The 308 Winchester rifle is America’s favorite hunting round and we love taking it to war as well. Snipers use it, foot soldiers too. And hunters pretty much rely on 308 rifles for anything bigger than small game.
The 308 rifle has dealt with an onslaught of competition from the likes of 6.5 Creedmoor of late. That threatened to turn hunting into a weird long-distance sniper warzone for a while.
The old guard just watched and nodded politely, before packing their trusty .308 Win Mag in the truck. This is a round that has been with us since 1952 and it’s the most popular big game hunting cartridge in the world. It’s also strong defensively.
308 Win is going nowhere and this is a big list because there are so many great rifles chambered in 308 Win Mag.
The 308 Rifle, Hunt Critters, Hogs, Deer and More
The best 308 rifle can handle anything from humane varmint hunting through to America’s biggest game.
The .308 Winchester has served in the hands of military snipers. It has taken down hundreds of thousands of animals of all shapes and sizes around the world and it has achieved success in the US through to India.
What is the Best 308 Rifle Range?
In the real world it’s limited to hundreds of yards, ideally less than 400, but you can stretch it out to 600 yards and even 800. If you’re prepared to work at it and do a little math.
That generally depends how much gun you have hanging out front, though, and that ranges from 16 inches through to a vaguely ridiculous 26 inches.
If you’re hunting White Tail, hogs, caribou or even black bears at closer distances, then most will do the job. In their own special way…
Here are the best .308 Winchester rifles on sale in 2023. We think anyway…
1. Tikka T3x Superlite
- Price: $856.99
- Caliber: 308 Win Mag
- Barrel: 22.4 inch
- Weight: 5.9lb
You can get a Tikka bolt action rifle in a number of different trims, from target specialist through to a lightweight hunting rifle that is kind of our favorite.
The weight is the truly remarkable part with this 22.4 inch stainless steel barrel. The T3x synthetic stock with a low-angled grip is a classic approach executed to near perfection. And it all ensures this is a lightweight rifle when they’re done.
Snipers Love This Manufacturer
Tikka is part of the same Beretta Holding Groups as Finnish firearms icons Sako, which makes some of the finest shooters in the world.
Long distance shooters actually sent me angry emails to overthrow the result of the Best Sniper Rifles on the market in 2023 result and install the TAC-A1 that gets an honorary mention here too.
That technology has trickled down to the Tikka T3x Superlite to create one of the best 308 rifles. The Tikka is great value, it’s super light and seriously accurate.
Matte Synthetic Stock Should Survive
That synthetic stock should survive multiple seasons too. Tikka will sell you a gun with a walnut stock if that’s what you want. But a gun with a wood stock probably won’t live as long as this one in the wild.
If you want 7.62x51mm NATO bolt-action rifles that will outperform much more expensive fare, this is our tip.
You can choose from a number of Tikka specs and configurations. Check these links for some other set-ups that might appeal.
Tikka T3x TAC A1 – Sniper Trim
If you want the same mechanism and trusty tech in a precision rifle, then here you go. This is the pro version of the simple 308 Winchester bolt action rifle.
You get a 20 inch business end, aluminum chassis, a 10 round magazine and a lot of nice touches. It’s a heavier, high quality target rifle, but then you knew that. Get yours here.
2. Sig Sauer Cross
- Price: $1,615.99
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total Length: 39 inch
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight: 6.5lb
The new breed is here. This is the rifle that can do it all. It’s a target shooter, hunter, sniper rifle and functional home defense, too.
You’re missing a lot of the things you’d normally see in a duty weapon. But then you’ve got a lot of stuff you’d normally see in the hands of s sniper. So, there’s a bit to unpack here.
Clearly the Sig Sauer Cross is modular and is evolving into a model line with the Cross PRS Precision Long Range Rifle and the Cross Born and Raised. That second one is aimed at hunters that need to hike all day with a lightweight rifle and then take aim at 600 yards. Just becuz.
Sig thinks you should be able to do that and so it came up with what some people claim is the best 308 rifle in the world.
3. Smith & Wesson M&P10
- Price: $1,113.99
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total Length: 34 inch
- Capacity: 20+1
- Weight: 8lb
The semi automatic Smith & Wesson is a solid compromise of price, weight, ease of use and bone-chilling accuracy.
It’s an AR-10 platform that has been slimmed down to the point that you can shoulder it all day. It comes with 5R rifling and a 1:10 twist, together with a whole host of finishing touches from the legendary S&W Performance Center.
This isn’t a full Performance Center firearm, which is why it comes in at a price tag that we think is pretty phenomenal in this company.
The Best Value AR-10 Platform
When we stack this up against those costing three or four times as much, we think it holds its own. Ultimately there are better, but you will pay dearly for their privileges. This is a workhorse, an all-rounder, and 90% of the gun, probably 80% of the time.
The Smith & Wesson M&P10 Sport .308 for sale comes with an Armornite barrel coating, which is supposedly more effective than a chrome lined barrel when it comes to accuracy and durability.
You also get a chromed firing pin, a 9130 steel bolt and standard flash suppressor.
