308 WIN: 4 Reasons You NEED One 3 Reasons You Don't

In today's video we will be going over the 4 reasons that you need a 308 Winchester and 3 reasons why you may want to avoid it. Thanks for watching!
Be AR style brass catcher: amzn.to/3GIJmzv
This list is by no means comprehensive, so let me know if there are any other reasons why you would or wouldn't want a 308 in your collection.
As always these tests are meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. Do not try any of these tests at home! The quantities listed on Midway were accurate at the time of recording but they may not reflect the most up to date quantities. If you choose to reload, always make sure to use reputable manual or online resource. Contains affiliate link to Amazon.

[@narref04]

It's a NATO cartridge, which means it will be around atleast 20 years past that. Other rounds will come and go. But the 308 will just carry on... hated by some. Loved by many, sold by ALL.

[@dmutant2635]

And as long as the surplus ammo is still around. lol

[@jpaul8589]

The .308 isNOT a 7.62nato. Much higher chamber pressures and would do scary wrong stuff in a 7.62 barrel.

[@romak4756]

Chamber Design: Perhaps the real difference between the .308 Winchester cartridge case and the 7.62 NATO case is the chambers they are specifically designed for. Typically, military rifles are made with slightly longer chambers (longer headspace). This is to help insure fast, easy feeding and ejection through rapid-fire sequences (i.e. auto-fire). The published difference in this headspace between the two cartridge cases is approximately six-thousandths of an inch - small, yet, significant. Bearing in mind that the .308 Winchester is specified for a ‘hotter’ powder load than that of the 7.62, firing it in a chamber with the added headspace will stretch the brass much more than the lower powder load 7.62. With a thinner brass wall design, the results may lead to an over-stretching (i.e. case ruptures, etc.). In summary, the biggest difference between the .308 Winchester cartridge case and the 7.62 NATO cartridge case is with the chambers they are designed for. Manufactured .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO rounds can safely and effectively be fired in rifles design for .308 calibers, but manufactured 7.62 rounds should be shot only within rifles designated for 7.62 calibers. Not exactly the same

[@hamhocks]

@@jpaul8589 but it doesn’t matter because 99% of people who own this cartridge are using a 308 rated barrel and not a 7.62 barrel. Therefore, you can shoot the NATO ammo with no problem.

[@heroinmom153]

We just got a Fulton Armory M14 and all I can say is DAMN... what a fine round and a fine gun. It DESTROYS what you hit with it.

[@reloadnorth7722]

I use my 308 Win for moose hunting up to 300 yards, and my 300 Win Mag for up to 600 yards. I have never lost an animal using the 308 Win.

[@CommieCrusher87]

308 all day. I find the bullets expand and puts animals down quick. I lost a few with 7mm Rem Mag.

[@12monkey57]

What bullets are you using?

[@reloadnorth7722]

@@12monkey57 180gr Nosler Partition for the 300WM H1000 powder, 165gr Speer SPBT for the 308W with either Varget or IMR4895, federal magnum primers for both

[@Liamisdead99]

@@CommieCrusher87 probably the shooter if your loosing them to a 7mm mag.

[@hotramen5952]

@@CommieCrusher87 sounds like your are afraid of the rifle or you tried to put deer bullets through the back end of a moose. the 7 mag is a gold standard of elk hunting, and frankly they are harder to kill.

[@chets3597]

7.62 has taught people the difference between concealment and cover for years.

[@TomDog5812]

HA! Thanks man. You made me chuckle.

[@C.R.Castaneda-nm5xt]

😁

[@jacobishii6121]

In an 06 yeah

[@SaltyMaverick]

The .308 is a workhorse, and I will always love it. My first semi-auto rifle was a PTR-91 chambered for it, and I love the old "battle rifle" concept.

[@DrewEdwardBacklas]

There should definitely always be a 308 in your collection. The last few years of ammo shortages alone are enough to convince me of that. Add to that the fact that there’s nothing in the lower 48 I can legally hunt that I couldn’t ethically kill out to 400 yards (or more) with the 308. I have “sexier” options, but the 308 is a utility cartridge. It can do nearly everything.

[@KINGRODP]

EVERYTHING

[@piobmhor8529]

Here in Canada during Covid, the ammo shelves were empty…except for 9mm and .308. Come deer season, some guys were borrowing Grandpa’s .308 Savage 99.

[@wizard_of_poz4413]

It was basically the opposite here where all the common shit was getting picked clean every 5 seconds while the weird shit like 25acp or .303 British was still there

[@williamkowalchik572]

​@@wizard_of_poz4413We had a lot of the 350 and 450 on the shelves.

