.308 Win. Load Data

Born from the U.S. military’s T65 experiments after WWII, the .308 Winchester was commercialized in 1952 and soon paralleled by the 7.62×51 NATO adoption in 1954. While dimensionally similar, the cartridges are not identical: commercial .308 Win typically carries a higher SAAMI maximum average pressure, and many 7.62 NATO chambers feature slightly longer throat and looser headspace. Brass can differ too, with NATO cases often thicker and offering marginally less internal volume. For reloaders, that means treating .308 Win and 7.62 NATO as related but distinct, verifying headstamp, adjusting methods to the specific rifle, and understanding the interchange cautions. The cartridge’s success stems from efficient case geometry, short-action compatibility, abundant component availability, and proven accuracy across bolt guns and semi-autos.

Applications for the .308 Win span target shooting, field carry, and duty use. It remains a staple in High Power/CMP, Palma/F-TR, PRS gas-gun divisions, and LE/military marksman roles, valued for predictable recoil, consistent barrel time, and wide bullet selection. Hunters prize its balance of manageable recoil and terminal performance, making it a practical “one rifle” solution in many regions. The cartridge feeds reliably in AR-10 pattern rifles, M1A/M14 platforms, and classic bolt actions, and it performs well suppressed with appropriate bullet choices. Component sourcing is easy worldwide, and barrel life is generally favorable compared with many newer high-velocity 6mm/6.5mm options, which keeps the .308 Win attractive for high-round-count training.

On game, the .308 Win is at home on deer, pronghorn, hogs, and black bear, with proper bullet construction offering excellent penetration and controlled expansion. With premium bonded or monolithic bullets and disciplined shot placement, it’s used successfully on elk and even moose inside sensible distances. Lighter varmint bullets flatten trajectory and minimize pelt damage when desired, while tougher bullets handle quartering shots on larger-bodied animals. Ethical range is dictated by the bullet, the rifle, and the shooter’s proficiency, but the cartridge’s forgiving nature and consistent accuracy help ensure clean results across a wide set of real-world conditions.

Reloaders will find a deep bench of bullet weights: 110–125 grains for varmints and reduced-recoil practice; 147–150-grain FMJ and soft points for general use; 155-grain Palma for match rulesets; the classic 165–168-grain range as an accuracy “sweet spot”; and 175–180 grains for extended-range stability and deeper penetration. Heavier 190+ grain options can shine with faster twists. Common twist rates run 1:12 to 1:10, with 1:12 favoring 150–168s and 1:10 supporting 175s and up. SAAMI MAP for .308 Win is 62,000 psi, typical COAL is about 2.800 inches, and most brass uses large rifle primers, though “Palma” small-primer variants exist. Mind case capacity differences between commercial and NATO brass, verify headspace, and consider small-base sizing for semi-autos. With careful brass prep and seating depth control, the .308 Win rewards handloaders with repeatable, versatile performance.