308..? Why not..?

bigfelipe

bigfelipe

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Looking for a precision rifle for all purpose use. I'm not going to be shooting over 500yds very much and I'm not looking to compete.

I am pretty set on a .308 since it's about as common a round as there is and there's not much you can't kill with it under 1k yards.


Everyone and their brother is talking about 6.5c as though it's the only way to go and 308 is a relic. I say... Meh...


What say ye?

EDIT: if the barrel life I am reading is true, 308 barrels last 3 times as long... That's a big deal to me. A barrel that's only good for 2000-2500 rounds is of no interest to me.
 
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Agree with your assessment 100%. Reason I no longer own a 6.5, well that and the $1.75 to 2.50 a round of decent ammo. I love .308 and am going to grab another Ruger Gunsite Scout soon:D
 
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The .308 is probably the most researched and developed cartridge in the world. Well, except maybe the .22LR. The 6.5 Creedmoor is the latest fad. Yes, it's hot, it's fast, it's sleek... But, if you're going to hunt, it can't deliver the payload a .308 can for bigger game. I don't think you're going to see a lot of difference in ballistics under the 500yd range. Also, bullet selection and componets for reloading are going to be more varied and available with the .308. Not to mention surplus ammo availability. There's surplus that will do MOA or so. Good all around. Yes, the 6.5 is ballistically "superior", but it's not all about ballistics. I'm actually looking at 7mm-08. Hornady has some sleek new bullets.
 
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bigfelipe said:
Looking for a precision rifle for all purpose use. I'm not going to be shooting over 500yds very much and I'm not looking to compete.

I am pretty set on a .308 since it's about as common a round as there is and there's not much you can't kill with it under 1k yards.


Everyone and their brother is talking about 6.5c as though it's the only way to go and 308 is a relic. I say... Meh...


What say ye?
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Go for it. The 308 is a superb round, and you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of learning to shoot it.
 
I've shot the .308 with irons (M14 NM) out to 1000yds. That that hard to do once you have your zero and know the come ups. Wind calling is the hardest part to consider and call. I am not intrigued by the 6.5 Creed. Bullets as light as 55 gr saboted .224 up to 220 grs. I'm already set up with .30 cal projos, brass and dies. Sticking with the .308 Win


CD
 
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Based on the research I’ve done, I think you got it figured out. 6.5CM beats .308 with energy, trajectory/drop/drift, making it superior for LR. That comes at a cost of less common & $$$ ammo and significantly shorter barrel life.

If 500yds is all you’re concerned with and you’d prefer the longer barrel life and better ammo availability, go .308.

Edit: since I have a nice .308, if I were to buy a 2nd centerfire bolt, other than 300BLK, it would be a 6.5 since I like what the round offers and I reload.
 
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I've got a FAL and a Winchester 88... both of 'em do a good job of showing the capability of the 308 cartridge. They also demonstrate an important difference between 308 and 30-06, being not in the cartridge, but in the rifles chambered for them. Both have excellent bolt and lever action hunting options, but the 30-06 doesn't have the modern semi-auto battle rifles that 308 does.
 
I dont get the fad of 6.5 either..

I am sure it has its place amd uses, but I for one dont need it..

my own brother tried to get me to look into it, and I was like look...I have 7 rifles in 308..I dont need an oddball to worry about stocking ammo for, reloading for, etc. Besides that Im only shooting too 110yd for now.
 
For long range shooting it's always a contest between the 45-110 and the 50-90 as far as I am concerned. The 308 did it for years but things change and before you know it the 6.5's will be last years hat. I'm still in the 50-90 camp!
 
OldNascar said:
For long range shooting it's always a contest between the 45-110 and the 50-90 as far as I am concerned. The 308 did it for years but things change and before you know it the 6.5's will be last years hat. I'm still in the 50-90 camp!
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Real black, substitute or smokeless?

rdinatal said:
Just jump to the 7mm then (forgot the exact name)? So many choices!!
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7x57mm Mauser (.275 Rigby) vs 7-08 Remington.

CD
 
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If you plan on competing, 6.5, why handicap yourself with a 308? Since you're not planning on competition, 308 is fine. The ballistics of a 308 are well known in regards to it's issues relative to 6.5 but if you're planning on 500yd max and maybe hunting, go 308. Ammo can be an issue, especially if you don't handload, go 308. Notice the trend, go 308?
 
