Is the popularity of the 308 cartridge going down??

canucklehead said:
Personally for me, it's up and coming! Had an M14, but just used it for blasting. Now I also have an RFB, and plan on using it for hunting deer this fall.

Always used to use a .300WM, but I'm realizing that I don't hunt Moose or Elk and don't take 600 yard+ shots anyway, so the added recoil, noise, and weight of the rifle aren't worth it. .308 should do just fine in 95% of the hunting situations I'm in.
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:agree: I think that the .308 has "settled in" as the round/calibre of choice for those wanting lower noise, recoil and rifle weight. It is not reduced in popularity as much as, maybe now the "trusted ol'girl" like the .30-06 :agree:
 
I think the issue with .308 is that it's simply easier to chamber guns in 30-06. The 30-06 tooling can be used to make 25-06, .270, and I believe 300win mag. The tooling for 308 you can make 7mm-08 and 243. It just makes sense to push the bigger calibers, and that's why I believe you see more rifles chambered in these "sporting" chamberings.

.308 isn't going to fade away or become obsolete, far from it. Most para-military guns (700vtr, RFB, CZ750) are in 308, simply because of the influence 7.62x51nato has on the market. I just predict .308 will never dominate like 30-06 in sporting arms simply because of manufacturing logistics.

On the flipside, try finding a para-military rifle in 270. About the closest you'll find is stuff in 300win mag because of how awesome that round is for sniping, think Savage 110.
 
not the 300 win mag- the head is different- it uses the same head as the rest of the win mag family- 300, 338, 458 are all the same
 
Ah ok, but I still noticed there are more 300win mag offerings for sporting rifles than 308. Especially for Mossberg, I was just looking at their catalogue.

I think it's safe to assume that 308 isn't going to be as popular as long action offerings in sporting rifles. When you go para-military, it's basically all you have, along with 223 and 7.62x39, or even 6.8
 
I own 3 of them. a rem 700p and a SPS and a Norinco M-305. I shoot about 700 rounds a year in them and I never buy brass. I just pick up other people brass at the range. and my hunting gun for deer, moose and black bear is a 7mm mauser (7x57)
 
.338 Federal > .308 Winchester

u-mad-bro-thumb.jpg
 
MegaMonkeyChunk said:
.338 Federal > .308 Winchester

u-mad-bro-thumb.jpg
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You're doing it wrong, you only say 'why u mad bro' when someone spergs on 4chan.

The proper way to do this would be: 338 Federal, u jelly 308?

And then post something like this:

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Of course 99% of this forum won't understand because they grew up reading BUY & SELLS, but that's OK because it's funnier this way.
 
I will always use .308 win.i like the cartridge and its results.i enjoy target shooting as well as hunting with the 308.win.i have tried the new magnums etc. But i always go back.if it works do not mess with it.i can not see the .308 ever dying off.
 
I love the .308 and deeply believe that if you would have just one rifle it should be Browning BLR .308 takedown.
It is very well made (by Miroku in Japan), takes down to 20"(and back to easy to swing 40") in just 3-4 seconds, the lever action is the best I have ever tried for fast follow up, has decent iron sights (or you can mount a scope that would keep 0 when taken down), the action is strong and accurate like a bolt action, has a detachable magazine...
 
AlexF said:
There are 2 parts to this question:
  1. 7.62x51 NATO will live on for another 50 years since it's simply an optimized, more accurate, easier feeding 30-60,
  2. 308 Win very slowly fade away since it's the Jack of all trades, master of none
A great caliber is always great but it can lose popularity.
Nobody shoots 303 British at my shooting range anymore but it's still one of the greatest military cartridge.

Alex
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It's funny because the .303 is the most common hunting calibre here in NL.
 
Strange how the 308 seems regional in some places.
Never particularly popular in my area, despite it's credentials.
Harder to sell than some other chamberings here as well.
Eagleye.
 
I like my 308 more and more as I buy, then quickly sell, most other "boutique" chamberings. When the dust finally settled in my gun cabinet, the only chamberings left are the following (no particular order):
30-06
308 Win
7x57 (7mm Mauser)
7.62x39 (in the form of two SKS's)
12 gauge
22 LR

Funny, they're all considered "classic calibres".

45-70 and 223 deserve honourable mention, but I currently have no rifles chambered in them, and I don't seem to miss them all that much.

The only other calibre I would like to have represented in my collection is a nice 8mm Mauser in the form of a WWII period German Mauser, but of course the good ones are super hard to find.
 
Well out of all my rifles,the 2 that get the nod most are my 99 in .308 and my MD77 in 30/06.I have complete confidence in both just some days I feel like hunting with the lever some days the bolt.The 308 has been getting the call more the last couple of years but that's just because it's a 99.The 99 just feels "right" to me,looks and feels good.

Got my first buck with the 30/06 and all the moose I've shot.Haven't got a moose in a couple of years,maybe I need to start packing my lucky moose gun more.;)
 
I am confident that .308 will keep be on the top if we keep seeing specially designed product like the 178 gr Hornady bullet and Superformance round:
"...The new 178 grain BTHP Match bullet was purpose built, and optimized specifically for the 308 Winchester chamber..."
Not only that but the .308 178 gr Hornady Superformance round beats everything avaliable in 30-06 and stays supersonic to like 1200m...
 
Like i read somewhere 30-06 is never a mistake so the 308 must be the same as now we can better 30-06 ballistics with a weak 308, I wonder if the king.... JP.
 
popper said:
I am confident that .308 will keep be on the top if we keep seeing specially designed product like the 178 gr Hornady bullet and Superformance round:
"...The new 178 grain BTHP Match bullet was purpose built, and optimized specifically for the 308 Winchester chamber..."
Not only that but the .308 178 gr Hornady Superformance round beats everything avaliable in 30-06 and stays supersonic to like 1200m...
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Wow, if what they say is true, this is unbelievable:

http://www.hornady.com/in-the-news/latest-news/superformance-308-win-match

Hornady unveils the next generation of match ammunition - the Superformance 308 Win 178 gr BTHP Match. Achieving 2,775 feet per second from a SAAMI spec 24” test barrel, this new load is approximately 175 fps FASTER than any comparable commercial load available today! Topped with the NEW 178 gr BTHP Match bullet featuring a .530 ballistic coefficient, this Superformance™ offering provides industry leading ballistic performance.

WSS sells 150g Superformance .308win SST's for $29.99. I wonder how they shoot in an m305, that would be an awesome hunting round.
 
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