Maximum Point Blank Range for the .308 Winchester
The maximum point blank range zero for a .308 Winchester with a 150gr bullet at 2,820 fps and an 8" vital zone is 262 yards. Sighted 3.4" high at 100 with a scope 1.5" over the bore, the bullet peaks 4" high at 146 yards and has fallen 4" below the line of sight at 307 yards, so a centre-of-chest hold on a deer works from the muzzle to 307 without ranging. A 10" elk zone pushes the zero to 286 yards and the window to 335; a 4" coyote zone pulls it back to 203 and 237.
Heavier .308 loads give up ground faster than .30-06 loads do: a 165gr Trophy Copper at 2,700 fps holds to 302 yards, but a 180gr Power-Shok at 2,570 fps only to 279. If you hunt with a 180gr .308, zero it at 238 yards, not 262.
Figures on this page: Federal American Eagle .308 Win 150gr FMJ-BT, 150gr G1 .408 at 2,820 fps, Bolt action, standard scope rings, 1.5" over bore, standard conditions. Source: Federal published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
MPBR by Vital Zone Size
Federal American Eagle .308 Win 150gr FMJ-BT, 150gr G1 .408 at 2,820 fps, 1.5" over bore (bolt action, standard scope rings).
| Vital zone | Optimal zero | Near edge | MPBR | Max ordinate | Sight in at 100 (in / MOA) | CSV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4" (coyote, varmint, paper) | 203 yd | 0 yd | 237 yd | +2.0" at 119 yd | +1.9" / +1.8 | Download |
| 8" (whitetail, pronghorn, defensive torso) | 262 yd | 0 yd | 307 yd | +4.0" at 146 yd | +3.4" / +3.3 | Download |
| 9" (mule deer, black bear) | 275 yd | 0 yd | 322 yd | +4.5" at 152 yd | +3.8" / +3.6 | Download |
| 10" (elk, moose) | 286 yd | 0 yd | 335 yd | +5.0" at 158 yd | +4.1" / +3.9 | Download |
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.
Prefer a round-number zero you can confirm on any range? .308 Winchester: 100-Yard vs 200-Yard Zero compares them with full tables.
Key terms
- Near zero
- Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
- Far zero
- Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
- Max ordinate
- The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
- Point blank range (MPBR)
- The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.
The 8" Zone Trajectory: 262-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 262 yards, the bullet is +3.4" at 100, peaks +4.0" at 146 yards, and has fallen half the vital zone, -4.0", at 307 yards. Hold on the centre of the vitals anywhere inside that window.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,820 | 2,649 | 0.0 |
| 25 | +0.2" | +0.68 | +0.20 | 2,763 | 2,543 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +1.6" | +2.97 | +0.86 | 2,707 | 2,441 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +2.7" | +3.36 | +0.98 | 2,652 | 2,343 | 0.5 |
| 100 | +3.4" | +3.26 | +0.95 | 2,597 | 2,247 | 0.8 |
| 125 | +3.9" | +2.96 | +0.86 | 2,543 | 2,155 | 1.3 |
| 150 | +4.0" | +2.54 | +0.74 | 2,490 | 2,066 | 1.8 |
| 175 | +3.8" | +2.05 | +0.60 | 2,438 | 1,979 | 2.5 |
| 200 | +3.2" | +1.51 | +0.44 | 2,385 | 1,896 | 3.3 |
| 225 | +2.2" | +0.93 | +0.27 | 2,334 | 1,815 | 4.2 |
| 250 | +0.8" | +0.31 | +0.09 | 2,283 | 1,737 | 5.3 |
| 275 | -1.0" | -0.34 | -0.10 | 2,233 | 1,661 | 6.4 |
| 300 | -3.2" | -1.02 | -0.30 | 2,184 | 1,588 | 7.7 |
| 325 | -5.9" | -1.73 | -0.50 | 2,135 | 1,518 | 9.2 |
| 350 | -9.1" | -2.47 | -0.72 | 2,086 | 1,450 | 10.7 |
| 375 | -12.7" | -3.24 | -0.94 | 2,039 | 1,384 | 12.5 |
| 400 | -16.9" | -4.03 | -1.17 | 1,991 | 1,321 | 14.3 |
| 425 | -21.6" | -4.86 | -1.41 | 1,945 | 1,260 | 16.4 |
| 450 | -26.9" | -5.71 | -1.66 | 1,899 | 1,202 | 18.5 |
| 475 | -32.8" | -6.60 | -1.92 | 1,854 | 1,146 | 20.9 |
| 500 | -39.4" | -7.52 | -2.19 | 1,810 | 1,092 | 23.4 |
150gr G1 .408 at 2,820 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Federal published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
MPBR by Bullet Weight
8" vital zone, 1.5" over bore.
