I'm not a precision shooter so maybe this is a dumb question, but why is .308 commonly used in long distance shooting but not things like 30-06, 303 British, and 7.62x54R? All of these were designed as cartridges to do ~1000 yard shots and from what I gather the .308 is based off the 30-06 case capacity and bullet in a shorter COL.
Why 308?
- Thread starter Freyr_255
- Start date
308 Win equals 7.62 NATO (standard millitary cartridge)
308 Win equals 7.62 NATO. It has been NATO standard rifle cartridge since 1954 and many competition mandate the use of standard millitary cartridges.
It's an excellent cartridge but more importantly is NATO's standard millitary cartridge.
223 Rem almost equals 5.56 NATO and is popular for the same reasons (it's standard and mandated).
Alex
308 Win equals 7.62 NATO. It has been NATO standard rifle cartridge since 1954 and many competition mandate the use of standard millitary cartridges.
It's an excellent cartridge but more importantly is NATO's standard millitary cartridge.
223 Rem almost equals 5.56 NATO and is popular for the same reasons (it's standard and mandated).
Alex
The .308 is inherently more accurate and less fussy round than the other three. The fact that it's a military round and one can use it in such competitions and brass is easily available are not the primary reasons why competitors like the .308. It's more efficient cartridge operating at higher pressures than the other three and less sensitive to the powder selection. The 7.62 x 54R is also an inherently accurate round, especially with bullets in the 175 gr category and the Soviets used it very successfully in non-militatury, including Olympic competitions. The 30-06 can also be quite accurate in the right gun but the .303 British was not in the same class. In any case, the .308 has established an enviable reputation for accuracy.
thunderstruck
Regular
- Location
- Northern B.C.
Just to stirr the pot a bit on a age ol argument
. What came first the chicken or the egg? I personally don't completly believe in inherintly accuratly cartridges,I believe in accuratly built rifles.Or should I say percision built Rifles? I think the popularity of the .308 was because of the nato standard set in 1954 and inherintly accurate rifles were built around the .308 because of the set standard. I believe nato went with the .308 over the 06 was because even though the 06 betters the .308's performance, the .308 still met their balistic needs with more managable recoil,slightly lighter ammo, and a short action. After this presedent was set, a easy to aquire accurate rifle was a .308. Therefore bolstering it's popularity as a long range percision gun.
. What came first the chicken or the egg? I personally don't completly believe in inherintly accuratly cartridges,I believe in accuratly built rifles.Or should I say percision built Rifles? I think the popularity of the .308 was because of the nato standard set in 1954 and inherintly accurate rifles were built around the .308 because of the set standard. I believe nato went with the .308 over the 06 was because even though the 06 betters the .308's performance, the .308 still met their balistic needs with more managable recoil,slightly lighter ammo, and a short action. After this presedent was set, a easy to aquire accurate rifle was a .308. Therefore bolstering it's popularity as a long range percision gun.
Actually a lot of target shooting was done with 30-06 and .303. The first was primarily in the USA and the latter in the UK and Commonwealth countries. When the military changed to 7.62 x 51 (.308 Winchester) so did the target shooting fraternity. Then along came the 5.56 and the target shooting lot also adopted that for the appropriate classes.
In CBA matches(Benchrest), production class, the .308 Win. is about the only cartridge used, which to me means it is a very accurate cartridge and this mirrors my results, it's just a very easy cartridge to shoot small groups with. Note: This is based on using an unaltered factory rifle.
- Location
- Fraser Valley BC
Because it's the king.
Most commonwealth countries at one time issued military ammo for competition. The UK still issues ammo however it is now commericial match ammo (RUAG) instead of Radway-Green match with a FMJ bullet. TR shooters in the UK do not hand load.
.308 is the standard for target rifle (iron sights) in Palma, Commonwealth Games, Bisley, DCRA competitions. Not only is the caliber regulated but the max bullet weight of 156 gr is also standard for these competitions.
Because of the above mentioned world competitions the .223 or 5.56 NATO does not have as big of a following in TR class. The main reason it doesn't is because the issued light (55-63 gr NATO bullet) does not do as well at long range as a hand loaded 80-90 gr bullet.
.308 is the standard for target rifle (iron sights) in Palma, Commonwealth Games, Bisley, DCRA competitions. Not only is the caliber regulated but the max bullet weight of 156 gr is also standard for these competitions.
Because of the above mentioned world competitions the .223 or 5.56 NATO does not have as big of a following in TR class. The main reason it doesn't is because the issued light (55-63 gr NATO bullet) does not do as well at long range as a hand loaded 80-90 gr bullet.
Partly true and it boils down to what kind of accuracy do you want. All else being equal, the smaller case capacity, the higher pressure and the ratio of case capacity to bore diameter favour the .308. If the 30-06 was just as accurate as the .308, the latter would not dominate non-military competition as it has done. For exterior ballistics ONLY, the optimal range is 6.5-7mm that display high ballistic coefficient for long range shooting without breaking either your shoulder nor the bank. As for the statement made that the 30-06 exhibits better performance, this is not correct for bullets less than 175 gr due to the .308's higher maximum pressures. Above this bullet weight, the 30-06 is indeed superior in velocity due to increased case capacity that can accommodate slower powders.Just to stirr the pot a bit on a age ol argument
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Inherently accurate added to light(er) recoil make it a very easy cartridge to shoot.
- Location
- big sky country
Put 46 grains of varget under a 155 Lapua Siera match king and shoot it at 1000 yards.
Thats why.
