Goodbye 308 my old friend
- Thread starter ArmedGinger
- Start date
- Location
- glaslyn saskatchewan
I thought the army got to make that call?
Ok so let me fill out the story a little. I've always loved 308 and it's my one round that I always seem to fall back to. I've done some amazing precision shooting with the good old 308. So I was in the process of building an M40A5 clone, except in 6.5 PRC. I planned on taking it to the Rob Furlong Academy this May except my barrel won't be ready for at least 3 more months. That means I would have to buy or build another rifle since 308 would be at sort of a disadvantage at the ranges we would be shooting. Since money is a little tight due to someone poisoning my dog and her needing emergency care I opted for a cheaper solution, just replacing the barrel of my MPR.
Since 6.5 PRC ammo and components are pretty much non existent at the moment I opted for the Creedmoor instead, since we have a crap ton of it in stock. So now I just have to pay the cost of the barrel (which I get my employee discount on) and don't have to pay any of the gunsmithing fees, instead of buying a brand new rifle.
Since 6.5 PRC ammo and components are pretty much non existent at the moment I opted for the Creedmoor instead, since we have a crap ton of it in stock. So now I just have to pay the cost of the barrel (which I get my employee discount on) and don't have to pay any of the gunsmithing fees, instead of buying a brand new rifle.
Duh. They are the ones that decided that 1:11.75 twist is the most accurate twist rate for .308 ever.
Benchresters still haven't received that memo somehow.
What the military does is always the best
What ranges are you shooting at for that class?
The .308 is a lot more capable than most give it credit for. Yes, a 6.5 Creedmoor is more ballistically efficient, with less recoil. Its a great modern cartridge. But there are aspects of training with a .308 that are valuable that you don't get with a 6.5 Creedmoor.
The store where I work is opening a new location in Prince George and are hosting the Furlong Academy and giving away two slots as one of their grand opening prizes.
As for 308, I've shot it reliably out to 1000 yards and put many many rounds down range with it. I used the creedmoor for about two years and really enjoyed it before going back to 308. Figured I'll go back and try it again. Ammo it a little more expensive but since I get ammo at almost cost, it doesn't effect me that greatly.
What I enjoy about .308 is that it really exploits and shows where your weaknesses are in your fundamentals. The recoil of a .308 will exploit flaws in your fundamentals that cartridges like a 6.5 Creedmoor and such don't. It's easy to think you are doing everything right with cartridges that have little recoil, to only be humbled by stepping up to a .30+ cal. There's other benefits too like having to read the wind better (less forgiveness).
That said, the extra recoil can work against you in classes and be a distraction from learning other materials, especially for those newer to long range. A 6.5 Creedmoor is a great cartridge choice for such classes. But its good to have a .308 at home to practice the fundamentals, it helps a shooter not get sloppy behind the rifle.
Oh I totally agree and I think that is why I always keep going back to the 308.
I think a .308 is a great training aid, and a lot of fun to shoot.
Enjoy your course!
Seems like a pretty reasonable, cost-effective way of stretching your effective range. If you're heading to RFMA they normally have targets out to 2400m or so, haha. Also, I don't know much about the MPR but I don't see any reason why you couldn't keep your .308 barrel and spin it back on when you get the urge. I run pretty much all of my rifles (Rem 700s and clones) as "switch barrels" and swap barrels around as needed. All you need is a barrel vise, action wrench and a torque wrench.
That's true.
Every action is a "switch barrel" action with the right tools.
I do the same thing, swapping between 6BRA and 6.5 Creedmoor on my Mausingfield. Takes a couple of tools and only a couple of minutes of time.
If he hated having money he would get a .338 lapua. Ba-Dum-Tiss