Complete Rifle With Bigger Bullet Weights
This AR platform with an 18″ barrel gives you complete flexibility and you can set it up as a sniper rifle, a battle rifle or as a home defense monster that makes an AR-15 look a little on the lightweight side. AR parts and accessories slot right home and look at this from a distance and it’s a Colt M4 on steroids.
It’s also a supremely rigid platform that you can add to as you like and it offers way more flexibility than the traditional 308 rifles. And if you’re weighing up an AR-15, well a 308 kills it dead in the battle rifles war.
A lot of your existing accessories can slot straight on and you don’t really have to adjust to it. It’s also right in the price range that most of us can just about cope with.
It’s a six position buttstock, optics ready and you can set the M&P10 up how you want, within reason.
All-Rounder, Not a Specialist or Sniper
This semi-auto rifle is a Jack of All Trades and a master of none, so don’t expect it to hang with the sniper rifles here at the outer reaches of the 308 Win Mag’s range.
But the M&P10 is dependable at short-range. Sometimes that’s all you want from your centerfire rifles…
4. Savage Axis II
- Price: $412.99
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Weight: 6.5lb
- Capacity: 4+1
Savage Arms keeps finding itself on these lists with a simple recipe of good value firearms that shoot straight. The Savage Axis is one of the best, but scalpers are making money on these too right now. So the final price might shock you…
This Savage Arms 308 Winchester bolt action rifle comes with a simple stock with molded grips in all the key areas. You can get a camo stock too, for a tiny bit more money, and Savage Arms have a lot of rifles to cater for your needs.
You get an AccuTrigger with integral trigger blade safety and a detachable box magazine. More importantly, the Savage Axis get the basics right and the button rifled barrel is supremely accurate on these 308 rifles.
For a gun in this price range, that’s a big deal.
This Savage Arms punches well about its financial weight in just about every caliber. So this is about as safe as bet’s get. You can also save even more and get a first gen Savage Arms Savage Axis if you really want to. They’re still great guns.
5. Christensen Arms CA-10 DMR
- Price: $3,299.99
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total Length: 39 inch
- Capacity: 20+1
- Weight: 7.1lb
Christensen Arms uses lightweight materials to give us seriously custom rifles at a price point that won’t always make you cry.
This is a carbon fiber wrapped barrel that you can order up to 24 inches in length. Seriously, the Christensen Arms is a next level DMR if you go for the longest set-up.
Save Weight, And Pay More
It also comes with a match-grade single stage trigger, a CF handguard and lots more weight saving tech like carbon fiber. The end result is an a 308 Semi Auto rifle that tips the scales at roughly the same weight as a workhorse AR-15 5.56 NATO.
The company can sell you the cheaper G2 rifle too. That will save about $750 and you get a lot of the same tech. Some of the CF goes away, though, and the result is a heavier rifle. But not that much.
You can get CF barrels for around $800 for the barrel alone from the likes of Proof Research. That’s a lot, and makes the CA-10 DMR look like good value. If you squint…
See the full line of CA 308 rifles you can buy today here. But we really like this battle rifle and think more gun safes should have one. We really like the modern precision, too, and even the bolt action pistol designed to get round local hunting gun laws aimed at 308 rifles.
6. Ruger American Rifle
- Price: $446.99
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total Length: 43.25 inch
- Weight: 6.2lb
- Capacity: 3+1
The Ruger American Predator has won the favor of the American public thanks to the best deals. It doesn’t get much simpler, though, so there’s not a great deal to say here.
You can get all kinds of Ruger variants, though, including the Ruger American rifle with Magpul stock that turns this into a serious tactical sniper. Look here for a full selection of Ruger American rifle set-ups here for hunting rifles, long range shooting specialists and more.
With this rifle, the bolt isn’t coated in space dust, the simple synthetic stock is cheap lightweight plastic and there really aren’t any clever surprises.
Basically this Ruger is going to shoot straight and true up to and including 400 yards. You know full well if that covers your general needs for a hunting rifle. If it does, then you just freed up money to buy another gun, like an AR-15 or a 6.5 Creedmoor.
You can get a left-handed Ruger, a longer barrel, Magpul stock, package deal with a Vortex scope, just about anything you want for your 308 rifles.
For the top Ruger rifles in any caliber, go here.
7. Barrett MRAD 308
- Price: $4,826.99
- Barrel: 24 inch
- Weight: 13.02lb
- Capacity: 10+1
The Barrett MRAD goes beyond the average hobby shooter. It’s military tech, and the MRAD platform means you can change caliber rifles in less than a minute and have everything from the humble .308 Win through to a 338 Lapua in under a minute.
That means this is an effective sniper rifle from 100 yards through to 2 miles and more and all you need to do is carry a lightweight conversion kit. These multi-caliber rifles are amazing.
For special forces and military in the field that’s a very big deal and it could also turn this 308 Win bolt action rifle into a cost effective weapon for you at home.
Caliber Conversion Kits are Quick, Easy and Expensive
Now the conversion kits for each caliber cost $1,300-$2,000 and slightly beyond. So this is not a cheap system, but it is absolutely devastating and it basically means you could slim an entire gun safe down to one main body and a selection of parts.
It also means you could have a .338 Lapua or 7mm Rem Mag through to 308 win and beyond.
