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Common uses: Hunting, Big Game, Target, Tactical
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 180gr Norma Oryx |
| Muzzle velocity | 2612 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 2728 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.354 |
| Case length | 51.2 mm |
| Overall length | 71.37 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 62000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:10" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2612 | 2726 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2364 | 2233 | 0 |
| 200 | 2130 | 1813 | -4.7 |
| 300 | 1909 | 1456 | -17.2 |
| 400 | 1704 | 1160 | -39.3 |
| 500 | 1517 | 920 | -73.3 |
At 1,000 yards, .308 Win. (180gr at 2612 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 53.2 MOA / 15.5 MIL, retaining 970 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 1909 | Supersonic | -17.2 | 5.5 | 1.59 |
| 400 | 1704 | Supersonic | -39.3 | 9.4 | 2.73 |
| 500 | 1517 | Supersonic | -73.3 | 14.0 | 4.07 |
| 600 | 1351 | Supersonic | -122.6 | 19.5 | 5.68 |
| 700 | 1213 | Transonic | -190.9 | 26.0 | 7.58 |
| 800 | 1106 | Subsonic | -282.8 | 33.8 | 9.82 |
| 900 | 1028 | Subsonic | -403.3 | 42.8 | 12.45 |
| 1000 | 970 | Subsonic | -556.5 | 53.2 | 15.46 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .308 Winchester is a benchmark short-action cartridge prized for its balance of accuracy, manageable recoil, and versatility across a huge range of rifles. It is a proven medium and big-game hunter, capable on deer, black bear, elk, and hog at typical woods and open-country distances, and its inherent accuracy has made it a mainstay in target and tactical roles, including law enforcement and designated-marksman use. Ammunition and firearm availability are effectively universal, with factory loads spanning light varmint bullets to heavy 180-grain hunting projectiles like the load shown here. Its main tradeoff is that heavy-bullet, high-BC long-range performance eventually falls behind newer 6.5mm and magnum designs, but for most practical field and precision work inside 800 yards it remains one of the most capable and forgiving choices available.
Winchester introduced the .308 Winchester in 1952, commercializing the U.S. military's T65 experimental cartridge program that had grown out of the .300 Savage as a shorter, more efficient alternative to the .30-06 Springfield. The nearly identical 7.62×51mm NATO was adopted as a standard military round in 1954, and the two remain closely related though not fully interchangeable due to differences in chamber headspace and pressure standards. The cartridge became one of the most widely chambered rifle rounds in the world, spawning a large family of derivatives and serving as the basis for countless hunting, target, and military designs.
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