[@HatsuneM1ku01]

@@wizard_of_poz4413saw sportsman’s warehouse, everything was empty but stuff like 357 magnum, some smaller shotgun shells and some of the special hunting ammo and stuff like 7mm

[@NYPrepper]

I broke that same block at 300 yards with my AR-308 almost broke it at 500 yards. Yea 308 is a no brainer, everyone should have one. It's so versatile. Also extremely efficient in short barrels, retains a lot of velocity and energy with short barrels. Lower recoil compared to 30 caliber magnums and 30-06. Easy to suppress. The list goes on and on.

[@kellscorner1130]

7.62x39 vs 300 blk. pros, cons, etc etc. your style should make that entertaining.

[@bananaballistics]

Have a steel test coming out with these two calibers soon. Thanks for the idea on a video like this one!

[@rowdytitan]

Thanks for including the 6.5 Grendel, that was great seeing it side by side with the .308.

[@CircleBrewery]

Reloading for the .308 is efficient and still kinda economical… I’ve only shot out to 350 yards and it’s accurate and still punches hard at that range 😊

[@HomerEscobar1]

She still got 1000 more yards to go!

[@traillesstravelled7901]

So far love it. My budget .308 is more accurate than I can shoot with moderate ammo. Doesn't hurt the shoulder from a day at the range, but still should do the job I'm asking.

[@coupe50h]

Just got me a savage .308, black Friday deal, then i put in an mcarbo trigger, and it's a nice shooter, after 40 rounds at the range my shoulder was just a little sore, but not bad, I'm thin framed lol.

[@robertsims9201]

My FN SCAR20S is probably one of the smoothest 308s I've shot.

[@williamgeorge2591]

I think the most informative part of the video was the actual difference between .223 and 6.5 grendel.

[@informationexchange4085]

The best reason to own a .308 - an AR10. I have plenty of AR15's and what I call an AR10 Magnum (300WM beast variant... woah), but my AR10 light builds with 16" match barrels is the perfect all rounder. Plenty accurate out to 600yrds with my reloads. When SHTF, it's my go-to. Pew pew.

[@frankcastle9691]

Made some 308 high bc rounds, 707 bc 178g running 2750. Probably go out to 1000 yards accurately.

[@somercet1]

"whoa," please.

[@cheyennelayton]

I have no doubt there are better rifles with far better ballistics. But for me personally the war is one of economics and when shtf, the availability of ammo for the .308 puts it ahead all the time. Think of it as the Sherman tank of rifles. Not the best but by shear volume it's performance is on top.

[@chrisdarcy8998]

308 / 7.62x51 is still the most common sniper round on a global basis. That speaks volumes about the cartridge and the weapons platforms. (I know, 7.62x51 is slightly different than 308 but we're splitting hairs). I've dropped a 400lb pig at 250yds (165grn Speer Grand Slam), upto a Whitetail doe at ~400yds (150grn Nosler BT, couldn't get a good read on the rangefinder and she needed a sighter, but neither went more than a couple of yds. The 3 cons are valid but the 4 pros carry far more weight. 308 will never go away, it's just too good in so many ways and if you need to stop something at 800+ you really should be going to .30-06 with high BC / heavier bullets or 300 Win Mag or 338 Lapua. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of 6.5 CM or the other so called 'newer' cartridges (are they really new?) I think they are good rounds. When wanting to 'stop' things at distance, always look to what the military use. That said, I do acknowledge that military, USMC for example, are testing 6.5 CM for example. Things change! Great video, keep it up!

[@MetaVizions]

Agreed

[@mikef3655]

be careful shooting 7.62/51 out of a gun chambered in .308. Not all can take the presser or have the right head clearance.

[@terrarecon]

@@mikef3655 you have it in reverse. The .308 is more powerful between the .308 and 7.62x51. your confusing the 5.56 and .223 with the .308 and 7.62. It's the reverse when it comes to the 5.56 versus .223. The 5.56 is more powerful.

[@Lifeinthecountryfamilyislife]

I love the 308 its mild recoil and versatility is fantastic. However... I got a really good deal on a 6.5cm as a family man I thought of my kids and bought it. My son is the one that used the 6.5 this year. He was able to harvest 3 deer so far but the one I have on video on my channel was a straight heart shot and it took longer to expire than I like. I knew it was done and didn't let him shoot it again. But I think it hurt his little heart to see that deer do what it did. He didn't want to hunt for several months after that. Thanks to the KZbin community for the kind comments he's back hunting. I didn't show him the negative ones and there were plenty of them. Next season he's going to the 308 I dislike the 6.5 and question its bullet expansion now. Great gun on paper but that's about it as far as I'm concerned.

[@gooslesspondd8378]

I’ve found the 6.5 to be fantastic. I’ve killed bear at around 400-500 yards with one shot and dropping them just about instantly. Very suprised to hear that it had trouble killing deer.

[@colinmckim4515]

What bullet and distance?