It’s heavy, so this is not a gun you’ll enjoy shouldering all day and shooting from the shoulder. It’s a methodical weapon, where you’ll set up and pick your targets. They can be 250 yards away, or 2 miles, providing you’ve got the conversion kit with you.
So taking a white tail at 250 yards, an Elk at 1200 or the enemy at two miles away. With the Barrett M98B MRAD platform, that very weird little choice is suddenly yours.
8. Diamondback DB10
- Price: $1,032.99
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total Length: 28.5- inch
- Capacity: 20+1
- Weight: 8lb
It’s pretty easy to make a great AR-10 with a nut busting price tag. But producing a cheap rifle that works has proved too much for most manufacturers.
The Diamondback Firearms DB10 is not one of them. So if money is a major factor and you are looking for a beast of an AR10, this could be your Huckleberry.
It really is a beefed up AR-15. But that’s exactly what a lot of people want. So if you want a next gen battle rifle or hog hunter, this might be the one for you.
These are simple, cheap 308 rifles in an AR layout, and exactly what most of us kinda want.
9. Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon Speed
- Price: $1,337.99
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Total Length: 42.75 inch
- Total Weight: 6.3lb
The Browning X-Bolt has swiftly become a legend in its own lifetime with hunters and target shooters alike.
It’s really a custom rifle for big game hunting and offers a great compromise of portability, accuracy and reliability.
The 22 inch barrel with integral muzzle brake is Cerakote finished. And the composite stock has proven itself in the field as the basis of Browning’s most popular rifle. As a 308 Winchester rifle, it was always going to be a winner.
Typically you can buy the Browning X-Bolt in a range of calibers and configurations. There’s a longer barrel, which is inevitably significantly heavier. You can also get shorter, lightweight rifles if that’s your priority.
10. Daniel Defense DD5 V4 308
- Price: $2.863.99
- Barrel Length: 18 inch
- Total Length: 35.3-39 inch
- Weight: 8.6lb
The new DD5V4 might be the best semi auto .308 Win on the open market and was right there with the contenders. There’s so much quality here, this is a division of killers and only the desire to show you something new kept the DD off the top.
It’s a high-quality all-rounder, rather than a specialist. You’ll see that from the semi-automatic rifle AR platform, the 18″ barrel and the complete rifle.
The truth is these semi-automatic rifles are among the best in the world and the military would happily carry them.
Pass This Gun on to Your Kids. That’s Value…
This .308 Winchester rifle is that well screwed together. Seriously it’s an heirloom gun. If you have kids that like battle rifles.
Now the whole idea for this AR-10 was to get the .308 off the bench and into the real world. This is a hunting rifle that isn’t meant to be set up on a bipod. It’s meant to be shot from the shoulder, which means you don’t really too much hanging out front.
Lightweight Gas System Center of Epic Service Rifle
It’s more or less a duty weapon with a flourish of finishing touches that include that intricate buttstock and pistol grip.
This is no Magpul strap-on kit, and the tech highlights keep coming with a two-stage Geissele SSA trigger, DD Superior Suppression Device and Mil-spec and beyond receivers.
Tech Highlights Galore…
The business end is cold-hammer forged, the four-bolt connection system does away with the barrel nut and contributes to a streamlined, sleek design.
It’s lightweight, beautiful engineering that will stay with you for the rest of your days. You might want a Creedmoor, too, we’re not going to lie. But we wouldn’t mind betting that this becomes your first choice of 308 rifles.
What About the DD Delta 5 Pro?
The Delta 5 is another perfectly viable option in 308 Winchester. We liked the versatility of the AR-style weapon more. But these heavy barrel 308 Winchester bolt action rifles are a popular option in the target shooting community. We love it almost as much, and you’ll be happy if you buy one. Get yours here.
11. Christensen Arms Ridgeline
- Price: $1,780.99
- Barrel: 24 inch
- Total: 43.5 inch
- Weight: 6.3lb
- Capacity: 4+1
This custom rifle is the basic hunting rifle recipe made with the very best ingredients and engineered to perfection.
This 308 Winchester bolt action rifle is like Gordon Ramsay doing Mac & Cheese.
It’s a sub-MOA rifle, natch, and a Sporter Tier 2 stock. Despite that 24″ barrel the Christensen Arms Ridgeline weighs just 6.3lb. That makes this the perfect hunting companion for big game that’s out in the big country.
Lightweight materials, mainly the carbon fiber composite stock and CF wrapped steel barrel, are the secret to its success.
Choose from more than 20 calibers, or just buy this 308 Winchester.
12. FN SCAR 17S
- Price: $3,824.99
- Barrel: 17 inch
- Total Length: 28.5- inch
- Capacity: 20+1
- Weight: 8lb
Forget Mil-spec, the FN SCAR 17S is pretty much military grade, minus the full auto or three shot bursts. This is a simpler civilian version of SOCOM’s service weapon. You have to admit, that’s kind of badass in itself.
There have been a few grumblings about the weight and some other small issues with the stock, but that’s from the elite fighting forces.
For you and me, these battle rifles are better than us in every conceivable way.
