The .308 Winchester is the most widely used centrefire hunting and target cartridge in Australia, and for good reason. Introduced by Winchester in 1952 as the civilian version of the 7.62x51mm NATO round, it delivers .30-06 class performance from a short action, with factory ammunition available from every major maker and every rifle brand chambering it.
In the field it covers everything from fallow and red deer through to sambar, along with pigs and goats at practical hunting ranges. With 150 to 180 grain projectiles at 2,600 to 2,800 fps it hits hard without punishing recoil, and it feeds reliably in bolt actions, straight-pulls and lever guns alike. For pest controllers it is the sensible step up from .223 when the job calls for more energy.
On the range it is the backbone of Service Rifle, F-Class Standard (F/TR) and most club precision matches, with match projectiles from 155 to 175 grains and a deep supply of published load data. Barrel life is long and components are cheap, which is why so many shooters learn to reload on a .308.
A note on 7.62x51mm NATO: the two cartridges are dimensionally near-identical and most modern rifles chambered for one will safely fire the other, but NATO chambers run slightly longer headspace and military brass is thicker. If you are reloading or shooting an older military rifle, check with us first.
We keep .308 Winchester rifles from Tikka, Sako and other leading brands on the rack, hold hunting and match ammunition in depth, and stock dies, brass and projectiles for reloaders. Firearms are shipped Australia-wide to your nominated dealer.
