Might want a 308, but I have an '06...

Your 06 has a bit more oomph than a 308. On the order of 5 or 10%. If I owned either one I don't think I would spend to get the other. Of course, if you want another rifle just because then that's a fine reason. I don't think you were asking about optimizing equipment. Personally I would stick with what you have.

Most people won't be able to tell the difference. But a new commercial barrel (Savage) will be a lot more accurate than your M1903 barrel if its the original.

With equal things across two rifles with SAAMI spec barrels, one for each cartridge, the .308's bullets will leave about 100 fps slower than the .30-06 ones. And the .308 Will be about 25% better accuracy wise. The ..30-06's 10% better wind drift numbers are cancelled out by its 10% heavier recoil while the bullets go through the barrel.

The .30-06's 1:10 twist is a leftover from its original 220-gr. cartridge and is best for bullets 200 grains and heavier. A 1:12 twist is a better, smarter choice, but most people don't believe that. Doesn't matter to those naysayers that the .308 Win. shooting the same bullets shot more accurate with its 1:12 twist than the .30-06 with bullets from 150 to 190 grains.

I think you'll feel better off with a Savage rifle chambered for the .306.

The 30-06 with a 1~10 twist barrel will stabilize 190-220gr bullets that a .308 with a 1~12 twist barrel won't. The 06 has a larger case capacity and can launch any weight bullet at a higher velocity than a .308. In a scenario where each has identical accuracy performance the 06 will win at distance with a heavier bullet or the same weight bullet at higher velocity than the .308 in any wind.

The 308 if in a different package opens a lot of doors. You currently have a full size and weight 30-06, buying a 308 set up the same way wouldn't make sense. But if you were to select one of the lighter, more compact 308 rifles you'd have a very different animal.

A 308 with the best loads will give you 95% of the bullet speed of a 30-06, but with about 20% less recoil from the same weight rifles. Modern 308 factory loads are about 100 fps faster than the original 30-06 loads. Handloaders can add another 100 fps to that, so it isn't a weak round.

You can put together a lighter 30-06, but recoil becomes an issue if you go too light. My Kimber 308 is still under 6 lbs even after the scope and mounts were added. Actual recoil is about the same as a 7.5 lb 30-06.

On game animals either will work out to 400 yards. The 30-06 will add 50-100 yards before bullet speed is too slow to guarantee adequate bullet expansion. For target shooting either are effective out to 1000 yards, once again the 30-06 will add 50-100 yards before bullet speed is too slow for bullets to remain stable.

In the field as a hunting rifle the 30-06 offers a slight edge at longer ranges on game larger than deer.

I own both and plan on keeping both. I started with 30-06 over 40 years ago and was my only caliber up until about 10 years ago when I tried a 308. Now my 308's get used a lot more because the recoil difference is enough alone. Most of my hunting is in pretty tough terrain and I'll trade 100 fps any day to save 1-2 lbs to have lug around. As a handloader it also simplifies buying components.

As much as I like 30-06 if advising a new shooter today I'd tell them to pass on 30-06 and buy a 308 first. If they need more power I'd go straight to one of the 300 magnums.

FHBrumb said:

I wanna know what a 308 might add. I know a 308 is known for long range consistency. Is there any reason that my '06 should be snubbed to shoot at longer ranges? Recoil is a bit more, but any other reason to leave the '06 home and pop longer shots with a 308?

My '06 is a sporterized 1903 that is truly beautiful. I think it's a 1 in 10 twist? I wanna say that's best in heavier bullets, 165 to 180ish?

30 call Gurus please chime in. Won't my '06 do anything that a 308 will do?

I call longer shots from 400 to 1000 yards...

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I have both for no good reason. There is nothing a 308 Winchester can do that a 30/06 can't do and when it gets to heavier bullets, the 30/06 will do it better.

Biggest plus I see is being able to buy cheaper (not that much anymore) surplus 7.62 ammo. Other wise the 30-06 will do everything better than the .308. Although a .308 is available in alot of semi autos. JMHO

If The 30-06 with a 1:10 twist barrel will stabilize 190-220-gr bullets and a .308 with a 1:12 twist barrel won't, why did the 7.62 NATO chambered Garands with 1:12 twists shoot better scores with 190-gr. bullets in matches than any .30-06 did?

Why did Western Cartridge Company load 197 and 200 grain match bullets in .308 Win cases for use in the Model 70 Winchester match rifles that shot them very accurate from their 1:12 twist barrels?

Having done all the above, I can attest to their performance.

The 30-06 will consistently outperform the .308 IF you reload. Put on a heavy barrel from a major maufacturer like Bartlien on your 1903 and have a great time placing 10% more KE on target.

Read up on stuff German Salazar has written, he is a great shot and a huge advocate of the 30-06 cartridge. Also, you can do a search on snipershide.com for 30-06 reloads and you'll find many posts, especially from usernames NilesCoyote and MontanaMarine.

Have fun!

If 1~12 .308's are the ticket why are the majority of .308 FTR rifles barreled with 1~10 twists ?

