FlyAnglers.org

Charlie S · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 550 Location: California

They're a bit different than the whitetails I hunted back East or in Texas and a lot different from the Mulies I've hunted elsewhere. But, they're what I have here and the season isn't very far away.

Got clearance from the doctor that if I could pull back my bow without pain I could hunt with it. He said that it would be at least August before I could shoot a rifle, even my whimpy .308 Win. The operation was a success but he did trim a lot of bone away, thus he wants to be sure I heal completely before I jar it.

In anticipation I have been driving the roads and hiking the trails on a couple of ranches that I hunt. I've spotted three, possibly four, deer that could be shooters. Hard to tell yet as they are still in velvet. I hunt by size of the deer, not the size of the horns though. One forked horn looked like a lumbering heifer as he headed away from me up a canyon. I'll have to look him over more. His horns were already very high and wide and had deep forks.

I think I get as much fun, if not more, just scouting and planning, and hunting than I do from the actual kill. I think I would hunt with a camera if I didn't enjoy eating them critters so much. Thinking about bringing some of my smoked garlic elk sausage to the GOTC to share if I have any left by then. Dang it's good, especially with some Raspberry Jalapeno Mustard.
_________________
Finer Than Frog's Hair

haverodwilltravel · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:19 am Post subject:

The older I get the more I've learned to love the "wimpy" .308 Cool

Colston Newton · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:18 am Post subject:

I'm not much of a rifleman but it sounds as if the .308 is the rifle equivalent of a 20 guage...Meant for kids and old men.
_________________
"Fishing doesn't actually happen. It just goes on in your head."
The Old Man as reported by Robert Ruark

Charlie S · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 550 Location: California

Recoil wise it's pretty tame. Accuracy wise it's hard to beat out to 250 yards or so. I have a Browning A Bolt with a Leopold 1 3/4 X 6 topping it. Only shots I have consistently missed are coyotes at 150 yards plus running full out and even those I manage to get about 1 out of 5. Mine consistently shoots 1/2-3/4" groups at a 100 yards with 130 grain Barnes Triple X. Devastating load on deer on down.
_________________
Finer Than Frog's Hair

haverodwilltravel · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:56 pm Post subject:

Mine is a Thompson Center Icon .308 with a Leupold Scope. Nice wood stock.

Charlie S · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 550 Location: California

Just got in from a couple of hours of bow stalking on one of the blacktails I spotted earlier. Score, Blacktail 1, Charlie zip. But that's expected. I got a shot at, and hit a coyote that had no idea I was around. About 20 yards standing. The deer let me get to within 54 yards but that's too far for my skill level at this point. I'm comfortable to about 40 yards but that is as far as I will try.....I have some evening left in between squiring my 16 year old Swedish cousin and her friend around to all the shopping malls in California. At least my wife and I are getting a lot of exercise.
_________________
Finer Than Frog's Hair

Doug Gilmore · Founding Member Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 9504

The wimpy .308 has a muzzle velocity of 2800 fps. (150 gr. bullet)
The "mighty" .30/06 has a muzzle velocity of of 2900fps.

The wimpy .308 has downrange energy at 300 yards of 1600+ ft-lbs.
The "mighty" .30/06's energy at 300 yards is 2200+ ft-lbs.

Let me tell you: 1600 ft-lbs will kill just as well as 2200 ft-lbs.

And the difference in the drop of a .308 vs. a .30/06 at 300 yards is only 3 inches.

The .308 is a fine cartridge and will do a lot more than people give it credit for. There isn't an herbivore in North America it will not reliably kill.
_________________
'Be happy. Count your blessings. Life's too short not to smile.' Della Gilmore (my mom)

Charlie S · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 550 Location: California

Chuck S · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:52 pm Post subject:

Plus with the new powders, and better made bullets etc--you can boost those figures that Doug gave to voer almost all of the venerable 06s territory. Where the short cartridges such as the .308 or 7x57 can't keep up are with big heavy for caliber bullets but these days users are far and few between.
_________________
der Alte Jäger

Chuck Scheerschmidt

"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved"

http://fishing-folks.blogspot.com/

Hunterbug · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 246

I shoot a 30-06, its like a 308 for grown ups. Laughing

Just kidding. The 308 is a fine round and if I only hunted deer and smaller critters I would have no problem with using one. I use my '06 for deer and as my back up rifle for elk.
_________________
If you're waiting for the government to solve your problems then you have bigger problems than you think you do.

There is no passion in plastic.

Chuck S · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:47 pm Post subject:

Twenty years ago--or even twice that folks were discussing the merits of the 06 versus the 308. Back then as now the end of the discussion usually came with the conclusion that the 06 is a tad hotter than the 308 but by choosing a factory load or reload carefully, the 308 could out do the average 06 load. Today we've made progress as now the most realize that you do have to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Take filled water jugs, poke an 06, 180 gn Rem CoreLoct into them at factory velocity adn the bullet will end up in the fifth jug more or less. Do the same with the 308 and the bullet will end up making that 5th jug leak but the bullet might not be inside as before. In short the 06 pokes through the last few fractions of an inch of plastic completely to come to rest inside while the 308, just pokes a hoile in the entry side but doesn't make it through.

With wet pack newspapers, add an inch more or less to the 06 over the 308 in the 165 gn factory loads accubonds. (approx 17 inches versus 18.4 or so) Move on up to the 180 gns and the 06 gains a slight edge and a large edge at the 200 gn mark and 220 as far as penetration goes when 06 is compared to .308.

With the right bullet, good aim, waiting for that right shot, etc--both are great rifles for game up to small Elk and are not what you'd want when stalking Kodiaks! Shocked

By the Way the 45-70 penetrates 8 or 9 jugs! Shocked

_________________
der Alte Jäger

Chuck Scheerschmidt

"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved"

http://fishing-folks.blogspot.com/

Charlie S · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 550 Location: California

Went out really early this morning while it was still cool to check the zero on my .308. Two shots, touching, 1.5 inches high at 100...that's good enough for me. Good news was that it didn't hurt my shoulder to shoot. The bad news is my Dr appointment today for the shoulder shows that more surgery on the same joint is indicated. Dang!!!!!!!
_________________
Finer Than Frog's Hair

Chuck S · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:18 am Post subject:

My new load for Pronghorns which are about the same weight as most Blacktails is using the Barnes 135 gn. Great penetration, reliable expansion and makes the old 06 a kinder, gentler gentleman. Cool

I first discovered that one last year looking for low recoil loads for my 308 for my wife and grandkids. Of all teh factors the bullet weight seems to have the greatest effect on felt recoil.
_________________
der Alte Jäger

Chuck Scheerschmidt

"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved"

http://fishing-folks.blogspot.com/