Not a revelation to many of you,  but having never shot at steel, everyone in the party today was duly impressed by the penetration of the .308. Or 7.62x51 if you think in metric.

3/16" mild plate had nice round holes in it.  1/4 inch structural steel angle-iron had nice round holes.  When placed back to back, it left a big blister in the second piece.

16-gauge sheet in front of 1/4" angle didn't seem to slow ye old bullet down very much and the holes went all the way through.

We were using Wolf 105gr FMJ and some SA surplus FMJ that looked to be 150gr. Range was around 150yds.

Also had fun plinking a big, I mean 3 foot diameter big, concrete power pole out at about 400-450 yards.

Or maybe more as I had to hold about 72" high to hit the desired point.  Anyone got trajectory data on these cartridges.

Weapon was AR-10. Uh-oh, I am in the wrong place now?  

Mild steel is no match for NATO ammo....

You should see what it does to old cars -  it puts a little hole goin in ,and tears a nasty jagged hole going out ----  i shot the SHT. out of a old car once with a M-60--  and was impressed !!

It's an evil terrorist cartridge!  It has no sporting purpose!

Quoted: Also had fun plinking a big, I mean 3 foot diameter big, concrete power pole out at about 400-450 yards. Or maybe more as I had to hold about 72" high to hit the desired point.  Anyone got trajectory data on these cartridges. Weapon was AR-10. Uh-oh, I am in the wrong place now?

For 400 - 500 yds with milsurp and my 20" AR10T, I dial between 9 and 13 minutes.  9 minutes, at 400yds, equals 36".  13 minutes, at 500yds, equals 65" of elevation.

Quoted: You should see what it does to old cars -  it puts a little hole goin in ,and tears a nasty jagged hole going out ----  i shot the SHT. out of a old car once with a M-60--  and was impressed !!

You mean like this?

MY CAR!!!!!!!

Quoted: MY CAR!!!!!!!

Nope, not unless you are doing federal time

Quoted: Quoted: Also had fun plinking a big, I mean 3 foot diameter big, concrete power pole out at about 400-450 yards. Or maybe more as I had to hold about 72" high to hit the desired point.  Anyone got trajectory data on these cartridges. Weapon was AR-10. Uh-oh, I am in the wrong place now?   For 400 - 500 yds with milsurp and my 20" AR10T, I dial between 9 and 13 minutes.  9 minutes, at 400yds, equals 36".  13 minutes, at 500yds, equals 65" of elevation.

Thanks for the numbers.  I was looking at some trajectory tables on the web and your numbers concur with them.  Maybe it was as far as 500 yards. That would make the next pole out at 700 or so and I think with the slight breeze coming from my 10 o'clock, I was probably missing it right.

All the experts say the .308 is not a really long-range cartridge, but let's just say it'll shoot about as far as I can see and then some.

This is 5.56 rounds versus a 1/4" steel plate:

Quoted: All the experts say the .308 is not a really long-range cartridge, but let's just say it'll shoot about as far as I can see and then some.

But equally important.... how fast is the bullet moving at range?  For instance... a 150gr .308 surplus round goes subsonic around 750-800 yds.  That is like a 157gr 9mm on a human target at close range.

Still does damage, but nothing like a "rifle" caliber round is expected to do.

OK, I'll bite.  What is a RIFLE caliber round supposed to do at 750 and what round does what it is supposed to do?  Does what a rifle round is supposed to do, I mean.

Quoted: OK, I'll bite.  What is a RIFLE caliber round supposed to do at 750 and what round does what it is supposed to do?  Does what a rifle round is supposed to do, I mean.

Rifle calibers "do" significant temporary and permanent wound cavities, but are highly dependent on velocity, and bullet contruction/design.  Change one, or the other, or both, and you significantly detract from their performance in tissue.  It's pretty simple.  If a 150gr projectile, which may be devastating at 2400fps... will do anywhere near the damage when traveling 1100fps, like at 800yds.  It wont fragment, deform, etc.  A quality designed pistol round of a similar weight/velocity will like have a better effect.

Now, you cant shoot people with a pistol at 800yds.... so a hit is still a hit.  This is why the 300WM or 338's are better long range weapons.... or, of course, the 50BMG.  A bigger projectile, moving faster.

If you are gonna throw a rock..... throw the biggest rock, as fast as you can.

175 SMK at 750 is still moving at 1507 fps - THAT is a rifle round. At 1k it is 1237 fps - now it is a .40 S(hort) & W(eak) round.

Hey!  I need some photo credit here!
Anyway, there is a quite a bit of 7.62x39 through that also.  Probably some 5.45.

Quoted: This is 5.56 rounds versus a 1/4" steel plate: www.hunt101.com/img/367601.jpg