If there were a classic, workhorse .308 bolt-action what would it be?

[jonbearman]

I would say a remington 700 in .308 win would do it for me.

 

[MQ1]

On the bolt-action side, over the years acquired a couple of .30-06s and couple of .243s. I renew my interest in centerfire rifles every few years and the apparently miraculous .308 has a growing appeal. One of my .30-06s has never had a round through it and the other only a handful. Starting to do more hunting, but with gettn’ up there it’s clear I ain’t gonna’ be going out west hunting and the .243s are fine for anything around me.

Crossing my mind to pick up a .308 bolt, not for practical reasons but just to say I finally got one and can use that cartridge (like for example if a case of .308 parachuted out of the sky - I keep hoping). So the question is, with what I've described, would there be any practical reason to own a .308, other than just to satisfy the romantic appeal? Could it do something for me what I already got can’t? And if so, would you trade one of the .30-06s or just buy outright? Never traded in anything, do you get a fair value?

Is there some classic workhorse (but not outrageously priced) .308 bolt-action that is the must-have even if just to hang on the wall and say “Ain’t it beautiful”? Personal opinions and thoughts appreciated - thanks

There certainly is no practical reason to change what you have for a .308, and only you can determine what is outragiously priced.

If they were produced in left hand, I’d opt for one of these “workhorse” rifles:

Choose your own Sako 85 from a variety of excellent models

Sako 85 rifles are unique combinations of tradition and innovation. They are built to meet the utmost demanding design criteria. Choose your own Sako 85 now!

choose.sako.fi

MQ1

 

[Tesoro]

I would say a remington 700 in .308 win would do it for me.

Agree - it's the quintessential American Military and LE rifle. 308 was never a classic hunting cartridge, so imo having a mod 70 in that round is like having a chevy with a hemi.

 

[Adam in WI]

there typically would have been a time when other companies resisted it, maybe denigrated it, tried to beat it, then quietly and nonchalantly started selling it as and profiting off of it, too. Then making most of their money off of it, because if you can’t beat ‘em.

Remington's cartridge introduction philosophy seems to be mostly "Oh yeah...(insert lame comeback)". Their most successful head stamps being almost exclusively wildcats or variations of wildcats that were already popular.

 

[davidjoe]

Here’s an example of Big Green’s pride as a company, from decades ago. Remington had the 6 BR REM and put it right on the box that this will not fit in 6 BR chambers.

May have been the silliest stick with us gambit, but they were proud of it.




When they got an order for “their” cartridge, they spun that 40x barrel to a mirror and conspicuously engraved exactly what they were giving you.



May have turned out to be a really bad idea, but they didn’t know that at the time and were dang proud of their unique 6 BR REM.

For a 6 BR rem fan, there would be no more a real deal than this barrel I did not put a single round through, ever.

 

[drop_point]

Agree - it's the quintessential American Military and LE rifle. 308 was never a classic hunting cartridge, so imo having a mod 70 in that round is like having a chevy with a hemi.

Was never a hunting cartridge despite being one of the most common hunting cartridges on the planet?

 

[K22]

I have a Sauer 200 ( incredible rifle) which is a switch barrel. Non magnum bolt so I shoot 30-06. I wanted to get a swede barrel for it but what I have found with the older barrels is they dont have the twist to accommodate the new 6.5 bullets that would make the swede shine.

As I said, I've never owned one but have shot the cartridge. I believe my buddy's had a 9 or 9 1/2 twist. We were shooting 120 grain bullet reloads if my memory is correct. This combo shot really well as I remember, and the recoil was mild. It seemed to "shine" to me. 

 

[GerryM]

i like the Remington 700 PSS in 308

 

[davidjoe]

Agree - it's the quintessential American Military and LE rifle. 308 was never a classic hunting cartridge, so imo having a mod 70 in that round is like having a chevy with a hemi.

Remington would certainly claim that mantle, but here again, on a 40-X repeater, an uncommon version and fighting gun, look at what they chose to put on the barrel.

These two carried on a tempest in a teapot. Both basically died.

Remington has the .223, the other TR round and best in the world contender.

Winchester has the .243. Then they both went short and fat, and those magnums and the companies themselves went into a slow drawn out death spiral.

 

[K22]

Debates about cartridges and rifles are fun for us "gun guys". Forum like this is an excellent place to have such debates. In my younger days I remember the hunting camp debates about the 30 06 versus the 270. Nothing was solved but the debates were fun.

I wasn't immune to anguishing over ballistic tables, reading "experts" in gun magazines, listening to range talk in trying to select a cartridge. But as I traveled this journey, I learned a few things.

While I'm far from being any kind of expert but in my 50 years of extensive shooting, hunting, and competing (pistol) the one thing I learned is that unless you need a specific cartridge for a highly specialized purpose, all the standard cartridges work quite well for their intended purpose. Almost always, the limiting factor is the hunter's and / or rifleman's marksmanship skills or lack thereof.

When it comes to rifles, for me, the two most important elements are the ability of the rifle to hold point of impact and its functional reliability. Small groups are nice and certainly desired, but for me, the rifle has to hold point of impact and function reliably.

Understanding your real shooting purpose will go a long way in solving this riddle. Then considering issues like recoil, portability, precision required, barrel life, etc. will help you decide the best choices for you intended purpose.

