Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 308 vs 30/06

Well if you convince your SELF, that is all that really matters.

I wrote an essay in school comparing the 2. At the end of the day, choose your preference. I compared the 2 using Nosler Accubond bullets, and the 06 had a bit of an edge with 180 grain bullets (using Nosler's numbers). But within 350 yards, the difference is negligible. Or like somebody told me, "Flip a coin. If you are unhappy with the result, you have your answer"

"Flip a coin. If you are unhappy with the result, you have your answer"[quote][/quote]

Wisdom.

That’s hilariously true isn’t it

Here are some unbiased comparisons for factory ammo and a couple of handload comparisons::

Nosler 125g Ballistic Tip
.308 = 3100
.30-06 = 3100

Nosler 150g (no exact bullet match I could find for this weight)
.308 = 2875fps (AccuBond)
.30-06 = 3000fps (Partition)

Federal Premium 165g Trophy Bonded Tip
.308 = 2620
.30-06 = 2800

Federal Premium 180 Partition
308 = 2640
.30-06 = 2700

Federal Premium 200g Trophy Bonded Tip
.308 = 2540
.30-26 = not available



North Fork 165g SS (handloads (both with 22" barrels)
.308 = 2744 (Varget)
.30-06 = 2901 (H4350)

Nosler 150g Ballistic Tip (handloads (both with 22" barrels)
.308 = 2765 (Varget)
.30-06 = 2975 (H4350)


Looking at pressure-tested factory data, it appears case capacity does count, as wold be expected if similar pressures are used. With light 125g bullets the ..30-06 has about a 200fps advantage over the .308. As bullet weight increases the -06 often matches the 308 with either lower pressures or higher velocity or both.

Choose you poison and be happy. Daughter #1 uses a .308 Win with a 130g TTSX @ 3045fps. My 16.1" barreled Ruger Scout pushes the same bullet at 2868fps. She's happy with her load, as am I. The cow elk I took with a .30-06 and a 150g BT @ 2975fps was 282 yards down range and was on the ground before I recovered from the recoil. But I prefer my .300WM.

You can use the science to see the difference. Same bullet at the same pressure...what does JB call it...the rule of 1/4. Pretty easy to figure it out while avoiding the variances in factory ammo...and published velocity which means absolutely nothing.

Do the math...the difference while real is predictable and honestly pretty insignificant imho. If 100-150 FPS mean that much to you...who am I to say your wrong. To me...it’s meaningless

I get less than 5% difference in velocity working it out in my head. Great shakes indeed

11 pages?

https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/30-06-sucks-shoot-308-winchester/

Well that ends that!

[
Great info. Thanks


quote=Coyote_Hunter]

Here are some unbiased comparisons for factory ammo and a couple of handload comparisons::

Nosler 125g Ballistic Tip
.308 = 3100
.30-06 = 3100

Nosler 150g (no exact bullet match I could find for this weight)
.308 = 2875fps (AccuBond)
.30-06 = 3000fps (Partition)

Federal Premium 165g Trophy Bonded Tip
.308 = 2620
.30-06 = 2800

Federal Premium 180 Partition
308 = 2640
.30-06 = 2700

Federal Premium 200g Trophy Bonded Tip
.308 = 2540
.30-26 = not available



North Fork 165g SS (handloads (both with 22" barrels)
.308 = 2744 (Varget)
.30-06 = 2901 (H4350)

Nosler 150g Ballistic Tip (handloads (both with 22" barrels)
.308 = 2765 (Varget)
.30-06 = 2975 (H4350)


Looking at pressure-tested factory data, it appears case capacity does count, as wold be expected if similar pressures are used. With light 125g bullets the ..30-06 has about a 200fps advantage over the .308. As bullet weight increases the -06 often matches the 308 with either lower pressures or higher velocity or both.

Choose you poison and be happy. Daughter #1 uses a .308 Win with a 130g TTSX @ 3045fps. My 16.1" barreled Ruger Scout pushes the same bullet at 2868fps. She's happy with her load, as am I. The cow elk I took with a .30-06 and a 150g BT @ 2975fps was 282 yards down range and was on the ground before I recovered from the recoil. But I prefer my .300WM.




[/quote]

The primary difference is the variety of rifles available for the shorter cartridge. If you are happy with bullets in the 125-180 grain range, at useful velocities, there is no reason to avoid the 308. If you want or need to load 200-220 grain bullets, 30-06 is the way to go. If I lived where there were moose and bear, I'd definitely take advantage of that.



I used the 30-06 for decades with a load essentially duplicating yours and any deer or coyote who caught one inside 300 yards was ass over teakettle instantly. This bothered me at first because I often couldn't see the animal fall. But the impact sounded like a ballbat swung hard against the ribs of a hanging beef and when you heard that, all you needed to do was walk down there.

Kinda makes me think of the old Mars' commercial in regards to Mounds and Almond Joy

Sometimes ya' feel like a nut










Sometimes ya' don't


Sako Bavarian Carbines, 30-06 Springfield Top, 308 Win., Bottom


Both Seem to Work just fine!


ya!


GWB

The .308 over the 30-06 for the same real-world ballistics in a better handling rifle.

I prefer the .30-06. I use it more than anything else for the game the OP listed (I haven't hunted hogs). There really isn't enough difference to make a call except for personal preferences until you get to heavier bullets. But, like most of us I don't lack those.

I started with a .300 Savage, went to .308's for about ten years and then got my first '06. They all work. I actually don't see a lot of difference in the three to kill a deer inside 250 yards. I killed a few elk with a .308 (150 and 165 gr loads) and it worked fine.
I may use a .308 again for some of these species as I have a Ruger GSR and it is performing well.

I prefer the velocities and accuracy I get with the '06 and 180 gr Partitions which I use for most hunting. I have had little success getting similar velocities with 180 grain bullets in the .308and tend to use them wit 150's more than anything else..

Tikkas just don’t know....

I like fast 130’s for WT’s and hogs. With lighter bullets really no difference.

With heavier bullets, the ‘06 pulls ahead.

DF

Yep, My Oehler doesn't say that. 30-06 for the win.


Jerry

There’s nothing the 308 Win can’t handle that the 06 can. Even with 200 gr loads the 308 Win is as effective on large game as the 06 is. Less recoil is always better than more when trying to pinpoint a target. The 06 is not some great step up in power over the 308 Win, the next step would be something like a 338 Win Mag, which has more energy to target at close to 300 yards than the 06 at the muzzle. Now that is separation.

You saying the .308 shoots 200’s as fast as the ‘06?

DF

All a matter of opinion; might as well take a real step to the 375 Ruger or H&H.

I've never been able to tell a nickel's worth of difference in the recoil of the .308 and 30-06, assuming similar loads and rifles.

No, I’m saying it kills just as well with 200s without some great separation in ability. Remember various types of bullets react differently in expansion due to impact velocity, faster is not always better with various projectiles. It’s one reason the 308 Win performs so well with a multitude of bullet designs at both long and short distances.