.308 or 30-06.

flip a coin, their ballistics are so similar, that there really is not a whole lot of difference in performance. Both are popular with alot of factory ammo options and lots of rifle choice. 308 may be slightly more accurate on average and the 30-06 handles 180 grain or heavier bullets better due to its larger case. Both are great cartridges for hunting deer, and both can handle larger game like elk and moose no problem. They also dont kick too bad.
 
The significant advantage that .308 has over 30.06 is that it is shorter, so you can get a short action rifle, i.e. a bit lighter in weight and a bit more compact, easier to handle. Think about the hunting you intend to do and you can decide whether that advantage will be important to you.

The significant advantage that 30.06 has over .308 is that the case size allows you to use some heavier bullets (same diameter, so the only way to get bigger is to be longer) that are better for some large game. Think about the hunting you intend to do and you can decide whether that advantage will be important to you.
 
Buy both. They both have their uses and you can load with the same ammo.
Covers the bases nicely. Big or small, you can hunt them all...All that thinkin makes my brain hurt.
 
They are both great, the 308 is shorter and handier(the rifle that is), recoil is very mild vs a little bit more. The 3006 handled larger bullets a bit better and the ballistics are slightly better.

I have a REALLY LIGHT 308 which I load 150 gr bullets for deer and a 300 Win mag I use when anything bigger is on the menu. My son uses a 30-06 for everything. If I was buying one gun and planning to hunt more than deer I would buy the 30-06.
 
Check out the Remmington 700 BDL in 30-06.
Just use the iron sights, real sweet gun for hiking thru the woods!
 
darrin said:
I want to buy a new rifle and want to get an opinion on what calibre.
Click to expand...

Not much info there to go on??
308 may be in a slightly lighter gun or not!
30-06 will handle 180s better than the 308.
Personally if it's for an all around gun that includes moose I'd choose the 30-06.
Leave out the moose & I'd quickly choose the 308 :)

Look at it this way
The 30-06 w/180 bullets matches the 308 ballistics with 150s.
 
there is not much of a difference.
so for example, if the .30-06 version of the same rifle is on sale for $100 off or something, id get the .30-06.

all things being equal though - same gun, same price, get the .308 - short action, slightly better accuracy, more cheap ammo available, etc.

youll have an easier time mounting a scope on the shorter receiver as well. it can be a pain in the ass mounting a short tube scope (which most are these days) on a long action with 2-piece mounts far enough back for proper eye relief.
 
senior said:
30-06 will handle 180s better than the 308.
....
Look at it this way
The 30-06 w/180 bullets matches the 308 ballistics with 150s.
Click to expand...

that depends on the twist rate of your barrel. my .308 Remington 700P comes with a 12" twist, whereas my .30-06 BDL comes with a 10" twist. so yes in this case the .30-06 will stabilize the heavier bullets better.

the main argument ive heard for the .30-06 is that it accomodates the 220 grain bullet better (and 220s can be purchased in factory loads).
ive heard of people loading the 220gr in .308 loads, but i dont reload so let someone else comment upon the wisdom of doing that :)
 
Last edited:
the other thing to consider is that at over 180 grains , seated to factory length , your bullet is seating IN the powder - not a good thing- with the 06, being a half inch longer is not-but if you can't kill it with 180, there's something wrong- and it isn't the load- or 165's for that matter-
308's can come in 3 flavors 1/10, 1/11, and 1/12- the 1/10 will accomdate it all, but you run out of case length at 190/200- ie it seats too deep, you don't get a 1/11 very often unless it's a custom barrel, and the 1/12 being the most common- and it depends on the manufacturer- my 742 remmy is a 1/10 and my savage 99 is a 1/12- i should imagine that's because remmy just takes an '06 barrel and chambers it for the 308- the action length is an 06 and the mag has a spacer in it- the savage on the other hand , is a purpose built 308- it's really just a updated 300 savage- lastly, i've got a little chart that shows minimum twist- and it says you need a twist of 1/13.8 to stabilize a 180 at 308 velocities-
 
I believe the .30-06 has an edge from the point of view of a do it all hunting rifle, particularly for someone who handloads his ammunition. The .308 usually comes with a slow twist barrel, often 1:12 and sometimes 1:14. A slow twist doesn't work particularly well with heavier or in the case of X's longer bullets. The '06 is most commonly found with a 1:10 twist and will handle bullet weights up to the 240 gr Woodleighs or the longest monometal bullets.

If you are looking for a pure deer rifle, the .308 loaded with 150's will be pretty hard to beat. If you are looking for a deer rifle that can be used as a varmint rifle the .308 might be the better choice, particularly if you are using factory ammo. The .308's short action means that the overall length of your rifle will be shorter than an '06 with the same length barrel, and the ballistic advantage of the '06 does not become apparent until you get up to 180 gr bullets. If bear or moose are on the menu I believe the '06 would be the better choice.
 
