Thread: What 308 to buy

Originally Posted by dannyb

it's not, but you could cut wait even further buy using the 3-12x44 (535g) or 1.5-9x44 (575g)

I think the closer parallax and minimum mag of 2.5 would be more useful comparing the 2.5-15 vs the 3-18.....talk to Martin at Ammo direct Rolleston he'll give you plenty of guidance around GPO's

@dannyb and @woods223 are right.

I have two lightweight rifles that both come in around 5.5lb bare. One has a very light sub 500gr scope on it, the other has a very reasonable weight GPO 1.5-9x 44.
https://www.nzammo.co.nz/product/271...i-2fp-g4i-drop

Now I really like the GPO scope, but the extra weight on similar bare rifles is noticeable. I wouldn't go heavier preferentially.
For the distances you are after, it would be a great scope! the 3-12 might give you a bit more flexibility. at less weight. Ive found with use and experimenting, I don't really need the super low 1.5 or 2 power options, and mostly now stick with 3x

So if this
https://www.nzammo.co.nz/product/272...-super-compact

Had been available when I bought mine, It would have been my preference.

I'm just not convinced on the Howa Superlite which is a shame because it ticked every box for me when I was rifle shopping last year. The stock is not great. I know it doesn't bother other forum members, but it bothers me. Also shooting a rifle, any rifle that light accurately at the distances the OP talks about is going to be a challenge.I would say the Tikka Bush Hunter, not because I'm a Tikka fan boy, but because it ticks all the boxes. That said, if being lightweight is really important, then go Howa Superlite.

Thanks, this is good value discussion.
This scope (thanks whanahuia)GPO CENTURI 3-12x44i G4i 2FP
Paired with a new tikka bush hunter. Or howa, still haven't decided. Will probably go to a shop that has both and hold them, that will probably tell me.
Either option seems like a good combo.

Originally Posted by Brad S

Thanks, this is good value discussion.
This scope (thanks whanahuia)GPO CENTURI 3-12x44i G4i 2FP
Paired with a new tikka bush hunter. Or howa, still haven't decided. Will probably go to a shop that has both and hold them, that will probably tell me.
Either option seems like a good combo.

I can almost guarantee the Howa will be nicer to handle and the Tikka will fell like a lump in comparison which is funny because Tikka rifles are sold as being light. Just for reference, the Bush Hunter weights 2.6kg bare (I weighed it myself). Check out the flexibility of the forend on the Howa. Good luck and report back.

Originally Posted by MB

I can almost guarantee the Howa will be nicer to handle and the Tikka will fell like a lump in comparison which is funny because Tikka rifles are sold as being light. Just for reference, the Bush Hunter weights 2.6kg bare (I weighed it myself). Check out the flexibility of the forend on the Howa. Good luck and report back.

So you find the howa is nicer to handle, but the stock a bit flimsy?

Looking at similar idea with moving on my 7 mm rem mag and using shortened 308.
Enjoy the closer hunting and shooting with my dog tagging along.
Was going to change my zeiss 3-9x 40 to something else for a bit further shots. Gun is a Winchester model 70 featherweight 308. Love the gun but needs a couple of parts and a tidy up for sure.
Thought about the tikka or howa but still a fan of wood stocks

I know of 2 people who had the front sling stud pull out of their Howa superlite stock. Howa replaced them no problem but if your Z8 landed on the rocks I don't think they would help out there.

Good to know. Would like to hear more negative reviews and specific problems with the howa if anyone's got them

I have no experience with Howa rifles but have several Tikkas. I recently bought a standard T3X in 308 and shortened it to 20 inches and put a DPT on it . I put a Leupold 3.5x10 30 mm tube scope on it which I have found to be good out to 600 yards on a target. I think the 20 inch barrel gives you a bit more for the longer shots but doesn’t make it to long for the tight stuff. After I set my one up I shot 3 shots into a 9 inch square at 600 yards, I actually surprised myself with that one. I was using 165 gr SST at 2730 fps handloads.

600 yard target attached

I wouldn't put anything bigger than a 3-9x40 type scope on a superlight, the whole point of a superlight rifle is enjoying how it carries and outright weight is only part of that equation, when you start putting big objectives etc on a short light carrying rifle they become unbalanced which may not bother you but when you've had the pleasure of carrying one around with a nice compact scope you'll most definitely notice the difference going to anything bigger. I was shooting gongs at 548yds with mine today no worries with a little vixen 2-8x32 on it, was dialing rather than using the reticle which it's not really designed for but did the job perfectly fine, I definitely won't go rushing out to put a larger scope on it just for the few times it might be roped into longer range duty. I also find it hard to believe that there is an inherent problem with sling studs pulling out of them, they are not the flashest stock in regards to the inletting etc but bedding mine tidied it up nicely, I've also got a MTNGear rail on mine now, one of the bolts goes into the steel thread which is built into the stock where the original sling stud was and the other I put through it and epoxied a nut and washer into the stock to hold it. The factory setup was done quite well compared to a lot of other carbon stocks I have messed with and the rifle is also a lot lighter than most to begin with so there's not a lot of stress on the sling studs, to pull one out you'd probably have to be a bloody rough bugger and would probably pull the sling studs out of a a lot of other stocks also. Things I don't like about it.. I didn't like the soft touch coating and camo pattern so stripped mine back to the nude carbon look, I'm also not a massive fan of detach magazines in hunting rifles so the sooner a floorplate bottom metal and internal mag becomes readily available in nz the better.
I've had plenty of flasher rifles, bigger (much much) more expensive scopes etc but I really like this wee rig, it's accurate with pretty much all the factory ammunition I've put through it from 123gr to 168gr, it does the job near and far, it's not so flash I'm spending all my time babying it, and it's super super awesome to carry and shoot

@Mooseman same set up but a 3x15 bonne and crockett I can drop mine of to you and see if you can get it to shoot the same
I've only used some sako ammo in it so far nothing over 200m

Originally Posted by bigbear

@Mooseman same set up but a 3x15 bonne and crockett I can drop mine of to you and see if you can get it to shoot the same
I've only used some sako ammo in it so far nothing over 200m

I haven’t done any long range stuff for a while but will one day, I am sure your set up will shoot just as well as mine the most important thing I think is inputting the right ballistic info so your dial up is correct. I have mine zeroed for 200 yds and found the 3.5 x10 quite adequate out to that range , I could see the white square plain as on 10 power.

Thanks @Ryan_Songhurst , was hoping you'd chip in. Why don't you have rings on it instead of a rail?
Also, have you decided to swap with my Bergara yet? Haha otherwise I would just buy it outright. Seems you're still attached to it though.

Originally Posted by Brad S

Thanks @Ryan_Songhurst , was hoping you'd chip in. Why don't you have rings on it instead of a rail?
Also, have you decided to swap with my Bergara yet? Haha otherwise I would just buy it outright. Seems you're still attached to it though.

It has talleys on it, rails also creep me out, rails and detach mags

Maybe a Mauser M18 cut down to 16”? That will cost you well under $2k.