I own 6 bolt actions in 5 different manufactures, 3 different calibers all based on the .308 diameter bullet used for whitetail deer. My cleaning accessories will fit all three, no need for me to worry about grabbing the wrong size jag. I'm mind-numbingly standardized, but my hunting scenario hasn't changed in the 20 years since I started. My array of .308, 30-06, and 300 wsm does let me latitude with bullet weight I guess.

The reason, in my opinion that any rifle's twist is what it is because the vast majority of people buying it don't know what's really best. And they're hung up on what the cartridge first was used with and commercially sold with. Doesn't matter that Harry Pope barreled the US International Team's .30-06 rifles with 1:12 twists.

The decision made by the top ranked high power paper punchers back in the mid 1960's to use the .308 and forget their .30-06's because the smaller, better shaped case produced about 40% better accuracy is not important to nor considered by most folks; German Salazar included. That's the reason the NRA had to make the target's scoring rings smaller; too many unbreakable ties were being shot with the .308.

No .30-06 I know of has put 10 to 40 consecutive shots inside 3 inches at 600 yards. Some .308's have done that well.

All that aside, there's little difference that only a few will notice.

If you have to ask you didn`t do your home work. The "06" is a great round.

Nothing wrong with the 308.

I think that the biggest difference, by far, is at the ammo counter. In most shops (big box and small brick and mortar) as well as on-line the selection and pricing of .308 is greater in scale and lower in cost than 30-06.
You will of course hear that when there was a severe ammo shortage there was more 30-06 left, and lots of other rare edge conditions, niggling details and endless dogma that won't, even in the aggregate, outweigh my point.
FWIW, I've standardized on 308, in part because I'm a bit of a recoil wimp, like the short action, and prefer to standardize my bolt rifle with a modern semi-auto. But that's just me.
All said, I'm not suggesting you make the switch or the add. Sounds like you have a great firearm, are a good shot with it, tolerate the recoil nicely and find it adequately accurate (or better). Go forth, buy some more ammo for it and enjoy.
B

I go through the same questions myself all the time. I have a great '03 Springfield, but always consider picking up a more modern bolt gun. I waffle back and forth over .308 vs .30-06, but always come back to the fact that I already have dies and supplies to reload the .30-06, so why add yet another cartridge in the same caliber.

I already have dies and supplies to reload the .30-06, so why add yet another cartridge in the same caliber.

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See, my logic runs the other way. My answer would be "why not".

Bart B. said:

Most people won't be able to tell the difference. But a new commercial barrel (Savage) will be a lot more accurate than your M1903 barrel if its the original.

With equal things across two rifles with SAAMI spec barrels, one for each cartridge, the .308's bullets will leave about 100 fps slower than the .30-06 ones. And the .308 Will be about 25% better accuracy wise. The ..30-06's 10% better wind drift numbers are cancelled out by its 10% heavier recoil whilep.

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All things being equal, a 308 is 25% more accurate than an '06? Zero proof of that. An individual rifle comparison may show that( or the opposite), but it has nothing to do with caliber. I'm a huge 308 fan but that has no basis.

Nature Boy said:

See, my logic runs the other way. My answer would be "why not".

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Nice paraphrase:
"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" - Robert Kennedy.
Sorry, just having a Jeopardy 'Potent Quotables' kind of day...

B

I started handloading for the '06 way back when. Always been able to have sub-MOA groups with a 1:10 twist, from 110-grain on up to 180s. I built a 500-yard range at my house; sub-MOA with 150s, 165s and 180s.

I figure that with the usual 22" barrels that are common, nowadays, for those who don't reload, the .308 is as good as an '06. Longer barrel, hand loads? The '06 wins the muzzle velocity battle, particularly with heavier bullets.

Looks to me that the reason that the .308 is a better paper-puncher is that it's more efficient in the powder combustion. That should make for a bit more consistency, shot to shot. I guess.

69Precision, what would you consider is proof that 308's are more accurate than 30-06's?

By the way, they're both the same caliber (bore diameter). Thirty. Same as the 300 Savage and 30-30 Winchester.

If you are talking about target shooting a good 308 would be a good option as there are a lot of good 308 target rifles that are easily found. But then again those same rifles likely come in chamber inge like 260 and 6.5CM too....

If you have to ask you didn`t do your home work. The "06" is a great round.

Nothing wrong with the 308.

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I'm kinda thinkin if he had to ask he probably shouldn't be shooting 400-1000yds.

A .308 is a short action. That opens up a whole world of different receivers/actions.

Bart B. said:

69Precision, what would you consider is proof that 308's are more accurate than 30-06's?

By the way, they're both the same caliber (bore diameter). Thirty. Same as the 300 Savage and 30-30 Winchester.

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Proof would be any sort of controlled test that showed that. If it were anywhere in the neighborhood of 25% nobody would have shot an '06 in competition for the last 40 years.
What does the fact of the same bore diameter as the 300 savage or 30-30 have to do with anything?