What options do I have in .308?

kcult

kcult

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I think I want a rifle in .308 for next deer season.

I figured I would just end up with a Ruger American because I do like those, but I was curious what other brands there were that would have a 16" threaded barrel. I suppose I could go 18", but I plan to suppress and want to keep the overall length reasonable.

Also, is there any advantage to going with an AR type over a bolt action?

Thanks!
 
kcult said:
I think I want a rifle in .308 for next deer season.

I figured I would just end up with a Ruger American because I do like those, but I was curious what other brands there were that would have a 16" threaded barrel. I suppose I could go 18", but I plan to suppress and want to keep the overall length reasonable.

Also, is there any advantage to going with an AR type over a bolt action?

Thanks!
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If you’re a terrible shot then AR type because you need 30 rounds.
If you’re going suppressed I’d go with a bolt action. It’s silent.
 
amnesia said:
If you’re a terrible shot then AR type because you need 30 rounds.
If you’re going suppressed I’d go with a bolt action. It’s silent.
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Why are you still awake and which bourbon did you break into?

I finally opened my only bottle of Blanton's tonight.

It's actually pretty good.
 
barf said:
Why specifically .308? Will it only be for a few hunts a year or recreation as well?
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A few hunts.

I've been hunting with a 300blk the last few seasons and because of changes to the property, longer shots are now possible and I don't have anything I feel confident in using past 100yds.
 
Here is a search using the following:
.308
16"
Threaded

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kcult said:
Why are you still awake and which bourbon did you break into?

I finally opened my only bottle of Blanton's tonight.

It's actually pretty good.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure why I’m awake. No new
Bourbons lately and you know I barely drink my stock right. I think the last I had was a little taste of Sazerac when I made vanilla extract a year ago.
 
kcult said:
I have the Mark II FV-SR and like it a lot, especially suppressed.
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I’be had several .308 Savage Model 10’s. I’ll buy one, make it the way I want it, then see something else I want and sell it. I’m sure there are more accurate rifles than that model 10, but it’ll outshoot me.
 
One shot; one kill:

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22" barrel, but the rifle is still compact.
 
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Honestly you have to ask yourself a couple of questions
1. How much money do you want to spend ?
2. What type of hunting do you do ? Ride an ATV or golf cart to a stand or blind that you get in and sit comfortably and wait for deer ? Or do you sling your rifle and walk ? Weight matters if you walk and move on your own.

We live in the golden age of bolt action rifles. You can buy solid rifles for entry level prices. People argue brands but generally it is hard to buy a rifle that wouldn’t be a good deer gun these days
 
kcult said:
A few hunts.

I've been hunting with a 300blk the last few seasons and because of changes to the property, longer shots are now possible and I don't have anything I feel confident in using past 100yds.
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Gotcha. If you want to try something cool and new you could try 8.6 blackout. It looks interesting and you can keep the rifle really short.

I’d really love to try one out but it’s pretty new and uncommon.
 
If you move to a 18” barrel you’ll have more choices.

<$500 Ruger American Preditor is about your only choice.

$500-1000 Savage or Bergara
 
A friend just bought a Sig Cross 308 and it was real accurate, light and short. A very impressive rifle that shot with the customs that day. It shot every different round we tried in it really well.
 
Do you dress right or left?

1 o'clock or 11 o'clock; your swagger en route to your stand/blind will be impressive.
 
Troy,

I don’t believe you’d go wrong with a Ruger American or a Savage 110.

I had a Savage 10 that shot well. Currently own a Ruger American in .308 and it’s a lot of rifle for what little I have in it.
 
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kcult said:
Also, is there any advantage to going with an AR type over a bolt action?
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Yes.
If yer walking in any distance into the stand you'll get a little bit of an upper body workout totin' that boat anchor. :p
 
Here's one in the BST

NC - Savage 308 with Vortex in Wilmington - NIB

I believe this is the exact package I bought from Academy last year thinking I was going to go hunting: https://www.academy.com/p/savage-110-apex-hunter-xp-308-win-rifle Well, I've never done more than put it in the safe, and I'd rather upgrade my squat rack. I tossed the box, but otherwise...
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com
 
Not a lot of choices in .308 with a 16" barrel.

