Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .308 winchester

The 308Win was my first big game rifle, killed my first buck with it.

Years later, I tried the 308 improved known to many as the 7-08Rem. Kicked myself for not getting it right the first time.

MtnHtr

For many years after the .308 came out, I just didn't give it any respect. Then a new job and a move to nvada let me know that this three pack a day chain smoker really didn't need a 9.5 pound 30-06, especially when hunting at anywhere from 8K to 9K MSL. So, the search for something a bit more lightweight became the order of the day. I found a remington 660 that they were trying to clear out at the very cool price of $99.95 and they said if I bought it, they'd throw in too boxes of ammo. darn thing kicked like a mule so I had the local gunsmith put in it a Fajen Mannlicher style stock. Still kicked like hell but at least it looked good. Then I discovered hearing protection. Whoa! Where did the recoil go? The gun really did not kick all that bad but the muzzle blast was something else. That rifle took quite a few nevada Mule Deer over the years I lived there including both the shortets and longest shots I have ever made on deer. The shortest was six feet and the longest 427 paces. Damned if I can remember the load as all my note were lost in the move from Nevada to Arizona, but the bullet was the 150 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter although they did not call them that way back then (1973) and a stiff load of H-335. The load was accurate but the great big ball of fire that shot out of the muzzle along with the vicious blast was something to behold. Over the years though, that rifle in .308 allowed me to see just how good a cartridge it was. My current .308 is a Ruger 77 RSI and I use only one load in that one. The 165 gr. Speer Hot-Core over 49.0 gr. of W-760 for 2550 FPS. The load duplicates the Speer Nitrex factory ammo almost exactly and every deer shot with that load has been a one shot bang/flop DRT. I just cannot argue with that kind of success.
Paul B.

It's also my main go to gun caliber. 30+ years ago I bought a Remingtom 742 in .308.. Used it for years. later got a Rem 7400 in 3006 (still have it)but didn't like it as much as the .308 I sold.. Ended up getting a Tikka .308 as my go to gun and still have the 3006 as my back up.

I too am a great fan of the .308 and at one time had four. I used an old 700 BDL Varmint rifle as my South Carolina Beanfield rifle and had an awsome reputation as a long range deer killer. This was in the days before rangefinders and most of the boys thought a 200 yard deer was at least 400 yards away and a 250 yard shot was impossible. I don't recall ever shooting a deer farther than that.

I also had and still have, a Ruger #1 purchased new in 1967. With it I killed my best Kentucky deer ever.

My goto .308 is a Steyr Scout and I am one of the few who like the concept these days. I have discovered that I only need two loads for the rifle. A 150 grain cup/core bullet for deer and practice and a 150 grain Barnes for anything else. RL 15 or Varget is the powder and I load em to near 2800 fps.

If I go west again next year I will probably just take the Steyr for elk and deer.

I wil be using a 308 for the first time this year. A remington 7600. Light as a feather and shoots very well. Will be using remington 180 gr. round nose factory loads.

the 308 is very versatile.it was my dad's main hunting gun

I have a 308 in NEF and love that little rifle, although its ugly as sin but shoots great for a single shot and I like to use it as a tree stand gun. easy to load and unload without a lot of hassle and is a awesome brush gun!!! A treat to carry to!!

The 308 was my first CF in 1971, and though I have many other calibers, the 308 is usually the one I will reach for first..it's just a great package!

Art

180 yards with my 7600 .308 Love it.

Nice buck, I'm jealous!..............547.

There are certainly no flies on the 308. It will do MOST anything that needs doin here and abroad, excluding dangerous game.

Just wondering if ya'll have ever shot any barnes bullets in a light mag load?

Plus one. Along with most of the variants based off the case IMHO.

308s' are cool. Used this 700 in 308 a couple weeks ago on this East Texas buck. I used 168 BT from KC precision (sexy bullets I guess) but plain old core lokts kill just as dead and accurate enough for my hunting needs.

Thanks for sharing Big Daddy. Here is a pic of a couple of coyotes taken with my trusty Rem 7600 .308 I called them in an hour apart with an open reed hand call. After I shot the first one I just stayed put and after a while started calling again. 150 grain Sierra Prohunter was the culprit

Nice...two dead dogs....

I only use a 308 and I love it

I've only killed a few things with the .308, but like it so far...

John

I like my 308.

Thanks for sharing guys. John, what part of the country did you kill those pigs?