.308 vs .30-06

[Baga]

I've heard .308 vs .30-06 are pretty much almost the same as for accuracy and velocity (except for the difference in spec size). Most people I ask they say .308 is more for target shooting and .30-06 is more for hunting. Who has shot both and can can give me some info on the difference of the two calibers. Or what is each one used more for (what type of shooting)?

.308 .30-06

[SixPointEight]

.308 is more used for target shooting, .30-06 is more used for hunting.

If you are going to drop some good money and build a target rifle, .30-06 is okay. You can get pretty darn close to magnum performance out of it, though it recoils more than a .308. Also, you pretty much have to go custom barrel, as you won't find any '06 heavy barrels on stock rifles, where .308 you can pretty much buy a stock rifle and throw it on the line.

The factory ammunition has very few "match" selection in .30-06, as it's main life is a hunting round. With that said, I'd reload for it, and if I were to build a long action rifle, I think I'd give the .30-06 a try.

[pennstater]

I've used both for hunting, and could not tell any difference in the field. Having said that, I haven't shot anything larger than mule deer with either. I would be confident shooting larger game with either, or a .270 Win for that matter, but would pick the 30-06 because it CAN use a heavier bullet if required to, and that MIGHT make a positive difference. Hows that?

[Chris M]

Looking purely at published load data, it looks like you can squeeze out 100-150 (possibly higher) more FPS from a 30-06 than you can a .308. The 30-06's larger cartridge means that it can hold more powder, and to yield the best results, you'll typically be using a slightly slower-burning powder than a .308, which will usually yield higher velocities.

Both cartridges can fire the same bullets. Once the bullet leaves the barrel, it doesn't matter what cartridge it was fired from. Velocity and gravity take over. Comparing identical bullets, the higher the velocity, the flatter the trajectory. From a physics standpoint, the 30-06 is superior simply because you can get higher velocities.

I don't have experience with side-by-side comparisons or max-loads in either cartridge, so take the above for what it's worth.

[pennstater]

Almost forgot,
When I thought about competitive shooting, I used a .308 Win[Mod 700], with 24" heavy barrel, worked trigger and some nice handloads. This was an insanely accurate rifle, just to damn heavy to take afield. But it was fun to shoot!

[SixPointEight]

The larger case capacity will mean more powder needed to produce a given velocity with a given bullet. Calculation for recoil energy includes the weight of the powder, meaning, at a given velocity, with a given bullet, to get identical performance, .30-06 will recoil more.

.308 can handle just as heavy of bullets as .30-06 can and the velocity differences become pretty small once you head into the 190+ bullet weight range. So decide if what you're doing warrants the extra 100fps, or heavy bullets, more recoil etc.

Really it comes down to what you want from your rifle.

[pennstater]

JT1989,yeah, I'd say you're pretty spot on with that. As to the OP's question, I'll say 30-06: I have and shoot three of 'em. I just like the '06.

[beauregard]

If the major manufacturers made a commercially available, reasonably priced bull-barreled rifle in 30-06 I'd never shoot .308 again.

End of story.

[Divernhunter]

I love my 30-06 rifles. That said the 308(which I have several of) will do anything the 30-06 will do with 150-165gr bullets which is all you need for hunting. I have taken many anials with the 308 and friends have taken elk/moose with a 308 just fine. IF "I" were going after qrizzly bears I would use neither and use my 338win mag at a min. The 308 is an excellent target round also. You can get 308 mil surplus ammo easy and will be able to do so in the future. Not so with the 30-06. I got my first 30-06 when ammo was easy to get but now CMP is about the only place for it(surplus) and that will not last forever.

Yes I love my 30-06 rifles but I would buy a Tikka in 308win if I bought a hunting rifle today between the two. I would but a Leupold 3X9X40 or 3.5X10X40 scope on it and I would be able to hunt anything I wanted here in the USA and most of the world using 150-165gr reg or priemium bullets.

For target I would get a 308 over the 30-06 also.

[CalTeacher]

When I kill an animal with my .308, it's just as dead as any animal killed with a '06.

[gunboat]

Bambi won't know the difference --
In all prcticality I would go for the 308 as the 06 is no longer used militarily and surplus ammo is drying up.
Still lots of surplus 308 out there.
However, if 220 grain pills are your choice, go with the 06 -

[Fjold]

In hunting where you're going to be shooting 300 yards or less no animal is going to know the difference between the two rounds.

[Baga]

Anyone know the price difference of the 2 calibers? Or are they the same?

[1lostinspace]

30-06 has more power
308 will fit into mags and does not require a long action.

End of story

[buffybuster]

You do realize the .308Win/7.62x51mm was expressly developed, in the late 1940's and early 1950's, to duplicate 30-06 ballistic performance in a shorter cartridge designed for semiauto and MG use. This performance was achieved with improved propellants and a higher operating pressure.

If you handload in a bolt-action rifle, you can run the same pressures and the 30-06's greater powder capacity yield greater velocity, especially in bullet weights greater than 165grs.