.308 opinions wanted

[Greenmachin3]

+1 on the Tikka. It's an extremely good rifle for the money in my opinion. It's almost as nice as my Sako 85 for much much less $. The action is incredibly smooth.

All of the suggestions are really good actually. I don't think you could go wrong with Howa, Savage, Remington, CZ, Tikka. Out of them all, pick the one that suits you the best, the one with the best "feel" that makes you attracted to it for reasons you can't account for.

 

[jpwilly]

Savage 10 for me. But like others have said there are plenty of good rifles out there. The Rem 700, FN, Howa 1500, CZ, Tikka...

Here's mine:

 

[Jaybird78]

You won't go wrong with one of the Savage Model 10 variations.

^^^^THIS^^^^

If you reload and are for sure only going to punch paper. I would study up on the .260 a bit.

 

[readyme]

I am digging the Remington 700 SPS Tactical with the 20" heavy barrel...now I just have to find one to check out in person. Maybe not the best hunting rifle, but it would be my "all around" rifle that I could hunt with.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I have had excellent experiences with both the Savage 116 FHSAK (in .30-06) and the Rem 700 SPS SS in .308. My Rem has put 0.4" 3-shot groups consistently at 100 yds with my target loads of 42.0 gr RL-15 under a 168gr Sierra MatchKing and CCI BR2 primers. That gives me a load I can practice with to take any ammo issues out of question while practicing field positions. I've had similar good results with my Rem 700 XHR in .25-06 so I can recommend both brands. I think, however, you may find a .308 with a heavier bullet less than pleasant for an afternoon of prairie dog shooting but each to their own. I also have not had as good results with 110 gr. .30 caliber varmint bullets.

YMMV.

FH

 

[blancoman]

Savage barrel change

Another way to think about the Savage line. If you look on Midway you will find barrel kits for the savage rifles. If you get one in 308, and by the way having shot several, they are extremely accurate, you can buy a barrel kit and change the caliber for less than 200 dollars. The 308 family of brass includes 243, 260 rem, 7mm-08, 308, and 338 fed. All use the same brass. Simply changing out the barrel would give you a wide range of options down the road. Barrel change is really simple. Remove the locking nut and current barrel, seat the new barrel with the provided go, no go gauge, and tighten the nut.

 

[Hummer70]

I would take the Tikka T3 Varmint which needs nothing to run but a scope and good ammo.

 

[Jake1996]

excellent caliber for paper and p-dogs but for over elk id say no it is accurate but with a winchester super x 150 grain it is 57.3 in down at 500 yards a 30-06 will have a little less drop but wont group quite as tight but a 30-06 will hit harder a equal bullet and bullet weight a 30-06 will hit at 2839 at muzzle with a 150 grain powerpoint and the 308 will hit at 2648 at muzzle at 500 yards the 308 is hitting at 742 the 30-06 hits at 808 at 500 yards the muzzle velocity is 2920 for the 06 the 08 is doing 2820 the other loadings are even more against the 308 and more for the 06 so you decide.

 

[kennedy]

I have the rem 700 VLS, it has the 26in heavy barrel, I adjusted the trigger to 2.5 lbs, mounted a leopold 3x9, harris bipod, and with reloads have gotten .4 in 5 round groups at 100yds, though mostly from .7 to 1.1 in groups, no problems, it is my best gun.

 

[28lx]

I think you have gotten a whole bunch of good suggestions on rifles to purchase. As far as the muzzle brake I think the drawbacks far outweigh the gains on a 308 rifle. If you do go with a break I would make sure you could unscrew it and put a thread cover on it when you didnt want all the extra noise and blast.

 

[Al Thompson]

Agree with 28lx. While the exact model of muzzle brake will produce different sound signatures, they do work. However, I would NOT shoot one with out good ear protection. The one on my AR-10 was nasty and required doubling up - plugs and muffs.

 

[noobsshooting]

Model 10 FCP-K 223 Remington

Tim,
I own two Savage Model 10's. The first is a .308. I quickly replaced the tupperware stock with an H&S Precision stock. It looks and shoots great. My second and most recent Savage is the Model 10 FCP-K with AccuStock (.223 Remy). I must admit I was drawn to this law enforcement model because of its features. In fact I liked it so much, I did a review of it on my blog www.noobsshooting.com/home/2011/1/7/savage-model-10-fcp-k-223-remington.html I don't think I will replace the stock on this one as it shoots awesome with my handloads.

NS

 

[Txhillbilly]

Tim,Unless you want the muzzlebrake version of the Savage there's really no need for it.The recoil of the 308 in a heavy barreled rifle is nothing.

