Why .308 Is Still Relevant :: Guns.com

WHAT IS PUSHING FOR TOP BILLING?

More modern tech, like polymer-tipped bullets, have also found their way into the now-classic round. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)

Sit around any gun shop long enough and on every given day a hunter or paper shooter will come in to inquire about ordering a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. Most won’t even mention the .308 Win. While it is true that in certain conditions the Creedmoor has its benefits, so do many other options. Many students of ballistics charts, as well as those who’ve been testing round performance in the field, would suggest said shopper grab an even newer round – the 6.5 PRC. Still others will ask, “Why not move right on to the fat magnum 6.8 Western?” While extreme distance shooters will likely step up to larger specialty rounds.

Regardless, every one of these rounds falls into a similar conversation, each with its own benefits and shortcomings. Given the correct projectile and shot placement, the .308 Win will—like every one of the challengers—do the job for which it was chosen. One grand benefit to the venerable .308 Win is its wide range of availability in just about every firearm platform, action, and style – not to mention greater availability of ammunition, even now when faced with unprecedented shortages.

SOLID CHOICES IN .308 FIREARMS

Rifles chambered in .308 are plenty, not to mention a few handguns, and new ones – like this Mars rifle with a reciprocating barrel – continue to offer innovative shooting platforms for the trusted round. (Photo: Paul Peterson/Guns.com)

Though there are literally hundreds of options, here are some of our proven picks for firearms chambered in .308 Win. While long guns are by far the most common, multiple handgun options exist as well.

WHERE DOES .308 GO NOW?

There are also plenty of reloading options for the .308 round, and the case has given birth to several offshoots. (Photo: Paul Peterson/Guns.com)

There are sexier options, and more potent ones, too. Yet the .308 stands steadfast. Battlefield round—check. Deer bagger – check. Pronghorn, black bear, coyotes—check. Moderate range target puncher – check. While it doesn’t do any one thing amazingly well, it does accomplish every task thrown its way. Accuracy is fine, reloading many components, and bullet weights vary from 130-180 grains.

It’s available as a chambering on just about every bolt-action hunting rifle built today, as well as all AR-10 sporting rifles. You can throw in single shots, lever actions, and pumps, too. Each major ammo manufacturer cranks out .308 hunting rounds, match-grade target options, and FMJ range ammo.

Besides, the .308 has progeny. Its casing has been necked up or down to create related offerings like .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, and .358 Win, to name only a few. Love it, hate it, ignore it, or forget about it, but the .308 Win has long ago made its case and, no matter what else may come, is here to stay.