[@alejandrogonzales7022]

Your son could have touched the deer with his pinky and people would still leave negative, mean comments. It's the internet and, unfortunately people will be jerks because they know they'll get away with it. Bullies are trash and not worth listening to. Glad your boy is back at it.

[@Lifeinthecountryfamilyislife]

@@alejandrogonzales7022 your exactly right! Thanks bro!

[@jagx234]

I had a similar experience with a strawberry Dahl and 6.5C @ 120ish yds. Through and through both lungs, little damage, no expansion just a quarter inch hole, 143gr hornady precision hunter. Checked afterwards to be sure, definitely was the hunting ammo, never bought any target to to mix up in it. I was surprised to not see mangled lungs as I do with 308 and 300wm on whitetail or pronghorn.

[@thomash196]

I like it because it really does just about everything pretty well. It’s not the best at anything, but it’s it’s a close second to most everything

[@Tool-Meister]

My thoughts as a hunting round are, 308 is the cartridge name and the recommended distance. Beyond that, in North America, I’d recommend a magnum round larger than a 6.5mm bore. As a deterrent, a 308 or the likes of a 6.5 Creedmoor in a AR-10 chassis would get the job done…. I’ve spent my entire life hunting deer, elk, bear, a single moose, and various varmints, while living in California, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Oregon. So, your mileage will vary as will your choice of cartridges. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. My loyalties are so bifurcated, I built 2 AR-10s, one in 308 & one in 6.5 Creedmoor I took my moose with one round of a WW-I, 8mm Mauser.

[@grayhairedgear5992]

Cool review, as usual! Bought a Ruger American in .308 for my son's first "real" rifle late last summer, and the caliber choice was driven primarily by local availability at the time. Stunningly good rifle for the price, and I'm not disappointed with the caliber at all.

[@bananaballistics]

Those Ruger Americans are surprisingly good rifles for the money!

[@Jalexander61]

Love the 308, don’t get to shot longer ranges often but was able to take it out to 800 yards and it hung right in there with the 6.5 cr.

[@trapperbobpatriot8288]

I have two 308s. One is a rugar the other a savage with long fluted barrel. I have been hunting with the rugar the last several years. I worked up a load and hardly ever miss

[@natlovell122]

Looking at a Ruger in .308 so nice to see this comment

[@samuelpope7798]

6.5 Grendel did great. It would really be interesting to see what the 6.5 Creedmoor would do. Then repeat the test at 500yds. I doubt there would be any visible difference.

[@BuckyTJones]

The best thing about the 308 projectile is it will work in a 308, 30.06 and the 300 win mag. Can't beat that with a stick.

[@07thunderhawk]

Love the 6.5 Grendel, truly underrated

[@Tony_Seed]

This guy knows what’s up

[@timbow50]

If u don’t own a good solid rifle in .308 GET ONE!

[@ronws2007]

My round of choice is the .308 Win and I have 4 rifles in that. In fact, whenever I see a new model of rifle, I will look to see if it is offered in .308 Win. I am getting great accuracy with the Federal Fusion 165 gr. Granted, it is dropping below 1,000 foot-pounds at just about 500 yards but that is fine for the whitetail deer that I hunt. My longest ranged sight on the public land I have used is 225 yards. And I am comfortable with my skills to 300 yards. As I have mentioned elsewhere, I came to this round from studying military uses. Marine and other snipers were trained on 7.62 x 51 mm NATO at about 175 gr, which would do significant damage to a 200 pound target out to 600 yards. So, I figured, that should work for deer, especially at closer distances. I could shoot 1k yards and there is a competition for .308 Win that does exactly that. It might be a bit tough to get an elk at over 600 yards. For that kind of back country hunt, I might move to a 7 mm Rem Mag, which I have seen used successfully. Maybe the new 7 mm PRC.

[@2clicksup910]

Love the 308. It will never go away. Been doing the business since forever and will continue to do so long after we’re all gone. The new flashy cartridges come along and set the world on fire, then disappear just as quickly. Why: because they really don’t offer that much more to the average shooter, who always seems to gravitate back to the tried and true performer. Despite all the hype, most just end up being just another middle of the road caliber that sits somewhere in between calibers that are already out there. Anyway, good vid Mate. Cheers from Down Under.

[@bananaballistics]

That's definitely sums it up!

[@poorfatman5317]

If you're gonna say since forever you mean 4570

[@m1k3_flo]

@@poorfatman5317he meant 30-06

[@m1k3_flo]

He meant .45 caliber basalt rock shot out of a 1294 bangstick

[@terrarecon]

I love the .308, but I don't hate the 6.5 Creedmoor. The .308 has been out for decades it's going to be more popular for that reason alone.

