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Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
#6004201
11/01/15 05:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 558
no-guts-no-glory
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 558 |
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004272
11/01/15 12:34 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271 |
Cue Navasot in 3...2....1 I'm a Fan...
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004285
11/01/15 12:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047
mikei
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047 |
I hunt with both a 30/06 and a .308 Winchester. I've never been able to tell much of a difference between the ballistic performance of the two. Nor have the animals I've harvested! Every hunter has his/her "perfect" caliber; that's one of the reasons why there are so many different calibers available to us. Our objective should be to get a rifle chambered in ALL the calibers and learn to shoot each one of them very well.
Last edited by mikei; 11/01/15 12:56 PM.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004322
11/01/15 01:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,221
Grizz
THF Celebrity
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This should get good pretty quick. I'm a big fan of the .308, shoot one now, and have shot them for years. However, I think using the word "perfect" is very subjective and generally serves as a great argument starter.
IBTH (in before the haters).
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004355
11/01/15 01:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 442
Shawheel
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 442 |
I hump the wild to take it all in, there is no bag limit on happiness. -Ted Nugent
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: mikei]
#6004360
11/01/15 01:41 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,250
TEXASLEFTY
THF Whiskey Sommelier
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THF Whiskey Sommelier
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,250 |
I hunt with both a 30/06 and a .308 Winchester. I've never been able to tell much of a difference between the ballistic performance of the two. Nor have the animals I've harvested! Every hunter has his/her "perfect" caliber; that's one of the reasons why there are so many different calibers available to us. Our objective should be to get a rifle chambered in ALL the calibers and learn to shoot each one of them very well. The last sentence of that statement is some very good advice IMO.
Never been to a camping world. I prefer Dick's to be honest.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004365
11/01/15 01:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,156
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,156 |
Now that I roll my own, I'm a big fan. It's perfect enough.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004369
11/01/15 01:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 456
MWTX270
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 456 |
The 308 is a very efficient cartridge. I don't own one, but should get one. Ready the post in deer hunting, on what gun are you going to be shooting this year, the 308 was near the top.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: kry226]
#6004496
11/01/15 03:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Now that I roll my own, I'm a big fan. It's perfect enough. Yeah but you are high and right 1.5".
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004515
11/01/15 03:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Posts: 41,173 |
There is no such thing as the perfect cartridge. It would be like saying this is the perfect wrench. Well if you're talking about a 3/4" and the job calls for a 1/2", then the 3/4" isn't perfect.
The .308 is a good one, and will do lots of jobs. So will a very long list of other cartridges.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: J.G.]
#6004520
11/01/15 03:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,572
TexFlip
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 15,572 |
There is no such thing as the perfect cartridge. It would be like saying this is the perfect wrench. Well if you're talking about a 3/4" and the job calls for a 1/2", then the 3/4" isn't perfect.
The .308 is a good one, and will do lots of jobs. So will a very long list of other cartridges. But a .308 is like a good pair of channel locks; it'll do what a bunch of wrenches can do in a nice compact package.
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004537
11/01/15 03:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,601
sig226fan (Rguns.com)
duck & cover
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duck & cover
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,601 |
Yes, I believe it is... one reason that no one has mentioned, is that it is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and easy to shoot. All those lead to more practice in the average hunter, and increased proficiency. I think 308's are shot more than all others in this category, leading to more hits, and happier hunters. Remember here on the THF we have way more than our share of snipers, olympic marksmen and Navy SEALs who can shoot every caliber at every distance. But think about a rookie, average, shooter/hunter, and the 308 climbs even higher.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004577
11/01/15 04:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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One cartridge for all NA big game? .300 WM
One for all NA medium sized game? .308 is as good as any.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004589
11/01/15 04:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,089
jakebunch
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,089 |
I have used a .308 and other calibers for many years. It may not be perfect, but is as close to it as anything out there.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004599
11/01/15 04:22 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136
EddieWalker
Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,136 |
I'm convinced that hunting magazines are the reason these discussions happen, and whey there are so many different calibers out there that do the exact same thing. If I was a conspiracy theory type of guy, I would guess that the ammo and gun manufacturers encourage the magazines to write articles about best calibers and why one is better then the other, regardless of what they wrote last year, or even last month. They might even pull a caliber out of a hat and then write why that one is the best just so people will buy more guns in that caliber that month. If they write an article about the good ole days and how that was the best caliber, they will sell more guns in that caliber.