| Load | Optimal zero | MPBR | Max ordinate at | Velocity at MPBR | Energy at MPBR | CSV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal American Eagle .308 Win 150gr FMJ-BT 150gr G1 .408 at 2,820 fps |
262 yd | 307 yd | 146 yd | 2,184 fps | 1,588 ft-lb | Download |
| Federal Trophy Copper .308 Win 165gr 165gr G1 .503 at 2,700 fps |
256 yd | 302 yd | 142 yd | 2,190 fps | 1,758 ft-lb | Download |
| Federal Power-Shok .308 Win 180gr SP 180gr G1 .382 at 2,570 fps |
238 yd | 279 yd | 133 yd | 1,979 fps | 1,566 ft-lb | Download |
Velocity and energy are read at the last table row inside the window. Sources: Federal American Eagle .308 Win 150gr FMJ-BT: Federal published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient (verified 2026-09-13); Federal Trophy Copper .308 Win 165gr: Federal published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient (verified 2026-09-13); Federal Power-Shok .308 Win 180gr SP: Federal published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient (verified 2026-09-13).
What MPBR Means in the Field
Maximum point blank range is a hunting shortcut: it tells you the furthest distance at which a hold on the centre of the vitals still hits them, assuming you set the zero the calculator gives you. It works by letting the bullet rise half the vital zone above the line of sight in the middle of the trajectory, so it can fall half the zone below it further out. For a .308 and an 8" zone that is a 4" peak and a 307-yard far edge.
It stops working the moment any of its assumptions fail. The zone is 8" only on a broadside deer with nothing in the way. The air is still only on a calm morning; at 300 yards a 10 mph crosswind moves a 150gr .308 bullet about 8", twice the margin MPBR leaves you. And the hold is centred only if you can shoot to the centre of an 8" circle at 300 yards from the position you actually have. MPBR is the distance past which you must range and hold over. It is not a distance you are entitled to shoot to.
Because the scope sits only 1.5" over the bore, the window starts at the muzzle for any zone 4" or larger; there is no near edge to think about. The thing to think about instead is the 4" peak at 150 yards: it is a spine shot on a small deer if you hold high, and it is why hunters who use MPBR zeros are told, and then told again, to hold the centre of the chest and nothing else.
How Sight Height Affects Your MPBR
Most .308 bolt guns carry the scope 1.5" over the bore, but the .308 is also the cartridge of the AR-10, where the optic sits 2.6" up. The table below re-solves the 8" MPBR at that height: the zero moves from 262 yards to 273 and the far edge from 307 to 318, and the sight-in at 100 drops from 3.4" high to 3". Eleven yards of extra reach from an inch of sight height, because the taller sight line lets the bullet use more of its arc above the line of sight before the peak.
That is a real difference, unlike the ring-height debate on a bolt gun, and it means a .308 MPBR zero copied from a bolt-rifle chart is 11 yards short on an AR-10 and 3.4" high instead of 3" at 100. Solve it for the rifle you have. The bullet weight matters more still: 165gr at 2,700 fps holds to 302, 180gr at 2,570 fps to 279, and those are differences you would notice on a deer at the edge of the window.
| Sight height | Optimal zero | Near edge | MPBR | Sight-in at 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 262 yd | 0 yd | 307 yd | +3.4" |
| 2.6" — AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic | 273 yd | 0 yd | 318 yd | +3.0" |
Calculate MPBR for Your Rifle
Prefilled with the load above. Change anything and the full calculator solves your trajectory; pick your own sight height from the list.
Loads Used on This Page
- Federal American Eagle .308 Win 150gr Ammo — 150gr, 2820 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.408
- Fiocchi .308 Win 150gr FMJBT Ammo — 150gr, 2890 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.398
- Federal .308 Win 165gr Trophy Copper Polymer Tip Ammo — 165gr, 2700 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.503
- Hornady Superformance CX .308 Winchester 165gr Ammo — 165gr, 2750 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.44
- Federal Power-Shok .308 Win 180gr Ammo — 180gr, 2570 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.382
Frequently Asked Questions
How high should a .308 be at 100 yards for maximum point blank range?
About 3.4" high for an 8" vital zone with a 150gr load at 2,820 fps and a 1.5" scope, which is a 262-yard zero. On an AR-10 with a 2.6" optic it is 3" high for a 273-yard zero.
What is the maximum point blank range of a .308 for deer?
About 307 yards for an 8" zone with a 150gr load, 302 with a 165gr Trophy Copper and 279 with a 180gr Power-Shok, all at a 1.5" scope height.
What is the .308 MPBR for elk?
For a 10" vital zone, zero a 150gr load at 286 yards, sight in about 4.1" high at 100, and hold dead-on to 335 yards. The peak is 5" near 158 yards.
Does MPBR change between a bolt action and an AR-10?
Yes, by about 11 yards. The AR-10's 2.6" optic height moves the 8" MPBR zero from 262 to 273 yards and the far edge from 307 to 318 for the same 150gr load.