Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85 Black Bear. 308Win or 30-06

This would be a perfect rifle for 9.3x62.

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Sako Black Bear in 308Win, but I also want to consider the great 30-06.
I already have two 06's, but can one every have enough....LOL

My question.
The 30-06 BB has a 20" tube, as does the 308Win. And from memory, when I did use a short barreled 30-06 some years back, I do seem to remember it barked A LOT more than the 308Win in the same configuration.

What do you men think. Is a 20" barrel too short for a 30-06

And what advantages will it have over the 308Win in the same configuration

I can't compare a 20" barrel on a 30-06 to a .308, but i know a 20" on a 30-06 is too loud for me. Personally, in that rifle i'd be going with the .308, my reasoning being that the difference between a .308 and a 30-06 is small at the best of times and when you go down to 20" barrels i think you would find that the velocity increase with the 30-06 would be miniscule - probably 50fps. I'd rather save the few extra ounces of weight in the action and have the faster action operation of the shorter .308 action than have 50fps extra velocity.

If i wanted a bit more hitting power and was looking at heavier bullets, i'd go up to the .338 Federal instead of the 30-06 in that particular rifle with the short barrel. To my mind the 30-06 has always needed about a 22" barrel minimum to make it worthwhile vs the .308.

..........I believe that you should get what your gutt tells you as to what you like the best and let the chips fall where they may.

Sure! From a 20" barrel, the 308 won`t quite be as loud as the `06. But with that stated, I would think that regardless of which cartridge you choose, you are going to be wearing some form of hearing protection at all times whether at the range or on hunts? Then if so, then the question as to which one is louder is really a non-issue imo.

Two out of my three rifles/cartridges below have barrels 20" and less. One a 16.5" barreled 300 WSM Ruger compact since early `07 and the other a 20" barreled 375 Ruger Alaskan since about mid `08. I always wear good muffs at the range and wear good hearing protection for field use.

Not to mention noise levels from a 338-378 Wby Accumark w/brake?

No hearing problems.

Get what you like and protect your hearing.

Your '06 burns about 12-15 grains more powder than the 308. Gotta bark louder.

This would be a perfect rifle for 9.3x62.

Unless you really dig the Rechnagel sights, why not get a Finnlight, if you want it chambered 308 or 30-06?

I'm of the opinion the Black Bear screams to be chambered in 9.3x62...but that's me

I do have a 9.3 Black Bear, and I think of it as a 30-06 having the capability to shoot a larger bullet. It's basically a black Finnlight with Rechnagel sights. Mine was used to replace both a 338WM and 375H&H. I feel it makes a very handy package in that context. Flip side, if I were looking for a handy 308, I'd probably look at the Finnlight.

Best

Speaking in terms of unported barrels. At the range while wearing hearing protection and behind the rifle butt, I doubt anyone could tell the difference in report between two identical 9.3x62 rifles, if the only difference was one had a 20" barrel and the other had a 22" barrel.

In addition, without hearing protection while taking a shot on game, I think it would be impossible for you to discern a difference between the two. In the scheme of things, report from a 9.3x62 Black Bear shooting +pressure loadings is not anywhere near objectionable compared to other carbines, short barrelled rifles, turkey shotguns, handguns, etc. You'll notice little difference when firing on game.

Flip side; if the barrel is ported, you are in an enclosed area, or you are directly downrange of the muzzle blast, you'd think it loud even if it were a 308 with a 26-inch barrel.

If you're interested in a handy 9.3x62 bolt rifle, you'd have a hard time finding a production rifle much better than the Black Bear. If you're interested in a handy 308 or 30-06 and are interested in a Sako, I'd look over the Finnlight. I use my Black Bear with and without scope, and it is used as a brush rifle, therefore I appreciate the Rechnagel sights. If it were to be scoped and not used as a fixed sight rifle, it would be a Finnlight. Also, I'd choose the chambering based on the end game. If you're planning on using bigger .308 bullets for larger game, I'd look hard at the '06 over the 308, regardless of barrel length. If not, and it would be used with moderate bullets on medium game and elk, then the 308 may better fit.

Best