The Mossberg MVP Patrol seems to be well-liked by people who own them, trash-talked by people who don't.

A Howa barreled action from Brownell's would make a good starting point for a nice rifle.

Ruger has a couple of Hawkeye Compact versions with 16.5" barrels that are really light, but they are spendy and not threaded. Probably really good rifles.

I don't have direct experience with any of them, but my over-thinking about getting a 16" .308 over the past several years whittled my list down to these three.
 
A less common rifle is the Winchester XPR. I traded into one awhile ago. It’s no frills , light 308. Smooth bolt action and adjustable trigger make it a great field rifle. Feeds from a removable magazine.
 
BrettB said:
A really solid game price and with a 700 action you have an endless supply of upgrades you can do
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Would not cost a lot to have it cut down to your desired length and threaded.
 
Because...
Aero Solus Action

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Proof Research 16.5" Barrel
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MDT XRS

Timney Hit Trigger:
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Remington 700 HIT Trigger

Best replacement triggers available
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Should work, save the rest of the money for night vision.
 
I have two ARs in 308, a Sig and a S&W. They shoot beautifully but are heavy and, if I might venture into dangerous territory, ugly. I have shot deer with both of them, but I no longer have to walk great distances while hunting. I do not use them deer hunting much anymore because I am not too fond of hunting with an ugly gun. I am down to one 308 bolt action, a Ruger Mk II. I am sure there are many 308 bolt actions out there that would serve you well. I am also quite fond of a Ruger #1. It has classic lines and shoots well. My brother would come down to hunt with me and always requested that he use my #1 in 7/57. I do not recall him ever having to shoot a second time.

I do wonder how much sound would be reduced with a suppressor on a 308 shooting standard full power ammo. I have never dealt with suppressors enough to know. If there is not a big difference, you might think of going to Wagram to see if you can find a pre-64 M70 Winchester in 308. That would be a very nice rifle to have. Even a Classic M70 would be nice. An older Remington 700 made before they put on those J-locks should serve you well.
 
Charlie said:
I do wonder how much sound would be reduced with a suppressor on a 308 shooting standard full power ammo. I have never dealt with suppressors enough to know.
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Suppressing supersonic ammo still makes a huge difference.
 
Charlie said:
I do wonder how much sound would be reduced with a suppressor on a 308 shooting standard full power ammo. I have never dealt with suppressors enough to know.
Click to expand...

Can’t speak for how a suppressed .308 would sound, but here’s a comparison for ya….



Dude on the other side of the hill was doing some rat-a-tat-tat drills with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol…you can hear it in the first few seconds of the video.

I was shooting a suppressed, AR platform rifle, chambered for 5.56x45.
 
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kcult said:
A few hunts.

I've been hunting with a 300blk the last few seasons and because of changes to the property, longer shots are now possible and I don't have anything I feel confident in using past 100yds.
Click to expand...

Dependent on your bullet choice with .300BLK you should be able to extend it's effective range to around 250yds on deer sized targets. Barnes 110gr TAC-TX and Lehigh Controlled Chaos bullets are excellent choices along with 100gr Cutting Edge Raptors.

If you want a quality budget .308Win rifle I'd look at Savage. Most rifles out there are going to be 18" or 20" barrels

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110 Tactical | Long Range Tactical Rifle | Savage Arms

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110 Magpul Hunter | Target Shooting Rifle | Savage Arms

The 110 Magpul Hunter is a Savage rifle with a Magpul stock. It's the ultimate hunting or long range rifle.
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I am in my 70's and weight is the gamechanger. It is not hard finding a light rifle that will shoot minute of deer. I leave my custom rifles in the safe now and hunt with a lightweight Winchester 70.
 
One rifle that might be worth mentioning is the Ruger SFAR. The 16" weighs less than 7#, and can be had for around $1k.

Hey @kcult , I bet you already have optics, mounts, slings, and whatnot already in the house that would bolt right up. You could have one of these ready to sight-in 20 minutes after taking it out of the box.

EDIT: Dang, lookee here: Family Firearms
 
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