Remington 700 ~ .308 or 30-06?

[LBDamned]

Lately I've been considering next rifle... and thought I was settled on .308 - recently contemplating Remington 700 and undecided between .308 and 30-06...

Not necessarily for hunting (other than occasional/rare out of state trips)... primarily for long range target and just to have.

Does .308 shoot flatter?... I've shot 25-06 and it's the flattest shooting gun I've shot... I've never shot .308 or 30-06

Or should I throw .270 in the mix?

Any suggestions?

[Bhobbs]

.30-06 will push the same bullets faster than a .308 can simply by having a larger case capacity. Same bullet being pushed faster will give a flatter trajectory.

I picked the '06 for this reason and have started working with the 208 A-Max but want to try the new Berger 215 Hybrid Targets.

The issue is there are no heavy barrel factory '06 rifles. It isn't much of an issue if you don't plan on shooting strings of rapid fire.
Edit/Delete Message

[LBDamned]

.30-06 will push the same bullets faster than a .308 can simply by having a larger case capacity. Same bullet being pushed faster will give a flatter trajectory.

I picked the '06 for this reason and have started working with the 208 A-Max but want to try the new Berger 215 Hybrid Targets.

The issue is there are no heavy barrel factory '06 rifles. It isn't much of an issue if you don't plan on shooting strings of rapid fire.
Edit/Delete Message

thanks - I tried edit/delete in other thread, wouldnt let me delete

are you happy with your 30-06?... I dont expect to do any rapid fire (kinda hard I think with this rifle)... I'm somewhat familiar with the ballistics difference (not entirely though)... but I'm completely unfamiliar with ammo price and availability differences...

[Bhobbs]

thanks - I tried edit/delete in other thread, wouldnt let me delete

are you happy with your 30-06?... I dont expect to do any rapid fire (kinda hard I think with this rifle)... I'm somewhat familiar with the ballistics difference (not entirely though)... but I'm completely unfamiliar with ammo price and availability differences...

I have only put 20 rounds through my 700 and wasn't even able to zero it. The wind kept knocking over my targets.

Factory .30-06 is pretty weak. It barely edges out .308 Win. There is little factory match .30-06 available.

HSM loads the 208 A-Max and claims 2,700 FPS out of a 26" barrel.

http://www.snipercentral.com/hsmammopricing.phtml?hsmid=35

I reload my .30-06 because I have a Garand so I was loading .30-06 anyways.

[glockman19]

I have both. Each for a different purpose. The 700p is a tax driver at any range but to heavy to lug around all day.
The 700CDL in .30-06 is my hunting rifle. It also shoots very accurately out to long distances on a flatter ballistics, with more energy,,,IMHO better for a clean 1 shot kill on a hunt.
I like you wanted both a .30 caliber target and hunting rifle... You will eventually get both do the question is what one first.

[LBDamned]

^^^ I think you're right - ultimately I'll probably get both, but which one for now

Ironically, a while back someone started a thread about which would be the next popular rifle (I think he said fan boy rifle)... I said .308 sniper - and it was next on my list... and even though .308 seems to be getting a lot of attention lately - recently I'm somewhat favoring 30-06...

I wont be reloading - I'll have to search around and see what the ammo price difference is.

[X-NewYawker]

.308. Unless you want to push 220 grain bullets, the 308 was designed to get more efficient use of modern powders. Up o 175 grain bullets it gives you a shorter receiver and world class accuracy.

[Distro]

Also can't you shoot the 7.62 alternative out of the .308 700? Might not be good for groups but decent enough for practicing on steel for cheap.

[24Sailor]

My first centerfire rifle was a 30.06. I bought it almost exactly 40 years ago. Remington 700 ADL. It sat for 18 years in a safe only taken out cleaned and oiled yearly. Now that the kid is off to college I've taken up shooting, hunting and reloading again. Collected alot of used reloading equipment at an estate sale, and bought some new dies and other components. My goal has been to load for accuracy. Now some may wonder if a 40 year old hunting rifle that cost me less than $50.00 new with a scope would be up to the task. Ok, so I bought a more powerfull used scope here on Calguns and mounted it using the same Weaver rings and bases. I started loading different weight bullets and shooting paper. My back yard happens to accomodate a 200 yard range so I can shoot alot, even straight from the reloading bench. My particular rifle (700 ADL 22" bbl.) loves 165 - 168 grain bullets with muzzle velocities between 2475 and 2725 fps. using IMR 4064. I'm trying to get accurate loads in heavier bullets and have even switched powders to IMR 4350 for those. The 168 grainers are still the most consistant however. I also reload for my cousin's 308 Savage. He pretty much only uses it for hunting so I load 168 grain Nosler partitions in front of 44 gr. of Varget. The first time he used them he shot a hog at 240 yards in the head. His comment on the bullet's performance "these things do some damage".

I own 3 scoped centerfire rifles, the first was the .06 700 ADL, my second, a used 6mm rem. 700 BDL (40 years old also) and a recent aquisition, .243 Sako. The Sako is nice but was pretty expensive. The 2 Remington 700's combined cost me less than half whats in the Sako. Accuracy? you be the judge here's a pic: left to right .243 @ 100 yds., 30.06 @ 100 yrds., 6mm rem. @ 200 yrds,)

[LBDamned]

Also can't you shoot the 7.62 alternative out of the .308 700? Might not be good for groups but decent enough for practicing on steel for cheap.

Is this true?

[DirtRacer151]

If you're mainly going to target shoot then get 308.

30-06 if you're going to hunt large game. 308 is more then enough for deer, pigs, and most north American game.

300 win mag if you just want a long range factory rifle that you don't plan to shoot much. 308 if you want a long range rifle that you can shoot all day.

[Pete1979]

For target purposes, the 308 will do just about everything a 30-06 will until you get into bullets over 175 grains. The 30-06 has the advantage of case capacity and the ability to shoot heavier bullets at longer range. Either cartridge is readily available everywhere.
If you want to shoot dime sized groups, there is more data out there for 308 load combinations and yes, 7.62x51 NATO ammo is the same, just loaded to a lower maximum pressure.

[LBDamned]

thanks for all the info guys...

sadly I still can't decide

I'm leaning towards .308 (and pretty sure that's what I'll get)... but I'm so interested in 30-06 too... I guess I'll have two at some point - but since .308 has been on my "next list" for a while, I think that's what it will be.

Obviously already have my "next" list after that

[glockman19]

Get the .308 first...cheaper ammo...and will take care of your target rifle needs. I will admit that the .30-06 has quite a kick and after 25-30 rounds can feel it in my shoulder. not so with the .308 and the M1A 7.62 has little or no recoil at all.

In building my collection I am attempting to get lever action revolver and bolt action and semi auto in the same calibers in .38/.357, .44mag, .308/7.62, .223/5.56...

Next on my list are a .45ACP and 9mm Carbide rifles.

[LBDamned]

^^^ good info thanks