308 Bolt-Action Rifles from Weatherby and Ruger
If you're in the market for a good hunting rifle chambered in 308 Winchester, check out two bolt-action rifles Contributing Editor Joe Woolley's team tested in the August 2024 issue.
The first was Weatherby's Model 307 Range XP.
It sports a 22-inch stainless-steel fluted barrel.
Weatherby Model 307 Range XP 308 Winchester, $1150
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Next was Ruger’s Second Generation American Rifle.
It has a 20-inch fluted barrel with a heavier profile and a new radial muzzle brake.
Ruger American Rifle 46902 308 Winchester, $620
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Most shooters would put accuracy as their most important buying factor.
In this area, the Ruger was a mild favorite, shooting two of the three ammo choices better than the Weatherby.
However, the 307 had the smallest groups in the test with Federal PowerShok 150-grain jacketed soft points.
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A problem area with the Ruger was its magazines.
We tried quite a few AICS-pattern mags from different manufacturers in the Ruger. The metal mags worked fine, but all of the polymer mags refused to seat.
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Elsewhere, the Ruger uses a full diameter three-lug bolt and the Weatherby uses a two-lug fluted design. Both were very smooth.
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Both the Ruger (left) and the Weatherby stocks employed cheek risers to help the shooter’s eye line up with the height of the scope.
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The Ruger American (bottom) and the Weatherby 307 (top) both sport fluted barrels for weight savings. Both have threaded muzzles for brakes and suppressors.
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These are two excellent 308 rifles. But we preferred one over the other.
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