Which .308 to keep?

Status
Not open for further replies.

msmp5

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2010
Messages
316
I've got three .308 rifles, none of which I shoot anymore, so it is likely time to part with two of them, and keep only one ..... just in case. So of these three, which would you keep and why? And if anyone can give an approx date of manufacture on any of them, I'd be curious to know. Always appreciate the input, opinions and wisdom of the experts here!

Winchester Model 70XTR, ser # G1618xxx

Ruger Model 77, ser # 72-07xxx

Remington 700, ser # 249xxx

(Sorry, no pictures, they are buried deep in the back of my safe, as I have not shot any of them in many years.)
 
Can you give us more specifics? I tend to prefer Remington 700s over the other two, mostly for subjective reasons, but all three are good guns. I'd pick the one that is most accurate, and if they are comparable, the one with the best wood and blued steel.

That said, I sold my last .30 caliber (a .308) last year and don't miss it. I'm quite content shooting my 6, 6.5, and 7 mm rifles.
 
Last edited:
I would go with the Remington 700. I'm afraid that you may just get into the brand loyalty issue with your question. You mentioned older rifles. I would go Remington. If I was buying a new rifle it would be a Ruger 77.
 
probably just my bias showing, but I'd venture a guess and say that the Ruger is the least accurate of the three. Not knocking the rugers, just based on my experience. Out of the Remington and Winchester, does either give you are warm and fuzzy feeling when you look at it? If so, keep that one.

I'm brand loyal to Remington, but I've seen some pretty Winchesters. Personally, I'd get rid of the Ruger for sure, if two had to go. The other two, it's a toss up.
 
All interesting comments, thanks. Assuming comparable condition - call 'em NRA VG, they've been safe queens for probably 20 years now - what would their approx values be?
 
For the year of manufacture, you can Google the serial number, you need any letters before and after the numbers.

If you can post a couple pics of each rifle, that would give everyone a better idea of being able to swag a price.

That would include anything extra that you're selling with the rifles.

Personally, I would keep the 700 as there are a lot of aftermarket products for them. You can almost build a 700 from the aftermarket parts that are out there. That tells you how popular they are and that they'll be around for a long time to come.
 
I've got three .308 rifles, none of which I shoot anymore, so it is likely time to part with two of them, and keep only one ..... just in case. So of these three, which would you keep and why? And if anyone can give an approx date of manufacture on any of them, I'd be curious to know. Always appreciate the input, opinions and wisdom of the experts here!

Winchester Model 70XTR, ser # G1618xxx

Ruger Model 77, ser # 72-07xxx

Remington 700, ser # 249xxx

(Sorry, no pictures, they are buried deep in the back of my safe, as I have not shot any of them in many years.)
I would keep the Rem 700. If you get the hankering to do a custom build the 700 is where you want to be.
 
Need lots more info.

Is the Winchester a Sporter or Featherweight. The XTR's were built from 1980-1992 and are some of the best Winchesters ever made and not a lot of 308's were made in that era. Granted they are push feed and not controlled round feed, but are still much better than any Remington.

Same info needed on the others. Remington has made at least a dozen variants of their 700. If it is a 700 5r it would be much more desirable than a 1990's ADL. You can go here to look up the date code for your Remington. There is a code on the left side of the barrel near the receiver. The 1st letter is for the month, The next letter, or letters, are for the year. The same letters are used more than once for the years. For example L is used for 1920, 1942, 1964, 1991, and 2014. But you should be able to narrow those down by other features. A 1964 gun would be much different than a 2014.

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/remdates.htm

Which one I'd keep would depend on exactly which ones I had. No way I could make a decision with the limited info.

It's like saying should I keep a Ford, Chevy or Dodge truck. There is a big difference between a 1980's Ford Ranger and a 2020 Ford Raptor.

You can find date of manufacture on the Ruger here

https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/
 
I would go with the Remington 700. Maybe my uncle made it for you before he retired. Although to be honest, if you used a three side coin to make your choice, you couldn't go wrong. Since they don't make one, keep the 700.
 
Thats a personal preference but I would keep the 700. Theres nothing wrong with the other two but I just like what can be done with the 700.
 
I've got three .308 rifles, none of which I shoot anymore, so it is likely time to part with two of them, and keep only one ..... just in case. So of these three, which would you keep and why? And if anyone can give an approx date of manufacture on any of them, I'd be curious to know. Always appreciate the input, opinions and wisdom of the experts here!

Winchester Model 70XTR, ser # G1618xxx

Ruger Model 77, ser # 72-07xxx

Remington 700, ser # 249xxx

(Sorry, no pictures, they are buried deep in the back of my safe, as I have not shot any of them in many years.)

My bias goes to the Winny.
 
Add another vote for the Model 70. Rem 700s are a dime a dozen, new and used. No experience with the Ruger, I like their products in general though. While I don't own a Winchester, the few that I have had the chance to handle and shoot have been very nice.
 
Without knowing more - I lean towards the Winchester. Rugers are solid tools and Remingtons are thick on the ground.

Another way to look at it is: You're away from home and your wife, girlfriend, Mom - whomever - tells you 2 of your 3 rifles were stolen but doesn't know enough to tell you which. Which one, as your'e on your long drive home, do you hope is still there?

Todd.
 
Ruger Model 77, ser # 72-07xxx
I have no idea what the serial number is on my old tang safety Ruger 77 (30-06), but I really like it. And even though I haven't used it in 10 years, one of my grandsons will probably find a use for it someday. BTW, I have a pre-64 Model 70, and I had a post-64 & pre-94 Model 70. I like my tang safety Ruger 77 better than either of them.;)
 
678AE23C-6C7B-4560-BD61-002207F19CC8.jpeg

Ok, I pretty much settled on keeping the Remington 700, and only selling ONE of the other two - for now - either the Winchester or the Ruger. Is the “bull” bbl on the Ruger better in some way than the thin bbl on the Winchester? Any other tidbits of information that can be gleaned from the photo? The Ruger was (obviously) made in 1976, and I think the Winchester dates to the early 1980s. Which of these two would YOU keep, and why?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top