[@redfaux74]

That's a good informational video. Thank you. 🎈🥳🎈Congrats on 10k already! You have just the right amount of nerd, real man and gun freak to captivate. Your humor is unique. I love these various tests on diff strata with various ammo and barrel lengths. Your pace bounces from dot to dot efficiently. And 10 minutes is a perfect video length. Keep it there and under. Better to have 2 short videos than 1 long one. Carry on brother. A plus from me. ❤️

[@bananaballistics]

I really appreciate all of the kind remarks and commenting!

[@jacktrout5807]

If I were to choose one gun one caliber all things considered an MSR in .308 would be the one. I have many rifles and love the 6.5s (grendel and creed), love my 6mm creed, just started messing with the 25, but for ammo availability and accuracy vs cost effectiveness and component variety ? None are more versatile than the .308.

[@yellowdog762jb]

More reasons: Afforadble and reliable AR10 platform rifles + 7.62x51 mil-surp ammo and battle packs + affordable reliable mags. Easy and (relatively) cheap to stockpile. And if you already have an ammo stash put back, you need a rifle to shoot it out of.

[@bananaballistics]

Those are great points! I was thinking about the military ammo after I made the video

[@douglasmcneil8413]

I like the idea of the AR-10. Changing out uppers gives you the option of shooting anything from 243 up to 358. Plus a few I probably didn't think of. And yes 308 can be reloaded to pretty much whatever you need.

[@vhfgamer]

Too bad it's based off the M16.... the absolute worst rifle design fielded by any army in the last 60 years.

[@douglasmcneil8413]

@@vhfgamer You have it backwards. the M16 was based on the AR 10. When Armalite thought the U.S. was going to keep the 7.62x54. When they switched to the 5.56 Armalite shrunk down the action to fit the new cartridge.

[@vhfgamer]

@@douglasmcneil8413 The US has never used the 7.62x54. That is a russian cartridge. The US uses 7.62x51, and used to use 7.62x63 (otherwise known as 30-06). None of which changes the fact that the M16/AR15/AR10 or any derivative is a crap design.

[@douglasmcneil8413]

@@vhfgamer I miss typed. I meant to say 7.62x51. But my fingers had their own Idea of what to type.

[@douglasmcneil8413]

@@vhfgamer I'll let others debate the merits of the AR design. There's a lot of folks that think FORD stands for Found On Road Dead. Yet they sell a lot of FORDs and they sell a lot of ARs. So someone's doing something right.

[@Rickkari7]

6.5 Grendel AR deer hunter here. Took 2 at 175 yards this year. Definitely a legit round in a AR15 size round. Appreciate you using that in the comparison. Probably a eye opener to many. The 308 is a given for a all around big game killer. A coworker just dropped 2 doe back to back here in middle TN the other evening with his Ruger American 308. The little Grendel isn't too far behind though.

[@Longtrailside]

308 just works for about everything that you need it to do. If you need more go to a 300wm. They pair great for reloading sinc ethey use the same bullet. Enjoy the channel.

[@bananaballistics]

I agree!

[@Game-The-System]

Have literally shot .308 rounds for >30 years. Only recently did I become more interested in the long(er) range ballistics of the round. As I recall, the bullet drop at ~500 yards for a 150gr bullet is something like 4 feet. Now, that seems pretty dramatic. However, when you compare it to a .223 55gr bullet at the same range, the bullet drop is almost 3 feet. If we're talking about a single shot out past 500 yards, I have little doubt that there are rounds with better ballistics, generally speaking. However, between arguably the two of the most popular rounds that exist, for a single shot I'll take a heavier, slightly slower predictable round versus one that is less-than half the weight, moving faster and is more susceptible to wind & rain.

[@johnkaraphillis754]

I would recommend a .308 to all new shooters due to the availability of components and factory ammo. My father hunted with that cartridge all his 70+ years of hunting and never looked elsewhere. I have never owned or hunted with it but the 7-08 is my second favorite and usually my whitetail cartridge. Thanks

[@AstanaxKnight]

In taking the first steps to reloading, I was pleasantly surprised to find the .308 caliber bullet easily fit my 30-30 Winchester, .300 AAC Blackout, and .308 Winchester in terms of reloading. I also found that I have a lot more .300 AAC Blackout brass saved up than the other two.

[@meejmuas8686]

Barrel life is also less for 6.5. .308 barrels tend to be able to handle higher round count. Although most people may not shoot that many rounds for their uses

[@moultondg]

For us reloaders, can we also point out the versatility of the projectile itself? You can use, for instance, a 168gr HPBT projectile to load a .300 Blackout, a .308 Win, a 30-06, or a 300 Win Mag. The versatility of cartridges is hard to beat with this caliber, especially when you can use the same projectile across such a varied range of uses.

[@markp6062]

Functionality, Versatility and availability make it the obvious choice for keeping and stockpiling. Others are great, too, but it's like trying to replace the 5.56 or the 22LR. Not gonna happen.

[@Cyberhacker3]

I'm going to pick up a Ruger SFAR in .308 with the 20 inch barrel ,,, as soon as my Wife isn't looking.

