Let's Discuss Scopes for 308 Rifles

[CWLONGSHOT]

That 2-7 x 33 seems about prefect. My own 308 Featherweight wears a early model (3 x 9) Trijicon Accupoint. Only came in two flavors, back then. The other flavor was a 1.25 x 4 residing on my 338W Magnum. Anymore, a 2 x 7 is what I would choose for a bottleneck cartridge.

The 2x7 and 2.5x8 is my all time favorite hunting scope and of all mine Leupolds are most the numerous.
In a target gun I have grown to appreciate the fixed 6 & 10 powers.

I also have grown to really like some of the newer reticules but avoid the decorated Christmas trees preferring a "charlie brown" version. You know just a few extra hash marks.

 

[smokeywolf]

Had to scope a 6.5 Grendel a while back and looked for a 2 - 8, plus light weight, plus available illuminated reticles. Ended up with a 1-7 x 24 Sightron. Would have preferred 2-8 and at least 30mm on the objective lens, but reticle and price had to be figured in too.

 

[Rushcreek]

A fixed 4X would work just fine on a 16” .308 rifle.
I have an old K4 steel Weaver on my 22” 30-30 Win bolt action that works perfectly for deer and hog hunting. My 30-06 wears a 6x Burris that’s perfect for it.

 

[MW65]

A fixed 4X would work just fine on a 16” .308 rifle.
I have an old K4 steel Weaver on my 22” 30-30 Win bolt action that works perfectly for deer and hog hunting. My 30-06 wears a 6x Burris that’s perfect for it.

I too like the simplicity of a fixed scope for hunting... 4x and 6x depending on caliber and max distance I intend to hunt. However, I do enjoy a good variable (3-9/4-12) for hitting steel out a ways... or for something like varmints at s distance.

 

[JWFilips]

I love my Vortex scope! A number of folks turned me on to it. Mine I got for target work ....but they make all types of hunting scopes also.
For hunting deer in PA I never go higher than 6X Most shots are less than 150 yds

 

[BudHyett]

I have three basic guidelines for scope power:

1. For big game: 2X for every 100 yards of anticipated yardage.
2. For small game and varmints: 4X for every 100 yards of anticipated yardage.
3. For target: Any power between 30X and 45X.

Your choice of the 2X-7X fits very well within these guidelines. Good luck and may all your bad shots be in practice.

 

[Josh]

Ok everyone, the long slow shipping ride from SLC Utah to my house is finally over, the rings have arrived and the rifle is all glassed up. I still very much dislike the 308, but this rifle balances so well and is a great weight. I think the 2-7x33 Leupold was almost the perfect choice, time will tell as I load up some ammo (cast and jacketed) and see what this ol boomstick will do.

 

[Josh]

Thank you all for your insights, I appreciate your assistance!

 

[Rick H]

The 308 is one of those cartridges that just grows on you. It isn't the best at anything but it makes a nice package that does most everything a guy could ask of it very well. For game under 600 lbs and inside of 300 yds. it is as good as any.

 

[Tomme boy]

That looks very nice!

 

[Winelover]

If I could have only one rifle, it would be a 308W. Will do everything a 30-06 will do, with bullets up to 200 grains. Another, thing it has going for it is that it's a NATO chambering.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The 308 Winchester is an awesome cartridge. I agree with Winelover, Out to about 600 yards, it will do everything the .30-06 will do.
And the NATO chambering is a big plus.
The .308W is capable of fine accuracy, has plenty of energy and works with a lot of bullets. It is a "do it all" rifle cartridge. The 7mm-08 is a close second and it is basically a 308 Win with a 7mm bullet.
With well tailored handloads and a good rifle, I was able to shoot sub-M.O.A. groups. On a good day, I could put three hole cloverleaf's on the target at 100 yards and on bad day, the group was still under 1".
A buddy and I would shoot at 400 to 600 yards and the 308 Win is no slouch.

 

[BBerguson]

I’d go for the 2-10. Best of both worlds, 2x wont be too much for hunting and 10x is enough for plinking ranges.

I have to laugh at your hate for the 308, it’s your opinion and that’s all that matters. I have 4 in my safe right now, not because I’m in love with the cartridge, a reason for each one actually, two of them could be sold at anytime and I’d be happy. I feel the same way about the 30-06 and it got me laughing. Blonds and brunettes, well, kind of…

Back to the scopes, I like lots of magnification when plinking/target shooting, I’d have a 6-24x scope on everything I own if I could afford it. Grew up shooting woodchucks with a 3x9 on my 22-250 and always wanted more. It wears a 6.5-20x Leupold now but all the woodchucks are gone from the area. :-(

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Josh – I cannot fathom your dislike for the 308 Winchester cartridge, but to each his own. I will say, you owe it to yourself to give the cartridge a fair evaluation. You might be surprised.

I see a lot of good in that rifle. A 2 x 7 Leupold with a 33mm objective is an EXCELLENT place to land. That’s a high-quality scope, not too big or heavy. Very useful spread on the power. I would consider adding flip up scope covers.

The rings mount to integral bases (one less component in the system to get loose, fail, have to buy, etc.)

Laminated stock. Excellent strength, very stable. The laminated stocks are bit heavier than some of the other options, but they don’t cost an arm and a leg and rarely warp.

The Ruger uses a non-rotating, Mauser style extractor. That rifle takes a detachable box magazine. You could revert back to iron sights if needed but I doubt that Leupold will ever give you a moment of trouble.

I think you have a solid rig there.

I would suggest you pick a bullet in the 165-168 grain range. Work up an accurate load. Once you get everything dialed in, lock down all of the variables. Don’t change powder, don’t change primers, Don’t change anything. It may take you a while to find “The Load” but when you do, that’s a solid rig you have there.

