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A serious caliber choice question!!....

Nostradumbass

Nostradumbass

Falconer
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Sep 7, 2009
    863
    311
    NE Texas
    I just made a tough decision on my next rifle. It was between the 408 and 375 cheytac. I chose the 408, even though I've ran the ballistics on both and seen where the 375 beats it hands down, and with folks telling me the 375 is the way to go.

    That brought me to this question. Why do inferior long range calibers still exist?
    Example: 308win. I've got a 6.5X47 lapua, it beats the 308 ballistically and still 308 is arguably more popular than the 6.5. Why is that?

    I'm not pissing on the 308....I love it!
    Just wondering if it comes down to personal preference, or is it something deeper than that?

    Thanks!
    Phillip
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    308 to some is not inferior. People make loads that they shoot better then the other rounds. Also, availability of 308 is great. It all comes down to the preferance of which one makes.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    I don't know anything about the 408 or 375, but just out of curiosity how come you chose the 408 if the 375 is better(kinda answers your question)?

    I think the 308 got popular for the same reason the 30-06 got popular in that the military was using it so it was abundant and familiar. It's hard to get rid of something when everybody has one
    grin.gif
    .

    I turned my 308 into a 7mm08 just as soon as I could do so practically. The 6.5mm and 7mm make much better projectiles unless you're willing to super size everything.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArmchairElite</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know anything about the 408 or 375, but just out of curiosity how come you chose the 408 if the 375 is better(kinda answers your question)?

    I think the 308 got popular for the same reason the 30-06 got popular in that the military was using it so it was abundant and familiar. It's hard to get rid of something when everybody has one
    grin.gif
    .

    I turned my 308 into a 7mm08 just as soon as I could do so practically. The 6.5mm and 7mm make much better projectiles unless you're willing to super size everything.</div></div>
    Yeah, I chose the 408 because of 75% personal preference, and 25% terminal ballistics. That's what brought on my question....why aren't we all using the most ballistically accurate calibers available? Because of personal preference?? I kinda think that, but just want to know what other shooters think.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    Precision is only one variable in the equation.

    Cost? Weight of ammo? Terminal ballistics? Barrel life? Recoil? How finicky is it? Versatility? Does it have to perform well short of 600 m? Longer than 2000m?

    A 308 shooting 175 SMK can maintain sub MOA precision out to 1000+, with a barrel life measured in increments of 5000 rounds. Ammo is fairly light, much can be carried. Excellent terminal ballistics out to mid-range. Recoil is very manageable even with lightweight barrel. So much is known about this round that if you know BC, DA, and wind, you'll ring steel your first shot out without ever building your own dope.

    You want to hit things way out there, then 308 is limited.

     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    Nos,

    Energy down range. Otherwise, second jpr.

    HTH,
    DocB
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    Wait a second and look at the 338 Xtreme Tactical xtrememachining.biz/products_338xtreme.html

    It has better ballistics than the .408 hands down
    shocked.gif
    at 2000yd takea look at it.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    Better ballistics AND better bullet options are the main reason the .375 is far more popular than the .408 these days.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    Cost, weight, and availability all play a factor when choosing a round. Obviously if none of these mattered, everyone would be using the 408 or 375CT, or even the 338LM, but the fact is these cartridges cost a lot more to reload and find ammo for, components aren't as available for them, and the recoil these rounds produce require that you use a much heavier rifle to compensate. All this accompanied with the fact that you can use a couple hundred rounds in comps, thus spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars in ammunition along when using something like the 375CT, is what prevents people from using them.

    Personally, I'll stick with my 7's and 30 cal's if I want to reach out, they can hit as far out as I want them to hit and definitely don't need the large downrange energy produced by the 338, 375 and 408, but to each his own.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    I think we overlook the greatest variable of all....variety. It's the spice of life! Guys like different things, and certain things catch everybody's fancy. In other words....to each his own.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    A HUGE reason .308 is so popular is because the military uses it. And the military will continue to use it because of commonality. If a sniper runs out of M118LR he can just de-link some M80 ball ammo and stay in the fight. Of course now the Army is also issuing some .300 wins for units going to Afghanistan because the longer effective range is needed. But anyways...everyone else usually seems to follow suit with the military, including LE. There aren't many calibers other than .308 or .223 suited for LE snipers due to the lack of quality factory loaded ammunition. And my personal reason for choosing .308 is barrel life. I'd love to run a .260 or .243 but I need more than 2500 rds of barrel life. I also like the versatility of being able to shoot larger game. Calibers are always a comprimise, you can't have everything.
     
    Re: A serious caliber choice question!!....

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: B4forever</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I'd love to run a .260 or .243 but I need more than 2500 rds of barrel life. I also like the versatility of being able to shoot larger game. Calibers are always a comprimise, you can't have everything. </div></div>Unless you have a 7mm
    wink.gif
     
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