Shaman, I'm honored I got included in your Christmas celebrations
Sometime in the 80's/90's Finn got intrigued by Jeff Cooper's Scout Rifle concept. The 308, due to its NATO/Military status, was Cooper's primary choice as a chambering for the Scout Rifle. So, Finn started using the round more and more, and I suspect being a practical Norwegian (think cheap - I'm 75% Norwegian), he probably latched onto it for its preeminent practicality. Hardly anything is cheaper than 30 cal bullets and 308 brass. He also appreciated it did everything the 30-06 did, but kicked less. He used the 308 in the last few years of his life competing in the Keneyathlon (a practical, field shooting competition). I think Finn just liked "things that work." And the 308 does.
I agree with BWalker, I think the 7-08 is the slightly better mousetrap - but not in terms of wide availability. In that case, the 308 wins all the marbles. If I lived in an isolated rural setting anywhere in the world, and lived off the land (by the rifle) I'd take the 308 over anything.
I'm reminded of the Parable of the Mustard Seeds. You just never know when one of those little boogers is going to take root.
Part of my experiment with the 7mm-08 was to test whether I could fashion reasonable rounds from 308 empties. I haven't tried military brass yet, but I had plenty of Federal brass that I got from my association with my sons' friend. He's a lousy shot and goes through Federal premium ammo like water. I managed minute-of-deer accuracy on the first try. I'll call that a win.
It's funny. When I started reading Aagard back in the early 80's. I was a blind, ignorant kid. All I really knew about rifles was that 30-06 was THE ULTIMATE. 308 WIN was a wannabe, and 270 WIN was the bastard wannabe. It took coming here for me to hear 270 was also limp-wristed. I read Aagard with a healthy dose of confirmation bias. A lot of that wrong-headedness followed me here to the 'Campfire. Over 18 years, it's gradually worked itself out.
Fathers: Don't drop your young sons off at the barbershop and run errands. You don't know what horrible attitudes they'll pick up.
Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
