14" .308

[hitman]

I have a 14 " .308 Armalite AR-10 I got brand new from Noveske with a perm. Vortex on it (16" overall). It is a great shooter but I am starting to think its overkill for what I intended on using it for. The more and more I run ballistic test and read Gel tests/reports etc... I do not think you gain much under 300 yards using lets say a 155 grn. A-MAx vs the 110 grain BTHP Hornady round. I mean the wound cavity and penetration are very very similar. I know the .308 has alot more energy but that about it. Anyway, I was really gonna use this gun for 0-300 yds, does it seem like overkill when the 6.8 performs extremly well as that range?

Other thought I had was to run maybe a max - 10 power scope on it to get out to 600 + and a Trijicon/Dr. Optic on the front canted for 0-100 yds. I know some 3 gunners run this set-up and like it alot.
Thoughts? Thanks

[ron169]

You mention you think it may be overkill... but what is the intended target? If your talking Deer, I would say to stay with the 308.... a well proven cartridge. As for shooting 600 yards, I would think it would be wise to step up to a longer barrel for the added accuracy and velocity.

[owenslee]

I have two AR10's and multiple 6.8's and for hunting whitetail deer at ranges less than 300 yds...the 6.8 would be my clear choice. No competition. The 6.8 will do everything a .308 will do under 300 yds with less weight / bulk and recoil. Even the trajectories are nearly identical.

Something to consider is that I have had three occasions when a .308 at distances of less than 100 yds was too much gun for hunting whitetails and resulted in excessive meat damage with a 150 gr conventional soft point. At shorter ranges I would agree that the .308 on deer could be overkill if you are a meat hunter.

However for 600 yds the AR10 is a better choice...but I would not have selected a 14" barrel. A 20 or 24" .308, .260 or 7mm-08 barrel would be my own preference.

Kerry

[Cold]

I have two AR10's and multiple 6.8's and for hunting whitetail deer at ranges less than 300 yds...the 6.8 would be my clear choice. No competition. The 6.8 will do everything a .308 will do under 300 yds with less weight / bulk and recoil. Even the trajectories are nearly identical.

Something to consider is that I have had three occasions when a .308 at distances of less than 100 yds was too much gun for hunting whitetails and resulted in excessive meat damage with a 150 gr conventional soft point. At shorter ranges I would agree that the .308 on deer could be overkill if you are a meat hunter.

However for 600 yds the AR10 is a better choice...but I would not have selected a 14" barrel. A 20 or 24" .308, .260 or 7mm-08 barrel would be my own preference.

Kerry


I couldnt agree more, 18+ inches for the 308 if you want to GO long, but 300 and under, why not use the 308 you have now?

[J.Boyette]

A friend of mine in VA has shot his 16" factory DPMS to 1000yds it held a solid 3 MOA.

A 16" .308 AR-10 style rifle is good to go to 700yds no issues.

The one I speek of, also have a ACOG on it and we ran a 250yd ZERO. We cold engage 8" round targets from 0-288yds. Now think about this. a Human head is 8" round on avg.

Next, when we went to a 36" tall target we could engage from 0-530yds just holding center mass to 350, and top of the hair line 350 past.

Just some thoughts.

John

[hitman]

I already have an 18 " Noveske on my other AR-10 and use that to 1000 yds. I was gonna use my 14" as a catch all rifle.

[ron169]

Well the only problem I would have with using the 14 inch job as a catch all is the fact that it is quite heavy compared to a .223/6.8 and has a reduced mag capacity. The only time that would be a problem would be a SHTF scenario though. As for the weight, I could see that at a disadvantage in a Home defense scenario, but in either event, wouldnt worry about overkill :lol: