08, .270, .308, and the 7mag. The .270 and .308 are standing out. The 7mag seems like too much gun for whitetail at 100-250 yds.

Thanks,
Gig ' Em

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

even though the 27owin is one of the best whitetail rounds out there for deer.
i am a big fan of the 30-06sprg and the 308win. if your shots can get out to 300yds easliy you might want to look at the 7mm-08rem. but the 308win will do just as you ask from it. as long as you pratice, practice, practice with it. i perfer the 308win also cause of the offerings of ammo selections out there as well also mom and pop stores carry more 308win rounds than the 7mm-08rem ammo.

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

I own 2- 308s, a Sako and a Remington 7600 pump. I can' t say enough good about the 308 as it has served me well for 24 years. Low recoil, accurate, easy to find ammo, and good selection of ammo if you don' t reload. I' ve killed everything from fox to moose with mine. Both of mine like 150 grain bullets but you can go up to 180s. I recently sold a 270 as it sat in my case.

However, if the truth be know, any of the calibers you mentioned most likely will work equally as well.

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

Hunted with a 308 for more years than I care to admit.Has always been an excellant caliber and served me well.I like the short action mountain style rifles and savage 99' s and they both work well with the 308.Last few years I have switched to a 7mm-08 and love this caliber for deer also,course it comes from good lineage ;)

woods

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

I' ve always had a .308 of some sort around. Right now 2 bolts a Rem 700 and a sporterized FR-8; plus one semi-auto a S.A. M1-A.

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

The .308 has become a ho-hum round in the world of superduperultrashortmagnums which get all of the publicity in order to try to convince people that their new wondermagnum is a much better buy than a .308 for the average sportsman. The .308 really doesn' t need any publicity to get sales because its been time and match proven to have excellent accuracy, low recoil, easy to tune, reliable, and powerful enough for darn near anything you want to hunt.

I love my .308 and wouldn' t trade it for a 30-06 or anything else for that matter. I don' t think there is any advantage for the 7mm-08 over the .308 as its very similar in bullet size and ballistically. If I were to buy another .308 class rifle, it would be in .260 rem, since its similar to my second favorite cartridge the 6.5x55 Swedish.

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

i love the 308 for deer...its a great little round and low recoil..and easy to find...and ive never seen one that didnt shoot good...i took my first deer with a 308...and after taken 3 other deer wit ha 30-06 the 308 hung with it and dropped it just as hard...the deer did a sideways flip in the air and its legs were on the opposite side from where they should have been and it never moved...bad little round...i think its a great deer getter...

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

You absolutely will not go wrong with either cartridge.I shoot a .270 but have always loved the .308 (probably from shooting with the military,but that don' t matter). The .308 has certainly proven itself over the years on a variety of game animals,and is a fine choice for deer up to 300 yards.I have found the .270 does not lack anything either when it comes to downing game.I' ve taken everything from 150 lb does to mature bull elk with this round,and more than a few moose have also been dropped by a friend of mine with his 270.Find a rifle that is right for you in either caliber and don' t look back! Good luck and good huntin' ...!!

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

I have a Tikka chambered in .308 Win, and I absolutely love it. Its a tack driver and easy on the shoulder. If your mostly just hunting deer at ranges less than 300 yds., you could hardly go wrong with a 308. and you will never regret your decison. Good luck.

RE: .308 fans/owners?
 

I' ve got a T/C Encore Pistol in .308 that' s capable of doing everything I would ask of it. Recently got the .308 rifle barrel and the stock components for it and this has since replaced my Ruger 77 30.06. The ' 06 is a great round in it' s own right, but the performance difference between the two is not enough to even debate.