.308 or 30-06

Looking for some suggestions to the age old argument... 30-06 or .308.
I've heard from friends that 30-06 is more versatile due to the availability in grain. Which makes it more ideal for what size game you want to hunt.
I also know that I've never heard of a .308 owner who regretted his/her purchase.
I live in a place with lots of deer and the occasional moose, so versatility is definitely important on that front.
I also want to consider things like cost and availability of ammo. Aswell as longevity of suggested brands.
Looking for all the help I can get! I'm a new gun owner on civilian side so I'm looking for as many suggestions as possible

thanks guys
So...... Is it a loaded question? The fact is the egg came first. Any cop will tell you Speed kills regardless of vehicle type. The cartridge is only as capable as the projectile and the rifle. What your actually hunting for is the egg... Um maybe start up close with a 30-30 it's fun compact and easily repeatable and okay up to 100. Next 308, more lethal further then finally the 1906 to extended distance. Powder capacity=speed=dead at distance.
Your the kid who pokes the anthill with a stick right?
 
There's a heck of a lot more .308 ammo around in all weights than there is .30-06, a complete reverse of when I was a youngster. Even if the days of surplus 7.62 NATO are over, as a non-reloader I would only choose .30-06 if I was after grizzlies or other very large game and that would be purely psychological and not in a gun I expected to use very much.
 
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For deer and the maybe moose, a .308 is plenty. I prefer the lower recoil and the shorter actions of the .308. The '06 is a classic tho....everyone should have one, at least once!
 
Of course there's gonna be the guys completely disregarding the question and suggesting some other obscure cartridge that's "better in every way".

Only opinion I have on the .308 vs .30-06 debate is: If Garand, must be -06.
i know this in an old post but why specifically 06 for the garand is there any reliability issues with the 308 over the 06 i really want to get one but am leaning to 308 as its a cartridge i already have lots of and would prefer to only have to stockpile one main round
 
the difference between the two is nil there is no difference just preference
the math is the same the bullet weights are the same the range is the same accuracy may go to the 308 and that's splitting hairs
Blah Blah Blah
 
i know this in an old post but why specifically 06 for the garand is there any reliability issues with the 308 over the 06 i really want to get one but am leaning to 308 as its a cartridge i already have lots of and would prefer to only have to stockpile one main round
No practical reason to not get a .308 Garand, it's just one of those things. You're not buying a Garand because it was better than other available semi-auto .30 cal rifle in any way (Not more accurate, not more modular, not more durable, not cheaper, etc), you're buying it for what it is. And in my opinion, the Garand and the .30-06 chambering belong together. You can get .22LR versions of guns, but it just doesn't feel right.
 
Haha, getting close to a 2 year old post. How can you not throw in a completely unsolicited opinion?!?!
I've owned several 30-06 rifles (mostly 98 Mauser variants) and 308 (modern sporters). I find both to be great cartridges.

IMHO the 30-06 is a fantastic hunting round that can be handloaded to 220 or 240 gr bullets if you want. On average about 100-150 fps faster than a comparable bullet in a 308, at least up to a 180 gr bullet. It's a low pressure cartridge, so unless completely neglected after use, the barrels last a very long time. If you like 50's era sporting Mausers such as Husqvarnas, they are extremely well made and reliable. Lots of power and speed as well as flexibility with heavy bullets for mean critters.

The 308s I've owned and loaded for tend to be measurably more accurate. Probably 2 things going on: less recoil and a more consistent powder burn with a shorter cartridge case. If you really geek out over loading data, you can get similar velocities with a 150, 165/168, or 180 gr loads but with 4 grains less powder in the 308. Just more efficient burn, I guess?

Either way, they are both easy on barrels, easy to get bullets, brass, and powder for. The 30-06 will give you a bit more range in a 'point-blank' sense, carry more energy out farther than a 308 (by maybe 100 or 150m), and allow for heavier bullets, but at the cost of a bit more recoil. Both are great....maybe get one of each?
 
these days because .308 battle rifles are a rarity, an m1 garand in that caliber makes sense
in the olden days when we would get a norinco m14 all day for $300 it made zero sense to pony up for a .308 garand
 
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