30-06 or .308 for 1000 yds sniping?

[alsaqr]

"Still, for the reloader with alot of time on his hands, good ammo can be made from the components."

Not in my opinion. The cases are terrible and the bullets are little better. I have a large quantity of M72 and M118 Match that is used for trading and short-mid range plinking at coyotes.

 

[B.D. Turner]

.300 Win Mag beats them both.

 

[orionengnr]

.300 Win Mag beats them both.

So does 155 mm Howitzer...unfortunately, neither is among the chioces, and as such is irrelevant....

Answering a question nobody asked is not terribly helpful.

 

[USSR]

Not in my opinion. The cases are terrible and the bullets are little better. I have a large quantity of M72 and M118 Match that is used for trading and short-mid range plinking at coyotes.

Alsaqr,

I'd be more than happy to take some of your brass and/or bullets off your hands if you PM me. I match prep the brass (including neckturning) and separate them by weight. The bullets are separated by both weight and ogive-to-base length, which will vary by .030".


Don

 

[Koontzy]

the sniper country article that was posted is so old and outdated, that with todays rifles and calibers it doesnt matter... I was also looking into a 1000+ yard shooting caliber, then I went to a 1000 yard match and saw how far that it really is... Oh man!

Out of the .308 and the .30-06 I would chose the .30-06...... reason is the bullet availability, and with reloading the .30-06 can stomp the .308 in competition. I have seen both calibers perform well at long range, withthe edge going really neither way... its not the caliber, but the shooter. If the shooter doesnt undertand wind, ballistics, range compensation, and even elevation, humidity and other aspects taken into account for a shot that long, it wont matter what gun he has in his hand...

I like the idea that on average, no matter the yardage the .30-06 has more dropping power and penetration at longer ranges.

so either way you go, both calibers will do fine. Just make sure your doing yor part because if you dont do your part, dont blame it on the caliber or gun.

 

[Aussie bloke!]

.308/.30-06

G'day everyone,....

I voted for the .308

Why,..because I love the cartridge,..I shoot out to that range with the .308,...I do so now more for fun though.
I find the differance between the .308 and the .30-06 is that the .30-06 shoots slightly flater over the same distance.

Just my thoughts.

Aussie.

 

[1200 meters]

In Ref to .308 vs 30-06

Both are 30 cals if both are fired from same type rifle then they preform mush the same. I shoot both, but I can load a mush heaver projectile from th 30-06 because of the brass volume. this will make a difference at longer distances on the hunt. of course one is not likely to shoot at an animal 1300 to 1600 meters out. Unless one is a sniper perchance. Unless one practices much, anything over 500 meters might be a ricky shot. I am also getting 5 shot ragged hole at 100 meters with an 8MM Mauser that I load 200 gr, sierra htbt at 2650 fps. Haven't shot these long range yet but should go fine. ther is a new 30 cal out with same ballistics as 30-06 but much smaller cartridge. Any one seen it yet? Dave

 

[1200 meters]

Sorry "much" the same

 

[B.D. Turner]

155 mm Howitzer not a choice either but close with the 155 is good enough.

 

[Firepower!]

.308

I also think that there is a wider variety of guns/makes offered in .308 than 30-06. This gives one a great deal of picks to choose from.

 

[gcrookston]

Here's what I've found from personal experience: 5.56 will bounce off a steel plate at 500 yards... 30.06 and .308 will bounce off a steel plate at 1,000 yards. .300 winmag will go "poof" at 1,000 yards, and .338 Lapua will go through a 1/4" Mild steel plate at these distances. My unscientific research leads me to believe the .308 and 30.06 have about the same ballistics

 

[USSR]

Here's what I've found from personal experience: 5.56 will bounce off a steel plate at 500 yards... 30.06 and .308 will bounce off a steel plate at 1,000 yards. .300 winmag will go "poof" at 1,000 yards, and .338 Lapua will go through a 1/4" Mild steel plate at these distances. My unscientific research leads me to believe the .308 and 30.06 have about the same ballistics

Hmmm, I can only assume that you are talking about factory loads. Let's take Federal Gold Medal Match ammo for example: .308 w/168SMK at 2650fps vs. .30-06 w/168SMK at 2700fps vs. .300WM w/190SMK at 2900fps. Clearly, there's not a dimes worth of difference between the .308 and .30-06, both of which fall way behind the .300WM ballistically and power-wise at 1,000 yards. However, once you reload the .30-06 with the 190SMK at 2900fps (as I have done for the past 5 years), the .30-06 leaves the .308 in the dust, and is the equal of .300WM factory target ammo.

