Is the .308 ammo viable for long range hunting?

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 9/14/2016 | J Hines

[w1n1]

Currently, the majority of rifles designed for long range hunting these days appear similar to that of military grade weapons in size, weight, and their configuration. These large rifles tend to feature tactical stocks, bipods, larger scopes, and tapered barrels. The majority of these rifles seem to have been configured directly from the factory to utilize .308 Winchester, a powerful round, but one that makes the hunter question whether or not such a cartridge is useful when it comes to tackling big game at long ranges.

Long Range
Believe it or not, the term "long range" actually means many different things to hunters across the world, depending on where in the country you may find yourself. One of the big problems most hunters have with long range hunting is the ability to simply wound an animal instead of taking down your game with a single well placed shot.

Capabilities
In terms of capabilities, the .308 is truly effective within its intended range and parameters. For example, one can tackle numerous game when within 250 yards or less. In this range, the rifle and round will shoot accurately and remains within the ethical limits most hunters tend to carry. Read the rest of the story here.

[Redleg Duke]

I have a Swedish short rifle in 6.5x55. Love to shoot it!

[Redcitizen]

“Long Range Elk with .308 Winchester:”

I would not want to encounter an elk armed with a .308 Winchester.

But I do support the right to arm bears.

[yarddog]

Do you mean the one with the 16 inch barrel?

If so I bet it would be fun to shoot on the 4th of July.

[Axenolith]

You can get a decent parallax ranging Leapers in the 16-24X range for under $350 and it’s going to be a far better SHTF scope than ones running 5 to 10 times that price because, as I used to quip, “you can take it off and pound nails with it and it’s still zeroed when put back on”.

The optics might be a bit under class but that reliability is a key seller for me. I used a 24X for three years of field target competition before switching to a 50X Nikko Sterling and that 24X is going on my M1A as soon as I can find a decent mount for it.

Hawke sport optics makes some good ones I hear too.

If you want rugged also look to any scope that survives use on a spring piston airgun, they are death on scopes, way worse than magnum rifles.

[Jack Black]

The.300 Win Mag and .308 Norma have almost identical performance, having almost identical case capacity. The .308 Norma is preferred by some very knowledgeable shooters for it's longer neck.

Wayne Van Zwoll literally wrote the book on Modern Sporting Rifle Cartridges. After writing about every cartridge imaginable in the book he listed his favorite five.

The .308 Norma was one of those five. That speaks very highly for the cartridge.

[doorgunner69]

.50 BMG accept no substitutes

So, you footing the bill for ammo?

[Big Red Badger]

BACK TO THE FUTURE!

[CommerceComet]

Thanks for the information. I had an acquaintance who was an avid shooter. One day, he got started on bullet performance with a bunch of technical ballistics stuff that was beyond my understanding. Realizing my confusion, he bottom-lined it and said because of all that technical stuff, the .308 bullet is incredibly stable in flight which is why it is so accurate and so loved by competitive shooters.

His gun of choice was a .308 magnum. He said he would use it on any game animal in North American, although he said if things got nasty in a close and personal situation with a brown bear or polar bear, he would prefer a .375 or bigger.

[gundog]

A lost animal is food only for the coyotes and buzzards.

[Professional Engineer]

when the SHTF there will be no ‘ethical limits’ on food hunting

They still apply if you really are trying to feed your family, not just glee killing.

[Redleg Duke]

Actually, mine is the cavalry carbine with the bent bolt handle. It is a fine firearm. Mild recoil and a tack driver.

[AFreeBird]

A thousand years is seriously long range! 😳