Best combination target/hunting gun; 308 or 284 Win?

[XTR]

I just have to say that I'm a bit surprised how some of the comments sound better geared for stock factory rifles. No criticism intended as much as I'm simply a bit surprised how the "availability of 308 Winchester ammo" is being mentioned as a condsideration on a forum mostly populated by accuracy afficianados with defined goals. Long or short action, (but as mentioned; it will be LA) I think the majority of the folks on these forums own and shoot custom barrels that are usually custom reamed for special purpose long length cartridges.....and often with tight necks to boot.

Considering whether standard boxed factory 308 ammo is available at the local store is not an option....nor a deciding factor.

Lets think about this...


You talk about using it for a paper puncher, but you don't specify, is this just going to the range and punching holes for your own gratification or some kind of competition? Obviously if its for some kind of competition there are specifics and limitations that matter one way or the other.

If you're just shooting paper at 200 yards or less the ballistic difference in a 155 palma bullet from a 308 and a 162 Amax from a 284 is about .2 inches of elevation and maybe .1 inches of wind drift, at 100 you can't tell the difference.

I don't think your weight target is reasonable with a sendero barrel. My factory short action R700 VLS was closer to 12 scoped. (which is why I sold it and built a rifle on a fluted Rock Creek #5 contour, but it's still 10+ lbs with a light scope)

You mention hunting but don't say much about what or where other than mentioning deer and elk, I personally think elk is beyond both chamberings at more than short distances. (I'm a fan of bring enough gun). For deer inside of about 400 yards I've used a 308 for yrs and just built a .284 for a hunting rifle, but I went with a 7-08 because I just don't see any tangible advantage to the 284Win. A 284 only buys about two or three inches of elevation at 400 with both pushing 140 to 150 class bullets, in todays world of laser range finders there is no excuse for missing at those ranges with anything that has a better BC than my 45-70.

The only reason to build either of these on a long action is to mag feed very long match bullets like the 185 Bergers or the 162 Amax. If you are single feeding or shooting most hunting bullets in the 140 to 165 class for the 284 or 308 respectively you gain nothing in a long action. I know F class shooters that seat so long in their short actions they have to pull the bolt to eject loaded rounds. Long action makes no sense even if you already have it. Before you spend the $$ with a smith get a short action. On the other hand, if you are shooting tactical comps where you need to dump 10 rounds mag fed and you need all the BC you can get to save inches in windage calls it makes sense to use a long action and so does he 284, but you're talking about timed UKD shoots on multiple targets, not hunting situations.

As for hunting and buying bullets. If you are traveling and shipping them they don't always show up. I've seen guys show up to hunt 3 hours from the house and didn't have their ammo. For hunting being able to grab something off of the shelf is always a good thing.

Given your identified uses, 308 every time.

Actually I've tried very hard to find a reason to build a 284W, I want one, but I can't logically find a use for it if you've got a 308, 7-08 and some kind of magnum in 7mm or 30cal. It fills a niche that doesn't exist.


Al that said, what is stated above is a mix of my opinions and some ballistics, but the rest of the shooting world isn't far behind me on the 284 and it's place since it's had more success as the 6.5-284 than as the original chambering. If you're building a long action and you want magnum performance in a 284 go with a WSM, an RSAUM, or a 7mmRM, if you want an economical rifle to shoot for both target and hunting go with a 308.

In the end it's your gun, build what ever you want, in all likelihood you won't be the first no matter what it is.

 

[Romulus]

.308 Win and .284 Win are my two favorite cartridges. .308 to 650 for deer - .284 a healthy, but practical bit farther.

They are both very practical, easy to load, and mild to shoot. Both are very flexible in bullet weights and construction.

I'd go with the .284 so you can play around as far as you really want to shoot. You can hit the wall around 1100 with the .308. Also with a nice .284 you can outshoot your buddies with big 7s who regard your .284 as puny 8), something that is doable but can prove difficult with a .308 at range or in a good wind.

With the weights you want to shoot you could get away with XBR or 4831sc my two favorites. ;D

If I could only keep one of my rifles I'd have to choose between my hummer of a .300 Win Mag or my .284. In the end I'd choose my .284 for shooting pleasure; I can shoot 50-100 rounds of slick 180 grain hybrids and still walk straight the next day. On the flip side, I can get about 50 more rounds out of my .308 in a string before I see any accuracy loss or changing chrono numbers.

Hope your build goes quickly and load development runs smooth.