.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester
JHobbs · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	.308 Winchester
Origin	United States
Designer	Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Design date	1952
Production date	1952–present
Parent	.300 Savage
Case type	Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter	7.62 mm
Neck diameter	8.56 mm
Base diameter	11.95 mm
Rim diameter	11.95 mm
Case length	51.18 mm
Overall length	71.12 mm
Primer	Large rifle
Max pressure	60,000 psi (SAAMI)

.308 Winchester

The .308 Winchester is a rimless, bottleneck rifle cartridge introduced by Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1952 as a commercial alternative to the military 7.62×51mm NATO round. It quickly became a standard for many sniper rifle and hunting rifle manufacturers, influencing design choices across companies such as Remington Arms, Smith & Wesson, Browning, and Ruger. Its adoption affected ammunition production at firms including Federal Cartridge, Hornady, PMC and Winchester Ammunition and shaped cartridge offerings from retailers like Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops.

Design and Development

Development began at Winchester Repeating Arms Company with input from designers who had worked on the earlier .300 Savage and sought a cartridge with modern ballistics for short-action bolt-action rifle platforms. The design process paralleled military trials during the early Cold War era involving organizations such as the U.S. Army and NATO testing panels that eventually standardized the related 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Inventors and ballistics engineers drew on work done at private firms including Ballistic Research Laboratory and academic research at institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. Commercial pressures from distributors such as Gander Mountain and manufacturing partners like Olin Corporation influenced case dimensions, chamber tolerances, and pressure limits.

Cartridge Specifications

The cartridge uses a 7.62 mm (.308 in) diameter bullet seated in a 51.18 mm case with an overall length of 71.12 mm. SAAMI and CIP standards from bodies such as SAAMI and CIP define maximum average pressures and dimensional tolerances; these standards are observed by producers like Federal Cartridge, Hornady, and Nosler. The round typically employs large rifle primers produced by firms like CCI and Winchester Primer Company and seats bullets made by manufacturers including Sierra, Barnes Bullets, and Berger Bullets. Chamber designs by companies such as Colt's Manufacturing Company, FN Herstal, and H&K reflect the cartridge's rimless, bottleneck geometry.

Ballistics and Performance

Loaded to similar pressures, .308 Winchester and 7.62×51mm NATO produce comparable muzzle velocities and energy in rifles from makers like Remington, Winchester, Browning, and Knights Armament Company. Typical bullet weights range from 125 to 180 grains with manufacturers such as Hornady, Nosler, and Federal offering specialized projectiles for match, hunting, and tactical use. Ballistic performance is discussed in publications by Ballistics Research Laboratory and tested in platforms like the M24 Sniper Weapon System and civilian precision rifles from Accuracy International and Savage Arms. External ballistics charts and trajectory information are also provided by magazines like Field & Stream and Shooting Illustrated.

Firearms and Ammunition Variants

The .308 Winchester is chambered in a broad array of rifles from Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70 bolt-actions to semi-automatic platforms from Armalite, FN Herstal, Springfield Armory, and Colt. Tactical and precision rifle builders such as Accuracy International, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Desert Tactical Arms, and LaRue Tactical offer specialized .308 rifles and chassis systems. Ammunition variants include full metal jacket, soft point, hollow point, boat-tail, and match-grade rounds marketed by Federal Premium, Ballistic Tip, Hornady Superformance, and Winchester Long Beard XR. Subsonic loads, tracer rounds, and specialty defense cartridges are manufactured by firms like Sellier & Bellot and PMC.

Military and Law Enforcement Use

While NATO adopted the 7.62×51mm NATO for military purposes, many law enforcement agencies and reserve military units retained or adopted .308 Winchester chambers in service and sniper rifles. Police agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Metropolitan Police Service have fielded rifles chambered for this cartridge. Military units including elements of the U.S. Army, British Army, and Canadian Armed Forces have used rifles firing comparable rounds in platforms like the M14 rifle, FN FAL, and precision rifles from Accuracy International. Ammunition procurement involves contractors including Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.

Civilian Use and Sporting Applications

The cartridge is popular among hunters pursuing game species in regions such as Yellowstone National Park country and across ranges in Alaska, Montana, and Argentina for elk, deer, and hog hunting. Sporting shooters and competitive marksmen use .308 Winchester in competitions organized by groups such as the National Rifle Association of America and International Practical Shooting Confederation, and in events like F-Class and Precision Rifle Series matches. Outfitters and guides from companies like Orvis and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers frequently recommend the cartridge for versatility.

Safety and Reloading Considerations

Reloading .308 Winchester requires adherence to published load data from companies such as Hornady, Nosler, Speer, and Lee Precision. Safe reloading practices reference manuals and standards from organizations like SAAMI and vendors such as Brownells and MidwayUSA. Cartridge pressure variations between commercial .308 Winchester loads and military-spec 7.62×51mm NATO should be considered when mixing ammunition; armorer guidance from manufacturers including Remington and FN Herstal is often cited. Personal protective equipment and approved reloading tools from RCBS, Hornady Lock-N-Load, and Lee are recommended to prevent overpressure, case rupture, and primer hazards.

Category:Cartridges