Any practical reason to have a .308/7.62 X 51?

[echo1]

Sounds like .308 is too much rifle for you, PAX

 

[HiMapo]

556 is more practical in more situations, if you want a 308 go for it. It’s okay to get it because it’s fun.

The fact you don’t hunt makes it less practical.

It sounds like you want a full size cartridge for bang and the boom, and want us to convince you to get it. If it’s financially viable for, you get a 308. If you just want the most practical rifle possible:

556 semi auto, sling, light, and red dot. That’s all

 

[echo1]

Sounds like .308 is too much rifle for you, PAX

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I have a .308/7.62. Not going to sell it but could live without it. 5.56, 7.62x39, or .30-30 can all do what you are realistically going to need a rifle for. For what it’s worth, my shotgun and my 30-30 lever action would be the last two long arms to go if I needed a massive sell off. Why? I really enjoy shooting them at the range or out in the field which is statistically the only places we are ever going to use them.

 

[frenchman]

I'll say it

I like .308

I like my Springfield M1A NM and I'm looking for a SOCOM

Flame on

 

[gunsgunsguns]

I don’t even think there’s a point to owning a 308 if your longest outdoor range is 200 yards. Shooting it at a 25-50 yard indoor range would just be a complete waste of time and money.

 

[john_marsten_1873]

Most of what I own has or had purpose. When it no longer serves that I try to get rid of it. But I do have a few pieces that are collection/hobby.

SCAR platform doesn’t fit into my practical use cases. It’s a full-powered battle rifle; more difficult to manage recoil, ammo is heavier, proprietary parts ecosystem.

I have an AR-10 that’s setup as a PRS with a .308 upper and a 6.5cr upper.

Use cases:
- long distance training
- big game hunting (eventually)
- heavy metal competition
- perimeter defense (in SHTF) scenarios

Anything chambered in those cartridges would be stationary for me and I wouldn’t bug out with it.

AR-15 is my battle rifle and even then, I keep most parts mil spec for my defense rifles; CQB out to mid-range engagements, most readily available ammo and parts.

Going back to the title of the post .308 (no real specific need for 7.62) IS practical (for long distance and hunting) in my opinion, even if you don’t get shoot it much.

However, I don’t think a SCAR 17S is practical. AR-15 is more optimal in the battle rifle role.

You can learn/train much of the long range aspects on the less expensive .223, then apply and adjust those principles with .308, or 6.5cr.

 

[Fulcrum]

It’s a hobby or passion ultimately, you could easily argue anything past one service handgun is not very practical for the majority of people. If you wanna LARP and have fun then just enjoy it.

Even in the military we are half LARPing. I mean look now we are basically back to peacetime military so everyone is just LARPing full time nearly

I totally agree. I think it’s funny this question is being posed as “is it practical?” It’s mostly a hobby for most people, and most hobbies are not practical. I’d kind of like a .308 for completely impractical reasons!

 

[jayson_b24]

If you get into reloading the 6mm are pretty nice, I shoot 6 arc and 6 GT, hitting over 2900fps with both (out of boltguns).

I can't add reloading to my list of hobbies, haha. I already try to manage 25 hours worth of stuff into a 24 hour day.

 

[5.56Geo]

"Key word in this thread is PRACTICAL!"

Buying a .308 is about practical as being a r8rs4lf fan! I just figured out your "User Name", r8rs4lf (Raiders for life)! Just do it, you'll be happy and have a reason to drive 2 hours for a nice day of shooting!

 

[jayson_b24]

Look, TBH, you don't need a .308. You don't need a 5.56. You don't even need a 9mm. This is all you need, Grandpa Joe said so:

 

[RustVendor]

I can't add reloading to my list of hobbies, haha. I already try to manage 25 hours worth of stuff into a 24 hour day.

You can sleep when you're dead!

 

[Darqhelmet]

I would get the Hk. I’ve had a 16s and 17s. Honestly pretty compared to a good AR10 or the HK gas piston guns. Or be weird and get a roller lock gun and feed it dog ammo that it’s going to throw through the wall.

SCAR’s, if you use the wrong mags, break your bolt catch, chance you’re going to break your optic. Mine smoked my eotech. FN are kind of s and like to charge a lot of money for sub par materials. Aftermarket has gotten better but it’s still not great. Parts, ha okay.

Now that being said I made money on both of them when I sold them off during covid.

CA note for all of them .308 with a fin grip sucks ass. In ca get a m1a or bolt gun.

 

[jayson_b24]

You can sleep when you're dead!

Nah. Wife will dig me back up and put me back to work.

 

[22plinker]

I'm in the party of "if you want it and can afford it, buy it!"


But since there's a 5.56 vs .308 question here I'll offer some "real world practical" info to the thread.

2 friends and I set up a thick, freshly painted steel target at 220 yards and blasted it with probably 100 rounds of .223/5.56 rounds.

After that I shot 1 shot round from a REPR .308 and it knocked the target down and flashed all the paint off of it... we were all surprised but realized the impact difference of each round at that distance.

I don't think any of us are going to be needing to "save our lives" out to a few hundred yards so I'd agree with the masses that you don't need to invest in a .308 but if you have to ask the question, then maybe you have your own answer.

