Two cartridges with rich histories are the 308 Winchester and the 8mm Mauser. But they have their differences: The 308 being a newer cartridge and the 8mm Mauser benign an older “war horse”. So what are their differences? How do they compare? And when would choose one cartridge over the other? In this article, we will cover these two cartridges to see which is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 8mm Mauser often shoots heavier bullets and can have more close-range energy with the right load. On the other hand, the 308 Winchester is better for long-range shooting, is still widely produced, and is cheaper to shoot.
In-Depth Look at the 8mm Mauser
The 8mm Mauser, also known as the 8x57mm, was developed by the German Empire in the late 19th century. It quickly became popular in Europe and was used heavily in both World Wars. The 8mm Mauser is now popular in military surplus rifles but can still be found in some vintage hunting rifles.
This round offer offers good short-range performance and is effective for hunting medium to large game animals such as deer and elk as long as you are within 3-400 yards.
One issue you will run into with the 8mm Mauser is that it isn’t a popular cartridge and it is slowly going out of production. So finding ammunition and rifles chambered in 8mm Mauser will become increasingly difficult to find.
Here is a ballistic chart of the 8mm Mauser with a 180-grain soft point bullet:
| RANGE (YD) | DROP (IN) | WIND DRIFT (IN) | VELOCITY (FPS) | ENERGY (FT-LB) |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2526 | 2550 |
| 50 | 0 | 0.2 | 2416 | 2334 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.9 | 2310 | 2132 |
| 150 | -1.6 | 2.2 | 2206 | 1944 |
| 200 | -5.1 | 4.1 | 2104 | 1770 |
| 250 | -10.4 | 6.4 | 2005 | 1607 |
| 300 | -17.9 | 9.3 | 1909 | 1456 |
| 350 | -27.8 | 13.1 | 1816 | 1318 |
| 400 | -40.5 | 17.6 | 1727 | 1192 |
| 450 | -56.1 | 23 | 1641 | 1077 |
| 500 | -74.8 | 29 | 1559 | 971 |
In-Depth Look at the 308 Winchester
The 308 Winchester cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1952 as a commercial hunting and sporting cartridge based on the 7.62x51mm NATO military cartridge. It features a rimless, bottlenecked case with a bullet diameter of .308 inches (7.62 millimeters) and a case length of 2.015 inches (51 millimeters). The most common bullet weights for the 308 Winchester range from 150 grains to 180 grains but can be found as heavy as 200 grains.
The 308 Winchester has become one of the most popular rifle cartridges in the world, favored for its accuracy, moderate recoil, and versatility. Hunters commonly use it for medium to large game hunting such as deer and on occasion elk. Other users of this cartridge include target shooters and law enforcement agencies as it is getting phased out of the militaries around the world.
This is one of the most versatile cartridges on the planet and can be used for everything from close-range engagements to long-range shooting past 1000 yards. So there is really no downside to this round other than the fact that it can be lacking in power to take big game at longer distances effectively.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 308 Winchester with a 150-grain jacketed soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2820 | 2648 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.3 | 2673 | 2380 |
| 100 | 0 | 1.1 | 2532 | 2134 |
| 150 | -1.2 | 2.4 | 2394 | 1909 |
| 200 | -3.9 | 4.4 | 2261 | 1702 |
| 250 | -8.4 | 7.1 | 2132 | 1514 |
| 300 | -14.7 | 10.4 | 2007 | 1341 |
| 350 | -23.1 | 14.6 | 1886 | 1184 |
| 400 | -34.2 | 19.7 | 1771 | 1044 |
| 450 | -48.1 | 25.9 | 1661 | 919 |
| 500 | -65 | 32.9 | 1557 | 807 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 8mm Mauser to the 308 Winchester, several key differences emerge:
Ballistics: The 8mm Mauser typically fires heavier bullets at lower velocities compared to the 308 Winchester. As a result, the 8mm Mauser may offer slightly better penetration and retained energy at shorter ranges, while the 308 Winchester may have a flatter trajectory and better accuracy at longer ranges.
Availability and Rifles: While both cartridges are still in production today, the 308 Winchester has a larger selection of rifles and ammunition options due to its popularity in civilian and military circles. Additionally, surplus military rifles chambered in 8mm Mauser may require special care and maintenance due to their age and condition. Additionally, the 308 Winchester has more load data and bullet weights available making is suitable for a wider range of tasks.
Recoil: The 308 Winchester typically generates less recoil than the 8mm Mauser due to its smaller case capacity and lighter bullet weights. This can make the 308 Winchester more comfortable to shoot for some shooters, especially those who are sensitive to recoil.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 8mm Mauser and the 308 Winchester are both excellent rifle cartridges with their own unique characteristics and applications. The 8mm Mauser is more of a cartridge you would collect while the 308 is a very reliable and versatile cartridge. So if you are into firearm history then the 8mm Mauser may be more appealing. But if you plan to use your rifle for more than a collection piece, the 308 Winchester is the better choice.