Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .308 vs. 30-06 Settle argument.

The last few posts prove my earlier comment. We can always find a characteristic that rationalizes our personal preference. They are distinctions without difference.

"Settle this Argument" Never gonna happen not enough time in the world or bandwidth. Basically I would take the stance his gun, his decision as choosing a 06 over a 308 is never going to hurt anything or vice versa. Oh for what it's worth I have a 308 but no 30-06.

Your friend is right. He needs an elk rifle w/ which he can also shoot deer. The .30-06 can better handle the heavier, more heavily built, higher BC bullets.

.............Nope! You`re not wrong imo.

Deer and elk cartridge out to 300 yards or even a little more, either make an excellent choice.

Tell your friend that his analogy is kinda like saying; the 300 Weatherby will do everything I need, but the 300 Win or 300 WSM is somewhat questionable.

Ballistically "on paper", the edge favors the `06. But realistically in the field for any deer or elk within 300-350 yards, there is no effective killing difference.

Type of bullet used and shot placement I`d say are more important than any discussion comparing the 30-06 to the 308 in realistic terms of killing effectiveness.

The debate will never be settled between these two. Tell him to draw straws or put labeled pieces of paper into a big bowl and draw one.

'06 w/180s has been a standard, though I'd stuff 200 PTs if I wanted to do some serious killing, just because, and 220s have knocked over a few really nasties.

That said, not much can't be taken w/a 308/130 TTSX combo, flat and lethal to most common ranges.

As above I like the 260. If I wanted to chose a 30 cal, odds are I'd get a 308, but neither is a bad choice.

I see a coin toss, but the 06 is King if pressed for all out service/distance. The reality is IMHO that few situations would occur where the '06 would actually make the difference in the outcome, given decent bullets/shot placement used.

Factory non-premium ammo = no difference.
You'll notice most of the arguments favoring the ought-6 are from reloading perspectives.
I personally prefer the 300 Savage and 30-30 in a 30 cal. Both work fine. I am however, an admitted recoil wussy. Why have Mike Tyson punch you in the shoulder when you can snuggle up to an attractive, petite little thing instead?

OKieinnGermany you and your friend are both right !

Can't fathom any difference in results given the original post. I would choose the chambering based on its availability in the rifle I like best, and the availability of the factory load (bullet) I wish to use (if not a reloader).

Of course, you could just go with a 270!!!

My own choice was a .30-06 (for 180gr)


and a .260Rem (for 129gr)

And really, anything from a .243 something to a .375 something will kill deer and elk just fine. If a .243 can't kill an elk the state of Wyoming, and other western states, wouldn't allow it to be legal. After that it's all personal preference and bullet placement.

That's not to say I want to carry a .375 H&H for elk, and I also don't want a .243 Win. But there really is no debate between a 260 Rem, 6.5 x 55, .257 Roberts, 25-06, .338 Win Mag, 30-06, .308, .270, etc etc. They all work fine.

But the 30-06 does it with more history and more class. And yes, I do prefer my Budweiser from a can. High class.

Given these are the only two choices, I will say this: In my humble experience - the edge goes to the .06. If you go in enough stores, look at enough catalogs, there are more selections for the .06 than the .308 - for the non-reloader. I have found this to be true in many states from my visits to them as well. Sometimes .06 is even cheaper than the same in .308 - don't know why.

Both will kill whatever you want just fine. I can also say I've killed whitetail, mule deer, antelope, and elk - all with a .308 in my hands. However, I just bought an 84L Montana in .06.... Putttin' MY money where my mouth is.

Just my experience...

SC

Budweiser has a lot of class, but it is all low...

What?!

I wonder what 6.5 Creedmoor guys drink--Blue Moon with an orange peel? 5 Barrel Pale Ale? Or is it only aged scotch and fine Pinot Noir for them?

.308 vs 30-06 is a pretty much a coin flip for me. Having said that, I have four -06s vs two .308s.

Which cartridge I use is decided more from a rifle choice than a cartridge choice. In standard bolt guns or single shots I'm more likely to take an -06. In my BLR or bolt carbine it's a .308.

I prefer my Bud from a bottle. no metal taste for me.

but not less than 7mm.

Well from the standpoint of 'Basic Deer' I still advise the .308 because of ammo availability and price in my area.

And yes I feel it is tomato(toe-may-toe)/tomato (toe-mah-tah) but he felt the '06 was a must, more or less.

I own both, never preferred one over the other. But went with the .308, gave my '06 to a nephew, he needed a decent rifle and I had my .308 made, the '06 was a standard off the shelf rifle.

When he asked the difference in calibers, I said "Not much." And I stand by my 300 yard absolute maximum range.

Nicely put

Snake

.308, the high powered Isuzu

A 150gr or 165gr premium bullet from a .308 will do everything that a .30-06 can do with whatever bullet you choose. How much velocity difference is there between the two with a 165gr bullet? 100fps? You can easily see that much difference between two loads in two different rifles chambered for the same cartridge. If you plan on using 180+gr bullets, you'll start to see a wider velocity gap between the two chamberings, but there is no need for that with the bullets we have available to us today, IMO.