[@bananaballistics]

Hopefully soon, those are sweet rifles!

[@robertgoodrich8953]

Save your money. I looked at one. It is so obviously made poorly with cheap materials. The web agrees and says it is an unreliable rifle. Go look at a POF Revolution or Rogue with a dictator adjustable gas block. Well made with Premium quality Parts. Can consistently ring steel at .300 yds yet quick enough for CQB. And, because it is .308 it just takes one hit anywhere on the body to stop a bad guy in his tracks! So, SFAR? Resounding NO! For a POF or a SCAR 17? Yes Yes Yes! Buy Once cry once. Don't put good money after bad. When the life of my family or myself is at stake, I go for the best, not the cheapest!

[@Cyberhacker3]

@@robertgoodrich8953 Yeah you are right , its a piece of Caca ,,, jam after jam after jam ,,, i have zero trust in its reliability , even after Ruger sent it back from being repaired.

[@Darth-Nihilus1]

I love my 30Hate rifles. The HK91 and Zastava Pap 77 and my Savage are my favorites out of what I have.

[@robertwright7969]

The 6.5 was tested after the same block had been shot 3 times and weakened significantly. Should have switched it out after the .223. I don’t think the 6.5 Grendel would have been as close in comparison to the .308 as you think…but maybe. Who knows.

[@montanaairframer]

Best reason in my mind to own a .308 AR10 is a SHTF scenario due to several of the positive reasons you gave especially ammo availability specifically in built surplus. My recommendation is to have an AR10 with 2 uppers, 1 18" in .308 and 1 20" in 6.5 Creedmoore. For hunting I prefer the .270 Win however. For target shooting I have bolt actions in .308, 6.5 Creedmoore, and 6.5 PRC. The price of the PRC ammo is terrible compared to the others but it's way better than .338 or 50. Additionally, target shooting to 500 yards is still fun with .556 and way cheaper.

[@kevmoful]

You should have a 308 just my opinion. In my part of the country many gas stations sell ammo when you are in a pinch . 308, 30-30, 270, and probably 30-06. You can buy a box of any of those just about anywhere here in Appalachia. My favorite reason to have a 308 is simple , the FAL. I get the grins every time I take mine out.

[@brookesprecision6272]

I would like to see you do 243 Winchester versus 308,

[@mmpatriot2170]

I’m already sold on 308. This video increased my interest in 6.5 Grendel. 👍

[@BikerDash]

I absolutely love my PSA PA-10 in .308 Winchester. Using Remington 150 gr Core-Lokt loads, my rifle will regularly place 5 rounds into a group measuring under a half inch at a hundred yards. Winchester 150 gr Power Point load 5 shot groups hover right at a half inch. Any deer that gets inside 300 yards is goin into my freezer. Ammo cost is a big factor in my opinion for choosing the .308. Just before the ammo shortage kicked in, I was able to score 160 rounds of surplus 7.62x51 for a hundred bucks. While nowhere near as accurate as the Remington loads my rifle loves, it's a lot less expensive. And the Remington and Winchester loads I'm currently finding for about $40 a box. 6.5 Creedpoop generally costs a good deal more.

[@mikewithers299]

That's good info right there. I just picked up the same rifle and ammo. I can't wait to get to the range🤩

[@markchapman2585]

Great video as always. I have 243 270 and 30-06 I got off my grandfather there old but in great shape for there age. But I always use the good old 30-06 I can get ammo for it easy.

[@bananaballistics]

I have seen 30-06 ammo in stores I didn't even know sold ammo

[@exothermal.sprocket]

.30-06 in a lot of places in the last couple years was hard to find. .308 was piled high. Why? NATO contracts, and criminal presidents sending ammo to criminal foreign countries.

[@Goodtimesvideos1122]

I love the .308. My dad and I have killed many animals with that trusty old caliber. Not going anywhere in my book. Great video! Keep em coming! 💯

[@Q_The_Rabbit]

I love my 308 customs M24 SWS & M1A SA9222, both with NighForce NXS 8-32x56 optics to 800m. Beyond that, I use ACMX(in mostly) 338 Lapua & AX50. But, 308 is my #1 fave. I use the M24 for deer hunting, & have a 1shot:1deer/antelope/elk result for 26 seasons. 308 is my bomdigity go to

[@chadperry4021]

That grendal was impressive, would like it featured in more videos.

[@coupe50h]

I just saw a video on Facebook of a video where a grendel took two hogs in one shot, they were both looking down eating corn, and bam! 123 gr sst through the ear, and sat both of those pigs down. I'm a .308 guy but am definitely getting a 6.5

[@bananaballistics]

If it weren't so hard to find ammo and brass reliably for the grendel, I think it is an almost perfect round.

