.308 Winchester
.308 Winchester
Type
Rifle
Place of origin
United States
Production history
Designed
1952
Specifications
Parent case
.300 Savage [1]
Case type
Rimless, Bottleneck
Bullet diameter
0.308 in (7.8 mm)
Neck diameter
0.3433 in (8.72 mm)
Shoulder diameter
0.4539 in (11.53 mm)
Base diameter
0.4709 in (11.96 mm)
Rim diameter
0.4728 in (12.01 mm)
Rim thickness
0.0539 in (1.37 mm)
Case length
2.015 (51.18 mm)
Overall length
2.800 (71.12 mm)
Case capacity
56 gr H2O (3.6 cm3)
Primer type
Large rifle
Maximum pressure (C.I.P.)
60,191 psi (415.00 MPa)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)
62,000 psi (430 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type
Velocity
Energy
125 gr (8 g) Spitzer
3,100 ft/s (940 m/s)
2,668 ft⋅lbf (3,617 J)
150 gr (10 g) Nosler tip
2,820 ft/s (860 m/s)
2,648 ft⋅lbf (3,590 J)
168 gr (11 g) BTHP
2,650 ft/s (810 m/s)
2,700 ft⋅lbf (3,700 J)
175 gr (11 g) BTHP
2,645 ft/s (806 m/s)
2,619 ft⋅lbf (3,551 J)
185 gr (12 g) Lapua Mega JSP
2,510 ft/s (770 m/s)
2,588 ft⋅lbf (3,509 J)
Test barrel length: 24 in (26 in for Lapua) [2]
The .308 Winchester (pronounced: "three-oh-eight") is a rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge and is the commercial cartridge from which the 7.62×51mm NATO round was derived. The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952, two years prior to the NATO adoption of the 7.62×51mm NATO T65. Winchester branded the cartridge and introduced it to the commercial hunting market as the .308 Winchester. Winchester's Model 70, model 100 and Model 88 rifles were subsequently chambered for the new cartridge. Since then, the .308 Winchester has become the most popular short-action, big-game hunting cartridge worldwide.[3] It is also commonly used for civilian hunting, target shooting, metallic silhouette, bench rest target shooting, palma, metal matches, military sniping, and police sharpshooting. The relatively short case makes the .308 Winchester especially well-adapted for short-action rifles. When loaded with a bullet that expands, tumbles, or fragments in tissue, this cartridge is capable of high terminal performance.[4][5][6]
Although very similar to the military 7.62×51mm NATO specifications, the .308 cartridge is not identical, and there are special considerations that may apply when mixing these cartridges with 7.62×51mm NATO, and .308 Winchester chambered arms.[7] Their interchange is, however, considered safe by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI).