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

I told a friend that in my opinion the.308 and the .30-06 are about even. He does not agree!

For the average hunter, like he and I, that there is no real measurable performance issues for deer under 300 yards. He wants an all-around deer rifle (and for elk should he get drawn). And he thinks the �06 will give him an edge.

He doesn�t reload (nor do I), but I think that with the huge selection of commercial ammo available today, the field is pretty much level using ammo with bullets from 150 to 180 grains. And that shot placement is much more critical than the small difference in the two calibers.

Am I wrong? I really do not believe that I am, but if so please correct me.

I happened to be perusing ammo at the gun shop last week and noticed for the boxes I happened to compare, the listed velocity was the same for each. Surprised me. No doubt a 30-06 can be faster, but I'm not sure how much that translates to a meaningful advantage hunting.

The 06 might give a slight edge on heavy bullets. For deer, about the same. 06 with premium bullets also might be a slight edge, maybe 10% better performance. Little more speed and downrange energy. In my reloading manual 180 gr out of a 308 is about 2,500 fps, while the 06 is around 2,700 to 2,800 fps. This translates into a little more accuracy and a little more energy. Figures are on the maximum end speed. I use 150's for deer. Never hunted elk, but probably 180's would be better.

I agree that shot placement is the only criteria by which one can realistically assure success. I have killed more than a few dozen deer with both the 06 and 308 and have never seen any difference in the effect of a well plaaced bullet. I have, however, used the 06 with 220 grain bullets on elk once and expected better penetration and perhaps an exit wound. It worked but I now believe that a 308 with a good bullet - perhaps a NMosler partition, woyuld have done as well. Now my elk rifle is either a .338 or .375 and I no longer wonder about how many angels can dance on the head of a 600 nitro express case.

Terry

I've got both.I believe the 30-06 is better.It gives you more case to work with,better choice if heavier bullets are used,wide range of powders will work in it and can shoot any bullet the 308 shoots just a wee bit faster.I just wish I could get mine to shoot as accurate as my 308.

Best use of either case..... is necking it down.

$.02 from a non-gun-writer (and you're going to get a lot of that in this thread...):

I think the .308 would likely prove more effective in the hands of those who haven't/don't shoot a lot. Recoil makes a difference in shot placement, & the .308 has less. I don't know that a 7mm-08 wouldn't be even more effective (in terms of shot placement) than either cartridge, among this subset of hunters.

When talking about experienced shooters, I'd guess you'd have to kill many hundreds of elk with EACH cartridge to be able to see any meaningful difference. And there just might not prove to BE any difference.

FC

You're right. The pertinent question is whether the .308 would meet someone's needs. Preference is a different matter.

Here's how the decision would be made from a technical perspective. Determine the maximum distance at which he would take a shot. Pick the bullet(s) he wants to use for the application(s). Determine the muzzle velocity needed to give the minimum impact velocity for good expansion PLUS include a safety factor (add probably 100 to 200 fps depending on situation) for the maximum distance and the bullet(s) he wants to use. Consider wind drift and what muzzle velocity he would need for a "reasonable" (to him) amount of wind drift at the maximum distance. The cartridge chooses itself from a technical perspective. For deer and elk out to 300 yards, I gotta think the .308 would pass the test unless someone thought he needed a specific 180+ grain bullet with a poor ballistic coefficient and a high minimum impact velocity. With the selection of bullets available today, I can't see why someone would NEED a low BC 180+ grain bullet for elk (most .308" 180+ gr bullets are going to have a good BC).

I think more rifles chambered in .308 shoot 150s and 165s better than rifles chambered in 30-06. Could also be because dudes that pick the .308 seem to shoot more than guys with 30-06s, at least at the rifle ranges at which I have shot.

It's also not uncommon to see a .308 with a twist more "suited" to 150 and 165 grain bullets (11 or 11.25), whereas almost all -06s have a 1 in 10. Big difference? No. But I believe more .308s are purpose-built, and more 30-06s are built to be generalist rifles.

For 180 grains I prefer the extra push the 30-06 gives.

I also shoot quite often, so I pick the...30-06, as sometimes I feel the need to push a 180 grain bullet through an elk. And mine has an 11 twist, because if I wanted to shoot a 220 grain bullet I would move up to a .338 caliber.

Both are completely adequate, of course. What remains is exactly how you define "better." Ergo, it's personal.

I think the 308Win , for deer has been surpassed by the 260Rem. The 30-06 still will do its thing but see no real place with the 308 and this includes target shooting.

Huh?

the argument will never be settled.

My opinion is: for those "average hunters" shooting factory ammo, less than 300 yards, you will never be able to tell the difference based on performance in the field. (but I like the '06 better )

One has 200% more power than you need for a deer and the other has 202%??? more than you need ?? No deer will notice the difference and neither will the shooter.

One thing about the 308 is that it is a short action. I'd go with the 308 if I was hump n the hills for the less weight factor. Good bullet selection, shot placement is a much larger contributor as said prior. Way too many factors to ever settle this one .

Tacksmacker

Buy both, problem solved! My 06's shoot 165/168 just as tight as my .308, so other than short action versus long action flip a coin. The weight thing is a non issue as well since I have a G1 Ti. I like the 308 for less recoil myself, but no intention of giving up the 06's.

I look at it as if you don't need a 180 grain bullet for what you're hunting then you don't need a .30 cal. you could do just as well if not better with a smaller bore. If you do need a 180 grain bullet then the .30-06 gets the nod over the .308 IMO.

Both are good rounds and arguments can be made for both, but the 30.06 will(all things being equal) always get higher velocities because it has more case capacity. The issue of does it matter is another debate.

you are right as long as you use 200 gr bullet or under in the 308 , but not many people use bullet over 200 gr in the 06 these days so my opinion the difference is mute. They are basically the same and Big Game won't know which round you shot them with.

In my opnion which dosen't mean squat. the 30-06 has the edge because it can handle 220 gr bullets better in case I wanted to go into Bear country. also you have to use premium bullets to get the 308 to perform as good as a cup-core bullet in the 30-06 again heavier bullets verses lighter bullets.