30-06 vs 308?

With light bullets (150s) and factory loads there isn't enough difference to matter. With hot handloads and heavier bullets the 30-06 starts to pull away. Whether that is an advantage depends on your own circumstances.
 
look at it this way- do you INTEND on using bullets of 180 or greater? - the 06 pulls away at 180, but it also burns about 10 grains more powder to do it- if you intend to use 200 grains and better , the 06 has both a FASTER( typically a 1/10) twist and heavier bullets- up until 180, the 06 has a slight speed advantage( as little as 86 fps) but also burns more powder doing it- the 308 is also typically a lighter rifle( unless you get one that's built on an 06 action) and shorter barrel- the remmy 742, for instance, weighs EXACTLY the same in both calibers b/c it's an 06 action- they just stuffed a spacer in there and chambered it for 308
 
Was leaning toward a 30-06 b/c i have dies for it for some unknown reason. Plus the bullets are a little easier to find. But as usual once I think I have mind made up I start 2nd guessing.
 
the 308 for me, I'm a short action fan. the 308 does everything that I need it to do, for me! :D. My 30-06 usually stands in the safe. She's a bit of a Queen, No.1A, if she was a No.1AB, well, my want to shoot and carry it would be in the mile high zone!

And don't forget what Ed Matunas said: "and as a rule, gun for gun, the 308 will outshoot the 30-06"! He's my hero and I believe him. His books have given me hrs and hrs of reading enjoyment and much learning over the years.
 
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KRJ said:
Was leaning toward a 30-06 b/c i have dies for it for some unknown reason. Plus the bullets are a little easier to find. But as usual once I think I have mind made up I start 2nd guessing.
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That makes absolutely no sense. They use the same .308 dia bullets.
 
308:
  • Lower recoil (10%)
  • Similar performance on medium game (150gr bullets)
  • Inferior performance on large game (180gr bullet) - lose 50-75 yards of effective range
  • Availabliity of cheap "surplus/FMJ" ammo for training
  • Availability of excellent match ammo
  • Better feeding in semis
  • Better accuracy
  • Better barrel life

30-06:
  • Similar performance on medium game (150gr bullets)
  • Superior performance on large game (180gr bullet) - extra 50-75 yards of effective range
  • Better availability and choice of hunting ammo
  • Very good feeding is semis
  • Very good accuracy
  • Very good barrel life

If you don't reload get a 30-06 or a 270 Win: the choice and availability of ammo and extra 50-75 yards of effective range are a huge consideration.
If you only hunt deer (medium game) get a 308 Win.
If you only hunt moose (large game) get a 30-06 Win.
Any choice is a great choice but I consider 270 Win superior to both 308 Win and 30-06 for most hunters.

Alex
 
AlexF said:
308:
  • Lower recoil (10%)
  • Similar performance on medium game (150gr bullets)
  • Inferior performance on large game (180gr bullet) - lose 50-75 yards of effective range
  • Availabliity of cheap "surplus/FMJ" ammo for training
  • Availability of excellent match ammo
  • Better feeding in semis
  • Better accuracy
  • Better barrel life

30-06:
  • Similar performance on medium game (150gr bullets)
  • Superior performance on large game (180gr bullet) - extra 50-75 yards of effective range
  • Better availability and choice of hunting ammo
  • Very good feeding is semis
  • Very good accuracy
  • Very good barrel life

If you don't reload get a 30-06 or a 270 Win: the choice and availability of ammo and extra 50-75 yards of effective range are a huge consideration.
If you only hunt deer (medium game) get a 308 Win.
If you only hunt moose (large game) get a 30-06 Win.
Any choice is a great choice but I consider 270 Win superior to both 308 Win and 30-06 for most hunters.

Alex
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Alex I agree with you, but I would say that the 308 is just as good on large game. I have seen an elk taken at 225 yards with a 308 with one shot. The bullet expanded perfectly and retained very well making a clean kill. To me, the two calibres are equal up until the largest bullets are used, except the 308 does it more economically and with less recoil. I don't see any reason to shoot bullets heavier than 180 in either calibre as they get the job done, but maybe in target shooting there would be a need... not sure.
270 is better for most people? Debatable, but I would say you're probably right.
 
I'd pick the 30-06. While the 308 is its near equal, I've always looked at a loaded 308 round as being proportionately wrong, in other words the bullet almost matches the case in size,"goofy" looking for lack of better words. There's your completely unscientific answer. :D
 
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I was thinking, i never did buy a 30-06 for myself, bought a few for friends and family, yep never owned a 30-06... JP.
 
proonur said:
Alex I agree with you, but I would say that the 308 is just as good on large game. I have seen an elk taken at 225 yards with a 308 with one shot. The bullet expanded perfectly and retained very well making a clean kill. To me, the two calibres are equal up until the largest bullets are used, except the 308 does it more economically and with less recoil. I don't see any reason to shoot bullets heavier than 180 in either calibre as they get the job done, but maybe in target shooting there would be a need... not sure.
270 is better for most people? Debatable, but I would say you're probably right.
Click to expand...

30-06 vs 308 on large game
30-06 gets an extra 150-200fps with 180gr bullets which means an extra 50-75 yards effective range.
This means that ff 308 is a good 200-250 yards moose cartridge, then 30-06 is a good 250-325 yards moose cartridge.

270 Win vs 30-06 for the average hunter
This one is tricker but here are the facts: for a given sectionnal density 270 bullets are 20% lighter (270 130gr = 30-06 165gr and 270 150gr = 30-06 180gr).
This means that for a give sectionnal density bullet and kinetic energy level, you'll get a 20% reduction in recoil.

I think that 270 Win is better than 30-06 because even 30-06 150gr recoil level is too much for the average hunter (because of lack of training).
If you're a trained marksman, this reasonning does not apply and you might as well use a 300 Win Mag or a 338 Mag for large game!

Alex
 
And I thought that the only decision I had to make was .308 vs 30-06 eh? How would the 270 Win do against these calibers for Deer, Moose, Caribou - in that order?

I'm reasonably sure that it is a wash between the .308 and the 30-06 for the distances I can see myself shooting at (under 200 yards - 250 AT MOST).
 
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