30-06. Been around over 100 years. 308. Only been around maybe 70 years. Not a lot of differences to really matter a whole lot. I’d take a 30-06 for no real reason other than, next to 8x57, it’s my favourite cartridge. 
.308 or 30-06
- Thread starter bdplumbing
- Start date
The also make Superperformance in 308 as well, but the ammo I tested wasn't nearly as accurate as the standard velocity 308 ad 3006 ammo.
Tough call, if you could have only one and don't reload, I'd lean 308, really not much you can't accomplish with a 150gr partition or bonded in that bullet weight, and you got those options in factory ammo (not cheap though).
30'06 if you load, not that there isn't factory options, but they seem to be mild for the cartridge compared to factory 308.
30'06 can be loaded quite safely to get some decent velocity over the 308 and will push the heavy for cal cheaper cup/core decent which will perform just fine.
I'd rather the choice be between 308 and 300Win, at least there is a considerable jump in performance there.
30'06 if you load, not that there isn't factory options, but they seem to be mild for the cartridge compared to factory 308.
30'06 can be loaded quite safely to get some decent velocity over the 308 and will push the heavy for cal cheaper cup/core decent which will perform just fine.
I'd rather the choice be between 308 and 300Win, at least there is a considerable jump in performance there.
350tracker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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I have had a number of different cartridges over the year and have finally settled down with both 30-06 and 308. My 30-06 is for fast handling and the 308 is for field hunting, but that's just how it turned out. Either way would have been fine with me.
I just had a look on the local shelves, prices across the various lineups and brands were the same for 308 vs 30-06 except for the Norma Whitetail which had the 308 $1 cheaper than the 30-06.
So really for the 308 you're paying the same and getting less, this is poor value.
The 308 was obsolescent when it was introduced, being 60 years behind the times. Somebody in the US Army read the "Textbook of Small Arms 1909" and said, let's do what they did, even though both the Atomic Bomb and the AK47 already existed.
So really for the 308 you're paying the same and getting less, this is poor value.
The 308 was obsolescent when it was introduced, being 60 years behind the times. Somebody in the US Army read the "Textbook of Small Arms 1909" and said, let's do what they did, even though both the Atomic Bomb and the AK47 already existed.
Except that "getting less" in the real world will never actually be apparent or matter, just like the 308 win's military history doesn't matter for a hunter whatsoever.
But if inventing some kind of "cost per performance" ratio justifies anything, sure haha. Think the much more reasonable question is "what can I do with the 30-06 that I cannot with the 308?" and the answer is "absolutely nothing at all"...unless I worry about a couple cents for wasted whatever units of performance.
Def agreed that hanging onto a battle rifle cartridge for standard use was definitely suboptimal lol. But it made a great GPMG/Sniper/DMR round at least. Made lots more sense than continuing with 30-06 in military use.
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Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I, too, had this same question in mind about 7 or 8 years ago. What settled it for me was the rifle that I wanted, no matter the chambering. A Tikka T3x. T3's and T3x' only come in one action length. Long. The bolt stop varies between the two cartridges. One for a full long action, and another for for a short action, which reduces the bolt travel to the rear.
I figured, if I'm getting a gun with a long action anyway, I might as well take advantage of the length and go for the 30-06 for slightly increased performance, as opposed to the 308. It was a good choice and I'm still happy with it.
But all is not perfect. One has to factor in ammunition availability into their choice. Both seem very vanilla. Very good at what they do. Very popular. And that both cartridges are always on the shelf and available. The last ammo shortage has proven, to me anyways, that that is not the case.
The shelves around me were bare for approximately a year and a half during and after covid. The rounds you could find were obscure or ridiculously overpriced. Often times both.
The first cartridge to make it back on the shelves in any numbers, and in any variety of types of ammo was the 308 Winchester. For that reason alone, if I was making the same choice today that I made years ago, I'd probably go for the 308 over the -06.
Whichever cartridge you decide to go with, keep a few hundred rounds of ammo that is accurate in your rifle, on hand. It'll cost you a bit. But it's a worthwhile investment.
I figured, if I'm getting a gun with a long action anyway, I might as well take advantage of the length and go for the 30-06 for slightly increased performance, as opposed to the 308. It was a good choice and I'm still happy with it.
But all is not perfect. One has to factor in ammunition availability into their choice. Both seem very vanilla. Very good at what they do. Very popular. And that both cartridges are always on the shelf and available. The last ammo shortage has proven, to me anyways, that that is not the case.
The shelves around me were bare for approximately a year and a half during and after covid. The rounds you could find were obscure or ridiculously overpriced. Often times both.
The first cartridge to make it back on the shelves in any numbers, and in any variety of types of ammo was the 308 Winchester. For that reason alone, if I was making the same choice today that I made years ago, I'd probably go for the 308 over the -06.
Whichever cartridge you decide to go with, keep a few hundred rounds of ammo that is accurate in your rifle, on hand. It'll cost you a bit. But it's a worthwhile investment.
The 308 is a little more efficient shooting 150s, which only matters if you want to save $3 a pound on powder. The 30-06 really surpasses the 308 with 180s/200s. If it's just about versatility and performance, then 30-06 is the winner. If you found a rifle that you really really like in 308, go for it. The 308 is perfectly capable of dropping Moose and Deer.
The first big game rifle I bought was a Remington 700 in 30-06. I sold it at some point along the way and now when hunting deer my 308 gets the call. I don't miss the 30-06. The 30-06 is better with 180 grain bullets than the 308 but the improvement in bullet technology since I started hunting negates that. I did shoot my first moose with a 308 and 180 grain premium bullets though. When hunting game bigger than deer, there are better choices in my opinion than the 30-06 (or 308 as well) but as a new hunter, you will be well served by a 308 to start with.
Other than a Savage 99, what does a guy get picking a 308 over a 30-06 for a hunting rifle? The 30-06 has >20% more case capacity, a faster twist, the same mag capacity in often identical rifles, delivers more performance from Factory Loads and more versitility for the Handloader, and so on.
What have I ever lost from having a 308 and not a 30-06?
Can think of no time any of that meant anything in the field. For your argument to have any worth, you'd have to concretely say "here's what you can be doing in the field with the 30-06 that you can't with the 308"....but thats not gonna happen.
Never noticed any meaningful difference in versatility as a hand loader at all. Except the 308 having small primer brass. I've loaded both with the 4895s, 4350s, 4198s, 4064s, Varget, VV N135, Accurave 2460. Those all gone? Reach into the ball powders for my 223 Rems and use BLC-2, H335, TAC, etc. They work in both, no problem.
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I like .308 and have owned and hunted with both. Not one single iota of difference in their ability to kill game animals with appropriate bullets at ranges far beyond what the vast majority of hunters can do in the field. Same as .270, .280, 7x64, 7mm-08 and most others. Hit the vitals with bullets that will expand and cause trauma, and have enough momentum to penetrate, and what it says on the headstamp is mostly gun nuts playing around with our interests.
LOLLLLL!
Bingo!
I wouldn't consider SRP brass a feather in the cap of a hunting cartridge.
From a manufacturer of SRP brass, caution is advised, and cold weather never happens in hunting season...
https://www.petersoncartridge.com/m... recommended,you risk getting pierced primers.
So don't use it to hunt? Heard some people shoot their rifles for fun and practice.
Besides that obvious answer? Extruded powders and small rifle magnum primers are a good combo.
Or again, just hunt your LRP brass. No one ever said "use only SRP brass!" did they?
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