Don

 

[futureranger]

Im no expert but from what I have read id say the 30-06 has more potential than the .308 at 1000 yards when custom loaded. But from what I have heard the .308 has one more 1000 yard matched than the 30-06 by far… that has to count for something.

 

[Firepower!]

in reply to gcrookston

gcrookston
I wish 300 Mag or even 700 nitro was available here in the tribal areas of Pakistan. But they are not. So my choices are limited. Was in USA, you bet I would have collection from .22 to any thing you can BUY!

 

[Limeyfellow]

Both are capable of the deed, calibre wise, but the Remington 700 will most likely give you the better results.

The original Match ammunition for use with the M14 was downloaded to the same balistics as the .303 British service cartridge, 170+ grain bullet at around 2,460 FPS.

In Britain you can do long range shooting with the Lee Enfield and .303 British at Bisley. This is done at 800-1100 yards. The rifle is more than capable of the ranges. The longest I shot the Lee Enfield however at is 600 yards and with iron sights. I wish people didn't criticize the .303 British so much as so and so round is only as good as...

 

[Firepower!]

308

I think as some one mentioned, what weapon you use the round in is also a big question/issue important in determining the performance.

PLUS most amries are using .308 as sniper rifles if not .50.

 

[Firepower!]

What modern rifle uses 30-06?

 

[USSR]

What modern rifle uses 30-06?

This one.

But, you are correct, your cannot buy a factory-made tactical rifle in .30-06. So, if you don't intend to have one built to your specs, then an off-the-shelf .308 should be your choice.

Don

 

[KBintheSLC]

I prefer the .308 overall as a universal round. However, at 1000 yds, I would say it is a toss up. The gun probably matters more at this point than the small difference in ballistics.

 

[Rshooter]

Er.....nobody has addressed, maybe it is not necessary, you are not planning on hunting at 1k yards are you? Not to be a wet blanket but this would be a little far would it not?

 

[gcrookston]

Yes, I'm shooting 7.62 168 gr. Federal GMM and 1976 vintage 173gr. LC Match in my 30-06, for my comparisons. The .300WM is also Federal GMM 190 gr. The .338 Lapua is 300gr. Sierra Match King bullets. The rifles are an M1a "m21", a 1903 NM, an M700 and an Accuracy International.

 

[Oohrah]

Early to mid 60s, the Marine Corps were mainly using Win. Mod.70, with
a heavy barrel (Not target) with LC Match 30-06. Quite a few kills were
1000 yds plus. Scopes varried on makes and models and there were even
a few 03A4s and much later scoped M-14s appeared. Not very savy after
mid 60s. Bolt run 30-06s were able to take amost all heavy bullets and
loads that would batter Garands badly. Not a bunch of difference between
the NATO round and 06 as far as accuracy is concerned Moving
away from military loads in the two, the 30-06 is more versitile of the two.

 

[Firepower!]

Is Remington 700 any good?

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Firepower, if the H&K is not a designated sniper rifle configuration, I would opt for the Rem 700. Chances are your H&K has a barrel length of 18 - 20 inches and the Rem should be at least 24. It is unlikely that a run of the mill semi auto 308 will out perform a Rem hunting rifle in the same caliber and using the same type ammo. (Just looked at your 91 and the hands down choice is the REM 700 for repeat shooting at 1000 yds.)

 

[Geno]

Given the restriction of either .308 or .30-06, probably I would opt for .30-06. But, there is a better game in town...the 6.5X.284 Win.

The 6.5X.284 Win is considered one of the most accurate, flattest-shooting, ultra-distance rounds available. I have a video of a gentleman taking on targets at 1 mile with this set-up.