I am seeking clarification on a "deer rifle" that can serve as an adequate firearm for someone beginning to hunt game with larger caliber center-fire scoped rifle.
The firearm must also be adequate to task should rule 308 need to be applied in less civil circumstances, and *MUST* inter-operate with the corresponding military 7.62 rounds.
I am seeking therefore to spec a .308, scoped rifle in the class of a Remington 700 with a scope.
1. Is a Remington 700 .308 an adequate firearm? (I realize there are better ones, but is the Remington 700 series good enough)
1.1 what length barrel?
1.2 Any particular model? (SPS / SS/ other?)
2. I have little interest in bragging rights with a Leupold scope - is a Nikon good enough?
2.1 What range of magnification, sight, etc is recommended?
3. My intent if to have the .308 civilian and/or military 7.62 option. Is this really practical?
3.1 any special cautions/ warnings?
Thanks as always to the FReeper community.
What’s your budget?
1. Is a Remington 700 .308 an adequate firearm? (I realize there are better ones, but is the Remington 700 series good enough)
Yes. For everything on the NA continent. With the right bullet.
1.1 what length barrel? A hunting rifle usually wears a 22 to 24 inch barrel. That is fine.
1.2 Any particular model? (SPS / SS/ other?) Plain ol M70 308 sporter, ADL/BDL (one has a blind magazine (no floor plate) the other has bottom metal and allows you to dump the round sin the magazine w/o running them through the bolt/chamber)
2. I have little interest in bragging rights with a Leupold scope - is a Nikon good enough? yes, but they are not made in the US if that means anything to you....
2.1 What range of magnification, sight, etc is recommended? 3x9 or 4x12 is good enough for most any applicatipon, from 50 yds to 800 ( about the max effective range of the 308/7.62) at deer sized target ( 9x14 vital zone
3. My intent if to have the .308 civilian and/or military 7.62 option. Is this really practical? Sure. Just realize the 308 win and the 7.62 NATO are not the same round (pressure wise, but in a bolt gun, I would not be concerned.
3.1 any special cautions/ warnings?
Wear eye and ear protection, be sure of your target and beyond, always assume every gun is loaded. Practice. Load your own if you want optimum, accuracy, performance and quality.
Best;
A Remington 700 in .308 will be just fine.
Look into something with .308 Winchester stamped on the barrel for caliber information, it should also take 7.62x51 Nato w/ no issues. It’s still debated on the interwebs as to whether the two rounds are truly interchangeable, the big issue being the shoulder angles on the cartridge cases themselves. Regarding SAAMI specs regarding pressure, .308 is higher, and desirable. I’ve run South African surplus .308 through a converted Garand with no issues.
In the event of “less civil” circumstances requiring the use of 7.62 Nato, well, there will be plenty of other options in the event that a .308 rifle has issues feeding 7.62. Just my 2 cents though.
I shoot both 7.62 and .308 through my Rem 700. A .308 can carry you up to Elk. I have known those that have taken Moose with a .308.
I own a 700 in .308,26” heavy barrel.Absolutely the most accurate rifle out of the box that I’ve ever shot.Using Federal Gold Medal ammo you can expect to shoot 1.125 inch groups at 200 yards.(Or better,that’s the best that I can do.)I have a Leopold scope mounted on it,but there are a bunch of good scopes out there.The rifle will shoot M80 ball ammo well too,if that’s what’s available.
7.62 is lower pressure than .308, so no pressure problems switching from .308 to 7.62 NATO. Remington 700 is civie version of the military M24, which is still the basic sniper rifle for the Marine Corp. So if it’s good enough for the Marines, ought to be fine in a less civil situation.
Consider also a Savage Model 10.
The .308 was derived from the 30-06, which was too long to cycle well in full-automatic weapons. The .308 is a shorter version of the 30-06, but ballistically similar, the .308 having slight less powder capacity and thus slightly lower muzzle velocity than the 30-06. I have had a lot easier time finding 30-06 ammo on the shelves. Don't see much .308. Just saying.