I too have been researching the topic because I am looking for another hunting gun. when we say the velocities are close or slightly less on the 308 that is a very general comment. if you reload you can't get the velocity out of a 308 that you can out of a 30-06 due to case size. if you buy ammo then Hornady light mag makes a "hot" 308 round that does match or exceed that of the 30-06 in a std manufactured load in the same bullet weight. I don't plan on reloading for the 308 so my choice is going to be the 308 which I'll use the light mag loads provided the gun likes the load due to a nice small gun due to the shorter action and similar ballistics as the 30-06. Also i can buy low recoil loads for it when my little guy inherits it on his 10th birthday. personally, if you need to shoot more then 180gr then you should be moving up to a 300 or 338 though to get more powder behind it.
 
Given the same rifle I would buy the 30-06. In fact, I was just presented with the choice recently when I was deciding what caliber to buy for my walking around rifle. To be honest, the 30-06 was the only choice. The 308 is fine, but it sucks hind tit badly with the 180 grain bullets that I like to use in 30 calibers. I have a 308 and a 300 Winchester already and I wouldn't have been opposed to another of the same caliber, but I've used a 30-06 with a lot of success before and wanted to try it again. Lots of oomph with heavier bullets but not too much recoil for all but the greenest new shooter. And even then you can down load the 30-06 to decrease the recoil. You can also amp it up and get 300-esque performance out of it. So it's almost 3 calibers in one. Hence why it is hated by some people. Me, I just got an ambivalent wife so I don't feel guilty about having a do-it-all rifle in the safe with all the specialty rifles.
 
Scobo said:
I too have been researching the topic because I am looking for another hunting gun. when we say the velocities are close or slightly less on the 308 that is a very general comment. if you reload you can't get the velocity out of a 308 that you can out of a 30-06 due to case size. if you buy ammo then Hornady light mag makes a "hot" 308 round that does match or exceed that of the 30-06 in a std manufactured load in the same bullet weight. I don't plan on reloading for the 308 so my choice is going to be the 308 which I'll use the light mag loads provided the gun likes the load due to a nice small gun due to the shorter action and similar ballistics as the 30-06. Also i can buy low recoil loads for it when my little guy inherits it on his 10th birthday. personally, if you need to shoot more then 180gr then you should be moving up to a 300 or 338 though to get more powder behind it.
Click to expand...

Interesting comments. Factory ammo is loaded to 48,000 psi in the '06, and 51,000 in the .308. That gives the .308 some advantage when we shoot factory ammo, although both cartridges can be loaded to the same pressure levels by the handloader.

I do not believe that bullets heavier than 180's need to be pushed from a .300 magnum to be effective. To the contrary, many bullets are designed to have optimum terminal performance when loaded to 2400 fps, so .300 magnum velocity is quite unnecessary for a 300 yard hunting rifle. Lots of folks still shoot 200 gr .30 caliber bullets in a wide variety of mild cartridges.
 
Yes I would also go with the 30-06 for hunting, eventhough i have a few 308and shoot more than my share of 308 ammo at targets.

No one has pointed you wrong here, there is very little difference until heavy bullets come into play, and that is where the 30-06 stand out. I would not say one is better than the other but the 30-06 is a do it all hunting cartrige and chambered in a quality bolt action rifle will work for anything you feel the need to hunt.
Some people say they are boing? and in a way they are, however they work well.
 
BigUglyMan said:
The 308 is fine, but it sucks hind tit badly with the 180 grain bullets that I like to use in 30 calibers.
Click to expand...

Actually, with factory loads, the 30-06 only has 80 fps over the 308 with 180's, 2620 fps vs 2700 fps. I'm not sure how 80 fps makes anything suck the hind tit. I have both 308's and 30-06's myself, and I use them interchangeably; I make my choice between them based on the rifle, not the cartridge. We all have our preferences, but I think stating that the 308 sucks the hind tit with 180's is off base.
 
I like the .30-06. Nothing against the .308. I have used an 06 for almost 20 years. It was my first big game rifle and I still own one I know that cartridges' performance inside out and backwards. I know where the bullet is going, so I can concentrate on doing my part. Everything I have shot with it has died in short order. Both are fine for NA ungulates, the 06 is just a bit faster and harder hitting.
 
some of you guys needs to clarify if you are talking about factory loads or handloaded hot loads, because its a huge factor - so you cant just go tell the average joe hunter (who doesnt reload) that 'the .30-06 is superior to the .308 with 180 grain bullets'. if someone has no interest in reloading then the .308 is a better choice. if they do reload or intend to then the .30-06 gives them more versatility.

if they arent reloading, then with the right twist rate barrel there is very little difference between the two calibers using factory loads. were talking a couple of inches at 600 yards, where no sane hunter would take a shot anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom