Re: so you want to shoot 308 to a mile?
I live in Ca - and I don't want this to reflect poorly on all of the serious shooters from this state.
This is the range we've been shooting at a buddy's place- The max distance we had was 1580 - the targets at that distance was worn out USMC 50bmg targets (IPSC Shaped, I don't have exact dimensions), the closer targets were 66% and 1/2 IPSC. I have cold bore hits with .308, 300 and 338lm on the furthest targets - more than a couple times. I have no problem hitting the 1580 with my 18" OBR - I know its not a mile...but if my rifle and pda can get me to that distance, i'm fairly certain its not going to fail me for the next couple hundred yards.
As far as damage at that distance - maybe it is just the fact that we were shooting over canyons, but you can hear even the .308 at 1580. If it has enough energy to gong the heavy 50 targets at that distance, i'm pretty sure it'd punch threw people pretty easy.
I tried to mark the different targets, of course you really can't see them in this picture, but they're there. The furthest is in the top right, then there is another at around 1500, a couple around 1300 and the closest is 1200. The .338lm rings the metal really well, the .300wm does good work as well, but even the .308 can be heard with the naked ear or with electronic muffs.
also had a closer knoll to shoot from where we cut the distance down by 600 yards.
At these distances all the hits were very recognizable - even hits from the 5.56 at 700yards can be heard...(some people think the 556 is only good to 600 yards and wouldn't hurt a fly past 601 HAAAA...)