If you’ve got the money (about $1,500) look in to a Springfield Armory M1A, the semi-auto version of the of the military M-14. It’s a really sweet rifle that field strips easily, uses military ball ammo, takes a scope, loads with a 20 round external magazine, and wlll allow you to lay down a terrific barrage at a longer effective range than either a M-16 or AK-47.
The rifle comes in a tough polymer stock and has a 4-round integral magazine. Barrel is a 20 or 24 inches, free floated (does not touch the stock), heavy weight, crowned and recessed for accuracy. No iron sights are provided. The receiver is pre-drilled and tapped for scope bases. Newest models come with an adjustable AccuTrigger. The rifle weighs about 8-1/2 lbs.
To complete my rifle I added a set of quick detach 1-1/4 inch sling swivels, a Mil-Std 1913 scope base from Mounting Solutions Plus, a set trigger from Sharpshooter Supply (mine did not come with an AccuTrigger), A.R.M.S. No. 22M 30mm throw lever rings, and a Tasco Model 10-42M Super Sniper Mil-Dot scope from SWFA (sole distributor for this scope). This scope is built to the same Mil-Spec as the Leopold Mk IV by Japanese optics maker Hakko, and is 1/3 the cost ($399) of the Leopold.
The rifle is perfect for both deer hunting or precision shooting. Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_10FP
I have a Remington 700 w/ a Luepold MK-IV and a Springfield M1A.
I could mound a scope on the M1 but, I like it just the way it is.
M1fires anything and all day.
Accurate and I don’t recall any failures.
I took it completely apart last month and found no dust or Cruz anywhere.
I wiped everything down and won’t be doing that again for a while.
Remington 700 is superb.
Depends on where your hunting from as well. Tree stand, tent, out in the open.
I would get one of each to make sure
Why would anyone post their personal information on firearms on a public post for the NSA to build their “forearm registry” with?
Loose lips sink ships!
The 700 is a great rifle. Take the time to research the models (visit the gun store and talk to folks); get the one which stands out to you - NO regrets.
The ability to reload is the way to go these days and I expect for the foreseeable future.
Most of the posters to this thread are recommending rifles that weigh 10 lbs. or more and scopes that are WAY over-powered for your needs.
Find a lightweight Ruger, Winchester, or Savage bolt gun with an 18-22” barrel in .308 and get either a fixed 4x scope or a 2-7x variable with a standard crosshair reticle. Get a weather resistant finish and a synthetic or laminated stock. This will make an all-purpose, all weather rifle that is easy to carry.
A .308 hunting rifle should weigh a maximum of 8 lbs. with scope, ammo, and sling. 24” heavy barrel guns with 40X scopes are fine to shoot competition from a bench but you don’t want to lug that beast through the woods. Get too high of magnification in your scope and when you sight on a deer all you’ll see is fur.
A rifle is a tool. You don’t need a 12 lb. sledgehammer to pound a few nails.
Look into a springfield armory M1A. One of the best guns you will ever shoot! Accurate out to 1000yds with irons! Can add a scope if needed with a Bassett mount. You won’t regret the investment!!!!
In these tough economic times, you may find one from a private individual. Estate sale-prior to the auctioneer appraising things.
Hope you have some ammo in your garage because although you CAN buy guns ammo is a different story.
If you are looking for a bolt-gun, either the Savage 110 or Remmy 700 topped with decent glass will do you.
But, why? You are already familiar with the AR platform, why not just step up to an LR-308/AR-10 offering and go with what you know? 300 yards is a chip-shot for either of the DPMS or Armalite .308’s. Barrel options, optics, triggers, furniture are just as varied for the .308/7.62x51 as they are for the .223/5.56x45.
Also, “patrol carrying” an AR on an extended stalk would be easier than doing the same with a full on bolt-gun/deer rifle. At least, from doing various types of field training on my own, I’d rather tote my AR than my Winchester.
Eugene Stoner’s little AR platform was originally designed around the .308 caliber round.
Just a few things to consider. ;-)
As for glass, depends on budget. If you can afford it, and are SERIOUS about it, US Optics/Nightforce/Leupold/Nikon. In that descending order. If not, find a decent Burris or “Cabelas” branded optic with the features you want and enjoy.