308 WIN: 4 Reasons You NEED One 3 Reasons You Don't

Published on January 8, 2023
Duration: 10:36

The .308 Winchester is a versatile cartridge with extensive ammunition options and rifle availability, making it a strong contender for various shooting disciplines. While it excels in power and reloadability, it falls short of modern cartridges like the 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor in long-range performance due to increased drop and reduced retained energy with heavy bullets.

Quick Summary

The .308 Winchester is a powerful and versatile cartridge known for its extensive ammunition options (189+ loads) and widespread rifle availability. While excellent for reloading and general use, it falls short of modern cartridges like 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor in long-range performance due to increased bullet drop and lower retained energy.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Power Comparison Test: .308 Win vs Concrete
  2. 03:23Reason #2: Unmatched Ammo Options
  3. 04:27Reason #3: Reloadability and Bullet Variety
  4. 06:15Reason #4: Widespread Rifle Availability
  5. 07:08Reasons Not to Buy: Heavy Bullets & Long Range

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the .308 Winchester a powerful cartridge?

The .308 Winchester demonstrates significant destructive power, capable of shattering thick concrete blocks. It also offers a vast selection of factory ammunition and reloading data, making it highly versatile for various applications.

How does the .308 Winchester compare to other rifle cartridges in terms of ammunition availability?

The .308 Winchester leads in factory-loaded ammunition options, with 189 choices on MidwayUSA. This significantly surpasses cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor (96) and .223 Remington (146), offering greater flexibility.

What are the drawbacks of the .308 Winchester for long-range shooting?

At extended ranges like 1000 yards, the .308 Winchester experiences more bullet drop and retains less energy compared to modern cartridges such as the 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor. It's also less suited for very heavy bullets over 180 grains.

Is the .308 Winchester a good choice for reloading?

Yes, the .308 Winchester is excellent for reloading, offering the most available data with 530 load recipes on Hodgdon's website. Its common bore size also allows for a wide variety of bullet choices, enabling extensive load development.

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