Cabelas has an exclusive Savage 10FCP 308.It has a Choate Tactical stock,Detachable mag,24" barrel-no muzzlebrake,or threads for around $650.

The 308 is the back rifle,but has the same stock as the 25/06 in front of it


This is how it shoots with some 208gr AMax handloads.

 

[skipbo32]

a .308 will blow up anything smaller than a poodle.

 

[ifit]

recently purchased a fnh tsr xp in .308 and very pleased with it outa the box, 24" cold hammer forged flutted barrel, hogue stock (grippy) fully free floated thanks to a aluminum bedding block
first time at the range, and first couple shots at 50 yards, with a couple hand loads

friend shot and hit one on orange, above that is my 4 shot

100 yards

 

[blackguns]

I I have an older Savage 10-FP heavy 26" barrel. Choate stock, accutrigger, pillar bedded. I love that rifle. Stock is adjustable for cheek weld and length of pull, and after some quality range time I have things adjusted to the point where I come back to the exact same position after every shot and it just feels "right".

The choate stock is kinda funky, took some getting used to but now that rifle is accurate, repeatable, and confidence inspiring.

They may not be the "ultimate" (whatever that means) rifle out of the box but I would say that in the areas that matter, they are hard to beat, and certainly can't be beat for the price. You can get a remmy to shoot better, but not for the same $$.

 

[SwampWolf]

I don't know what Weatherbys ( rebadged Howas) sell for in your area but I just bought a new one for $299.99 and I don't think there's a better buy out there. I topped mine with a Redfield 4X12x40 (rebadged Leupold "Riflemans") in Talley mounts (scope $189.99; mount/rings $28.99). The caveat for my purchase is that they were only available in .257 Weatherby Magnum-an expensive proposition in terms of the cost for factory ammunition if you don't reload.

 

[Tim the student]

Man o man, I still can't decide. I feel like I may as well throw darts to decide

I do love Savages, but I handled a Howa, and it feels nice too. Seems like a nice rifle.

Still a bit leery about 700s, but reading about them here and on other sites is making me look harder at them.

Anyone know why Savage just up and did away with the 10FP? Or know why they slimmed the barrel down on the FP-SR?

Oh, the agony of wanting a new rifle, but not knowing what specifically to get Anyone else ever feel that way, or is it just me?

I need to go to bed now - lots of snow to deal with tomorrow morning!

 

[blackguns]

A family member just bought a Savage 10 precision carbine. Basically a 10fp with a 20" bull barrel. The digi camo on the stock is not my taste but it is a nice rifle. Light enough for field work but accurate on the range. Stock is aluminum bedded, not the flimsy stocks from the previous generation. Has a center feeding removable mag and accutrigger.

Worst case you upgrade the stock at some point. Just another option.

 

[SwampWolf]

The option of "upgrading" the stock down the line is a good thing to keep in mind and will allow buying a good action/barrel on a less than best stock and save a lot of money in the interim.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Might be easier (or not) to figure out what bullets you will be using, and match a rifle (barrel) to what you want to use it for. Some common twist rates per bullet weight:

308 caliber

1 in 10" for bullets up to 220gr.
1 in 12" for bullets up to 170gr.
1 in 14" for bullets up to 168gr.
1 in 15" for bullets up to 150gr.
1 in 17" for bullets up to 125gr.

Might want to go custom..........

Pick up a rifle for the action and then rebarrel.

 

[notasfancy]

Don't go crazy. Both the Remington 700 SPS tactical/ Rem. 700 police or Savage 10FP are superb inexpensive platforms that yield 1/2MOA out of the box with handloads.

 

[d2wing]

I've had several Remington 700's a one Savage. The Savage bolt failed on the first shot. No problems with the Remington 700's.

 

[reuben mishler]

I would be curious to know where you heard that Remington Rifles have started to decline in quality. I'm hoping that you aren't referring to the misleading reports of CNBC.

I believe both brands are good, no arguments there. Most firearms now a days are just as good as the other. Notice I said most. With that said, I think either choice would be great, or even the Weatherby. Just don't leave Remington out of the mix of choices.

 

[Tim the student]

Ok, finally, I made a decision. I went with the 10FP-SR. Now, to wait for it to get here...

I would be curious to know where you heard that Remington Rifles have started to decline in quality. I'm hoping that you aren't referring to the misleading reports of CNBC.

I'm not referring to CNBC (I have my own thoughts on that). I'm referring to the posts that I read here, and elsewhere.