I'm convinced that the difference between calibers is so small that everything in the world could be taken with just two rifles. And if there where only two calibers available, nobody would even know the difference. I enjoy having options and choices, but over the years, I've found that caliber arguments and discussions revolve around what we already have and what we've read about by those who are paid to sell guns and bullets.
The real question is what else shoots just the same as the .308? The list would include at least a dozen calibers, maybe twice that if you get into wildcats!!!
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: jakebunch]
#6004604
11/01/15 04:26 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 813
oulufinn
Tracker
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Tracker
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I've become way more interested in the actual rifle that's wrapped around a given cartridge chambering, than the cartridge itself. There are a lot of "perfect" cartridges anymore with the amazing selections of available bullets covering about every possible base. The .308 is certainly among them.
NRA Life Member
"The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen" ~ Dennis Prager
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004649
11/01/15 04:52 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,407
WileyCoyote
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,407 |
I look at hunting rifles a lot like some folks look at a bag of golf clubs...a different club for evey application. I've owned a few 308's in the past back when I was doing a lot of trading, and am planning on probably owning one in a Light Carbine length some time in the near future to use for a specific job....in place of a 30-30 at low MV's and low Recoil levels, mebbe even using 30-30 bullets, or a 180gr RN in the deep woods.
I could also "make do" with a 308 as a One Gun Hunter for everything ...but PTL I don't HAVE TO JUST OWN ONE GUN. Ron
It is TIME for Term Limits, cause Politicians are like childrens diapers and for the same reasons...Robin Williams "These are the times that try men's soul's"...Thomas Paine
"Those who fail to learn from History are doomed to repeat it" ....Santayana
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004664
11/01/15 05:02 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 31,055 |
It's the perfect caliber if you like mediocre velocity, energy and trajectory. Kind of like driving a mini van.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004682
11/01/15 05:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,816
Bigfoot
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,816 |
Yes 308 is the perfect hunting cartridge
So is the 270 and 30-06.
GO TRUMP!
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: TEXASLEFTY]
#6004685
11/01/15 05:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,530
Hunt n Fish
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 13,530 |
I hunt with both a 30/06 and a .308 Winchester. I've never been able to tell much of a difference between the ballistic performance of the two. Nor have the animals I've harvested! Every hunter has his/her "perfect" caliber; that's one of the reasons why there are so many different calibers available to us. Our objective should be to get a rifle chambered in ALL the calibers and learn to shoot each one of them very well. The last sentence of that statement is some very good advice IMO. Yep! Man can't have too many guns......!!!
HnF
"Prayer is when you talk to the Lord, Meditation is when you listen to what he says"
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: TexFlip]
#6004696
11/01/15 05:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,533
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 65,533 |
There is no such thing as the perfect cartridge. It would be like saying this is the perfect wrench. Well if you're talking about a 3/4" and the job calls for a 1/2", then the 3/4" isn't perfect.
The .308 is a good one, and will do lots of jobs. So will a very long list of other cartridges. But a .308 is like a good pair of channel locks; it'll do what a bunch of wrenches can do in a nice compact package. It's my go-to round...it does everything I need and more...
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#6004697
11/01/15 05:20 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Are animals "more dead" with the .308 than a .270 or .300WM?
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6004702
11/01/15 05:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,092
Elkhunter49
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,092 |
One cartridge for all NA big game? .300 WM
One for all NA medium sized game? .308 is as good as any. This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A true friend reaches for your hand but touches your heart.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: stxranchman]
#6004716
11/01/15 05:29 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
THF Celebrity
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Are animals "more dead" with the .308 than a .270 or .300WM? Please refer to my sig line.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Is the .308 the perfect North American big game cartridge?
[Re: stxranchman]
#6004738
11/01/15 05:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,221
Grizz
THF Celebrity
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Are animals "more dead" with the .308 than a .270 or .300WM? Absolutely. I hear tell of deer "killed" with a .270 and then later jumping out of the freezer, never to be seen again.
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