[@mikem2535]

Regarding brass for the 6.5 Grendel, 7.62 x 39 can be resized very easily to form 6.5 brass.

[@raider762]

@@mikem2535 So just blast an afternoon with some M67 brass AK ammo. Pick up brass. Problem of 6.5 grendel brass solved.

[@tomschonborg439]

6.4 Grendel is awesome but it won't take bigger game like the .308 will. I'll hunt deer, hogs, and antelope with the 6.5 Grendel but for something like an Elk or Oryx you'll need at least a .308. Although I have seen an Oryx take a direct hit to the vitals at about 280 yards from a Win Mag .300 and turn and start walking away. That was crazy. Took two more shots to bring it down.

[@308guy8]

The 308 is a workhorse and very accurate. I'm running a 178gr at 2800 fps so I don't see any gain going to a 6.5 needs more

[@raulmartinez9422]

Wow your ar10 shoots smoothly. Do you have adjustable gas block? And what suppressor is that? I really enjoy your videos!! More videos please!!

[@bananaballistics]

I appreciate it! Yes, adjustable gas block and this was an AAC can

[@rob6850]

Man you should do radio commercials and tv voice-overs with that voice

[@redfaux74]

Yes. Bass in a gospel quartet. 🎈🥳🎈

[@bananaballistics]

Maybe someone will pick me up lol

[@C.D.-tz6sk]

Radio!!! @@bananaballistics

[@markjennings2315]

The WW2 battle rifles were all similar rounds for a reason. That generation knew their stuff! All going for 5.56 was a bad move.

[@z3ntropy]

A round nicknamed "three oh hate" got my attention growing up. Just got a POF revolution few weeks ago. Was told constantly by several well meaning, wise and educated people to go with 556 as my first maybe only. I agreed over and over, just couldn't shake what I felt about what I wanted. I've got a benelli m4, S&W M&P 9, and now a pof rev, I feel like my little arsenal is well rounded. I'll probably get into long range shooting with some more exotic calibers cause that seems like golf but for men

[@buyUSA9808]

I put together a PSA AR in .308 with the 20" barrel. I was pleasantly surprised to get repeated hits at 500 yards with PMC bronze (which floored me with 1 MOA groups). I've since put on a brake (damn shoulder surgeries) and a Geissele SSA-E trigger and have begun working up hand loads. I anticipate reliable hits past 600 yards with 165gr ELDs. This would definitely make a great med-long range hog hammer.

[@Armfield1]

The .308 is very versatile, good energy at hunting ranges and a little longer if you need it. The 6.5 creedmoor is built to maintain more energy at longer distances which is why I think you don't see as many semi autos, a bolt action for longer range precision is gonna be marginally better. I'm all about my 300 win mag personally 🤣

[@ryaniam22]

Ya I never understand why anyone serious about long range shooting would ever choose 6.5 creedmoor over 300 win mag. Only PRS guys shooting paper. No real world military shooter would. It makes zero sense. 300 win mag with 215-250 grainers now can match 338 lapua magnum trajectory...and not far behind energy either

[@BaconSlayer69]

@@ryaniam22the US military adopted the 6.5creedmore for their DMR 😅so ur wrong 😅

[@mathiask7959]

I recently bought an AR in 5.56 and I’m planning on getting a bolt action 308 later on this year

[@a.joegevara3519]

Love 7.62x51 & 308 they have always, and will continue to be the main staple in my cache!

[@jdsolberg7613]

.308 is still available at Walmart and is definitely cheaper than 6.5mm most dealers. Mostly.

[@jeffgalloway6400]

With the prices in today's market, you better have surplus ammo for your semi-auto.

[@D3PU7Y]

I've always looked at high preformance catridges as catering to a niche market for target shooters and long range hunters. Anything over 450 yards check the new hotness. Anything under 450 yards a .308 will do just fine and much cheaper plus you don't necessarily need to reload with the benefit of 8k-10k rounds of barrel life. 6.5CM can do all of this however needs a little longer barrel to match the velocity and has half or less than half the barrel life.

[@BulletSpoung]

Plus, you can use AP, SLAP, incendiary, tracer and so on. Not so with the Grindle or 6.5.

[@GreenPleco]

I like your videos. I am new to guns and live in California so I don’t have much options however your videos are very informative. Keep up the good work.

[@daltonkay4142]

I feel like .308 is either slowly replacing, or has replaced, 30-06 as one of the “you need this caliber” guns. It seems like it used to be .38 special and .45 ACP in handguns, and .22lr, 30-30, and 30-06 (at least everyone I knew had one of those). Now it seems like it’s whittled down to just 9mm for handgun, with .22lr, 5.55, and .308 WIN as the rifle calibers everyone I know has. These changes aren’t bad, and to be honest I think there’s too much of a huff about caliber wars. Just pick what will kill the animals you want, you probably need less power than you think 9 times out of 10, and get something with readily available ammo for practice. For me it’s the .270 WIN, for you it may be something else. Just get one, practice, practice more, practice again, and get really good with it.

