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.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

.308 is a fine cartridge.

30-06 shares the same heritage, but with a larger case capacity and the ability to have a lot more flexibility with loads.

I have both, and if I could only have one I’d go with 30-06 unless I found a cheap cache of .308 ammo somewhere.

[WKUHilltopper]

It took out Germans at long range...why not deer?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They didn’t have .308 back then. You’re thinking of 30-06, a very similar cartridge with more case capacity.

[Jim Noble]

I can’t ever imagine a shot at that setting where I live unless I set up on a bridge overpass on and interstate

Pray that does not become necessary.

[LouieFisk]

“How far is “long range” and is it really worth it to have to hoof more than half a mile just to get to the place where your quarry was shot, to say nothing of how much farther you’ll then have to track the thing to find where it finally went down?”
==
Agree. To me it’s the difference between being a hunter or a sniper. I don’t see any sport in the latter. I’m impressed by a good hunter who knows how to track his quarry and has the patience to take it when the time is right.

[yarddog]

I don’t think I have ever shot at game over 100 yards but I spent most of my life in NW Florida.

I recall an incident which made me realize that semi-long range shooting is not that difficult.

I had a 1909 Argentine Mauser which was made by DWM in Berlin. I had a large quantity of surplus ammo made by FN in 1933. It was a beautiful rifle.

My Nephew and I were shooting at a tar bucket which had been left at the top edge of a clay pit. It was maybe 12X20 inches. The sights on that Mauser were actually dead on at 400 yards which was the distance to the target.

I was surprised how easy it was to hit with the open sights. Even my Nephew who was not a particularly good shot was hitting it regularly.

A good shot would have no difficulty hitting a man at that distance almost every time.

[Gaffer]

Blue helmets would about do it for me.

[Gaffer]

Funny you say that. I also have a 1909 Argentine Modelo made at the same factory. A very pristine gun in 7.65mm Argentine.

[MeganC]

“Is the .308 ammo viable for long range hunting?”

There’s more than a few coyotes hanging on our fenceline who thought otherwise.

[USMCPOP]

If I’m hunting to get some dinner, I damned sure ain’t gonna shoot something hundreds of yards out and drag the carcass back. In my area, you just hit deer with the bumper and throw them in the back.

[yarddog]

Yes and just about identical in power to a .308.

Mine was still new in the cosmoline. It came with the original test target. Herr Ritzman had shot a 2 inch group at 200 meters. It must have been an unusually good one.

[Mr. K]

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

[FreedomPoster]

>>I don’t think I have ever shot at game over 100 yards but I spent most of my life in NW Florida.

AKA LLA

Lower, Lower Alabama.

;-P

[freedomlover]

They didn’t have .308 back then. You’re thinking of 30-06, a very similar cartridge with more case capacity.

---

Forget it, he’s rolling

;)

[doorgunner69]

I believe it was not snipers, but heavy Russian machine guns similar to our M2 .50 caliber, effective out to two miles or so. Snipers would be under fire well before they could get in range. Particularly if they only had the pipsqueak 5.56.

Some reports of foreign snipers, but doubt they have anything out ranging our sniper gear.

[Gaffer]

I think mine was never shot except for test firing at the factory.

[litehaus]

Fond of my Swedish 6.55x55s ........

[Gaffer]

Don’t know what they are, but I’m sure they are nice.

[butlerweave]

I have a Israeli Mauser K98k - 7.62 conversion and I loves it

[Oberon]

I don't ever have to take a shot out beyond 200 yards. Heck, the elk I killed in Colorado was only about 125. So, the .308 is completely adequate for me.

If for some reason I felt obligated to take a shot at out to 400 yards, and I had practiced such shots, AND I was using a rangefinder, I would still trust the cartridge to get the job done provided I could properly place the bullet.

Beyond that, forget it. I can get closer, or go home.