This is a short-stroke, gas piston operated rifle and the 17S comes in .308 Win, while the 16S offers a 5.56 NATO option that is cheaper and lighter. But the .308 Win kicks harder.
As a self-defense rifle, you’d be hard-pressed to make a case against a weapon that some of America’s most fearsome fighting men have on a sling. It’s a versatile weapon and you could easily take it hunting or range shooting if that’s your thing.
FN Ownership is an Expensive Addiction
FN SCARs tend to turn into an addiction, is the only problem with these 308 rifles. There’s no real quantifiable reason why, I mean it’s perfectly engineered, but then lots of guns are these days. No, you just have to shoot an FN SCAR to really get it.
If you do, you’re probably already hooked and you can forget about nice cars and kids’ college funds.
It’s aircraft-grade aluminum (isn’t it always?) on the lower receiver, with a hard-anodized finish. There’s a cold hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and it’s a free-floating barrel too. So it was built with accuracy in mind, and the sturdy furniture and signature stock simply protect those oh so reliable and accurate inner workings.
Everything’s adjustable, it’s amazing and you probably don’t need us to tell you that.
You just need us to tell you where to buy an FN SCAR. Here’s a great place to start.
What About the FN SCAR 20S?
Ready to get a little more serious with your shooting? Well the FN Scar 20S is a stunning gun that builds on the experience with the 17S and other models to create a Designated Marksman Rifle you might just want in your life.
It’s $4,000. But then it is a competitive shooting work of art. Get yours here.
13. Remington 700 SPS Tactical
- Price: $926.99
- Barrel: 16.5 inch
- Total Length: 36.25 inch
- Weight: 7.5lb
- Capacity: 4+1
If you prefer simplicity then the Remington Special Purpose Synthetic Tactical rifle is a total bargain.
You can get any flavor of Remington 700 you want, from a 26 inch target champion with the military chassis that makes the legendary 700 action a different animal altogether. It’s a model line, not a gun. Check out more of them here.
Do You Want a More Advanced Remington Model 700?
You can spend thousands on a custom Remington 700. Our partner Euro Optic has some of the best deals on factory custom guns with the Remington Defense badge.
They include the old-style, wilfully retro Remington M24 sniper rifle, an AR-10 and the much more advanced chassis system that today’s military can call upon. Check them out here.
This is the no-frills, entry-level Remington 700, but it comes with the iconic ‘three rings of steel’ enclosing the cartridge that has earned the company a legendary reputation for reliability and consistency. You also get a Hogue overmolded grip with a semi-beavertail to help you hold on with gloves, in all conditions.
Ready for a Killer Scope
It’s drilled and tapped for a scope, suppressor ready and you get Remington’s awesome patented SuperCell recoil pad. You can also adjust the trigger to your personal preference and get a clean break at your desired weight.
Honestly Remington is so deeply intertwined with this round that you can’t really leave its 308 rifles out of any discussion. It’s that important, the basic rifle is that good and you really don’t need frills in a short-range hunting gun.
No, you need a gun that can take a beating. You need a weapon you can drop in the river, mud, sleet and snow. Also, you need a gun that has been proven time and again in the most inhospitable places known to man. You hear the odd complaint about Remington’s QC these days, but for the most part the Remington 700 is basic, tried and trusted engineering that doesn’t really go wrong.
You really do need a Remington SPS Tactical, when you think about it…
14. Accuracy International AXSA
- Price: $7,911.00
- Barrel: 20 inch
- Total: 43 inch
- Weight: 12.2lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Elite military units around the world rely on the Accuracy International AX sniper rifles.
Barrett has won the US military contract now, but there are still specialists that insist on the portable AX.
This one is only for serious hobby shooters. But if that’s you, then this is a performance bargain and the price won’t even stop you.
15. Bergara B-14 Timber
- Price: $970.99
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Total Length: 36.9 inch
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight: 7.6lb
Spanish manufacturer Bergara makes a full range and even lightweight hunters that are arguably more practical than this wood bolt action rifle.
But this nostalgic wood rifle combines old world charm with one of the best bolt action set-ups anybody has to offer. It’s a good rifle that also looks the part thanks to the walnut stock.
The company is famous for its largely automated barrel production facility that produces high end steel for others, as well as themselves. The complete rifles are getting lots of love, too, and it’s easy to see why these 308 rifles are finding buyers.
This Monte Carlo stock looks amazing and contains two epoxy resin pillars that are drilled out before the stock is CNC machined. That saves weight, adds rigidity and does all kinds of other good stuff.
It’s a slick rifle that looks old and feels new. That’s kinda nice in itself.
16. HK MR762A1 Long Range Precision
- Price: $7,139.99
- Barrel: 16.5 inch
- Total: 36.5-40.5 inch
- Weight: 10.42lb
- Capacity: 20+1
This is pure military hardware trying to make the cross over to civilian life. The H&K MR762A1 battle rifle and LRP is just finding its place in the world, but serious target shooters have taken the gun to their heart.
You will find cheaper and lighter on this list, and even both together. The HK rifle is an anomaly to be honest. It’s heavy, with a proper heavy barrel. It’s not particularly long and really it’s a high price, high spec, short barrel sniper. If that’s a thing.
