Debate question for everyone

[DoubleJ]

If a shooter can put a .308 round, 165gn, 2,800fps Nosler Accubond:

25 of 25 into a 6" x 6" square 100yds
24 of 25 into an 8" x 8" square at 200yds
23 of 25 into an 8"x 8" square at 300yds
23 of 25 into a 10" x 10" square at 400yds

is there any animal in the lower 48 that a .308 in that shooters hands would not be effective on out to 400yds?  If so, what animal should not be shot at with a .308 out to 400yds?  Or is a .308 going to be effective at that range on any game animal?

[Swannytheswan]

squirrels??

[runamuk]

squirrels??

and grouse...

[Alan K]

Should be fine in my opinion. . . Really the only thing that I worry about is that it has enough energy at whatever range. At 400 yards you'll still have over 2000 lbs of energy.  I've read in a number of places that 1000 lbs is the bear minimum to ethically kill a large game animal.  And going off of that, you could go out to 600 based off the numbers provided, so long as your groups stay tight of course.

[Huntbear]

squirrels??

and grouse...

Rabbits??   

[Hunterman]

Targets..

What size is the shot group??

HUnteman(Tony)

[JimmyHoffa]

Targets and animals are different.  As long as the bullet is good for animals, I can't think of one that can't be shot.  Reason I say this is a buddy went with me last year and just got a new FNAR .308 Win.  Thing worked great at the range, shooting great groups, but was using some winchester softpoint bullets.  Shot 2 animals one day, a deer and a bear.  The bear took 3 shots with only one penetrating to the chest cavity.  When skinning, the other two were found in fragments in the shoulder--didn't even make it to the bone of the shoulder.  The deer required 5 shots, all had good placement....just they were fragmenting and only penetrating about two inches.

[Huntbear]

Targets and animals are different.  As long as the bullet is good for animals, I can't think of one that can't be shot.  Reason I say this is a buddy went with me last year and just got a new FNAR .308 Win.  Thing worked great at the range, shooting great groups, but was using some winchester softpoint bullets.  Shot 2 animals one day, a deer and a bear.  The bear took 3 shots with only one penetrating to the chest cavity.  When skinning, the other two were found in fragments in the shoulder--didn't even make it to the bone of the shoulder.  The deer required 5 shots, all had good placement....just they were fragmenting and only penetrating about two inches.

Now you went and did it.. muddied up the waters talking about bullet construction as well as accuracy...   

[PA BEN]

Don't take a head shot w/those groups.

[IBspoiled]

Not BIGFOOT or Chuck Norris, :'(your bullets will just bounce off

[addicted]

Good bullet+Good shot= dead big game out to 400 no problem.  10" group is the outter perimeter of what i would call a good shot.

[high country]

only people that have been there and done that will believe that you do not need 43 million foot pounds to shove a .308" hole through a pair of lungs. sure, big *censored* rounds fly flatter, and can deliver more energy......but it is almost never all needed as we get pass throughs all the time. having seen smaller rounds do some great damage.....I would say let fly and be happy. the one advice is, use a bullet designed to work in YOUR velocity window. I see ultra mag guys badmouth the cup and cores and sa guys dote on the ultra premiums....
 
the truth is, pick a bullet that works well in your velocity window, the rest is just a short trip regardless of headstamp.

[hub]

With accuracy as described the barrel is shot out or bent or has a hard to see offset in it. The caliber and bullet don,t matter in this case. A brand new 308 is needed.