I’ll agree with you, monometal + speed = good. Barnes says the 308 130 and 168 TTSX will expand down to 1800 and 1500 FPS respectively. I get 2680fps out of my 20” barrel 308 without any pressure. At my altitude I’m at 2000fps and 1500ftlbs at 450 yards. I’m happy with that and I don’t need to shoot further than that. But a 30-06 would still have a little more speed yet.
.308 or 30-06
- Thread starter bdplumbing
- Start date
yep
a little known secret of the TSX/TTSX is that at their lowest "expansion velocity" they only expand a little. And that's velocity at the target!
every fps counts and since California already banned lead hunting ammo, prepare to see the same here
WTF has 2024 got to do with anything ? RJ
I hunt with a 150 grain TSX bullet running right at 2774 and have taken deer past 350 yards wit it with good expansion, and I have a good friend who uses a 7mm with 150 grain TTSX bullets running just a tad faster who has done the same, but some of his animals included elk and bigger moose.
The 308 being right in the middle of the two, I have no doubt that a 140 grain .30 at around the same velocity would end up with similar results.
Cat
It's not exactly a secret, but you're right. I don't know why this is so poorly understood. There's expansion, and there's "expansion". At the bottom end of the claimed expansion range for these bullets, it tapers off to zero.
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If you look at the ballistics on the 308 vs 306 you will see that the 06 just marginally outperforms the 308 until you hit around 400 yards - then the 06 will shine a bit more. That being said - to qualify - I am not recoil sensitive - but I have not shot an 06 that has not beat me up when comparing it to a 308. If your going to be shooting 400+ buy an 06 or some variety of belted magnum other than that I would suggest a 308. It can be reloaded just as easily as the 06 and come on, wasn’t it the original snipper calibre.
I use a 150 gr TTSX for hunting with a .308, to problems with expansion to about 400 yards. Most animals are shot much closer than that but a hunter that wants to shoot at game further away than that might want to pick a softer bullet.
Broadly speaking, yes the 30-06 is more versatile. Whether it matters to you is a different question.
Some common rifle models use the same length of action for both cartridges, so don't assume you're actually getting a shorter rifle if you go 308.
Cost of ammunition will not really differ, and brand longevity is not really worth worrying about IMO (they'll all outlast you unless you break a stock or something).
Since you don't reload, ammunition availability might be the deciding factor. My local shops generally carry more options for good hunting ammunition for 30-06 than for 308, but yours may be different.
The '06 was used as a sniper cartridge by the U.S. before the 308 was adopted by them, but we used the .303 Brit before the 308.
That being said, if a person is not a hand loader, I would look at the particular rifles I wanted to hunt with , then choose either the 308 or the /06, depending on which rifle I liked better.
I once shot an original 1947 M70 Winchester in 270 that was scoped , and the stock was designed with a lot f drop for irons, the scoped mount on it
( G&H QD) resulting in the rifle beating the crap out of me.
I have a 1949 M70 now in '06 with a Malcolm USMC replica scope on it that is not nearly as hard on me.
The plan is to change out the barrel ( not original the the rifle) and stock to build a Carlos Hathcock tribute rifle- that is if I get side tracked and sell the rifle first! It shoots really well as is LOL
Cat
I stand corrected. TKs for the info!
ABSOLUTELY does and by a fairly good margin tool ! RJ
- Location
- West Central Alberta
Both will work but....
Both are boring.
Both are boring.
For shooting lots I think 308>30'06 for $sense, accuracy sense, shoulder sense.
For hunting (if you are only going to have one hunting rifle) 30'06>308. You can load a 30'06 up to nearly 300 WinMag ballistics.
Me , I shoot a bunch of 308's and hunt with a 300 WinMag.( I also have a few 30'06 rifles because I figure you just have to
.
For hunting (if you are only going to have one hunting rifle) 30'06>308. You can load a 30'06 up to nearly 300 WinMag ballistics.
Me , I shoot a bunch of 308's and hunt with a 300 WinMag.( I also have a few 30'06 rifles because I figure you just have to
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Yea Creedmoor"s and PRC"s are KOOL now - RJ
The OP does not hand load.For shooting lots I think 308>30'06 for $sense, accuracy sense, shoulder sense.
For hunting (if you are only going to have one hunting rifle) 30'06>308. You can load a 30'06 up to nearly 300 WinMag ballistics.
Me , I shoot a bunch of 308's and hunt with a 300 WinMag.( I also have a few 30'06 rifles because I figure you just have to
Cat
I was aware of that. I was also aware "High energy" loads for 30'06 are available from the major ammo manufactures such as Hornady's 30'06 180gr Superperformance ammunition, Hornady Precision Hunter 178gr load,Federal Premium Edge 175gr ,Nosler 168gr Accubond Long range, Winchester 180gr Accubond LR, and probably more.These would give the OP an option with a 30'06 (over a 308) to "step up" his game should he decide to hunt large critters or med sized game at longer ranges.
With Remington's Managed recoil ammo the OP can go in the other direction also, getting lower energy loads moving the 30'06 down to 308 recoil/power levels.
When I took my sons on their first big game hunts, my 12 y.o. had a 308 carbine with a downloaded Barnes bullet and my 16 y.o. hunted with a 30'06 with Winchester Fail Safe ammo.Both got 1 shot kills with their gear (caribou and bull elk, respectively).
Cheers!
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