 

[ronsatspokane]

There certainly is no practical reason to change what you have for a .308, and only you can determine what is outragiously priced.

If they were produced in left hand, I’d opt for one of these “workhorse” rifles:

Choose your own Sako 85 from a variety of excellent models

Sako 85 rifles are unique combinations of tradition and innovation. They are built to meet the utmost demanding design criteria. Choose your own Sako 85 now!

choose.sako.fi

MQ1

Winner! Several people have mentioned Sako as a must have factory rifle. I agree. In fact I found one of those Sako 85 Bavarian's shown in the link in 308. It now sits in my safe. Mounted a Swarovski Habicht 1.5-6 on it. One of those checklist items I had to have. Checked!

 

[Tesoro]

Debates about cartridges and rifles are fun for us "gun guys". Forum like this is an excellent place to have such debates. In my younger days I remember the hunting camp debates about the 30 06 versus the 270. Nothing was solved but the debates were fun.

I wasn't immune to anguishing over ballistic tables, reading "experts" in gun magazines, listening to range talk in trying to select a cartridge. But as I traveled this journey, I learned a few things.

While I'm far from being any kind of expert but in my 50 years of extensive shooting, hunting, and competing (pistol) the one thing I learned is that unless you need a specific cartridge for a highly specialized purpose, all the standard cartridges work quite well for their intended purpose. Almost always, the limiting factor is the hunter's and / or rifleman's marksmanship skills or lack thereof.

When it comes to rifles, for me, the two most important elements are the ability of the rifle to hold point of impact and its functional reliability. Small groups are nice and certainly desired, but for me, the rifle has to hold point of impact and function reliably.

Understanding your real shooting purpose will go a long way in solving this riddle. Then considering issues like recoil, portability, precision required, barrel life, etc. will help you decide the best choices for you intended purpose.

Well said and I remember those days, going all the way back to HS lunch chat when we all had only one large bore rifle and would pit the merits of our chamberings vs the others'. I was the oddball back then with a 280 rem.

I finally found a keeper rifle that will shoot poa hot cold or smoking hot. Not sure what Sauer does to their barrels but I have never had a usa made field barrel weight that will do this.

 

[Tesoro]

Winner! Several people have mentioned Sako as a must have factory rifle. I agree. In fact I found one of those Sako 85 Bavarian's shown in the link in 308. It now sits in my safe. Mounted a Swarovski Habicht 1.5-6 on it. One of those checklist items I had to have. Checked!

Those modern Sako's with occasional ejection issues people bitch about? I would call them post-Sako Sako's!

 

[CharlieNC]

A couple of my buds have great factory 308s. One is the Rem mil spec 5R, other is Tikka 3X compact tactical, and both function and shoot steel targets well out to 1000yd. My lowly Savage with Xcal barrel does ok too, but is fugly. Everybody should have a 308, that's all there is to it!

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Based on your title of this post:

"If there were a classic, workhorse .308 bolt-action what would it be?"​

The answer is quite obvious, it is the Remington 700. It has been the military & LE go to tactical sniper weapon for decades. All of the custom actions are clones of the 700. As for the 308 cartridge, that choice is a matter of preference.

 

[FNSafari]

Many commercial FN Mauser 98 rifles were imported into the US in the 60's and 70's. My .308 is called a Musketeer. Very rugged controlled round feed design. Takes a little shopping but prices are reasonable and looks are warm and traditional.

The best of those imports, imo, were the FN made Browning labeled Safari, Medallion and Olympic grade bolt action rifles. Very accurate, very well made for those of us who like the Mauser or quasi-Mauser Win pre-64 model 70;s.

 

[FNSafari]

The 6.5 Swede is a great cartridge. I never owned one but a fellow shooter I know has one. Very accurate, mild recoil, and very adequate for eastern white tail hunting. It's also fun to shoot. Too bad it isn't more popular here in the US. I think a lot of shooters will like it and enjoy shooting it.

...and it will do everything the 6.5 Creedmoor will do in an over 100 year old design. Not much new under the Sun.

 

[FNSafari]

I have a Sauer 200 ( incredible rifle) which is a switch barrel. Non magnum bolt so I shoot 30-06. I wanted to get a swede barrel for it but what I have found with the older barrels is they dont have the twist to accommodate the new 6.5 bullets that would make the swede shine.

The nominal speed case head diameter of .480 might also be an issue?

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Looking at, Bullet "Drop" Ballistics, the 6.5 Creed with, any of, the HIGH BC, 140 - 142 -143-147 grain bullets,.. BEATS, the .308 Win @ Past,.. 600 Yards !
And the Tikka T-3, SS,.. BEATs all, the other, Sub $1,000. factory Rifles for, Accuracy,.. usually.
But that's just,.. MY opinion for, a "Work Horse Rifle" with, the 7 MM-08 TIKKA,.. coming in at, a Close 2ND !
Give me a Few Minutes to, get my, Flame Retardant suit on guys ,.. LOL !
PS;.. My New 6.5 Creed. 24" TIKKA, puts 3, Hornady 143 ELD-X's Totally covered by, a Nickel at, 100 Yds and on, one of, My "Good Days", IT can put 3 into, under a Dime and IT'S now, my New, Fun, "Work Horse" Rifle

 

[Loudenboomer]

How does your 6.5 creedless do with 200 gr. Nosler Partitions? No flame suit required this is for fun.