.308 or 30-06.

In a hunting rifle, the animals and the targets won't know the difference. To say that a factory .308 will be more accurate than a 30-06 is a little far fetched. Personally, if it had to be a factory gun, I'd go for a 30-06 in a Kimber Classic or Tikka, just because I like the '06. Pick your own poison cause we are comparing apples to apples here.
 
Northman999 said:
We all have our preferences, but I think stating that the 308 sucks the hind tit with 180's is off base.
Click to expand...

I handload so I don't get excited about what factory ammo makers claim. Shooting them over the chrony is the true test. I don't use a 308 for hunting so this isn't a true apples to apples comparison (my 308 shoots 168 gr A Max where my 300 shoots 180 NPT as will the '06), but according to the #5 Nosler manual there's a nearly 200 FPS difference between the 308 and 30-06 using 180 gr Nosler Partitions (2718 for the 308 versus 2872 for the '06). I think the numbers in the Nosler book are optimistic. I would only expect to get 2500 out of a 308 with 180's and 2800 from the '06. Regardless what some people may tell you, 300 FPS would be a big difference. Maybe not at makign animals dead, but penetration with premium bullets will be better given a 300 FPS increase in velocity. As well, trajectory be flattened with the increase in velocity.

308 shooting 180 gr Interbond

Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2500 2411 2323 2153 1991 1836 1690
Energy (ft.-lb.) 2498 2323 2157 1853 1584 1347 1141
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 1.2 2.5 0.0 -10.0 -28.8 -57.9

30-06 shooting 180 Interbond

Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2800 2704 2611 2430 2256 2089 1929
Energy (ft.-lb.) 3133 2923 2725 2359 2033 1744 1487
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 0.7 1.8 0.0 -7.7 -22.2 -44.7

300 Winchester 180 Interbond

Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2900 2802 2707 2522 2344 2173 2010
Energy (ft.-lb.) 3361 3138 2928 2541 2196 1888 1614
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 0.6 1.6 0.0 -7.1 -20.5 -41.3

As you can see, trajectory is indeed flattened as you increase velocity, though the law of diminishing returns does apply. I have no reliable measurement or calculation of penetration, but it stands to reason that it will increase with an increase in velocity, provided that the bullet does not fail due to insufficient structure for the impact velocity. Too, time of flight is decreased as velocity increases thus resulting in less wind drift due to the wind having less time to act on the projectile.
 
308 light mag hornady 165 SSTVelocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)Muzzle100 yd200 yd300 yd400 yd500 yd2880/30382668/26072465/22262272/18902087/15951911/1337Trajectory (inches)Muzzle100 yd200 yd300 yd400 yd500 yd-1.51.70-7.4-21.6-43.8

30-06 Sprg., 165 gr. SSTVelocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)Muzzle100 yd200 yd300 yd400 yd500 yd2800/28722597/24702403/21152217/18002039/15231870/1281Trajectory (inches)Muzzle100 yd200 yd300 yd400 yd500 yd-1.51.80-7.9-22.8-46.2

also, federal premium in 30-06 barnes TSX 165gr has a muzzle velocity of 2800. once again these are published numbers but one gets the point here. if you are buying off the shelf ammo and only need to shooting under 180grs I think it is apples to apples then the type of gun that suits you best is to be decided. if you handload then that's a different story.
 
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