Combat Diver said:
Real black, substitute or smokeless?


7x57mm Mauser (.275 Rigby) vs 7-08 Remington.

CD
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Black only and quality powders at that. The velocity spread has to kept in the low single digits due to the low velocity's resultant steep drop.
 
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Another option if I may. If your only shooting out to 500 yards why not 5.56/.223. I mean, I've been in the Marine Corps for almost 20 years now and it works well for us. Guess it depends on what you are shooting at too. ;)

Don't get me wrong I have AR-15s and FALs so...there is a place for both. But, if I were poking holes in paper its 5.56. Poking holes in anything living definitely .308!


Semper Fidelis!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
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Doc_Fuller said:
Agree with your assessment 100%. Reason I no longer own a 6.5, well that and the $1.75 to 2.50 a round of decent ammo. I love .308 and am going to grab another Ruger Gunsite Scout soon:D
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If you are paying that much for 6.5 ammo you are buying it in the wrong spot! LOL

OP nothing wrong with a .308. I have a few and compete with them in Tac class and just have fun shooting. For your wants and needs the .308 will do fine. Now is a good time to shoot a .308 too with the better bullets available with higher BCs. I also own a few couple 6.5s and 6mm Creeds too. All about options. Doesn't have to be one or the other. You can get a rifle and have multiple barrels for it too. .308 and 6.5 use everything the same except for the barrel.
 
The 6.5 bullets have high sectional density and perform better at longer distances....... they are awesome! Not a big deal for most, but the Creedmoor definitely has less recoil than a 308.

The 308 win is still a very good cartridge, and of course they offer heavier bullets.
 
bigfelipe said:
Looking for a precision rifle for all purpose use. I'm not going to be shooting over 500yds very much and I'm not looking to compete.

I am pretty set on a .308 since it's about as common a round as there is and there's not much you can't kill with it under 1k yards.


Everyone and their brother is talking about 6.5c as though it's the only way to go and 308 is a relic. I say... Meh...


What say ye?

EDIT: if the barrel life I am reading is true, 308 barrels last 3 times as long... That's a big deal to me. A barrel that's only good for 2000-2500 rounds is of no interest to me.
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Your reasoning is the same reason I went .308. I picked up a Tikka CTR and I'm ashamed to say that rifle is so light it beat me up. I added a break and now it's a cream puff. I'm not a long range shooter by any stretch of the imagination, or hunter for that matter.

I wanted the Tikka specifically, they weren't making it in 6.5c at the time and I considered both rounds. I think the availability/price/etc is what swayed me to .308. I don't regret it.
 
bigfelipe said:
Looking for a precision rifle for all purpose use. I'm not going to be shooting over 500yds very much and I'm not looking to compete.

I am pretty set on a .308 since it's about as common a round as there is and there's not much you can't kill with it under 1k yards.


Everyone and their brother is talking about 6.5c as though it's the only way to go and 308 is a relic. I say... Meh...


What say ye?

EDIT: if the barrel life I am reading is true, 308 barrels last 3 times as long... That's a big deal to me. A barrel that's only good for 2000-2500 rounds is of no interest to me.
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Consider the following option as well;


Alco 168gr.png Alco 168gr 2.png
 
My bil lives in Ohio, out in the country. He's got a big flat field behind him and all he does is 1000 yard stuff.
He started with a Ruger PR in 308, sold that and got another Ruger PR but in 6.5 cm.
Apparently, at 1000 yds, the difference between the two is stark. The 6.5 puts the 308 to shame. Ruger has some kind of ongoing/online precision shooting contest, mostly for fun but also to share info and showcase their rifle. He's really into it... been doing it for years.

What do I know. 100 yards is my standard here in the mountains. If I get a 150 yard shot I'm all confused. 308 works just fine for me. But observing from the sidelines, it seems that once you get into or close to 4 digit yardage, the difference with 6.5 is quite noticeable.

I suppose that if I were in @bigfelipe shoe, I'd consider the 6.5 since it has proven itself for the task. Neither of these rounds are plinkers, so if it costs another $200 a year for 6.5 ammo and it's proven long range better-ness over the 308, I'd do it.
 