HK: You Either Love Them, Or Not…
You either get this gun and want it desperately, or you don’t. At all. HK, and particularly it’s pricing, has this uncanny ability to polarize the firearms crowd. Literally, it causes internet forum fights all the time…
It’s like Apple vs Android, with guns.
But HK knows you only need a few people to really love your 308 rifles. And this is the second generation of the H&K MR762A1. That speaks volumes for the success of this custom rifle for home users and competitive shooting.
What’s in the LRP Package?
The engineering centers on H&K’s legendary short action gas piston and pusher rod. Malfunctions are basically eliminated. But you pay a price in terms of weight and cost.
The free floating HK Modular Rail System contains a keyhole system for putting Picatinny rails where you want. There’s a full-length rail up top too.
A HK G28 adjustable cheekpiece buttstock and LaRue Tactical bipod join forces with a Leupold 3-9×40 VX-R Patrol scope that’s included with the deal.
Even a Wilson Combat qualifies as much cheaper. Contemplate that thought…
This precision barrel comes with a 1:11 twist rate and has been tuned to go beyond sub-MOA, which is a big step up on the original.
An Icon, Just Not For Everyone…
If you want to buy a H&K MR762A1 I could have spent the last minute saying the whole thing is made of moldy cheese and you’d still be placing your order. If you don’t want one, I could have thrown in a unicorn and that talking sex doll in with the package and you’d still sneer.
That’s the way it is. It is a legend. The buy button is here if you want it, and if not, well we get you too. We got cheaper 308 rifles for you.
17. Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM
- Price: $2,043.99
- Barrel Length: 16 inch
- Total Length: 37.25 inch
- Weight: 8.8lb
- Magazine: 10+1
Yes it looks like the love child of an M1 Garand and an AR-15. That’s exactly the aesthetic the company was going for with this particular matte black synthetic variant of its almighty M1A.
Would SOCOM take this Springfield M1A as a battle rifle? Well no, of course they wouldn’t. Really it’s a futuristic mash-up of the 308 Win rifles of yesteryear and today’s AR-15. It’s a steampunk rifle, not a tactical rifle. But it has character by the bucketful and you have to admit you want one.
You can buy all kinds of M14 M1 Garand based goodies. It’s how the company started all the way back in 1974, basically taking the name as a branding exercise.
Now it pays homage to the legendary M1 Garand with a series of modern rifles that offer everything from luxury wood finishes through to this high-tech offering. In some form it deserves its place on the list of the best 308 rifles.
A Gun Going Strong Since 2004
The Springfield M1A SOCOM launched in 2004 and it’s still with us today, which speaks volumes for this left-field and slightly bizarre rifle.
If you like to admire your rifle and shoot when the sun is out, get a wood one. If this is a shooting rifle, then the M1A SOCOM has a lot to like about it. The adjustable buttstock means you can get comfortable on your rifle. The iron sights obviously come with the package, but there’s a rail for a scope as well.
The threaded match grade barrel is nice, although you can push the boat out even further if you want to invest in an M14 M1 Garand based competition .308 rifle or a fully loaded scout rifle.
For most of us, the Springfield M1A in all its forms is just about quirky enough. And if you want to see some other options for your Springfield M1A 308 rifles that are a little less tacti-cool, for hunting perhaps, then start here.
You can get a Flat Dark Earth rifle, a composite stock, a wood stock and just about everything in between.
18. Armalite AR10
- Price: $1,799.99
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total Length: 33.2-37.2 inch
- Weight: 8.3lb
- Magazine: 10+1
The Armalite AR10 is a proper 308 Battle rifle with some very modern AR15 touches.
This is a Modern Sporting Rifle, chopped down and then loaded with this hard-hitting ammunition. This might be the best home defense offering here and it’s a brutal weapon of war in full auto form.
In semi auto form it’s less of a hunter and more of a self defense option. But the world needs those 308 rifles, too, and this might be the best one here.
19. Steyr Scout
- Price: $1,693.99
- Barrel: 19 inch
- Weight: 6.6lb
The Steyr Scout rifle is a legend that is lightweight, cheap and just a solid platform that some people swear by.
The Austrian company has simply perfected the classic Scout rifle concept that has been with us for decades now. The basic idea was a portable 308 Win bolt action rifle that could hit a target at 450m without scopes.
Shooting legend Jeff Cooper helped design the Steyr Scout and it comes loaded with features like storage for a magazine in the butt.
Savage, Ruger and more have come up with their own answers. But the Steyr Scout rifle is still the benchmark.
20. Ruger Precision Rifle
- Price: $1,490.99
- Caliber: 308 Win Mag
- Barrel: 20 inch
- Weight: 9.8lb
This is one of the great 308 Win bolt action rifles, for those of you that want a starter competition shooter, at a reasonable price.
There are more accurate guns here, but they cost more. It isn’t super cheap, but it offers exceptional value for money if you’re looking to get into paper punching in this price range.
The Ruger comes with that infinitely adjustable stock, which should help you get comfortable when you’re going for the full sniper effect. The 20 inch barrel is straight and true too. It’s also ready to accept a flash hider or a suppressor, depending on your needs.
