.308 vs 30.06 vs .338 . Which One to Choose?

[Mosin Bubba]

Average bucks in the area where's he's going is about 200 lbs with some of them being much heavier.

Jeez! Those guys are eating well on the Delta.

 

[Show Me]

Jeez! Those guys are eating well on the Delta.

Rice and peanuts. Cotton?

 

[hawg]

Jeez! Those guys are eating well on the Delta.

Waynesboro is nowhere near the Delta. In fact it's all the way across the state.

 

[illinoisburt]

308 is more than enough for deer and hogs down here in the south. Most hunting is shooting houses over feeders so wouldn't worry too much about weight and you should have some time to pick your shots. If hogs are more than an incidental target, they are usually in groups where shooting multiple animals can be fast so if you have a semi-auto that may be a good idea to think about, even if it's something less than 308.

 

[IJ1981]

To be clear on the rifles, the .308 is a Ruger American.
The 30.06 is a Ruger M77.
The .338 Win is a Savage 110 Brush Hunter.

 

[hawg]

I would still go with the 30-06. I got to fire a Savage 110 in 30-06 yesterday. I didn't care for it. The pistol grip was too tiny for my taste.

 

[md7]

To be clear on the rifles, the .308 is a Ruger American.
The 30.06 is a Ruger M77.
The .338 Win is a Savage 110 Brush Hunter.

Sounds like you got 3 good ones to me

 

[Nature Boy]

.308

Does everything a .30-06 does in a more efficient, compact package

.338 WM shouldn’t even be in consideration unless elk and moose have recently invaded Mississippi

 

[tdbmd]

I have been invited by a retired co worker for next years hunting season in Mississippi.

His mom owns more than 1000 acres of prime land near Waynesboro, filled with deer , razorbacks and some black bear.

So it sounds exciting! I only want to bring one gun. What do you THR guys and gals suggest among the 3?

.308 would be plenty

 

[hawg]

.308

Does everything a .30-06 does in a more efficient, compact package

Up to a point unless 7/8 of an inch in bolt throw makes that much difference to you.

 

[IJ1981]

Again, thank you for all the dozens of terrific, informative replies. THR is the place to go when you need smart, knowledgeable information.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I've said it a lot. Whitetail Deer are puny and we have some of the bigger end of whitetail in the states. 243/257/308/300 savage/ 30-30 ...... even

To be clear on the rifles, the .308 is a Ruger American.
The 30.06 is a Ruger M77.
The .338 Win is a Savage 110 Brush Hunter.

The guns matter not. What is the group with what your shooting. Not that you need a precision rifle for hunting

I would still go with the 30-06. I got to fire a Savage 110 in 30-06 yesterday. I didn't care for it. The pistol grip was too tiny for my taste.

I've never shot a 110 that didn't shoot well. I've been a savage hater since the 90s. I feel they are responsible for the cheap barrel nut/plain wood (and after that cheap plastic) painted barrells...... etc etc. But ive yet to see one not shoot well. Lol

As far as pistol grips I bought an Ab3 the other day with the biggest palm swell I've ever encountered on a rifle. Too much. I like the cz barely noticeable swell. Lol

 

[Nature Boy]

Up to a point unless 7/8 of an inch in bolt throw makes that much difference to you.

I hunt with both .308 and .30-06

If I had to pick only one though it would be the .308

Short vs long action aside, I can push the same size .30 cal projectile to the same speed using 20-30% less powder.

Sure, we’re splitting hairs here, but sometimes we have to do it to play the “pick one” game.

 

[hawg]

I hunt with both .308 and .30-06

If I had to pick only one though it would be the .308

Short vs long action aside, I can push the same size .30 cal projectile to the same speed using 20-30% less powder.

Sure, we’re splitting hairs here, but sometimes we have to do it to play the “pick one” game.

The 30-06 can push heavier bullets and doesn't lose speed as fast as the .308 but yeah for all intents and purposes it's splitting hairs. My first high powered rifle was a 30-06. If it had been a .308 I might feel differently about it.

 

[hawg]

The guns matter not. What is the group with what your shooting. Not that you need a precision rifle for hunting

It is a precision rifle. Sporterized 98 FN Mauser with a 26 inch Obermeyer barrel. It makes tiny little cloverleafs at 100 yards

 

[Big_Al]

3006 for me, no need for a 338 in Mississippi.

 

[luv2safari]

I have been invited by a retired co worker for next years hunting season in Mississippi.

His mom owns more than 1000 acres of prime land near Waynesboro, filled with deer , razorbacks and some black bear.

So it sounds exciting! I only want to bring one gun. What do you THR guys and gals suggest among the 3?

I would have no problem choosing the 30-06 with this bullet for everything.

BARNES 30(.308)165gr TTSX BULLET TIPPED-BT 50/bx - Graf & Sons

Since its introduction in 2003, Barnes’ Triple-Shock X Bullet has earned a reputation as “the perfect hunting bullet.” Now, Barnes has improved on perfection by adding a streamlined polymer tip. The new Tipped TSX features the same 100-percent copper body with multiple rings cut into the shank...

www.grafs.com

 

[Roverguy]

To be clear on the rifles, the .308 is a Ruger American.
The 30.06 is a Ruger M77.
The .338 Win is a Savage 110 Brush Hunter.

Very hard to beat the Ruger American. The M77 is usually a very attractive rifle but older ones did have a reputation for hit or miss accuracy. The Savage is a great rifle but too much cartridge. Good luck.

 

[DM~]

Short vs long action aside, I can push the same size .30 cal projectile to the same speed using 20-30% less powder.

With "some" bullet weights yes you can get close, but not with all weights.

DM

 

[crestoncowboy]

It is a precision rifle. Sporterized 98 FN Mauser with a 26 inch Obermeyer barrel. It makes tiny little cloverleafs at 100 yards

Having a precision hunting rifle is great, I have a few. Just saying that some people put a bit too much stock in it. Most of the "good old days" rifle i own shoot pretty poorly compared to most today

My varmint and target rifles MUST be precise.

 

[horsemen61]

308

 

[Eugen]

What caliber would i take? 30 06, but that's just my preference.

 

[Wolfshead]

I always find these posts interesting.
i truly like to hear other’s opinions on this subject, and their reasoning as well.
As has been posted any one of these choices will work.
Whitetail deer are easy, but hard to kill. We can kill them with an arrow from a 40# bow, but some swear you need a 200 grain bullet to get the job done sufficiently.
my choice would be the .308 Win. For your trip that is more than sufficient. My reasoning is based on my rifle, and my experience hunting Whitetails. It weighs about 6.5 pounds and is 38”-40” long, lite and agile and a pleasure to carry into the Woods.
I took a medium sized Doe last night with it, using a 150 grain Accubond (one of my handloads).
I shot her quartering to me, and hit her in front of the right shoulder, and the bullet exited out behind the left. She was dead right there, but didn’t know it yet, and she crashed about 40 yards away with an easy blood trail to follow.
i like to keep the heart as it eats well, but there was not much left of this one, or the lungs….
She actually was about the size of a large Southern Doe I killed in N. Carolina a few years ago. So probably similar to a Mississippi deer.

 

[drobs]

Either the 30-06 or 308
Also bring a shotgun with you. You might have the opportunity for some waterfowl or small game.

 

[Nature Boy]

It is a precision rifle. Sporterized 98 FN Mauser with a 26 inch Obermeyer barrel. It makes tiny little cloverleafs at 100 yards

Post a pic of that bad boy