.308 vs 30-06

[akodo]

Do you mean the 6.5x55?

Realize that the 6.5x55 is famous for having a high weight-to-caliber ratio, meaning it has oustanding sectional density. Hence it can penetrate. When selecting cartridges for big game you can't just look at energy.

6.5x55mm 140 grain, the 'do anything' load has a Sectional Density .287
But the more common moose load (a load also used for the real big antelope in africa) is 156 or 160 grain with a sectional density of .328

.308" (.30) 150 grain, SD .226
.308" (.30) 165 grain, SD .248
.308" (.30) 180 grain, SD .271
.308" (.30) 200 grain, SD .301
.308" (.30) 220 grain, SD .331

When selecting cartridges for big game you can't just look at energy. The heaviest 308 you can get off the shelf is going to be 180 grains. Now' I'd rather use a 180 grain 308 than a 120 grain 30-06, even if the 30-06 had more energy, because the 1240 grain 30 caliber bullet just doesn't have the needed sectional density to be a good clean consistent killer of really big animals.

Heck, it really doesn't matter if you are launching it out of a 300 savage, 308 winchester, 30-06, or a 300 winmag, if you are hunting moose or bison etc you need a deep penetrator. 200 grains is where you should be, 180 is 'maybe' 220 is golden.

And that's where the 30-06 shines, you can pick up a box of 200 grain or 220 grain factory loads no problem.

 

[MCgunner]

I know it's been beat to death. I'll just say I like the little rifle, Remington stainless M7 short action with a 2x10 Weaver. It's my favorite hunting tool, all around, mulies out at 350 across a mountain canyon or hog running in the brush at 20 yards with said Weaver set on 2x. I got a hundred mil surp brass when I got it for cheap for reloading, too. It will take anything I'll ever hunt in my life, so why do I need a .30-06 which might hve better paper ballistics, but no hog is going to feel the difference as he dies.

I have a long action gun, 7mm Remington Magnum. I've hauled it all over SE New Mexico and the trans Pecos. I could have gotten said gun in .30-06. It's heavy and somewhat slower to the eye, not as versatile a gun, and funny thing, the .308 with its soda straw barrel is ever so slightly more accurate with the first three shots from the barrel. Not bad for what really is more of a carbine than a rifle.

Don't hunt? Don't care? Don't like the .308. Knock yourself out, but I'll stick with it. I like the platform. I prefer it in .308 to .260. If you come at me with sectional densities, I'll just holler BARNES and win the argument.

 

[jmr40]

You nailed it. With the Barnes and other copper bullets there is simply no need for the heavy 180 grain and heavier bullets. A 165 or even a 150 grain Barnes bullet will out penetrate the heavier lead bullets.

Pick any caliber from 7-08 up through the 30cal. magnums and you are set for any animal in North America except bison and brown bears. We all like to argue that our favorite round is better and point to published ballistics as proof. But put a good bullet through the lungs and the end result will be exactly the same from any of these rounds. They all shoot flat enough for 400 yard shots.

If you want to shoot farther then you can make an argument in favor of some of the 7mm and 30 cal magnums as being better.

If you are hunting something that may decide to hunt you instead, then you need something a lot bigger than 30 cal.

 

[jkingrph]

Member

Join Date: March 29, 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 82 Well this isn't an old subject. If you are thinking about buying either look at it as, what purpose will the rifle I need have to serve? Both guns are a great choice. It takes some study to get the full idea. Both are great for long-range and accuracy, as well as for big game. Take into consideration though that you can load a stronger round for the 06. Also take into consideration that the 30-06 is not a NATO round, which means that during a war time its easier to find. The .308 was designed with a shorter action. It was also a shorter fatter round to help create a more even powder burn. This helps it fly a little flatter, and possibly further. That was my take on them both. Personally I think the 30-06 is better due to the versatility of its loads. There has been a study however somewhere that shows that the 30-06 barrel isn't as long lasting. I have never seen the issue myself but, its yet another thing to look into. STUDY STUDY

Definetly shorter! Fatter?? I have not checked measurements, but don't think so. Same head diameter. More even powder burn?? Shoots flatter and further, I know thats not so, the '06 will throw any bullet 100-200 fps faster, which means it will shoot flatter and further.

For most of us, myself included the ballistic differences are of little consequence. The 308 will let you use a short action saving a little weight and that's about it.

I started with a 30-06 because Dad won one in a sales contest and gave it to me in 1963, plus at the time plenty of surplus 30-06 ammo was available so I never had any desire for a .308. Had I have received a .308 at the time, it would probably be my prefered caliber. Currently I am running 2 Win 70' s in '06, one of which is the one Dad got me, a Ruger #1 and a Garand.

The only other 30 calibers I have are a couple of 30-30's and a .300 Savage Mod 99
which is very close to the .308.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I like the .308, my Remmy 700 SPS Tactical is really nice, great target rifle. The only thing I use it for is punching paper at 200-300 yards. I'll never hunt big game, unless my life depended on it. The .308 is extremely easy to handload, is very accurate and it doesn't beat the hell outta my shoulder, lol. For me, that's as good as it gets.

 

[Dr T]

The 308 is not fatter--it just looks that way because it is shorter.

The 308 is essentially a shortened 30-06 case--as is the 300 Savage.

If you compare the dimensions of the 308 to the 300 Savage, you could conclude that the 308 is simply a 300 Savage with a longer neck.

And there are few animals in the lower 48 within 300 yards that could tell the difference among the three of them.

I have both a 30-06 (Ruger #1 RSI) and a 308 (Ruger 77 Frontier) in short, handy rifles. I use the 06 for 180 Gr. bullet loads and the 08 for 165 Gr. bullet loads because that is what those particular rifles like best.

Of course, the real question is: Which is better, the 7-08 or the 280 Remington. Same difference.