[@chrismaurer2075]

I live on a very limited budget and I do reload for long range shooting but where I hunt deer in Michigan a shot longer than 100 yards is rare. That being said I do like to shoot out to 1000 yards for fun and like you said the 6mm cartridges will perform better they also burn through barrels much faster than I can afford.

[@trevorkolmatycki4042]

I think a significant reason that 308 is a poor choice for shooting heavy bullets is the rifling twist rate. Browning still produces 308’s with a 1:12 twist, Tikka uses 1:11, Savage uses 1:10. Yo Browning… is it 2023 or is it 1953?… seriously… WTF? If you want a 308 that can perform with the more modern heavier higher BC bullets do NOT get one with a 1:12 twist rate! 308WIN long range performance really shines with 175-178gr bullets which requires 1:11 twist rate or faster. Yep… the 308 with heavy bullets can lob payload downrange but it is definitely NOT a flat shooter… if you want to hunt with a long MPBR and not have to range and dial every gosh darn shot… get a 270WIN. Cheers!

[@willo7734]

Love the 308. Glad that my buddy the 6.5 Grendel also put on a great performance.

[@TheRabidMachina]

appreciate the dry humorous sarcasm to explain the topic, subbed.

[@sammcbride2464]

AR-10 platform. Semi-auto, etc. There are a lot of nice rounds out there, but many of them only have bolt action gun platform options.

[@jamesn7305]

For anyone starting out with precision shooting I would choose it for barrel life and for a more powerful self defense round it's perfect

[@Ando2k10]

One of the big advantages that .308 has is the availability of DOPE for, almost, any bullet grain weight.

[@Fudmottin]

For my use, the only thing that hurts the 308 Winchester is the length of the SR25 magazine. If only it was about 0.25" longer. And maybe if my barrel had a 1:8 twist instead of 1:10, I could then shoot the 208gr Berger VLD out of my rifle. Perhaps with Reloader TS 15.5 powder, I could push it to 2600fps, the speed the 175gr SMK is launched in the M110 rifle shooting M118 loadings. That higher BC would then carry that energy out quite a bit further. At least the 200gr SMK seats deep enough to fit in the SR25 magazine. I haven't tried it in the 1:10 barrel, but it should be stabilized if I can launch it fast enough without shearing off the locking lugs or ripping off the case head.

[@chadmartfeld]

If you did a radio show. I'd be all over it Great content. Great voice

[@carlrobinson8177]

A savage model 10 FCP and a Saint Victor both in 308. A love story Yes 💯🎯🔥🔥

[@Cavtrooper78]

The hardest thing to find right now it’s .308 target ammo in my area. They have all the expensive hunting stuff but ball is hard to find. As far as reloading goes reloading supplies is the hard thing to find too.

[@Donovan_Walker]

Now do the Grendel in FMJ, like you did with the .308

[@PyroRob69]

Might be 254 options for 30 cal bullets, but that doesn't mean they are all in stock. That's the biggest problem with Midway. They list so much stuff, but much of it is not in stock, or is overdue on back order. Then there are their obnoxious shipping scams.

[@dennydavis2914]

If not for the lack of ammo availability I would MUCH rather go with a 7mm-08 over a 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. If I were go the route of reloading (which I do) the 7mm-08 is most definitely the cartridge of choice.

[@stumpyhigginbottom3466]

One of the greatest things about .308, IMO, is how many other cartridges you can form from the brass. 6mm or 6.5mm Creedmoor? Sure. .243 Win? Yep. .260 Rem, 7mm-08, even the new 8.6 Blackout? All yes. So you can buy and shoot the relatively inexpensive 308 and then make whatever you need for your slightly more boutique rifles. Glad you showed Grendel up against the 308. The whole point was to approximate 308 ballistics in the mini action, and the Grendel does indeed get quite close, especially at distance thanks to the high BC you can get with 6.5mm bullets in the 120-140 grain range. Nice video. Thanks for doing it.

[@johnfixmer1510]

I agree with what was said. However, I don't have a need to shoot bullets heavier than 180 grains from my 308(no bears, elk, or moose in Indiana). Also we have nowhere near 1000 yard shots here

[@williamwinn948]

love 308 in the ar platform

[@samhinnant4416]

I had a Daniel Defense 308 16inch and loved the gun but a ar10 is just too heavy to lug around all day in the field. Plus you carry less ammo that weighs more. This is why I'm getting a 6.5 Grendel for my long range DMR needs.

[@jamescherney5874]

Have no problem shooting 5 inch groups at 500yds with my Springfield M1A .308. I handload 175 gr Sierra or Burger bullets and 43 grs of IMR 4895.

