Sniper calibers

Mark2

Mark2

New member
Just wondering why the 308 seems to be the goto round for allot of sniper rifles. What makes this round so popular/better for this use.


Mark2
 
Versatility, lethality, ballistics, inherent accuracy. world wide adoption of the cartridge helps too.
 
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It was adopted by the USMC mainly because it was shorter/lighter than the 30-06 and had 90% of it's performance and seemed like a good idea at the time.

The the 308 is still a great round in it's own right, but there are others that would serve the purpose just as well or better........
 
The idea was to go shorter, smaller, more packable, more cartridge efficiency. 300 Win mag would be just the opposite of what they were thinking of when the cartridge was adopted........
 
I think the new military calibers include the 338 and the 50s. LEOs still use the 308 because most of what they deal with is under 800 yards.
 
Before this conversation gets too far along, I suppose we should define what type of "sniper rifle" we are talking about. Most 338 Lapuas and all .50s are not built on the same platform as the 308 rifles. Different rifles, different purposes........
 
I was referring to the usual bolt action rem 700 or savage 110 for law enforcement / military sniper. Not the BMG


Mark2
 
My dad, who used to carry a BAR in the USMC, said it was about weight savings, so they could carry more rounds into battle. I also suppose recoil played a factor in it's adoption. Dave
 
the 308/7.62x51 has been in the goverment supply chain a looooong time. Thats why it's most popular.

can you say_ freebee's
 
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Originally Posted By: RustyCJ8My dad, who used to carry a BAR in the USMC, said it was about weight savings, so they could carry more rounds into battle. I also suppose recoil played a factor in it's adoption. Dave

I ask this, not to be a SA but because I want to know. Why would a sniper ever be overly concerned with a large number of rounds to carry ? If I needed more than a hand full I'd be pickin a different format for a gun. Same thought with recoil.....its not an all day gun.
 
I just watched a program on the History Channel called "Sniper, Behind the Crosshairs" (I think) and they were highlighting one Marine that was in a position in Iraq for about a week with his spotter... Many other stories I've read about the Viet Nam War had the snipers going quite a way behind enemy lines for their assignments...

The number of rounds were more than a "handful" ... and some of the distances required cartridges that would be accurate well past the normal 600-1,000 yards...but they seemed to do well with the .308..

Most city law enforcement counter sniper units are shooting under 200 yards...but due to potential barriers (glass, walls, cars, etc), the .308 is more decisive than the .223...
 
Keep in mind some carried M14s and M21s with substantially larger magazine capacities than M24s or M40s. That weight savings would make a definite difference toting it around 24/7.

Also, you have to look at it in terms of actual shipping weight and carrying weight of millions of boxes of ammo.

Happy birthday.........
 
There is the added aspect of carrying the same ammo for the sniper team from a military aspect. the spotter/designated marksmen carries a weapon chambered in 7.62 also. Typically it is a semi auto weapon for higher rate of fires. This allows the team to both carry ammo that is interchangeable between the two.
 
skb2706, no offense taken. I guess I should have been a little more specific in my reply. My dad's comment was more about the reduction in case size as it applied to the number of rounds a soldier was able to carry into battle. I also believe you put a .30-06 in the hands of a kid who has never fired a gun before and your going to have some issues. Dave
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgun
The the 308 is still a great round in it's own right, but there are others that would serve the purpose just as well or better........

I was referring to this, in regards to my comment. Guess it all depends on the use of said sniper rifle.
 


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