308 vs 30-06 - how significant is the difference?

[russlate]

After many years without a hunting rifle, last Wednesday I picked up a Savage 99 in 308 ( to go along with my FN/FAL ) with 22" barrel..

At first I felt kind of remorseful over getting it in such a sensible caliber. I'd been dreaming of something like a CZ550 in a mannlicher stock in 7x57 ( I have an FN49 in that caliber ) but this Savage kind of fell into my lap.

On hearing Thursday night about the events in Fallujah, though, I decided having a hunting and a homeland defense rifle in the same caliber wasn't such a bad idea. ( That was over there, but the Rodney King riots were in L.A. and I do live less than 70 miles from California ). Now I understand why they make varmint rifles in 308. Not saying I'm paranoid, just being prudent.

Anyway, never paid that much attention to the 308 before. Maybe 100 feet per second difference between the 308 and 30-06, but I hear the 06 is becoming a bit more anemically loaded, and the 308 mostly stays a bit more on the heavy side. Plus using the Hornady Light magnum loads boosts the 308 velocities to equivalency with 30-06 standard loads for 150, 165, and 180 grain bullets. And 308 200 grainers won't match 30-06 220 velocities.

Anyway, can someone else fill me in on any practical differences I might have overlooked between 30-06 and 308? If the more moderate 308 loads equal reduced kick from a hunting weight rifle, that won't bother me a bit. 30-06 is over the line for me, kind of like I can handle the 41 mag in double-action rapid-fire but not the 44 mag.

Except with the heaviest bullets, sounds like 308 can be used on anything the 30-06 can.

 

[Mulliga]

.308 and .30-06 are so close it's ridiculous. .308 is slightly more accurate, but .30-06 reaches out slightly more and can better drive slightly larger bullets. Not all factory loads are scaled back - try some of the "light magnum" rounds for a real shoulder-busting time.

Milsurp ammo for the .308 is much more available and cheaper, so that may be a factor. Then again, my Wally World carries much more .30-06 than .308 (6:1, YMMV), so factor that in.

Both are extremely common. Unless we're talking about TEOTWAKI, you'll be able to find both at virtually any place that sells ammunition.

I desperately wanted a .308 Model 70 until I realized that .30-06 is virtually the same round - only about a half-inch longer.

 

[Sunray]

The .308/7.62 was developed because newer powders came along that didn't require as much of it to get the same velocities. The only real practical difference is the length of a rifle's action. Using bullets of the same weight, the velocity difference is about 100 fps in favour of the '06. The only disadvantage of the .308, if you can call it that, is the ability to use slightly heavier bullets in the '06. 220 max in the '06 vs 200 in the .308. Some hand loaders go heavier than 220's, but there's no real advantage to do so.
Hornady's "light magnum" comes in .30-06 too. Do not use any .308 light mags in your FAL or '06 light mags in a Garand. Neither are made to use hot loads like that. Mind you, I don't think it's a good idea to use them in a 99 either. Not that it matters. You're right. The .308 will take any game that the .30-06 will. Especially in a nice handy rifle like a 99.

 

[russlate]

The Hornady light mags will turn an 06 into a 300 H&H equivalent, using 180 grain loads. But give me a choice between that lovely old H&H, with it's slow shove that you can flex and give with for recoil, and the 30-06 whose recoil slaps you all at once, and I'll take the 300 H&H. Or the 300 Weatherby and shoot the H&H in it.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

The difference is so close that only your chronograph knows for sure.


ZM

 

[Mannlicher]

Nothing you will ever hunt in America will know which one you shot it with. Both are more than adaquate for defense also. Mil Surp ammo is much cheaper for the .308, if thats important for you.

 

[artherd]

In 150gr rounds, there's almost no (read about a 100fps) difference in factory ammo.

However, due to the bigger case (which goes un-used with lighter bullets, but can become an advantage with the 180gr+) the gap opens up a bit.

The .30-06 with modern powders however can safely be loaded very hot. How does a 190gr SMK at 2800fps grab you? (yes, that's creaping into .300WinMag territory. Check out RL22 reloading data for the '06 and the 190gr SMK.)

Both are darn fine cartridges, and unless you want to do some .300WM type shooting (ie 600-800+yds) then you will be hard pressed to notice any difference at all.