RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

Accuracy is a function of bullet perfection, rifle precision, and to some extent, case capacity/configuration. For example, short fat cartridges that have short powder columns tend to burn their powder charges a little more uniformly than ones having long skinny powder columns. So, for example, if you use the same bullets in both a .30/'06 and a .308, in rifles made with equal care and of equal quality, the .308 GENERALLY will prove to be a little more accurate. However, the difference in accuracy might be something only the best of marksmen could use, or even notice! It surely would not be enough difference to make the .308 a better hunting cartridge vs the .30/'06!!

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

Absolutely correct!!

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

I'll be the first to admit that there are calibers that I do not like, for no legitimate reasons! I will not bash their effectivness though!
The .308 is as good as any in its class, including the '06.
I rarely have an animal drop in its tracks, because I usually aim for the heart/lung area. Dropping an animal in its tracks has more to do with shot placement than caliber!
Also, if you do not recover the animal you cannot be sure of the shot placement!
While I am not saying that this is always the case, it is usually easier to blame a scope, caliber or bullet, than it is to admit we may have made a less than perfect shot!
As for those who have "never missed," I've seen pros miss easy shots with the cameras rolling! So if you've never missed, chances are you haven't shot at much, and chances are even better, that you'll eat those words one day!

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

Its all just personal pref I guess. Its easy to get turned off on a cartridge. For instance I wont use a 243 on deer...but some folks swear by it. So its gotta be doing a good job for them. You just never know. I'm not done trying the 243 yet but the Nosler Partition is gonna be my last go with it.

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

You will like the nosler partition in the 243. I would not shoot at a deer with the 243 without losding it with Nosler partitions. I never tried the Ballistic tips as they were not out yet in that caliber when I got rid of my 243. Never tried the X bullets either. Same reason.
Jagman, Boy do I know what you mean about eating crow. One morning quite a few years ago while hunting with several inlaws I made one hell of a shot at about 225 yards on a deer with the old 94 Win 30-30. I could not help but gloat a little for the guys. Later on that day a big buck ran buy me about 75 yards away. Missed it seven times. Didn't even have a scope to blame it on. It was several years later before I realized why I missed so many times. I was walking down that very hill where the buck went down doing its mule deer hop. That hillside was about three times as steep as I ever would have quessed. With those big bounces he was brobably going down that hill at about 20 feet down per jump. You could hardly walk on it and you can't if its wet. Thats only been about 15 years and I still here about it every time I see them.

Same thing for the time I was muzzle loader hunting with them and did a real speed reload getting ready to fire a second shot. A little to fast, Forgot the powder. Had the bullet in though![>:]

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

Boy, that's for sure!!

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

For hunters, inherent accuracy comparisons aren't worth much...1000yrd shooters, military/LE snipers, and the like don't necessarily use the .308win (7.62NATO) because it's the most accurate round out there, yes it is quite accurate compared to the entire spectrum of cartridges available to them, but it's got a lot more going for it than that...

A)It's shootable yet gives upscaled performance, 1000yrd competitors need a round that will get there, but they can't have high recoil, the .300win mag is capable of being every bit as accurate as the .308 (and many shooters use it), but it recoils MUCH more, so you're more apt to shoot it poorly, and target reacquisition takes more time-The .308win is only a little "weaker" than the .300win mag, however, it's recoil factor is MUCH less, making it a better choice.

ALSO check out recent years final stats, not many people that won use a .308 any more even.

B)It's light, The military 338Lapua or .50BMG rifles are MUCH more capable than the .308win, but for practical purposes, the .308 has the advantage, the rifle is MUCH lighter and smaller, and for the same weight, I can carry much more ammo for 7.62Nato than for the .338L or especially the .50BMG (I'd venture that the total cartridge weight for the .308win is less than the BULLET weight for the .50)...the 50BMG single shot rifle I had weighed in at 37# empty with NO weights added, my competition .300 win mag (same rifle is available in .308win) is just over 15# empty WITH weights added

C)It does the job...military/LE agencies can't afford to change hardware everytime something a little better comes along, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...honestly, I don't believe that LE agencies even need the range of the .308 accurized bolt rifle, an accurized .223 AR-15/M-16 (or virtually ANY STOCK FACTORY heavy bbl varmint rifle)would easily handle 99% of law enforcement sniper applications, but I do agree it's best to be well prepared.

As I said before, the inherent long range accuracy of a cartridge is absolutely a moot point for hunters, for a variety of reasons-first, you're shooting a hunting grade rifle, not an accurized, customized, shooting machine, comparing a .308win sporter and a .308win 1000yrd rifle is like comparing apples and oranges, yes, they're both fruit and they have skins, they grow on trees, but when you get down to it, they're FAR from the same. Secondly, Military snipers may be required to fire at targets approaching a mile away, occasionally farther (I've read accounts-using a .50BMG mind you-of 2500+meter torso shots being made), 1000yrd shooter shoot 1000yrds...You will never shoot at a game animal that far away, if you do, there are many people here that would like to take you out to the woodshed...Hunters don't often buy/load incredibly impressive match grade ammo, you don't need it to hunt deer, period, it's a waste of time to go through all the steps required to get 1000yrd grade ammo to take hunting, it's a waste of money (and a crap shoot at that) to buy match grade ammo for hunting.

The .308 is a great performer, there's no reason to think it less than it's reputation suggests.

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

i recently bought a remington model700 in a .308 and i dont think i would trade it for anyother rifle

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

I think that a person should concider quality of rifle and ability rather than bullet caliber. 6PPC is the most accurate BR caliber used in Less than 1000yd comps. I've seen some 7mm rifles shoot 5" groups @ 1000yds. However, most long range comps shoot .308. Because of physics and the way rifles are built, .308 happens to be a "magical" caliber. I suppose if you were to build a gun that would accomidate a larger 7mm bullet, you'd be hard pressed to make a choice between 300 UM and 7mm UM. Ask another BR gunsmith that competes in 1000yds.

RE: Is the .308 really that good?
 

I had a 308 in the old Remington 600 series. It never faile to do the job for me. I don't have it anymore but I used it for about eight years until I got my 250 Savage.:D