.308 Winchester Ammo Review — Brands and Performance

The .308 Winchester is a staple cartridge for any rifle shooter and certainly deserves a place in any firearm collection. From self-defense to hunting, and even long-range shooting, the .308 Winchester provides dependable performance.

With a large assortment of .308 ammo available from several different manufacturers, there are numerous ways to tailor this round to your specific needs. However, before we dive into where the caliber is today, let’s cover a bit of its history and development.

Introduction to .308 Winchester

The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952 as a development of the U.S. military’s T65 experimental series, which intended to modernize the current go-to rifle cartridge at the time: the .30-06 Springfield.

The .308 Winchester is a short-action cartridge with a 2.01-inch case length and 2.8-inch overall length. The military version is designated 7.62x51mm NATO and was derived by shortening the .30-06 case. It is shorter, lighter, and more efficient, which allows soldiers to carry more ammo and retain similar ballistic performance. Eventually, the M-14 in 7.62×51 replaced the M-1 Garand in .30-06 as the standard service rifle. It should be noted that the military version has a slightly lower pressure rating and, in some cases, different headspace dimensions compared to the commercial .308 Winchester.

But it wasn’t just the military, hunters also flocked to the .308 for some of the same reasons. Performance wasn’t far behind the .30-06, which had already proved its efficacy, and the short action made for a lighter rifle that was easier to handle and tote through the woods.

Many military and police snipers utilize .308 for their rifles because it’s accurate and fires a bullet heavy enough to penetrate obstacles such as dense wood, glass, and other mediums. While more powerful calibers have become increasingly popular in recent years, the .308 is still widely used. There’s no doubt this popularity translated to its widespread use in long-range competition environments as well.

Because of its military history, the .308 Winchester is often paired with AR-10s and other semi-auto battle rifles such as the SCAR 17 and FAL. It is also a common chambering for bolt-actions designed for hunting and dedicated precision shooting work.

Ballistic Performance

The original .308 Winchester loading was a 150-grain bullet pushing roughly 2,800 fps. Today, the cartridge is typically available with bullets weighing 125 to 200 grains. Lighter 125-grain bullets can reach 3,100 fps, while heavier 185-grain bullets travel closer to 2,500 fps.

Muzzle energy is typically between 2,500 and 3,000+ ft/lbs. At 200 yards, a 150-grain bullet generally retains over 1,800 ft/lbs of energy. Additionally, a standard 150-grain load drops roughly -7.5 inches at 250 yards and -50 inches at 500 yards.

Accuracy and Consistency

The best barrel length for .308 Winchester is generally from 18 to 20 inches, although 16-inch barrels are excellent for compact or suppressed builds, especially for close-range use. A 20-inch barrel delivers nearly maximum velocity for most loads, while a 16-inch barrel retains over 90 percent of the energy and performance of a 20-inch barrel, even out to 1,000 yards. If you’re really searching for peak efficiency for serious long-range shooting or precision work, a 22 to 24-inch barrel is your best bet.

The barrel’s twist rate will also come into play when trying to achieve the best performance out of your .308 rifle. Historically, a 1:12 twist was the most common, and it is still good for 150 to 168-grain bullets. With the advent of more projectile options, a 1:10 twist has become the modern standard for all-around use with bullets ranging from 168 to 210 grains. Most of the rifles on the market today will be in one of these camps. For more specialized use, a 1:11 twist rate is often viewed as the sweet spot for match shooters using 168 to 175-grain ammunition.

In general, longer, heavier bullets require faster twist rates like 1:10 for stability, while shorter, lighter bullets perform better with slower twists like 1:12. Faster twists are required to stabilize bullets at lower velocities, which is a byproduct of a heavier projectile.

Effective Range

So, if you have the proper rifle setup, what is the effective range of .308 Winchester? Most shooters consider the .308 accurate out to 1,000 yards. Past that, the bullet starts to turn subsonic, which reduces stability.

For ethical hunting, the .308 is effective out to 600 yards for deer, and about 350 yards or so for elk and larger game. Wind becomes the primary limiting factor at longer distances. Using a high ballistic coefficient bullet is essential for maintaining accuracy at long range.

Recoil

.308 Winchester recoil is often described as moderate. It’ll be more than an intermediate cartridge like the .223 Remington, but less than a larger round like the .30-06 Springfield.

For example, a .308 rifle weighing 7 pounds will generate about 21 ft/lbs of recoil. It will shove into the shooter’s shoulder and require a firm hold to recover but does not require excessive strength to manage.

