Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 308 or 30-06

I have both.I have to say,though they are close,the 30-06 seems to strike with way more authority.That extra 100-200ft per second of velocity I get with my 30-06 over my 308 just seems like way more than that when I shoot a deer.Bigger exit wound when same bullet is used,DRT kills are the norm with te 30-06,on the other hand,most deer I shoot with the 308 run a ways before they die.

Shot a 30/06 for 25 years , killed tons of deer with it. Load data on the box of Federal I used most of those years said 2910 fps for 150 gr. Ballistic Tip. This was a few years back and I believe quite easily achieved with 308 with new powders now .

Having both I chose the 06! In my case it's the rifle that makes the choice! Mauser action 06 vs Remington action .308. I could care less about action length!

Action length shouldn't really be a concern, unless you are a short bastid like stick. Then a 1/2" might make all the difference in the world. I like Brad's answer, even though we all know he's a 308 guy, as is mathman. We also know both cartridges work well on big game. Some of us started out on one or the other, so we may have personal bias influencing our opinions and choices. I say, use what works for you and quit squabbling over which one "you" think is best....

See my user name.
The '06 shoots flatter and you can load the 200 gr Partition without worrying about limiting powder capacity due to magazine length constraints or throat length. If I want a short action the 7mm-08 gets the nod over the .308.

At least one of each......both will drop lots of critters with proper shot placement............range of bullet weights will broaden with both.........both use the same size cleaning brushes and jags which simplifies one's life..........which also allows one to add 300s to the mix.

.308 Winchester! Why? It's just what I like...........

As simple as his answer was Dye has it right, it really does not matter yet all of us have agonized many hours over this decision. I started out 308, decided 30-06 was more versatile, got homesick for 308, went back to that for a while, now i use both interchangeably depending on what rifle I decide to use that day. My older, wiser friends have simplified their lives and just picked one and used the time they spent agonizing over this decision to do more important things like try to remember where they left their keys or cell phone.

Three hundred eight of one, thirty and a half a dozen of the other.

I've got both, and shot big deer with both. Both performed well.

I've vowed that my last 30-06 was my last. I've got 8. I really don't need another.

308 WIN? Look, I've only got one. Currently. I've got waaay more brass than that. I'll probably buy another 308 WIN when I can figure out a niche to fill. I'm also going to have grandchildren coming on line. Probably a 308 WIN will be in my future just so I have something to pass along.

In general, I would say that for an average whitetail deer hunter, both will work nearly interchangeably. I prefer 30-06 for my longer venues and 308 WIN for the shorter.

If the number of rifles owned tells the tale then yes, I'm definitely a 308 guy. But for a while now I've been itching to get a 30-06 put together.

308 vs 30-06. It's refreshing to finally see some new material on the Campfire.

308 for those dainty fellars who have neither the endurance to carry the extra two ounces or the arm strength to pull a bolt back an extra 1/2 inch. 30-06 for the rest of us.

Does dainty cover 6'2", 225 pounds?

Maybe. If you like the 308.

I'll claim an exemption since I can do pretty good work with my 338 Win mag and 250 grain Noslers.

Got'em both, like'em both.

IMO, it depends on the individual rifle more than the round.

DF

Unless you want to shoot heavier bullets than 165s, are hung up on short actions, or worried about a couple of ft-lbs of recoil, they look like functional equivalents to me in the real world and its a coin flip. I know no deer is ever going to know the difference. I've never killed an elk or a moose but people kill em with .308's all the time.

I think for me it would depend on the rifle. If I were going the ultra light route I'd probably go .308 just to maximize the concept. In an M77 or equivalent, I'd probably go 30-06 to maximize the versatility and horsepower. In the varmint/tacticool class, its gonna be .308 unless you do a custom because that is what the factories chamber in those kind of rifles.

My two BRNO ZG-47 are 30-06.
Don`t need anything else.

But if I ever choose another action, the choice would be 308.
Just because its less recoil for the bullet weighst I need.

I have both. Did a little experiment a few years back. Shot and chronographed some Winchester 180 gr. Power Point ammo in .308 and 30-06.
The .308 did 2610 FPS and the 30-06 did 2630 FPS. WOW! Big whoopie!

Another experiment was with the .308 and the 220 gr. Sierra round nose bullet. Chronograph read 2310 FPS and the group was .375" Two more groups of three shots never had a group larger that .60" and the velocities were within 15 FPS of the first set. IIRC, advertised velocity for the 220 gr. bullet in the 30-06 was 2400 FPS. Never could find a box of 220 30-06 ammo to run over the Chrony.

Current .308 is a Ruger tanger RSI with 18.5" barrel. Pet load is the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core at 2550 FPS. I've killed deer just fine out to 250 yards with that load.

Pet 30-06 is an FN Mauser, 24" barrel 1 in 12" twist that shoots bug holes with the 165 gr. Nosler Accubond at 2880 FPS and kills elk just fine.

I like both.
Paul B.

I don't think my 308 can even get close to these velocities no matter what powder I'd but in it.Usually about 2700fps or so is the best I can get in it.