Friday said:
My bil lives in Ohio, out in the country. He's got a big flat field behind him and all he does is 1000 yard stuff.
He started with a Ruger PR in 308, sold that and got another Ruger PR but in 6.5 cm.
Apparently, at 1000 yds, the difference between the two is stark. The 6.5 puts the 308 to shame. Ruger has some kind of ongoing/online precision shooting contest, mostly for fun but also to share info and showcase their rifle. He's really into it... been doing it for years.

What do I know. 100 yards is my standard here in the mountains. If I get a 150 yard shot I'm all confused. 308 works just fine for me. But observing from the sidelines, it seems that once you get into or close to 4 digit yardage, the difference with 6.5 is quite noticeable.

I suppose that if I were in @bigfelipe shoe, I'd consider the 6.5 since it has proven itself for the task. Neither of these rounds are plinkers, so if it costs another $200 a year for 6.5 ammo and it's proven long range better-ness over the 308, I'd do it.
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At 500 yards, the difference is stark - 6.5 will slam steel much harder than 308. I know a lot of guys that hunt with 6.5 and the ammo is about the same price now. That said, I still hunt with 308, though it's only because I've been using it for awhile and having the gun already factors in.
 
Everybody wants to spout the ballistic superiority of the 6.5 Creedmore, how come so few have mentioned barrel life? A good .308 barrel will have a 10k round consistent accuracy life, whereas a good 6.5 Creedmore will last you around a thousand. That's a factor of 10 for those who stink at math, you'll replace 9 additional barrels to reach the same round count. I'll spend my money on ammunition, learn a thing or two about how to buck the wind, and laugh at you while you buy a new barrel every thousand rounds.
 
Matt.Cross said:
Everybody wants to spout the ballistic superiority of the 6.5 Creedmore, how come so few have mentioned barrel life? A good .308 barrel will have a 10k round consistent accuracy life, whereas a good 6.5 Creedmore will last you around a thousand. That's a factor of 10 for those who stink at math, you'll replace 9 additional barrels to reach the same round count. I'll spend my money on ammunition, learn a thing or two about how to buck the wind, and laugh at you while you buy a new barrel every thousand rounds.
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lol 1000 rounds in a Creedmoor? Nope. Closer to 3000.
 
bigfelipe said:
I am pretty set on a .308 since it's about as common a round as there is and there's not much you can't kill with it under 1k yards.

Everyone and their brother is talking about 6.5c as though it's the only way to go and 308 is a relic. I say... Meh...

What say ye?
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I say "Meh". I don't think anyone will argue successfully against your first sentence.
 
BowWow said:
And...……….. if you not into long range precision, barrel life will be well over 3000.
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Sorry but no. I shoot my rifles in long range matches and have my 4th Creedmoor barrel at 1900 now. Others went around 2500 where they started to open more than I wanted closer to 3/4 moa range.

And 10,000 is long for a match .308 barrel. I have had them go at 5500. Most last 6-8000. On my 7th .308 barrel on my match rifle and have 3 others in the mix now too.
 
GySgt_New_River said:
Another option if I may. If your only shooting out to 500 yards why not 5.56/.223. I mean, I've been in the Marine Corps for almost 20 years now and it works well for us. Guess it depends on what you are shooting at too. ;)

Don't get me wrong I have AR-15s and FALs so...there is a place for both. But, if I were poking holes in paper its 5.56. Poking holes in anything living definitely .308!


Semper Fidelis!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
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I have plenty of 556s. I want a heavier bolt gun.
 
Matt.Cross said:
Fair enough, still not very good in comparison.
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Who ever said they were? It was someone here bringing it in as it's something new that the Creedmoor gets less barrel life than a .308. The Creedmoor came out in late 2007 and people knew it then. Not new info.

It all comes down to what you want or need in the cartridge. The 300WM gets less barrel life than the .308. Does it make the .308 better? Nope just different. For the OP the .308 would work out just fine. If down the road he wanted better ballistics he can just rebarrel to a Creedmoor.
 
bigfelipe said:
I have plenty of 556s. I want a heavier bolt gun.
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Have you decided on a rifle? Chassis or stock type? Tikka fan here looking to spread the sickness.
 
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