+1 on all the above. Swore I’d never run an 06, yet here I am with one as my primary BG rifle.
newb 30-06 vs 308 vs 300wm?
- Thread starter Bushtech
- Start date
+1 on all the above. Swore I’d never run an 06, yet here I am with one as my primary BG rifle.
I agree the 06 is better now than ever with todays offerings but so is the .308 and 300WM. I despised the .308 for years and now reach for my 6.5lb .308 often. If your a timber hunter that does lots of calling, the .308 works real well. If I planned on shooting lots of open country I would reach for my 300WM.
I think the 300wm is too much for a first big game rifle. 30-06 is probably a better choice if it is to be your only rifle, but I shot my first moose with a .308 and 180 grain premium bullets and it is fine choice. I have never shot an elk but would probably use a .338 for that - that is what I now use for moose as well. I think a .308 / .338 combo makes sense. My experience with .300 magnums was with a Weatherby and I found it obnoxious to shoot. .338 was much more comfortable - more of a push rather than a punch. If you are definitely getting a second rifle I'd get the .308 - otherwise I'd get a 30-06.
Originally Posted by pathfinder76 View Post
I hated the 30-06 for years. Then I used one. I could happily use it alone for any hunting I’ll ever do.
Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Rigpig View Post
I am definitely one that prefers to use the oddball, obscure calibers, not really having any interest in the common run of the mill ones - except the 30-06... It just works.
Quote Originally Posted by dan belisle View Post
Yeah, cant say I've ever been a fan of the 06, but having said that, I currently have three in various iterations. They are an extremely practical choice. - dan
+1 on all the above. Swore I’d never run an 06, yet here I am with one as my primary BG rifle.
I Too now ! Used a 7 RM for years and still have 2 - NOW i have a Rem 700 And a Kimber Hunter in 30-06 and I like the cartridge . RJ
I hated the 30-06 for years. Then I used one. I could happily use it alone for any hunting I’ll ever do.
Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Rigpig View Post
I am definitely one that prefers to use the oddball, obscure calibers, not really having any interest in the common run of the mill ones - except the 30-06... It just works.
Quote Originally Posted by dan belisle View Post
Yeah, cant say I've ever been a fan of the 06, but having said that, I currently have three in various iterations. They are an extremely practical choice. - dan
+1 on all the above. Swore I’d never run an 06, yet here I am with one as my primary BG rifle.
I Too now ! Used a 7 RM for years and still have 2 - NOW i have a Rem 700 And a Kimber Hunter in 30-06 and I like the cartridge . RJ
The answer to the question is always 7-08 lol.
I’ve got a quality box of those those strange little cartridges on the EE here for months now and no local interest. Guess all the locals around here are into 30-06 instead, lol
But then 7mm-08 AI rears its head. And the 284. - dan
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The biggest benefit to the .308 is its transportability between platforms, and ammo availability. Both make it a winner in my eyes.
SFRC presently lists 82 .308 loads, more than any other chambering, a local Canadian tire had around a dozen modern .308 loads on the sparsely stocked shelves as well.
Nice semis, nice 5lb mountain rifles, purpose built long range rigs, milsurps, English and German bests, all readily available in what is likely the most common centerfire big game cartridge made.
I’ve used it extensively, from wolves to moose, and it’s a fantastic round with light recoil. I skip the .30-06 personally and go straight to the .300s if I want more, but I certainly see the argument for the .30-06’s middle ground. It has half the variety of platform benefits of the .308, half the performance benefit of the .300.
SFRC presently lists 82 .308 loads, more than any other chambering, a local Canadian tire had around a dozen modern .308 loads on the sparsely stocked shelves as well.
Nice semis, nice 5lb mountain rifles, purpose built long range rigs, milsurps, English and German bests, all readily available in what is likely the most common centerfire big game cartridge made.
I’ve used it extensively, from wolves to moose, and it’s a fantastic round with light recoil. I skip the .30-06 personally and go straight to the .300s if I want more, but I certainly see the argument for the .30-06’s middle ground. It has half the variety of platform benefits of the .308, half the performance benefit of the .300.
But you may lose your ammo and have to buy a box in a town of only 20 people and shoot the biggest grizzly bear ever and all that takes like 5% more power than the 308 man (and perhaps less if running 150gr bullets lol)! Are you mad?
Could totally happen to any of us lol
Used to be true. I don't think it is anymore. - dan
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've always owned at least one .308. Despite owning a lot of other rifles chambered for other cartridges, the .308 remains my favourite and is what I consider my most versatile cartridge for many reasons. I own three .308 rifles currently, and two .30-06 rifles. To me the choice between them depends mostly on the rifle, not the cartridge. But in the same model rifle, with properly proportioned actions, ( for example, a current Winchester model 70) I'd take the .308 every time. A .300 magnum is a popular choice, but a poor one for many people, especially for a beginner. Beginners need to learn how to hit what they're aiming at in stressful, new-to-them hunting conditions. Unnecessary recoil and muzzle blast does not make that learning process easier. Despite advertising and ballistics charts, in the hunting fields, "More" is not always "better" - the same size bullet going a few FPS slower, but put in the right place works just fine. I've started several new hunters out with .308 rifles, never a complaint.
True, I had a friend some years back who just had to give my 300 Wby a spin, because of all he had read. Split his eyebrow wide open. Bled on three of my guns when he panicked a little, ruined the finish on a pre war Colt. Sigh. Anyway, yes, 300 magnums need to be worked up to, and everything past that even more so. - dan
Fired an 06 that kicked terribly compared to my Xbolt in 300WM , can be difficult to make an apples to apples comparison with a lot of variables. I’ve got a couple buddies in the 6’4”/350lbs range that have serious problems with an 06 ( soft guys that just never really worked a hard day) and one that’s 5’7” /155 lbs that’s ripped who handles my WM like he owns it.
Go to a range with a .22 and while plonking talk to guys , ask what the recoils like . You’ll find the overwhelming majority are great guys and they will say send a few . Remember sitting is a lot more felt recoil than standing .
Then buy two , a .308 and a 300 WM
Go to a range with a .22 and while plonking talk to guys , ask what the recoils like . You’ll find the overwhelming majority are great guys and they will say send a few . Remember sitting is a lot more felt recoil than standing .
Then buy two , a .308 and a 300 WM
30-06 used to be known as the top end of recoil tolerance shooters, both new and seasoned.
Given todays advancements on bullet design and ensuing BC efficiency etc, one would be hard pressed not to look at the four old standbys (308, 270, 30-06 or 7RM) and have pretty much everything covered we typically hunt from coast-to-coast.
Given todays advancements on bullet design and ensuing BC efficiency etc, one would be hard pressed not to look at the four old standbys (308, 270, 30-06 or 7RM) and have pretty much everything covered we typically hunt from coast-to-coast.
Agreed: Perceived recoil is subjective. It depends on the shooter, their stance and grip, and the layout of the firearm. Free recoil on the other hand - That is an objective measure. But it's kind of irrelevant since you almost never shoot exactly the same rifle but with a different chambering.
And, shooting prone or from a bench can give a completely different idea of how a gun recoils, as compared to standing.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'd agree, but it's too much gun for noobsausage. That's where the 30-06 shines. Everything from tame 150gr loads to start your kid on up to full power 180s with almost zero compromises.