Good Luck !

You may wish to consider a M1907 pattern sling.

 

[Josh]

I’d go for the 2-10. Best of both worlds, 2x wont be too much for hunting and 10x is enough for plinking ranges.

I have to laugh at your hate for the 308, it’s your opinion and that’s all that matters. I have 4 in my safe right now, not because I’m in love with the cartridge, a reason for each one actually, two of them could be sold at anytime and I’d be happy. I feel the same way about the 30-06 and it got me laughing. Blonds and brunettes, well, kind of…

Back to the scopes, I like lots of magnification when plinking/target shooting, I’d have a 6-24x scope on everything I own if I could afford it. Grew up shooting woodchucks with a 3x9 on my 22-250 and always wanted more. It wears a 6.5-20x Leupold now but all the woodchucks are gone from the area. :-(

It's all about what gets you cranked up I guess, I settled on a 2-7 Leupold I had in the cabinet, I wanted a 2-10 range but this one looked lonely and needed a home.

My cartridge affinity is odd, I've got ballistic twins that I love and dislike, some arent close, others are. For example:

308 < 300 Savage, 7.65x53, 303 Britt, 30-40 Krag

30-06 < 7.5x55, 8x57, 7.7x58

243 < 6mm ARC, 6mm GT, 6mm BRX

35 Whelen < 338 Federal, 338-06, 35 Rem

I'm just an odd duck.

 

[Josh]

Josh – I cannot fathom your dislike for the 308 Winchester cartridge, but to each his own. I will say, you owe it to yourself to give the cartridge a fair evaluation. You might be surprised.

I see a lot of good in that rifle. A 2 x 7 Leupold with a 33mm objective is an EXCELLENT place to land. That’s a high-quality scope, not too big or heavy. Very useful spread on the power. I would consider adding flip up scope covers.

The rings mount to integral bases (one less component in the system to get loose, fail, have to buy, etc.)

Laminated stock. Excellent strength, very stable. The laminated stocks are bit heavier than some of the other options, but they don’t cost an arm and a leg and rarely warp.

The Ruger uses a non-rotating, Mauser style extractor. That rifle takes a detachable box magazine. You could revert back to iron sights if needed but I doubt that Leupold will ever give you a moment of trouble.

I think you have a solid rig there.

I would suggest you pick a bullet in the 165-168 grain range. Work up an accurate load. Once you get everything dialed in, lock down all of the variables. Don’t change powder, don’t change primers, Don’t change anything. It may take you a while to find “The Load” but when you do, that’s a solid rig you have there.

Good Luck !

You may wish to consider a M1907 pattern sling.

I certainly won't do the rifle the disservice of spite. The rifle is IMO too close to being a "near perfect" deer rifle. If this was chambered in 7mm-08, 338 Fed or 358 Winchester I would be looking at a 10/10. I'm sure the 308 is plenty capable, I've got an affinity to many ballistic equals like the 303 Britt, 7.6.5x53 Argentine and 7.5x55 Swiss. I've never given the cartridge a fair shake and I plan to change that.

I'll load up my go to 30 cal bullet, the Speer 150 gr SPBT along with some 168 gr SMK and probably some 150 gr SST's. I'll be shooting for a load that gets me 2600-2700 fps.

On the cast bullet side I plan on loading some 311440, 31-155W, 311466, and 312-155-2R to get me started there. I'll put these bullets over the same charge of powder, probably some IMR 4198 or 2400 and shoot for 1700-1900 fps.

If the combo nets me a few groups in the 1-1.5" range, I'll be tickled pink and will probably have found my new "everything" rifle.

I have a few M1907 pattern slings floating around, it might fit this platform better than ehat came with it, I'll have to evaluate that once I get the rifle shot some.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm not sure what your thought process is, but the 7.62 NATO does a lot of things very well.
The 168 gr Match King is a fine bullet and my favorite for making small groups in targets. It is not an expanding bullet but rarely needs to be.
The 165 grain, lead tip, spire point bullet offered by several makers is pretty close to the "all around" bullet in 308.

The 147-150 grain choices yield a bit more speed but that's about it.
Above 170 grains the case capicity will limit velocity.

The 150-165 grain range is where you want to be and frankly - 165-168 is REALLY where you want to be.

Shoot that rifle a bit and get everything settled in. Tighten up the scope rings and check but do not over tighten the action screws.
Probably take the supressor off until you're done testing.

Dial in a load with as few variables as you can manage. Same casings, same seating depth, neck size only, same primers, same powder (I suggest IMR 4895 or IMR 4064). Forget about velocity and work towards small groups.
If you don't jump all over the map - you may find that the 308 is amazingly consistent.

 

[Rushcreek]

That little rifle with its sensible scope, handy size, and capable cartridge will get grabbed and taken along quite often I would wager.
I didn’t care for the .308(because so many of my friends had them)as a kid, but an Ithaca LSA55(Tikka) turned my attitude around. With 130 gr Sierra hp it was a prairie dog obliterator and with Musgrave 180gr RN it smacked deer down.
Although I love the 30-30,30-40,&30-06(dashes!)more; the .308 is a gem.
A FN Police Rifle( m70 action) in .308 is the MOST accurate rifle at this house come to think of it!

 

[Bret4207]

If you come across an RCBS 30-180FN, cast it of an approx COWW alloy, size at least .311 and stick it in front of 16.0-2400. I have yet to find a 308 that combo won't shoot in. It's not real fast, but it's not a deer load anyway.

I'll be interested in your results with 311440. I have a GB 6 banger and love the idea of the design.

The 308 isn't very colorful or super fast or tacticool. It's like a reliable old truck, it just works.

 

[Winelover]

I was always partial to AA 2520, in both of my 308W, with jacketed bullets.