Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06 advantage over a .308?

Can't say I don't hate it exactly....because I might. But otherwise, I agree with what you said.

I shoot TTSX 130s in 308 and push them between about 2950 and 3100 depending on the rifle. That certainly shoots flat enough out to 300 and will handle anything I might ever need to kill. That said though, the 30-06 loaded with the same bullet push comparably hard hit 3150 to 3300. Not enough difference that Bambi is going to notice, but enough that I do.

But, here's the deal for those who think that the .308 is close enough to the 30-06... With LeverEvolution powder I worked up a Barnes 150 load starting at 33 grains and stopped when I got groups well under an inch at 2400 FPS. 33 was giving me just under 2200. Thats a pretty linear increase and it loos to me like I could get better than 2700 at 38.5 grains (max load) Think about what you would top out at with a Barnes 130 with either a rubber tip or a flat nose!

I have both and have hunted/killed with both. For my purposes I will never see a difference in the field. I don't see that as a bad thing.

I own and shoot both and have killed game with both.
Depending on what you want, you can shoot a heavier bullet at the same velocity, or heavier bullet period out of the '06.
Or you can shoot the lighter bullets faster. That means it's further out there when it stop expanding on game.
Or you can shoot the same bullet at the same velocity with less pressure.... some of us kinda like that too.
But the trade off is that the '06 kicks harder. Especially with heavier bullets.
I see the .308 as at it's best in a very heavy tactical rifle, or in a very light, short barreled, Mtn Rifle or even a Scout Rifle.
The '06 I see as a heavier, classic sporter with a 22-24 inch barrel, shooting 180-220 gr. bullets for those that like them. E

Part of the problem with this discussion is that the standard SAAMI pressure for the .308 is higher than for the .30-06. If loaded to the same pressures, the .30-06 is capable of about 6% more velocity with the same bullet weights.

If the .308 is capable of 3000 fps with a 150 (and it is, in a 24" barrel) then the .30-06 is capable of around 3150. This is exactly what I've found with the best powders, such as Ramshot Big Game. Whether or not that makes any real difference in the field is debatable, but it sure does turn the .30-06 into something very much like the .270 with 130's or .280 with 140's.

With some of today's 150's the .308 works real well on game much larger than deer. In 2008 my wife Eileen used the 150 Nosler E-Tip at about 2850 to take a bunch of African plains game up to a very large zebra with a .308 that was "handicapped" by a 21" barrel, with no problems.

Thank you for chiming in. I had hoped you would. I guess I didn't realize the '06 could get to 3150. Recently, I acquired a Winchester featherweight in 30-06- a rifle I had hoped to own as a kid. Tomorrow I am hoping to fire off my first batch of loads for it. For starters, I chose 180's. Your comments on the 150's have me interested. Happen to have any "magic" loads with the 150's like your 58 grains of Hunter for the 180's?

Oh, and I suppose I should keep 150's around 3100 with my 22" barrel? I do have a fairly reliable chronograph. And some Ramshot Big Game. Just need to pick a 150 to try out...

Ramshot's fastest data is with the 150 TSX, and lists 3038 with 60.7 grains at just under 58,000 psi. They also list 3006 fps with the 150-grain Hornady SST with 59.2 grains at a little over 58,000 psi.

A lot depends on the bullet. I wouldn't try to push things much beyond 3000 psi with a Swift bullet, for instance, because they tend to produce more pressure. But there's no reason not to get 3050+ with the 150 TSX in a 22" barrel.

Now I feel rather lazy. I could have very well looked that up on my own. I do appreciate you taking the time to supply the info, though. What I meant was that I seem to remember you mentioning 58 grains of Hunter shooting well with 180's in about any 30-06 you have tried it in, and wondered if you had found something similar with Big Game and 150's. No big deal. I'll just load up a ladder working my way towards Ramshot's published max, and see how it goes.

Thanks again for the input. I'm moving to Denver at the end of the month, and have a lot of learning to do in regards to western hunting with rifles.

For me to choose a .308 over a 30-06 it would have to be on a rifle where SA vs LA mattered. A good example is the Browning BLR, their short action models fit me perfectly, the long action ones however feel too big and akward.

Of course I'll never be without a 30/06.

In my Rem SPSS I have 155AMAXs off the lands quite a bit, 2.850"oal, and they shoot like this. 2 5 shot groups @300yds, 47grs RE15.

yeah, being without an 06, is like voting for Obama... again..

it's unAmerican...

Agreed.

Perhaps another element. In some areas, anyplace that sells ammo carries 30-06. I'm wondering, in places like Alaska, where 30-06 is one of the very basic cartridges, can you find 308 as easily as 30-06, or is the 30-06 more dominant? I'm surmising that if 30-06 ammo is more readily available up there, and there are brownies about, the 30-06 might be the wiser choice.

Finding that I just don't care for the 308 win. Already sold 2 of mine in the last couple of weeks.....

.30-06 has a better selection of factory ammo available, along w/ a wider selection of bullet weights.

............. .....Look at the three cartridges I have, and guess who "I`M NOT" voting for.....

"Finding that I just don't care for the 308 win. Already sold 2 of mine in the last couple of weeks....."

And I just keep wearing out barrels on mine every few years... Dang.

I truly like both cartridges.

The only way I would take the 308 over the 06 is if I was looking for a short action, I was building a heavy tactical rifle, or I was recoil shy.

I guess that would be one advantage of the 30-06. You can seat those 155's long to lands in a production rifle. But like you mentioned, getting crazy good groups with the jump ain't hard to do.

Wearing out barrels in ANY rifle is a great thing!!! Means you are shooting more than most.

I like both, though in bolt action rifles do tend to perfer the 30-06 simply for its ability to shoot heavier bullets better. I'm slowly becoming a heavy for caliber guy, for now at least.

Variety is the spice of life and I would love to put a heavy barreled 'tatical' 308 and a nice light 'mountian' rifle in 308 in my safe to go along with my 30-06s