21. Savage Arms 11 Long Range Hunter
- Price: $999.99
- Barrel: 26 inch
- Total Length: 46.5 inch
- Capacity: 3+1
- Weight: 8.4lb
This is an oddball heavy barrel hunting rifle, but I just love it at the shooting range, in the field, for shooting sports, everywhere.
I’m not sure I would hunt with these 308 rifles. You could, but the long threaded barrel that has become one of the industry benchmarks is enough of a reason to own one in itself.
If you have some land to play with, then accounting for the drop-off of a .308 Winchester can become an addictive and maddening sport as you purposefully taunt yourself with targets that are right on the cusp of impossible.
Simply owning this gun, and having some room to play, will turn you into a better long-distance sniper.
An 800 Yarder
So treat this as a training gun on 800 yard shots with 308 rifles,
If you can master the vagaries of the .308, then that alone will give you enough satisfaction to justify this oddball purchase. And longer gun cases, maybe.
People do use them to hunt on the wide open plains where you can’t always get up close and personal with your dinner.
But that’s a niche application that you don’t actually need to enjoy to buy one of these. It’s an edge of the envelope, unusual gun that comes with its own inherent challenges and rewards.
That sounds like good hobby shooting to me…
Savage 110 Tactical is Shorter Option
The Savage 110 Tactical is a simpler, shorter gun that you might want to look at as well.
22. Springfield Armory Saint Victor 308
- Price: $1,382.99
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total: 37.75 inch
- Weight: 7.7lb
The Springfield Saint Victor is one of the stalwarts in our Best AR-15s under $1000 and best AR-15 pistols posts. The best budget AR-10 is the big boy of the box magazine line-up and it comes with a real set of killer tech highlights that create a compelling case for this budget rifle.
It weighs just 7.7lb and that is lightweight for an AR. It’s basically the lightweight AR-15 beefed up just enough to accommodate the 308 Winchester round. That works for us in our 308 rifles.
Good Enough For Average Joe
You end up with a semi auto 7.62x51mm NATO AR-10 you can happily haul round with you all day. It’s plenty accurate enough for medium to short range hunting and could be a legend on a hog hunt where follow up shots are a big bonus. Magazine capacity is great too.
The interrupted rail up top saves weight. There’s a mid-length gas system and a 15 inch free float handguard protecting 16″ of precision steel. It’s all very AR-15, which is a good thing, and it’s a seriously cheap and light package for a 308 AR-10.
23. Thompson Center Compass
- Price: $369.99
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Total Length: 37.25 inch
- Weight: 7.2lb
- Magazine Capacity: 5+1
The Thompson Center Compass is another budget 308 Winchester bolt action rifle that does the job.
There’s nothing particularly new here and it’s a direct competitor for the Mossberg and Ruger.
So if you want a Thompson Center, then you know exactly what you’re buying and yes, it’s good.
This is not really the company’s standout effort and you can see the much cooler Thompson Center G2 Contender in this posts:
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24. Palmetto State Armory Gen3 PA10
- Price: $839.99
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total Length: 36 inch
- Weight: 8lb
- Capacity: 20+1
We’re always going to have the Palmetto State Armory debate and they divide people like politics, but I’m just gonna say this. If this spec sheet was attached to a $3,000 Sig Sauer, people would be queuing round the block to throw the money at them.
This is the range-topping Palmetto State Armory Gen3 with the 416R stainless steel barrel. The lower and upper receivers are forged 7075-T6 Aluminum.
The bolt carrier group is Nitride-coated 8620 steel and the bolt is 9310 with more Nitride coating, while the two-stage trigger is coated in Nickel Teflon. Apart from a billet lower receiver, which would be a pipe dream in this sector, a Crack pipe, the spec is pretty hot.
The Colt M4 look is obvious, right down the classic fixed front sight and handguard. Palmetto State Armory has other styles if these battle rifles aren’t your thing.
You either love Palmetto State Armory or you hate them. Like Neo, you have already made your decision, maybe now you just need to understand why. Or not. Your call.
25. Mossberg Patriot
- Price: $477.99
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Total Length: 42.75 inch
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight: 7lb
There are some truly clever guns on this list that all have one thing in common. One way or another, the designers have engineered around the inherent limitations of the round.
Mossberg simply embraces them, doesn’t try to get too smart and the end result is a light, cheap 308 rifle. This is a cheap, honest entry-level 308 Winchester bolt action rifle.
That’s all some people want in their centerfire rifles. The Mossberg Patriot 308 Win does everything they need in a hunting rifle.
The great thing about this gun is that it’s so cheap you could effectively pair it with a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle for extreme shooting. You could buy one of each and still have a huge pile of change left over if you go this route.
Two Rifles to Cover Your Needs
But if it was my money sat there on the table and I could either have the best 308 Win or a combo deal, I would take the Mossberg and then place my order for a proper sniper rifle.
This is a 7lb rifle and it’s one of the few on this list that you could comfortably shoulder all day. It’s a simple rifle, it won’t give you any real surprises and it is really limited to about 500 yards, unless you’re something truly special.
