[tikka-t3]

What is the general consensus on a .308 for deer? Obviously not a flat shooting caliber.

I use a .270 today for prairie & bush hunting would a .308 be a better bush gun??

 

[Riggs]

There's no dust on the .308. Lots of countries armies used the .308 for their primary round for years and years. And, for good reason. It works. It shoots the same projectiles as the 06, 300 Win.Mag, 300 Weatherby, etc. With the excellent hunting bullets available today, there's no reason to walk away for the .308 for Deer, Black Bear, Elk, or Caribou. Chose a good 150 or 165 grain bullet, and go fill the meat locker.

 

[Riggs]

Found this on one of the shooting blogs I frequent:


Swinging by Federal Ammunition's website, I'll pick the 165 grain Seirra Gameking BTSP Vitalshock
30-06 Muzzle velocity, 2800 fps then 100 yard increments velocity 2576 2362 2159 1966 1784
308W Muzzle velocity, 2700 fps then 100 yard increments velocity 2481 2272 2073 1884 1708

Now I will choose another random one...150 grain soft point Power-shok
30-06 Muzzle velocity, 2910 fps then 100 yard increments velocity 2616 2340 2081 18391619
308W Muzzle velocity, 2820 fps then 100 yard increments velocity 2532 2261 2007 1771 1557

Final Comparison, this time switching to Large and Heavy Game (rather than medium) 180 grain Barnes MRX Vitalshock
30-06 Muzzle velocity, 2700 fps then 100 yard increments velocity 2538 2382 2232 2087 1947
308W Muzzle velocity, 2600 fps then 100 yard increments velocity 2442 2289 2143 2001 1864

The 30-06 consistently gets about 100 more fps each and every time.

My comments here: So, you see, the 06 with almost every hunting bullet weight, only gets 100 fps or less, more than the .308. IMHO that's not much to get excited about.

 

[lovetofish]

I Love my .308 for deer and I usually hunt bush for my Deer. I wouldn't think of using a different rifle.

 

[snomad]

The 308 is an inherently accurate round too. If you reload you are going to see some powder savings over a 30-06 as well as less recoil. The short action used for the 308 is one of the reasons for increased accuracy and makes for easier cycling of most bolts. Lots of advantages there. Probably the most commonly available ammo is the 308, 30-30, 30-06 and 270. You can find that stuff anywhere with lots of load selection and it is really quite inexpensive. If you don't reload that is a big benefit.

 

[bonecollector]

if you are looking for a good bush gun go with 30-30 .308 is good for moose n larger game but can be overkill for deer

 

[offshoreonly]

I think 308 is a good caliber. As mentioned it can be used for other game as well, a versitile gun is a good gun.

 

[chrism]

IMHO the 308 is one of the best rounds out there for almost all we can hunt here... its offspring (7-08, 243, 260, and 338f) grew from the 308 case, and they too are just really good cartridges.
As mentioned, its accurate - so are its offspring... it is in use by the 'services', as well as long distance shooting - people who use it know that it can in the right hands shoot a long long way - much further than most deer hunters can shoot accurately.
Yes, its smaller than the 06, but not by much - look at the 500yd drop and the diff is just a few inches, almost negligible...
The only people that don't like this round, or its brothers, are ones that haven't shot it enough to really see the value here.
So to answer the OP question, its an awesome deer round, prob one of the best ever.

And I don't own a 308, but do have 3 of its offspring - and they see 10x more action than the big magnums that are now safe-queens... I can shoot a 260 or 7-08 for hours at the range - can't do more than a few shots with the 300 before I have to focus on not flinching...

 

[Patty]

Nothing wrong with a 308... shot a couple deer with them and was happy with the results...

 

[RBergmann]

I have been shooting a military stock Swedish made Mauser chambered in 308 for over 25 years (made in 1948). It was given to me by a friend who owed me some money. Was going to sell it till I used it. Had brought it along on a hunting trip as a backup & then my 30-30 jammed so I pulled it out & have almost never gone back. I do occasionally use the 30-30 when I want to travel very light. Have it zeroed in at 200 yds & its down 6" at 300 yds with a 150gr bullet. Awesome gun IMO! Very accurate & comfortable to use! I've taken too many deer to count and a couple of moose (used a 180gr for moose) as well with it. I have shot many calibers over the years but just keep using the Mauser.

 

[jondur]

Check out the article by Chuck Hawks on his site. It's called "myth busting calibers". Interesting analysis. 308 came out ahead based on a complex rating.

 

[lovetofish]

Check out the article by Chuck Hawks on his site. It's called "myth busting calibers". Interesting analysis. 308 came out ahead based on a complex rating.

Here's the link: http://www.chuckhawks.com/myth_busting_calibers.htm

 

[Martyt]

308 is an excellent deer calibre...I have used it and several other calibres over the last 20 or so years for deer, bear, coyotes and the odd skunk. I have found it to be one of the easiest calibres to reload for (if you reload) with a close second being my 7mm08 (also a great deer calibre). 308 has been around longer than many people on this forum and there is a good reason for it.

 

[did_b]

The 308 is a great round for deer and very well suited for Manitoba hunting. It would take anything in North America. It is actually a pretty flat shooting round and there's a reason that snipers use it. (Well the 7.62x51 anyway)

 

[sled-in]

A 30-30 if sighted in right can have a 260yd point blank zero, meaning that you could aim in the middle of the chest (10") and it will be only as much as 5" high or low in 260yds. Not that I would really want to try that.

.308 is far better