.308 vs 30-06 accuracy

mr00jimbo

mr00jimbo

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
25   0   0
Location
GVRD
Not talking power, but accuracy; I have been told that if I buy a 30-06 and use it for anything other than hunting, it will dissapoint me at more than 100 yards in the accuracy department and that the .308 blows it out of the water. What do you think?
 
mr00jimbo said:
Not talking power, but accuracy; I have been told that if I buy a 30-06 and use it for anything other than hunting, it will dissapoint me at more than 100 yards in the accuracy department and that the .308 blows it out of the water. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Not true!
The big difference between the 308 and the 30'06 is about 100FPS, give or take.
Ina match rifle you won't see a big difference, the biggest reason you see more 308's is the fact that it is now a Nato round.
Do up an '06 in a match rifle and you have a winner, if you are already shooting like one.
The '06 will be better with heavy bullets , actually.

Cat
 
Last edited:
some say that in order to shoot like a match 308 , the 30-06 has to be brought down to comparable velocities. That pretty much cancels all the advantages.

With the advent of the 300WM in the long range military shooting, the 30-06 lost it's grounds for any future developments.

If you have doubts about the potential of the 30-06, remember that it's 100 years old and going strong. Many members on the board shoot it well under 1 MOA.
 
So if I was to do some shooting at the range, or just non-hunting out in the forest at longer ranges, the 30-06 would not be out of place? It's not like a "hunting only" round?
 
Before the short actions are more accurate crap rears its ugly head, the average 308 may be slightly more accurate but in my experience 06 hunting rifles are very accurate and the dif in accuracy between the two is certainly not a reason to choose one over the other. And yes if we're talking absolute ultimate accuracy a short action does have a slight advantage, shorter is stiffer.
 
.308 Win :) Has changed the scoring system in long range tgt shooting when it beat the 06 so badly.
Now hunting is not the same cat, the 06 is better, and accurate at hunting ranges, the .308 just got better scores at long (tgt) ranges.
 
Last edited:
Levi Garrett said:
.308 Win :) Has changed the scoring system in long range tgt shooting when it beat the 06 so badly.
Now hunting is not the same cat, the 06 is better, and accurate at hunting ranges, the .308 just got better scores at long (tgt) ranges.
Click to expand...
Only because it is being used more.
The "inherrent accuracy" of the .308 is no more or lass than the '06.
Put 'em both in a machine rest and you would see some very inmteresting results.I knnow, becuase my father did just that when he worked as a ballistician.
Cat
 
Do you think for 85-90% range and "plinking" purposes, and 10-15% hunting purposes, the 700 SPS SS in .308 would make me happier?
 
Theory of the shorter case leading to better uniformity thus creating better accuracy would seem to have been proven by most target shooters. For most of us in the hunting world, we will never know whether a 308 is more accurate than the 06 because our firearms are usually stock items and manufacturing variances are greater than the difference? in the calibers. Shoot what feels good to you and practice often. YOU can be the determining factor of which is more accurate.:runaway:
 
mr00jimbo said:
Do you think for 85-90% range and "plinking" purposes, and 10-15% hunting purposes, the 700 SPS SS in .308 would make me happier?
Click to expand...
For 85-90% range and plinking purposes then Absolutely the 308 would make you happier :)
It will also do nearly anything the '06 will do for the other 10-15% of your Hunting use;)
 
If you took 100 Brand A Model B .308's, shot them for accuracy with factory ammunition and averaged the groups, then took 100 Brand A Model B 30-06 rifles, shot them for accuracy with factory ammunition and averaged the groups, my money would be on the .308 average being slightly better than the 30-06 average group size.

Pick one of either caliber and it is even money which will be the better shooter. I know my 30-06 Brno Sporter will shoot 3/4" off the bench consistently with the right load and me doing my part. Probably do better with a better operator.....
 
For range and plinking, why not a .308? Even if accuracy and cost are the same, with less recoil it's more fun to shoot.:)
 
I went with the 30-06 because it can handle bullets heavier than 165 grain better, although I only load 168 gr in my 30-06 :D

I do like the 308 alot...
 
The last new rifle that I bought was a 308. I purchased it for its undeniable superiority in the accuracey department as its a short cartridge with nice sharp shoulders. It is therefore more efficient and undeniabley a better choice than the stupid boring old 30-06. And it was good.

And I have quite a few rifles so i know what I'm talking about, let me tell you. Again and agian as i tend to do. But actually, well, my most accurate rifle is a 40 year old 30-06 :runaway:
 
mr00jimbo said:
Not talking power, but accuracy; I have been told that if I buy a 30-06 and use it for anything other than hunting, it will dissapoint me at more than 100 yards in the accuracy department and that the .308 blows it out of the water. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Asfar as everyday use goes, the .308 recoils a tad less than the 30'06, and this is one of the reasons that some people shoot it better.
There is a lot of cheap ammo around for the .308, also.
These are the things you should take into coonsideration.
As far as blowing the '06 out of the water, they are too close for this to0 happen.
Neither is a miracle cartridge, in fact there isn't one out there!
You still have to aim the rifle and squeeze the trigger....
Cat
 
Most people, me included, can't shoot well enough to see the accuracy advantage that the 308 has and it is there, or the bench rest comunity would not have gone to it in droves when it first appeared.
The 308 does have a few other advantages.
It's cheaper to shoot (uses less powder), and lighter, if you're the type to go to the bush dressed like a Mexican Bandito.
It's used in short action rifles that MAY be lighter, and may be stiffer than their long action counterparts depending on the manufacturer.

I personally find the 30-06 is easier to run through my reloading press, and causes me fewer reloading issues, but that's just me I think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom