A .308 Winchester rifle is chambered for the .308 Win cartridge, a short-action .30 caliber round introduced in 1952 that became one of the most popular hunting and target cartridges in the world. It delivers full-power performance from a compact action, which keeps rifles shorter, lighter, and quick to handle.

The .308 is a true all-rounder: deer, hogs, black bear, and elk at reasonable distances, plus target shooting, precision matches, and varmint control. If you plan to own one centerfire rifle that can do nearly everything, the .308 is the classic answer.

Yes, the .308 Winchester is one of the most proven deer cartridges ever made. It delivers clean, ethical performance on whitetail and mule deer at any practical hunting distance, with a wide selection of hunting ammunition in every bullet weight you could need.

In a quality rifle, the .308 is capable of consistent hits on targets to 800 yards and beyond in skilled hands. For hunting, most shooters keep shots inside 300 to 400 yards, where the cartridge retains plenty of energy for clean kills.

In this collection, quality .308 bolt action rifles start around $770 for a lightweight synthetic hunting model, with most hunting and target rifles falling between $1,000 and $2,500. Premium European sporting rifles and precision platforms run higher, up to five figures for artisan-grade builds.

Yes. Recoil is moderate and manageable in a full-size rifle, ammunition is affordable and available everywhere, and the cartridge is forgiving to learn on. A lightweight .308 hunting rifle is one of the most common first centerfire rifles for good reason.

The 6.5 Creedmoor shoots flatter with less recoil and wind drift, which makes it excellent for long range work. The .308 hits harder with heavier bullets and offers unmatched ammo availability. For hunting inside 400 yards, either works beautifully; compare our 6.5 Creedmoor rifles side by side.

The .30-06 pushes the same .30 caliber bullets slightly faster from a longer action, while the .308 gives up little velocity in a shorter, lighter rifle. Both are proven on all North American big game; browse our .30-06 Springfield rifles if you prefer the classic long action.

They are dimensionally nearly identical, and rifles chambered in .308 Winchester safely fire 7.62x51 NATO ammunition. Commercial .308 is loaded to slightly higher pressure, so check your rifle's barrel markings and manual before firing .308 in a NATO-chambered rifle.

Wood stocks offer classic looks, natural balance, and heirloom appeal, while synthetic stocks are lighter, weatherproof, and hold zero through temperature and humidity swings. Hard-use backcountry hunters usually go synthetic; shooters who value tradition choose walnut.

A straight-pull rifle cycles with a single rearward and forward motion, with no lifting of the bolt handle, so you can run the action without leaving the scope. Several .308 models in this collection use straight-pull actions; see all straight-pull rifles to compare.

A 16 to 18 inch barrel makes a handy ranch or truck rifle with minimal velocity loss, 20 inches is the do-everything sweet spot, and 22 to 24 inch barrels squeeze out maximum velocity for target and long range work. Many models here ship with threaded muzzles for brakes or suppressors.

Yes, the .308 has taken elk cleanly for generations. Choose a premium controlled-expansion bullet in the 165 to 180 grain range and keep shots within 300 yards or so, where the cartridge delivers ample energy for large-bodied game.

Select your rifle, choose a licensed FFL dealer near you, and upload your dealer's FFL license document on the product page at checkout. We ship the rifle directly to your dealer and email you tracking details; you then complete the federally required transfer paperwork with the dealer before taking your rifle home.