Stay in its comfort zone, though, and these 308 rifles will serve you well. What more can you really ask from a gun that costs a fraction of its supposed betters here?
26. Kel Tec RFB Carbine
- Price: $1,695.90
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total Length: 26 inch
- Weight: 8.1lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Kel-Tec has a smash hit on its hands with the RFB and has basically stormed to the top of the bullpup charts. At one point, this was the best-selling rifle in America this year and its compact form brings the more powerful .308 Winchester round into the home for self-defense.
It’s just 26 inches, in total, which means you can swing these 308 rifles round your house. You definitely want some ear protection if you’re going to fire this round off inside, but hey that’s probably the last thing on your mind if you’re staring at your own stairs through a red dot.
Forward Ejecting Cases Solves Age Old Problem
RFB stands for Rifle Forward-ejecting Bullpup and there’s a clever system that pops spent casings out the front. The RFB is also supremely safe and has two layers of steel between the breech and your face. In the event of a failure, the force is directed down and away from you by design. That’s a neat touch.
Up front is chrome-lined and threaded for a suppressor, you get an A2 flash hider and a Picatinny rail for a scope or reflex sight. The Kel-Tec RFB bullpup is undoubtedly one of the best assault rifles here, thanks to its compact size and purity of purpose.
It’s no sniper, it’s a hard hitting skirmish gun that should also be as accurate as any other .308 Win if you can find the right position. It’s a shoot from the shoulder type of weapon, for sure, but that actually makes it kinda different in this list of the best 308 rifles.
27. Wilson Combat AR-10 Recon Tactical
- Price: $3,145
- Caliber: 308 Win Mag
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total: 32.5-37.75 inch
- Weight: 8lb
Wilson Combat are perennial winners in these parts. But the .308 Win Mag class is a hard one indeed and even this company can’t expect a walk in the park here.
This is a relatively lightweight rifle at 8lb and combines the Wilson COmbat Ranger barrel with the lightweight receiver set that is, of course, machined from billet.
The Ranger barrel is Wilson Combat’s lightest profile barrel that still retains match accuracy as it gets hot. It’s high price, high spec. But you know that.
That’s a nice touch at the shooting range, and one of the many reasons why some people won’t entrust their personal defense to any other brand. Wilson Combat can become an expensive addiction, but there are more expensive options here for 308 rifles.
You could even argue that the Wilson Combat is value for money.
28. DPMS Panther Oracle DP-10
- Price: $830.00
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total Length: 32.5-36.5 inch
- Weight: 8.3lb
- Capacity: 20+1
DPMS made its name with budget friendly AR-15s for sale that delivered a lot of bang for your buck. It has stuck with the same basic recipe for the .308 Winchester battle rifles.
It’s not the best 308 for sale in 2023. But it might just be the best cheap rifle here and it deserves its place in this buyers guide.
It’s simply a fat AR-15 semi auto rifle, weighing in a couple of pounds heavier at 8.3lb. And it’s easy to see where the weight has gone with these 308 rifles.
Forged Aircraft Grade Aluminum
The lower receiver is Mil-spec +. It is made from billet 7029 T6 aluminum and that is normally the start of a much more expensive gun. The difference in price with the designer labels between a forged and billet receiver could often buy a couple of these guns outright.
The upper receiver is made from the same aluminum and you get an A3 flat top and A2 flash hider. The stock is collapsible in the good old AR-15 style.
It’s a testament to DPMS that they are prepared to offer such craftsmanship at this price. Once again, the DPMS Panther Oracle .308 punches well above its weight.
You get 4140 Chromemoly steel and this isn’t just solid for the money, it’s a great rifle. It won’t be the last rifle you buy, but if it’s the first then you’ve got a good .308 Winchester starter pack! Now go and enjoy!
29. NEMO Arms XO eXecutive Order
- Price: $4,223
- Barrel: 20 inch
- Total Length: 38.5 inches (Collapsed)
- Weight: 9.3lb
Simply put, I love gunporn and this semi-auto rifle certainly fits the bill.
NEMO is based in the unlikely space age backdrop of Idaho. It works with the Special Forces and Law Enforcement agencies to create custom SBRs, duty rifles and sniper rifles that go that extra mile, so to speak.
One look at this 308 rifle and you’re going to want it. If you can do the mental gymnastics required to buy guns with this kind of price tag then you already know they are the best of the best and they will put a smile on your face for years to come.
Great Value, Even at This Price
With four inches more premium threaded barrel and a whole host of slicker components than the Daniel Defense, it might actually be good value.
This isn’t fashionable tat aimed at the clueless gangster with money.
NEMO Arms owners have a Porsche, a mechanical watch, a fascination with the beauty of perfection and are willing to pay to indulge it.
In terms of bang for buck, this is still way better value than a wife or a girlfriend as well.
This video introduces the shorter barrel rifle, buty it still is worth watching for the features and details.
A Custom Rifle Off the Peg
It’s still seriously expensive, and quite severely limited in terms of range. So what do you get for your money? Take a seat, we’re gonna be here a while…
The receivers are billet 7075-T6 aluminum that dropped Mil-spec off at the side of the road a while back and just kept going. The barrel is a Bartlein special, supplied as a blank and machine in-house with a 1:8 twist.
