7.62x51/.308 precision ammo

[Slater]

With the newer high-performance calibers in service (6.5 Creedmore and to a much lesser extent, .260 Remington), are the .308's days as a military/police precision round numbered? Or will it stick around in that capacity for a while yet?

[FightinQ]

I feel like this is bait.

As for your question, nobody really knows. I mean, there will be always the generic answers from those being biased and then low and behold, there will be some event where it was actually used against a threat.

But something to note is that there was news about SOCCOM adopting the 6.5 a few years ago, but just last year the MRAD Mk22 was awarded the contract with both the US Army and USMC also wanting it for the conventional side, and there was no mention inn the contract for anything in 260 or 6.5, just .308 Winchester, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum, so food for thought.

Personally, I have no reason to switch my .308's into anything 6.5 and I'm okay with with that.

[grizzman]

Considering the generally limited distances (as far as I've read) at which police precision shooters engage, I see very little benefit to selecting a 6.5.

My crystal ball indicates that the 308 Winchester/7.62x51 NATO will remain popular for many more years in a precision role.

Next thread??

[SomeOtherGuy]

Considering the generally limited distances (as far as I've read) at which police precision shooters engage, I see very little benefit to selecting a 6.5.

From memory it's something like 40 yards.

After spending a lot of time looking at this, mostly from a competition standpoint (not anywhere close to a national/world level), with high quality ammo there is minimal difference out to 400 yards. Beyond 400 and out to 600 there's a meaningful difference but not enough to really compel a change if you're invested in 308. If you are regularly shooting at 700+ yards then the benefits become pretty significant, at least for precision paper punching in varied conditions.

I think 308 is going to stay relevant for decades to come, but will gradually be displaced just as it displaced .30-06, and various cartridges are replacing .300 WM starting about 10-20 years ago.

[duece71]

Phased plasma rifles in the 40 watt range will be all the rage in about 30-40 years.

[ST911]

.308/7.62 is incredibly mature cartridge and system tech with a massive performance record and knowledge base behind it. It isn't going anywhere. The 6.5s (and .260s) bring stuff to the table that is of interest and benefit to some but not others, and are increasingly common.

[markm]

are the .308's days as a military/police precision round numbered? Or will it stick around in that capacity for a while yet?

Two TOTALLY different applications. Police precision shot engagements are WAY shorter range. You can rarely find an incident of a police shooting at distances over 100-200 yards.

Military, on the other hand, can find the need to try to stop an enemy way outside of the normal ranges...

Inside of 1000 yards, the 6.5 is pretty good. Our shooting spot jumps from 1000 to 1300 yards, and the 6.5 sucks ass at the latter. The .308 is a challenge, but at least with a heavy bullet offers up some predictable corrections and possible hits.

The 300 Win Mag is King.

[SteyrAUG]

Two TOTALLY different applications. Police precision shot engagements are WAY shorter range. You can rarely find an incident of a police shooting at distances over 100-200 yards.

Military, on the other hand, can find the need to try to stop an enemy way outside of the normal ranges...

Inside of 1000 yards, the 6.5 is pretty good. Our shooting spot jumps from 1000 to 1300 yards, and the 6.5 sucks ass at the latter. The .308 is a challenge, but at least with a heavy bullet offers up some predictable corrections and possible hits.

The 300 Win Mag is King.

Pretty much where I'm at.

Inside 800 yards - .308, beyond .300 Win Mag.