[@rodjbosch]

There are very few people able to shoot over 500 yards consistently....myself included. Most hunters.....myself included shouldn't be shooting that far unless you are capable. 308 has served me well and don't plan on going away from it ever.

[@Natedoc808]

It’s hard to go wrong with the .308. It does everything very well. The bullets themselves can be loaded into several different .30 cal cartridges. I love shooting my .308s including my RPR and Gunsite scout

[@Eluderatnight]

#1 I can find 308 when everything else is sold out #2 70-230gr varmit to big game and everything in between. #3 good terminal effects out past 1000m with right load.

[@claudiocadalcoinvestimento3008]

there are some pros that you have talked about, but in lack of importance (for me) - LOADS AND LOADS OF CARTRIDGES AVAILABLE - availability is a must - Rifles to shoot it - Price to shoot, if you dont practice enough, it does not matter wich cartridge you use... you will miss it

[@claudiocadalcoinvestimento3008]

any cartridge will do the job, at the correct distance, at the right place in the target. if you have 10 different kind of rifles, different cartdrige possibly you are any good in any of them. If you use only one cartdrige with the same rifle, same scope, same bullets, the chances are that you will be very good at with that rifle, cartdrige and different range distances... simple as that. I see people LIKE IN MATRIX MOVIE, with loads of guns, ammo, etc... for me does not work like that... you do your research, get the rifle, get the scope, and do the shooting till you get good with that.

[@shane3878]

I'll stick with 7mm-08. As soon as Wilson has barrels in stock I'll be building a 7mm-08 AR.

[@bananaballistics]

I was literally looking at doing the exact same thing!

[@byronmitchell13]

My opinion and it’s been said already is military. 223 is gonna be gone from the military but it will carry on for decades yet. The 30-06 was military for I believe nine years and it’s still popular. That said the 308 is very popular imo because it is a prefect short to midrange deer rifle. You can hunt the woods in the morning and the fields in the afternoon without switching rifles. Plenty of lower cost along with high performance ammo. I think these plus the amount of of rifle manufacturers offering this caliber is the reason it is so popular.

[@64samsky]

I reload, 7mm-08 is awesome! I also love my 308, 30 06, 7mm Magnum, 243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel......

[@AlexandreLollini]

Success of 6.5 cr maybe for lower recoil and target shooting far away. When choosing a caliber/round it's like batteries : choose something that does the job, that is widely available and cheap. So for batteries I work with AA and 18650; so if I were to choose a first caliber/rifle/round that would be a semi, a luminous low power scope, and probably 308. You should have talked about the .243 Win (in my mind very close but better than 6mm cr)

[@3-2-1-.]

308W is shtf caliber. Easy to find ammo. Devastating out to two hundred yards for almost anybody. It isn't a sniper's caliber, but it will still reach out there, if you have to. The only downside is weight. Loaded up it will weigh over 12 pounds. Get a good sling, a drop leg holster with pistol, and you're good to go. Another interesting thought is a pistol caliber carbine with a good sling and a drop leg holster with a pistol of the same caliber. The sky is the limit. I've got a buddy who has an old Browning 308W lever action. It is one of the sweetest shooting rifles I have ever squeezed a trigger on. If things get really bad, there will be weapons and ammo laying around all over the place. Get proficient with as many platforms as possible.

[@RezaQin]

I love my Mega MATEN in 308. Such a great rifle with its heavy ass buffer and JP bolt.

[@rjoetting7594]

I have a 308AR 22inch barrel and love it. Also 6.5 Creedmoor, and Grendel they are great. But one of my favorites is the grandfather of the 308 a 1950 Savage 99 in 300 Savage in beautiful condition looks like the previous owner kept it in the safe or In the closet.

[@MrMrmetro]

My pick too! I have my grandpa's Model 99 in 300 Savage that grandma bought for him in 1951. Great gun.

[@recon1986]

I'm watching this because I was thinking about building an AR10 18" IN .308 with a 1x-8x LPVO

[@northslope1]

Best cartridge for 90 percent of big game hunters. Militarized so it is plentiful and inexpensive. Smaller cases than the 30-06. I have bolt guns and AR10's in 308. There are better niche guns but this is a great "do it all" cartridge.

[@cbennett6093]

My hunting rifle is a Steyr in .308. No complaints, having everything hit with it DRT. Had an AR10. It weighed a bit much, definitely a long range set up. If I had to reach for one quicky in a bad situation, my AR15 should do. I would laugh to myself when I see an AR10 with a light and laser on it as if it is an entry/room clearing weapon, or the rare occasion of a short barrel setup. The muzzle blast and the eventual stopping point of the projectile...yikes! Ruger just put out a lightweight AR10. Hmm.

[@1400IntruderVS]

I don't have a .308 but I want one. Seem to be available. Versatile enough for whatever I may need it for.