Which one should I keep, 308 or 30-06 for target range?

[dfraser]

Hi all,

I have been at the range with these two rifles, both work just as well, both same accuracy at 300 yards to 500 yards, but I am wondering if I should just focus on making one better at the cost of selling the other. What would your guy's thoughts be on this?

1 - 2 year old Remington 700 SPS AAC SD - 308

2 - 1966 Winchester model 670 - 30-06

Maybe I should just be happy with both instead, and not spend money on either...........


Regards,

 

[gunpro]

if you are going to pimp one out to try and make improvements, there are more options available to the Remington build.

 

[dfraser]

if you are going to pimp one out to try and make improvements, there are more options available to the Remington build.

By looks of it, looks like there is a bigger aftermarket for the Remington than a winchester.

Thanks

 

[kawicrash]

My personal preference would be the .308.
A lot more ammo choices available, shorter action, modern reliability.
Plus, for no particular reason, I hate the 30'06.

 

[Papaclaude]

I'd venture that the 308 is a bit more inherently accurate than the '06. There must be a reason the 308 has been winning matches since its introduction (although now it is being supplanted by some newer cartridges).

 

[legi0n]

keep the more accurate one

 

[dfraser]

Thanks guys,

Regards

 

[supahdave]

The remmy for sure. Both for its aftermarket support and the fact it is 308. It will be much more economical to reload for and just a better rifle all around.

 

[Wolfbane]

My personal preference would be the .308.
A lot more ammo choices available, shorter action, modern reliability.
Plus, for no particular reason, I hate the 30'06.

^^^^This.^^^^

 

[johnl]

My personal preference would be the .308.
A lot more ammo choices available, shorter action, modern reliability.
Plus, for no particular reason, I hate the 30'06.

Carlos Hathcock would disagree.

 

[J996]

- Lapua makes brass for both cartridges.
- The Win has a bolt mounted safety.
- The Win would be a unique build (tons of 700's out there).
- Both will do the job.

 

[dfraser]

- Lapua makes brass for both cartridges.
- The Win has a bolt mounted safety.
- The Win would be a unique build (tons of 700's out there).
- Both will do the job.

Hi J996

I really like the points you make, very interesting. I was actually thinking along the same lines, didn't know about lapua brass though. I do know that when I bring both to the range, I can't tell the difference when shooting 300 yards+ with both of them.

Regards

 

[jTin]

Carlos Hathcock would disagree.

Did he ever use the .308 in battle?

 

[saitek11]

Did he ever use the .308 in battle?

Yes but his main rifle was a winchester model 70 in 30.06
He also used the m14, rem 700 and browning m2

 

[Gunoholic]

I'd venture that the 308 is a bit more inherently accurate than the '06. There must be a reason the 308 has been winning matches since its introduction (although now it is being supplanted by some newer cartridges).

I think between the two subject cartridges the specifics of the rifle and scope have exponentially more effect on determining accuracy than the caliber.
Have a Savage 116 in 30-06 Sprng and a Savage 10 in 308 Win.
Both with Accutrigger and Accustock.
They both print 5-shot ragged holes @ 100 yards with the 165 grain Nosler Accubond bullet.
If you looked at the groups you couldn't tell whether it was a 2-hole group or a 5-hole group @ 100 yards.
The 30-06 sports an Elite 4200 Bushnell 2.5-10x40mm scope and the other a Leupold VXII 3-9x40mm scope.
They'll both shave the pubic hairs off a house fly and leave the intact nuts swinging in the shock wave.

 

[burnaby]

The only advantage to the typical shooter is 308 has surplus/cheaper factory ammo (ie NORCs for 50c/rnd) whereas 30/06 I've only seen new US made ammo (at least a buck a round).

Reloading would have similar options for the two listed choices.

 

[Shelldrake]

308

http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AccuracyFacts.asp

 

[johnl]

Get one in each calibre, problem solved

 

[mkrainc]

.30-06, More case volume. You may want to stretch your distance legs in the future. You can't get 60 grains of powder in a .308 case. (that was my reason for building a .30-06 precision rifle)

 

[BadAsMo]

If you cant kill something with a 308 you would not have killed it if you had a 30-06.

For long range shooting there is a slight.. did I say slight advantage to the 30-06 because of the greater powder capacity - but given the guns in question - you must also consider action length and stiffness. The 30-06 has a longer action that is therefore less stiff than the Remmy. It's for this reason that the Remmy should be the more accurate of the two.

The ballistic difference between the two at 500 yards is negligible but can be made up for by choosing a good high BC bullet.

The 308 is far more popular in the long range competition circuits than the 30-06.

If you decide to get into F-Class you would be in the open class with the 06 competing with any calibre, but in FTR with the 308 competing only against 223 and 308.

The 308 is great out to 1000 yards and maybe a tad further, so how far do you want to shoot to "need" the 30-06 which might buy you maybe 100 more yards.

I say ditch the 30-06 and get yourself some Berger 185 Jugernauts and a can of Varget and get to work with the 308.