Space Age Coatings and Materials For Age Old Reliability
There’s a heat dissipating barrel nut from the same aluminum in there, a 9130 Steel bolt coated with Nickel Boron and the whole Bolt Carrier Group is coated in space dust and unicorn’s tears, or more MPI Nickel Boron to be precise.
No normal trigger would do, so NEMO Arms went for the legendary Geissele Super Dynamic Enhanced (SD-E_ two stage trigger with a first stage of 2.3lb and a second of 1.2lb. Inevitably it’s a fully adjustable trigger, set up for you.
Intense Technical Details Add Up To Gun Porn
The details are intense, including the chrome silicon recoil spring, a titanium dual chamber muzzle device, quick switch .875 gas block.
The buffer is steel-faced, even the takedown pins are Titanium and there just isn’t a cut-price component anywhere on this gun. Will you feel that? Probably not to this extent, the gun is better than you are.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate and enjoy that fact. In fact, that’s pretty much the best reason to buy this gun online right now!
30. Knights Armament SR-25 E2 APC .308 Win
- Price: $5,190.99
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total Length: 35.75-39.5 inch
- Weight: 9lb
- Capacity: 20+1
Is the Knights Armament SR-25 worth the money? It’s a question that crops up time and again on the forums and the answers are always interesting and pretty clearly divided. There’s a dude with a PSA that could outshoot that ‘overpriced hunka crap’ any day of the week, and then there are the people that own them…
This keeps getting mentioned in the same sentence as ‘Special Forces’. If a team hasn’t already adopted it, they’re testing it.
Of course you get to foot the bill for Uncle Sam’s guns, as well as your own. But military budgets are famously pressured and if they’re finding the money for these rifles then you better believe there is a reason.
Rounded locking lugs that are part of a patented design to ensure longevity, but that’s not it. The Direct Impingement system looks fairly straightforward and 16 inches up front is standard, too. The flip-up iron sights don’t quite explain it either, although they are nice. So is the 7.62 QDC Flash Suppressor.
Elite Engineering Commands the Price Tag
But it’s the engineering and the attention to detail. The user reviews online rave about the complete rifle, with every part engineered to the nth degree.
And that long sight picture with the front sight sitting just in front the muzzle device creates a formidable competition gun too.
You can’t really justify the price of the Knights Armament on a technical level, but that money shines through in the details and the finishing touches. You can see it, you can feel it, and for some people that’s enough. They simply want the best, and are prepared to pay top dollar for it.
Best places to buy .308 Win Mag Ammo
If you buy ammo at your local gun store, wow you are losing money…
Try these direct links to the 308 Win Mag section of our favorite online gun stores. See how much you can save when you buy ammo in bulk, especially if you need to stock up on ammo in a crisis.
- Brownells – Best selling 308 Winchester ammunition in stock. Buy ammo online now.
- Sportsman’s Guide – Massive selection of 308 Win ammo. Buy in bulk.
- Lucky Gunner – Deals on ammo, including 308 Win.
- USA Gun Shop – The Best 308 ammo for hunting, self defense and the range
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There are other oddball choices, a lever action rifle, 308 Win-powered for instance, or you can opt for a single-shot rifle. Why? The challenge? I dunno. There are valid reasons for a single shot rifle, 308 Win.
Wetherby Magnum 300 and Wetherby Magnum 460, too, has its own unique charm. If you’re looking for a quirky caliber then Wetherby Magnum 460 is definitely one to look at.
Henry Repeating Arms does a mean line in lever action rifles in 308. What about a break action rifle? Sure we got some.
When you’ve had your fill of the best 308 rifle money can buy and you want to buy another gun online, a concealed carry handgun for instance, we got you there too. We got guns you can buy with gift cards somewhere on the site.
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Rimfire ammo, rifle ammo, 338 Lapua Magnum, 6MM Creedmoor, Wetherby Magnum centerfire rifles and the hunting cartridge to go with them, it’s all here. We got knives, tools, optics, scopes, hunting boots, the works. With the likes of Bass Pro Shops and Sportsman’s Warehouse as partners, we got shiz for you.
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Would like to see a review of the Roam R-10’s in .308 Win. They state some very light weights due to use of magnesium instead of aluminum. Only videos I can find are on YouTube Texas JAGD – hog hunting channel.
He was shooting with a Roam Red River Ultralight showing a 5 pound 10 ounce weight out of the box.
We’ll try and get round to it asap. Covid has left us running like crazy to stand still. Just checking stocks and links is a full time job. But as soon as it calms down, we’ll see what we can do! I’ll add it to the job list.
I have a Henry Long Ranger in 308 and i think you might want to take a look. It’s the best brush gun I own and that includes the 30-30 and 30-06. It’s a never miss out to around 300yds for me and that’s with old eyes.
I own a Sig 716 G2 and was surprised it didn’t even crack the list :-/
I’m looking for a 308 rifle for hunting. What are some good ones to buy?
For a quick get you started rifle then the Mossberg or Remington are great choices. Simple bolt action rifles are just easy and do what they’re supposed to at the critical moment. So yeah to get going hunting with a 308, I’d go with simplicity most days.