Effective range of the .308?

[brokenvet]

What are we shooting at?

Have to concur, what is the target?  For bifeetal targets I think the record is out 1,325 meters accomplish by an Army sniper in Iraq. 

[sakoshooter]

It's probably "effective" further than you can hit with it.  When you can hit an 8" circle consistently at 600 yards, then I'd worry about effectiveness.

I agreee w/Bob

[sebek556]

the effective range of any weapon depends on who's hands it is in. I can throw my pocket knife 20 feet but most of the time it wont hit what i want it to or even hit with the blade, but i can cut at arms length every time..

[bobcat]

The same as a 270 Win, 280 Remington, 7/08, and 30/06, whatever that may be.

[carpsniperg2]

If going for deer sized game I like at least 1000ft of energy which would be about 600 yards with a 165g. For big game like elk or bear I like at least 1500 ft of energy which would be about 400 yards with the 165g bullet. That's just me with my standards, more is always better then less when it comes the ft of energy.

[Guy]

I see a couple of issues with the .308 (or any other cartridge for that matter) and effective range:

1. The bullet has to hit the vitals. This requires accuracy from the shooter, rifle/scope, and ammo.

2. The bullet has got to expand. Many conventional hunting bullets need at least 1800 fps to reliably expand. With the .308 Win and a 165 launched at "normal" velocity, that occurs somewhere around 400 - 600 yards, depending on the bullet.

For instance, according to Federal's data, their 165 gr BTSP (Sierra) started at 2700 fps is down to 1884 fps at 400 yards. At 500 yards the same ammo has slowed to about 1700 fps. That's getting real "iffy" for expansion.

When it comes to hitting out there - elevation is pretty easy to figure out. Click to the appropriate elevation with the scope, or hold over with one of the fancy ballistic compensating reticles and a fellow is close. Wind however, that's another story. At 400 - 600 yards, a nearly unseen wind can deflect the course of the bullet considerably - enough to cause a miss, or worse, a crippling wound.

I've done a fair bit of longer-range shooting over the years. Fascinating stuff.

Regards, Guy

[MP123]

It's probably "effective" further than you can hit with it.  When you can hit an 8" circle consistently at 600 yards, then I'd worry about effectiveness.

I agreee w/Bob

Same here.  A better question might be how far away can YOU hit a pie plate with a .308?

I'm sure someone could at 1,000 yards but not me...

[bobcat]

I would say for the average person, 300 yards. And as I said before, it would be the same for the 270, 280, 7/08, 30/06, and others.

[PA BEN]

When I was a range coach in the Military we were told mix. effective range of the .308 is 1100 yds. BTW, I've killed a buck at 325 yds w/a 180 gr rem. corelock, went clean through.

[Jack Diamond]

What are we shooting at?

I agree Dave set this up , the "effective range" of any caliber or bullet weight is determined by the target in Question.not to mention what is considered to be effective, Terminal? and again what are we shooting at??

[GlennGTR]

As stated above it all depends on the shooter, If you take the time to actually do some real field shooting you could be consistantly lethal at 500 yards...if you practice. That would of course be a broad side shot, angling away gives you a lot smaller target, on average 300-400 is a realistic expectation. You still need to practice a lot to be that proficient but its very doable. Some out there just zero their rifle at the range from a bench and think that they are good to go hunting....very sad indavidual who thinks this. I think the 308 win and 30-06 springfield should be renamed...308 KSD and 30-06 KSVD. KSD is Kills $hitt Dead and KSVD is kills $hitt Very Dead.

[DoubleJ]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my .308.  Don't know why but, I hate a 30-06.  Completely personal preference I guess but, I never felt comfortable with any of the half a dozen or so 30-06's I've shot.

[demontang]

Like the guys have said it comes to how well you know and can shoot your rifle. I shot a .338 win and limit myself to 600yds and thats if I shoot alot during the year. If the wind is in question Ill limit myself to 300yds or less. I would say get out and shoot at a 8x8 target off hand at 300yds and see if you can hit it everytime. Then I would get sticks and start goin 100yds at a time tell you cant hit the plate 100% then move your range back another 100yds for the fact of buck fever