Granted, that is just a dry figure to most people. Actual felt recoil is more subjective from person to person and rifle to rifle. Of course, the composition of the rifle’s stock, stock dimensions, and whether the rifle is equipped with a muzzle brake also come into play as far as felt recoil is concerned. In practice, any adult shooter with a modest amount of experience will not be troubled by the .308’s report. Kids and other recoil-sensitive shooters may have a harder time.

Penetration and Expansion

Part of what made the .308 so popular is its impressive penetration. On ballistic gelatin, standard hunting loads produce around 18 to 20 inches of penetration. Some heavy grain loads bring that up to past 30 inches. There are specialized loads with bonded or solid bullets that can even penetrate ⅜-inch steel, as well as armor-piercing rounds.

Additionally, .308 Winchester bullets typically expand to around 1.5 to 2 times their original diameter. You can achieve .60 to .75 inches while retaining 70 to 90 percent of the original weight.

Hunting with .308 Winchester

As mentioned above, the .308 Winchester quickly became a popular cartridge for hunting after its development. You get a sufficient amount of power in a relatively lightweight package that’s easy to transport for extended periods and distances. With proper loadings, it is perfectly capable of taking mid to large-size game such as deer, elk, and hog. It is even effective against bear when using a solid metal bullet.

There’s even .308 subsonic ammo for hunting with a suppressor. The 200-grain subsonic .308 is popular with feral hog hunters who often engage multiple targets in one outing. Naturally, this pairs well with a semi-auto rifle or even an SBR. The M&P10 is a great choice for this, as it provides excellent dependability for an affordable price that allows shooters to build off of and customize their rifle to their preferences and needs.

For more traditional hunting applications, there are plenty of great bolt-actions available in .308. The Ruger American, Remington 700, and Mossberg Patriot are three that come to mind because they provide outstanding performance at an attractive price. Savage also produces a number of great options that fit the bill.

For hunters looking for a little extra, the Winchester Model 70 provides exemplary service. It was the original rifle the round was used in, and Winchester still offers several variations for shooters of all preferences. The Featherweight and Extreme Weather versions are two great options to look into. As the name suggests, the former is lightweight for ease of carry, while the latter incorporates stainless components for improved protection from the elements.

Top Hunting Loads

.308 Win Precision Shooting

Although it’s not the premier caliber for long-range shooting anymore, there are still plenty that turn to the tried and true .308 for precision work. There’s plenty of ammo available to find a load that works well with your rifle, recoil is moderate for extended training sessions, and the power is there for reaching out to adequate distances. The heavier .30-caliber projectile stands up to high winds and provides predictable drop. It’s not as flat-shooting as some newer, higher-velocity rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor, but with practice, you can still achieve impressive results.

For those interested in a semi-auto, the Springfield M1A has been ringing steel for decades — there’s even a National Match version produced that’s been accurized for improved performance. The glass-bedded action provides a solid platform for lasting shot-to-shot consistency.

If you’re just dipping your toe into the precision game, Savage makes the 110 Tactical and Axis II Precision rifles that both deliver outstanding accuracy at a price that’s hard to beat. For more seasoned shooters, there are plenty of high-end bolt guns chambered in .308. The Bergara B-14 HMR and Tikka T3X Tac A1 are both feature-packed rifles with adjustable stocks, free-float barrels, and tuned actions.

Top Precision Loads

.308 for Personal Defense

Of course, the .308 Winchester is also a popular choice for personal defense. After the 7.62 NATO’s military success, it’s no surprise the .308 became a go-to for civilian self-defense. While we’re dealing with shorter engagement distances and overpenetration is a concern, proper hollow point ammo still delivers solid results.

It’s not for everyone. If you live in a one-bedroom apartment, it’s not the best choice, but if you are defending a large property like a ranch or you live in the sticks, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option.

Top Defensive Loads

Final Thoughts: .308 Winchester

When a design is right, it sometimes becomes quite legendary. With success in the hunting, precision, and defensive spheres, it’s evident that this is the case with the .308 Winchester. Skyrocketing in popularity led to the development of a large variety of .308 ammo specifically tailored to unique needs. Whether you’re a budding shooter or an experienced firearms enthusiast, the .308 should have a place in your gun safe.

Have you tried the .308 Winchester? What do you think is the best .308 ammo? Share your thoughts in the comments below.