Question:
I've been getting into some bird hunting with my shotgun, and it is just
possible I might attempt to go deer hunting someday, so in that case would
the .308 be a good choice? Is there a wide selection of bullets
available? For hunting, ammo cost is not important. .223 is legal in my
state for deer, but I'd have to be pretty darn certain of my shot, and to
have a marginal round with an inexperienced hunter (me) doesn't seem right
to me...
Answer:
For deer, the .308 is an excellent choice. I've used one for
whitetail for almost 30 years and most have dropped in their tracks
with one shot. Accuracy is excellent and you can easily find bullet
weights from 110 -180 grain (and others are also available).
Recoil may be a different matter. Lighter weight bullets with
mild loads will produce minimal recoil but Mil Surplus or hunting
rounds will produce a kick. The recoil is not unreasonable or
uncomfortable but after 100 rounds, you might wish you were shooting a
..22. I'm making the assumption that you would be firing from a bench.
Felt recoil would be much less from standing, kneeling etc. I've fired
as many as 250 12 ga. rounds in a morning or afternoon hunt with an
over/under at Whitewings in Mexico but I wouldn't want to fire 100
rounds from my .308 from a bench.
