Thumbcocker
Active Member
I would be real surprised if it didn't.
308 Win. cast bullet / 8 Point Buck
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
My thoughts as well, Thumbcocker.
I haven't commented here on this thread because 1) I longer own a 308 caliber rifle and 2) I have never fired a cast bullet in any 308.
That is NOT to say that I have little trigger time with 308s--au contraire! Only the 223 exceeds the 308 in personal round count fired over my lifetime. Curiously, both calibers have been almost exclusively fired with redcoat projectiles. (Perversity, right?) It is what it is.
The 308/7.62 x 51 caliber is intrinsically accurate, IME. The groups I have fired with 165 grain Sierra Game Kings--165 grain Nosler Partitions--and ESPECIALLY Sierra 168 grain Matchkings at 100-300 yards are astounding. It is easy to understand how Bryan and Ben can develop loads that print 5/8" groups at 100 yards. Good components in a good rifle assembled and fired by capable folks--res ipsa loquitor!
I haven't commented here on this thread because 1) I longer own a 308 caliber rifle and 2) I have never fired a cast bullet in any 308.
That is NOT to say that I have little trigger time with 308s--au contraire! Only the 223 exceeds the 308 in personal round count fired over my lifetime. Curiously, both calibers have been almost exclusively fired with redcoat projectiles. (Perversity, right?) It is what it is.
The 308/7.62 x 51 caliber is intrinsically accurate, IME. The groups I have fired with 165 grain Sierra Game Kings--165 grain Nosler Partitions--and ESPECIALLY Sierra 168 grain Matchkings at 100-300 yards are astounding. It is easy to understand how Bryan and Ben can develop loads that print 5/8" groups at 100 yards. Good components in a good rifle assembled and fired by capable folks--res ipsa loquitor!
Full length gas checks for all of them? 
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Rick--
Sad but true, sir. FLGCs were coin of the realm in the 308 in entirety, and only about 2% of my 223 shooting has been conducted with the Proper Projectiles. Mea culpa!
I've been casting since 1981, but rifles entered the fray rather slowly. The 30/30 WCF got things started about 1983, I think the 45/70 came next a few years later. Once i promoted to Detective things got crazy busy, and rifle casting stagnated until the mid-1990s. By that time the 308s were replaced by 30-06s, and those took to castings like ducks to water--just like the 30/30 had and with the same bullets. I haven't looked back.
More of my 308s were gas guns, too--HK-91, a couple M1As, and an FN-FAL. The HK and FN are not kind to cartridge brass, Kalifornistan didn't like the things, and I made way too much money selling them--and in those toys cast bullets might have been a bridge too far anyway. The late Bruce B had his Fulton Armory M1A running very well on Lyman #311467s at an NCBS meet some years back, and another M1A might find its way to my doorstep again.
Sad but true, sir. FLGCs were coin of the realm in the 308 in entirety, and only about 2% of my 223 shooting has been conducted with the Proper Projectiles. Mea culpa!
I've been casting since 1981, but rifles entered the fray rather slowly. The 30/30 WCF got things started about 1983, I think the 45/70 came next a few years later. Once i promoted to Detective things got crazy busy, and rifle casting stagnated until the mid-1990s. By that time the 308s were replaced by 30-06s, and those took to castings like ducks to water--just like the 30/30 had and with the same bullets. I haven't looked back.
More of my 308s were gas guns, too--HK-91, a couple M1As, and an FN-FAL. The HK and FN are not kind to cartridge brass, Kalifornistan didn't like the things, and I made way too much money selling them--and in those toys cast bullets might have been a bridge too far anyway. The late Bruce B had his Fulton Armory M1A running very well on Lyman #311467s at an NCBS meet some years back, and another M1A might find its way to my doorstep again.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
The .308 Winchester is a fantastic cartridge capable of outstanding accuracy. I have a 308 rig that can consistently make 1 M.O.A. groups and will make nice little clover leaf groups at 100 yards when I’m on my game. The cartridge possesses plenty of power and is extremely useful.
The 308 casing is the basis for a group of other cartridges, with the parent 308 being my favorite but the 7mm-08 being a very close second. The NATO adoption of the 308 is another big plus as that makes for a lot of surplus ammunition and casings.
I’ve played with a lot of different rifle cartridges, but the 308 Winchester (7.62mm x 51mm NATO) is the constant for me.
When I was in my “black rifle” phase many years ago, most of those examples were chambered in 308.
The 308 Winchester, and its stepbrother the 7mm-08, are about as versatile as you can get in terms of a “one cartridge for all needs” rifle. The 308 may hold a slight advantage over the 7mm-08 simply due to its military use and availability. Jeff Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept didn’t demand the use of the 308 cartridges, but he clearly saw it as an acceptable cartridge for that role. The Canadian Rangers apparently agree the 308 Win is a useful cartridge. I’m a fan of short action rifles. I’m also a fan of “do it all” tools. The 308 meets both of those criteria.
The 308 casing is the basis for a group of other cartridges, with the parent 308 being my favorite but the 7mm-08 being a very close second. The NATO adoption of the 308 is another big plus as that makes for a lot of surplus ammunition and casings.
I’ve played with a lot of different rifle cartridges, but the 308 Winchester (7.62mm x 51mm NATO) is the constant for me.
When I was in my “black rifle” phase many years ago, most of those examples were chambered in 308.
The 308 Winchester, and its stepbrother the 7mm-08, are about as versatile as you can get in terms of a “one cartridge for all needs” rifle. The 308 may hold a slight advantage over the 7mm-08 simply due to its military use and availability. Jeff Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept didn’t demand the use of the 308 cartridges, but he clearly saw it as an acceptable cartridge for that role. The Canadian Rangers apparently agree the 308 Win is a useful cartridge. I’m a fan of short action rifles. I’m also a fan of “do it all” tools. The 308 meets both of those criteria.
Thumbcocker
Active Member
Mrs. Thumbcocker with "my" Tikka .308 that I bought as a retirement present to myself. That is a 100 yard group with cast. She later killed a hog in Missouri with that gun and a slightly hitter load. She took this rifle to South Africa last year and took a Blesbok, a Zebra, and a Nyala with Federal premium ammunition. The locals hold Tikka rifles and the .308 cartridge in high regard.
I agree with Petrol completely. For me the single advantage of going to the 06 would be much longer shots, 400-500 yards. Any hunting I would be likely to do any more a 50 yard shot would be about the longest I could get. Inside about 200 yards the 06 has nothing on the 308. My 308 single shot is a tack driver with cast bullets.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Thank You
I would submit the 308 is as good, maybe even slightly better, as the .30-06 out to about 600 yards.
One can take advantage of the greater case capacity of the .30-06 over the 308 and use heavier bullets for extremely long shots. But inside of 600 yards, I don’t believe there’s a significant difference with bullets 170 grains or less in those two cartridges.
The bulk of my experience with 308 Win is with 165-168 grain bullets and they will hold their own at reasonable ranges.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
A Tikka rifle chambered in 308 is an EXCELLENT rig.
There's no doubt the Tikka and 308 is held in high regard - it is worthy of that respect.
and - NICE SHOOTING !
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
All dittoes from this quarter.
The only 'advantage' the 30-06 might have is with bullet weights 180 grains+, and that is doing some mighty fine hair-splitting indeed.
I am quite enamored with my Tikka in 243, and look forward to running it this winter in the desert extensively. Watch out, song dogs. There are RCBS castings loaded with your names on them.