Is a 308 overkill a deer?

The . 308 Winchester certainly has enough energy to kill deer, pronghorn, elk, moose
elk, moose
The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (Alces alces) is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Moose
and bear out to 300 yards
, but the bullet drops fast and it's trajectory looks like a bell shaped curve by 500 yards.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on idahostatejournal.com


Can I hunt deer with a 308?

These calibers aren't “overkill” as long as you can put shots on target. But an afternoon of practice at the range with a . 308 Win. will always be less comfortable than with a 6.5 Creedmoor. These medium-sized calibers are more than capable of taking down deer.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on themeateater.com


What big game is a 308 good for?

This is an excellent round to use for medium to large sized game. In North America, the . 308 is routinely used for whitetail and mule deer, black bear, caribou, pronghorn, wild hogs, and elk. It is also usable on moose if you need it to be and with the right loads.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on clarkarmory.com


Which is better for deer hunting 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor?

With a flatter trajectory and less wind drift, the 6.5 Creedmoor does have a definite, though not gigantic, advantage over the . 308 Winchester in external ballistics at typical hunting ranges. This makes the cartridge more forgiving of range or wind estimation errors than the . 308 Winchester.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thebiggamehuntingblog.com


Which is better for deer hunting 308 or 30 06?

308 Winchester will perform as much as 15% better in terms of velocity, energy, and trajectory, than will most 220-grain bullets fired from a . 30/06.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on fieldandstream.com


large doe shot with a .308



Does a 308 or 30-06 kick more?

30-06 generates a few more lbs of recoil than the . 308, but we will see how that holds up when we look at our selected rounds. For our rounds, we used kept the 7lb gun weight the same for all. For powder loads, we used the common grain weight for each caliber.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on snipercountry.com


What is the most popular deer rifle caliber?

30-06. It's the most popular deer hunting cartridge of all time. While part of its success as a deer hunting caliber is rooted by chance in history, no doubt the . 30-06 has blossomed for more than 100 years because of downright sensible performance.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on community.legendarywhitetails.com


How far can a 308 shoot a deer?

308 on deer is 300 yards. 308 has a maximum range that is relative to the type of animal you are hunting. A prairie dog could be hit at a mile while a grizzly bear would need to be much closer. The round easily has enough energy to kill whitetail deer at 300 yards.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thearmorylife.com


What is a .308 comparable to?

From an external dimension standpoint, the . 308 Winchester cartridge case and the 7.62 NATO (7.62 x 51 mm) are the same thing.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on topbrass-inc.com


Is 308 still relevant?

308 is still prevalent: Standard F-Class/F-TR, Palma, and PRS Tactical Class. All three require that you use either . 223 or . 308 with certain restrictions.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mdttac.com


Is a 308 or 270 more powerful?

The . 308 Win. is most frequently loaded with projectiles between 150 grains and 180 grains and boasts muzzle velocities between 2,800 feet per second and 2,500 fps, depending on bullet weight and barrel length. The . 270 Win.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on themeateater.com


Is 308 enough for elk?

308 is inadequate for elk at any range. But the extra velocity of the magnum only lasts about 100 yards. By the time a factory-loaded 180-grain spitzer travels 100 yards, it's down to around 2,700 fps.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on buckmasters.com


Can 308 take down bear?

Despite what you might have seen in the movies, the . 308 Winchester round can take down a grizzly bear. In fact, it's even been used by hunters in Alaska to take down this big, brown bear for years.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on survivalfreedom.com


What is the best caliber for deer hunting?

Best Caliber for Deer Hunting
  • 7mm-08 Remington. ...
  • 280 Remington. ...
  • 7mm Remington Magnum. ...
  • 30-30 Winchester. ...
  • 308 Winchester. ...
  • 30-06. ...
  • 300 Winchester Magnum.
  • You might be surprised by the number of hunters that use the 300 as their primary deer rifle. An exceptional round for long range, it gives no quarter in performance on whitetail.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mossyoak.com


Does a 308 have a lot of recoil?

308 in many respects. It also has less recoil than many . 308 loads—roughly 13 foot pounds with a 150-grain bullet in an 8-pound rifle versus nearly 15 foot pounds for the . 308 with the same bullet and rifle weights.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on fieldandstream.com


Whats more powerful 5.56 or 308?

With a heavier bullet, the 308 is going to be less affected by wind conditions than the lighter weight 5.56 rifle round. Military and Law Enforcement snipers have long favored the more powerful 308 Winchester round for its accuracy and effective range.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ammo.com


Whats better 556 or 308?

If you're looking for a rifle to do competitive target shooting, long range shooting, or medium to large game hunting, then 308 Winchester is the way to go. However, if you simply want a low cost, versatile self-defense or plinking gun, 5.56 NATO/223 Remington will be the better option.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bearcreekarsenal.com


How far can 308 shoot accurately?

The simple answer is that with a good bullet, a . 308 can shoot effectively up to around 1000 meters at sea level pressure. While aerodynamical ability in projectiles has advanced tremendously in recent years, this range can be extended even further by selecting the right bullet for longer distances.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on darkearthtactical.co.za


Can you hunt moose with a 308?

I know of a lot of moose, and even several Kodiak bears, that met their end quickly with the . 308.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on outdoorlife.com


What distance should I zero my 308?

308 Winchester 2,800 fps, we'd have to aim 369 inches above a 1,000-yard target to drop our bullet on it. That's 30.75 feet of drop. At a more common, reasonable hunting range of 300 yards that drop would “only” be about 23 inches. Meaning if you aimed a foot over the deer's back, you might hit it in the heart.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on outdoorlife.com


Is a 308 a good deer rifle?

The . 308 Winchester certainly has enough energy to kill deer, pronghorn, elk, moose and bear out to 300 yards, but the bullet drops fast and it's trajectory looks like a bell shaped curve by 500 yards.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on idahostatejournal.com


Is .308 the same as 30-06?

308 vs . 30-06 is that the former uses a shorter case, as . 308 Winchester is 2.8 inches in overall length and . 30-06 is 3.34 inches in length.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on gunbelts.com


What caliber do snipers use?

The most popular military sniper rifles (in terms of numbers in service) are chambered for 7.62 mm (0.30 inch) caliber ammunition, such as 7.62×51mm and 7.62×54mm R.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What rifle does the meat eater use?

Seth Morris is our flintlock master here at MeatEater, and he shoots a Pedersoli Traditional Hawken Hunter in . 50 caliber. “I like it because it has a shorter barrel than the long rifles, making it easier to get through the woods. I also like the set trigger.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on themeateater.com


Is 308 enough for grizzly?

308 Winchester is UNDERKILL for grizzly or brown bear hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on foundryoutdoors.com
Next question
How many birds did Sully hit?