Matt

 

[Gawernator]

Also I got this AR-10 for around $900ish or you can build your own (? Is that also illegal now lol) pretty fun. So you don’t have to spend crazy money if you don’t want to

 

[five.five-six]

Key word in this thread is PRACTICAL!

Right off the bat let me say I don't hunt. I don't care about proprietary mags. I don't want to build one. I'm looking for featureless and don't plan on adding a sh*t ton of aftermarket mods. If it doesn't make the rifle run better, then I'm not interested. I'm more concerned about weight, stacking mags and ammo. One other thing I'm concerned about, is taking a rifle chambered in .308/7.62 to a range near me. I'm not so sure any indoor range will allow this so how do I train besides taking a ride to an outdoor range where I already know, it won't be many trips which also makes this rifle a safe queen. Practical???

I've been waiting for the 2nd gen SCAR 17S in grey to make it's way to California......

I know there are other rifles out there similar (caliber/price) to the 17s. One in particular that I have been tossing around in my head is the A4 HK MR762 since I have seen a few make their way out here. Both are close in weight. I just don't find it to be as sexy as the SCAR. Honestly, it looks like most other AR's IMO. That does not really matter when the SHTF right? Practicality.......

While waiting for this I also wonder if it's a practical purchase. I'm not one of those guys that buys firearms just because they are new on the roster and fill up my safe. I have a few pistols and only want to maybe purchase a 2011 in the future. I'd rather be proficient in what I have then have a lot of different firearms in different calibers.

That brings me to the .308/7.62 platform. I do not have a rifle chambered in this or anything besides my 223/556.

I would like to hear your thoughts.... Do you feel like a rifle chambered in .308/7.62 would be a practical purchase living in the city in good 'ol California with my concerns above? Should I just focus on the 223/556 platform?

Ok, I get all that is impractical, but LARPING at an indoor range is practical?

 

[Gawernator]

interestingly 6.5 creedmoor ammo sells more now and you can get S&B ammo for about the same price as mil surp 7.62 nato and it's a lot better ammo. 762 is pretty obsolete now, would much rather run one of the ARCs in a small frame AR or 6.5 cm in a large frame. None of that is practical if you aren't shooting over 500 yards though, I'm fairly certain OP is simply trying to justify a rifle that he thinks is cool. But it's definitely not practical to get a 5k rifle that you won't ever shoot past 25 yards indoors and honestly 556 is bad enough indoors, 308 will absolutely rock you from concussion and piss off everyone next to you. There is zero practical reason to get this rifle or anything besides 556 if you aren't shooting outdoors long range.

I used to shoot my mosin with a brake and even outdoors that would hit you in the chest and incredibly loud lol

 

[Gawernator]

Straw man.

Kinda but not really. A $8000 2011 has no practical difference compared to a $2000 P211 or even a $450 Glock really lol. Assuming the practical use is to shoot someone or something. Obviously differences but the question is “practicality”. In fact I’d argue the polymer gun is more practical than any 1911/2011 these days.

But that’s the point - we don’t buy or use things purely to be the most pragmatic or practical or least expensive way

 

[ohshootthatsAllan]

Key word in this thread is PRACTICAL!

Right off the bat let me say I don't hunt. I don't care about proprietary mags. I don't want to build one. I'm looking for featureless and don't plan on adding a sh*t ton of aftermarket mods. If it doesn't make the rifle run better, then I'm not interested. I'm more concerned about weight, stacking mags and ammo. One other thing I'm concerned about, is taking a rifle chambered in .308/7.62 to a range near me. I'm not so sure any indoor range will allow this so how do I train besides taking a ride to an outdoor range where I already know, it won't be many trips which also makes this rifle a safe queen. Practical???

I've been waiting for the 2nd gen SCAR 17S in grey to make it's way to California......

I know there are other rifles out there similar (caliber/price) to the 17s. One in particular that I have been tossing around in my head is the A4 HK MR762 since I have seen a few make their way out here. Both are close in weight. I just don't find it to be as sexy as the SCAR. Honestly, it looks like most other AR's IMO. That does not really matter when the SHTF right? Practicality.......

While waiting for this I also wonder if it's a practical purchase. I'm not one of those guys that buys firearms just because they are new on the roster and fill up my safe. I have a few pistols and only want to maybe purchase a 2011 in the future. I'd rather be proficient in what I have then have a lot of different firearms in different calibers.

That brings me to the .308/7.62 platform. I do not have a rifle chambered in this or anything besides my 223/556.

I would like to hear your thoughts.... Do you feel like a rifle chambered in .308/7.62 would be a practical purchase living in the city in good 'ol California with my concerns above? Should I just focus on the 223/556 platform?

I have a .308 and a couple of 5.56s... my thoughts my .308 is for that longer range whenever it may be needed, while my 5.56s are for "closer" range? just for reference my local indoor range, FT3, allows .308. get your FFL03 and COE and start stacking that ammo cheaper than what you'd get it for in CA. IF your reasoning is practicality, people are going to come up with 100s of reasons for or against. in the end you're going to get what you really want. if its that SCAR or the HK MR762 or 556 at some point you're either going to love what you bought or you're going to look to buy another. thats my $.02