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About 308 Win Ammunition
The .308 Winchester is an American cartridge that was introduced in 1952. The cartridge served as the basis for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, a long-standing military cartridge utilized by many countries. The .308 Winchester itself is derived from the .300 Savage and was designed with the intent of matching ballistic performance similar to the .30-06 Springfield in a smaller package.
Many firearms have been chambered in the .308 Winchester cartridge. A wide variety of commercial firearms have been chambered in the .308 Winchester, typically in semi-automatic or bolt action form. While newer cartridges have been introduced which surpass the .308 Winchester in certain use cases, the cartridge still remains popular among shooters. The cartridge is an incredibly versatile cartridge which can easily be pressed into a variety of roles.
Types of 308 Win Loadings
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Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): Like the name suggests, these types of loadings feature projectiles which are adorned with metal jacketing. This jacket is generally made of copper and will cover the tip and sides of the projectile. Typically, the base of the projectile is left uncoated. These types of loadings are well-suited for range use and are some of the most common types of ammo one will encounter.
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Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT): HPBT loadings feature hollow point projectiles with boat tail style bases. These differ from traditional projectiles with flat bases and are well-suited to precision-oriented shooting. Like traditional hollow point loadings, these loadings are also designed to facilitate expansion on impact.
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Soft Point (SP): SP loadings feature soft, exposed lead projectile tips which are conducive to expanding upon impact. These loadings are mainly utilized in hunting applications and are effective at imparting a high degree of kinetic energy transfer. Specialty SP loadings also exist which are optimized for different types of hunting and game.
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Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail (FMJBT): Like FMJ loadings, ammunition of this type features a projectile that is fully encapsulated in a metal jacket. This metal is generally going to be of the copper variety. Typical FMJ projectiles feature a flat base while boat tail projectiles feature a tapered base which resembles a boat tail. This geometry promotes accuracy and high velocities.
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Open Tip Match (OTM): These types of loadings will generally feature heavier projectiles and are well-suited to precision-oriented shooting. Material has been removed from these projectiles, hence the “Open-Tip Match” designation, helping achieve high velocities. While technically a hollow point, these loadings are designed for superior ballistic performance and not intended to function as standard hollow points.
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Super Shock Tip (SST): These types of loadings feature Hornady SST projectiles and superior ballistic capabilities. Optimized mainly for hunting purposes, these loadings feature flat trajectories and are designed to provide a significant impact on target. The polymer tipped projectile aids in flat shooting and aids in expansion upon impact as it pushes rearward into the lead core. SST loadings represent high-end and high performance hunting loadings.
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MatchKing HPBT: MatchKing HPBT loadings are designed for superior accuracy and precision. These projectiles feature a hollow point design and boat tail base, enhancing their aerodynamic efficiency and ballistic performance. MatchKing HPBT loadings are optimal for competitive shooting and target practice.
Firearms that Use .308 Winchester Ammo
Currently, there is no shortage of firearms available in .308 Winchester. Everything from bolt action to semi-automatic rifles are available in the caliber. Some of the most common semi-automatic .308 Winchester chambered semi-automatic rifles will be of the AR-10 variety.
Beyond the AR-10, semi-automatic .308 Winchester rifles can usually be found in the form of FAL, G3/HK91 pattern rifles, FN SCAR 17, and M14/M1A style rifles. One will have zero issue finding a rifle in .308 Winchester if they wish to pick one up. Rifles in this caliber, both vintage and modern, are commonly found for sale on gun racks and online. .308 Winchester chambered rifles have been produced since the 1950s, meaning that there is no shortage of options available to prospective buyers.
Use Cases for .308 Winchester Ammunition
- Plinking
- Training
- Defense
- Hunting
- Competition
Popular Brands: 308 Win Ammo
Caliber Name Variations
.308
.308 Win
.308 Winchester
.308 Winchester Interchangeability
The .308 Winchester and 7.62x51mm NATO are similar, but not identiacal. The .308 Winchester cartridge features a higher pressure than the 7.62x51mm NATO. Due to this fact, one can safely and reliably shoot 7.62x51mm NATO out of most .308 Winchester chambered firearms.
Note: one should avoid shooting .308 Winchester out of firearms chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO as the increased pressure can lead to potentially catastrophic damage to the firearm or user.
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