30-06 vs. 308

N

Needle Mouse

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Nov 17, 2012
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Hey guys recently Ive been for a ultimate hunting rifle, bolt action sporter, something that I can shoot any big game in north america with from south texas whitetail to canadian elk, anything and everything basicaly, also my price limit is about $1200. Ive recently been actrated to the Savage 111, winchester 700 or the remmington model 70. All great classics and relitively inexpensive, but my biggest question is Caliber????? Ive always grown up with 30-06 and found it easy to find easy to shoot and inexpensive. Also Ive shot 308 and found it to be the sameif not slightly better. Both bullets are about the same in bullistics but I was just wondering which one I should side with this time, for the reasons I have in mind.
 
.30-06 and .308 are similar bullet diamater but .30-06 has a longer case and can be more powerful. If your trying to get something for any big game in north america i would skip the .308 and go .300 winmag or .30-06.
 
I agree completely. I would personally chose a 300 win mag, or 7mil rem mag. If you are set on 30-06 or 308, i would chose the 30-06 hands down for the larger powder capacity, as it can be more powerful. It can also be loaded down to a 60 grain bullet for a crazy fast and flat shooting varmint gun.
 
Well I own 2 308's and 2 30-06's.also take a look at the Ruger American.It is very accurate and retails for under $400. The 30-06 would be my choice if there is to be Moose or Elk to hunt.For out West where long shots are common I would take either my Remington 700 in 7mm mag or my Weatherby Accumark in 300 Win mag.One think to remember is the famous gun writer Jack O'Conner killed everything on the planet with an 06 and a 270.The magnums I mentioned are for when you have less than an ideal shot to break through heavey bone and muscle.I shoot a lot and was a Master firearms trainer for years so I would not feel under gunned with one of my 30-06 and some quality 180 grain bullets.
 
Needle...

Believe you got a bit dyslexic with your rifles...

Winchester Model 70

Remington 700

I'd recommend the Win Mod 70 in 30-06 for the best "all purpose" hunting rifle.
 
I've done well enough over the years with O'Conner's .270. But I am not a moose hunter.
 
For your intended purpose and between the two calibers I would stick with the 30-06 because of the increased powder capacity and potential for more energy. I wouldn't limit myself to those three rifles though. You didn't say blue and wood, or stainless and synthetic. But how about the Weatherby Vangaurds or Tikka rifles? So many choices!!!
 
Haha my bad I knew the two models I just got the mixed but there :p anyways ya I was considering that, personaly I own a remmington 700 and a smith corona 03A3 in 30-06 also a ruger M77 in 280 cal and so on...... all have served me well already when it come to south texas whitetail ware all they eat is mesqite beans and its a Rare sight to see one feild dress 150 pounds.
 
30-06...Especially for larger game. The greater case capacity will allow for
higher velocities with 165 to 220 gr bullets....which will deliver more energy/
penetration.
 
I've had the same quandary before. I decided on a browning Abolt in .300 win mag. It is a gun that can handle anything and be handed down for generations.
 
Well, this is a difficult debate, similar cartridges and ballistics, similar guns. Personally I choose .30-06 because its what I have dies and reloading data for. Also, I like that if I forget my handloads at home I can stop in at any rural hardware store and find .30-06 ammo, .308 less so. I'm currently building another .30-06 hunting gun, this one is a 1917. I always shoot my guns with factory ammo to find out how they do so just in case I end up needing to, I know what the gun will do.

For a rifle that will do anything I would go with the Savage. Caliber changes can be as simple as a new barrel and a set of field headspace guages, aka "Go, No-Go" guages. The accutrigger is very nice, and you can get the cost of the gun down enough to save for some very high qualiy optics like a Leupold VX-IV. I say take your budget and spilt it in half, $600 for gun, $600 for optics.


-Xander
 
The question about these three cartridges has come up regularly for many years and the variety of answers and reasons are usually the same. It amounts to personal preference and percieved performance.

Back when I bought my Win 70 .270, I bought five boxes of different cartridges. I shot those boxes in groups of five rotating through them to find what my rifle liked best while "shooting in" the barrel. Tightest group for this particular rifle was with the moly coated Fail-Safes. I then bought ten boxes of that cartridge, all of the same lot number. I get good consistant accuracy and good downrange performance. I have over the years noticed differences between lots. Ask any serious match shooter.
 
both are good, nearly identical in velocity and bullet choice. if you re-load you can get higher velocity out of an 06.
the 308 gun will be lighter(most likely) because of the shorter action length. it is also slightly more accurate.
I have one of each and like to shoot them both, can't say one is better than the other really.
 
30-06 if your stuck on those two. Otherwise 300 win mag. The difference between the two on game is amazing. The win mag is devastating.
 
I've been paying attention to what ammunition is still on shelves.
During the 2008 election season and right now the boxes still on shelves are .30-30, .243, .270, and 7mm Rem Mag seem to still be available on store shelves.
They are popular rounds, but people seem not to stockpile them as much as others.

All the .223 the .308 seem to be the first to go. .30-06 and .300 Win Mag seem to follow.
.30 caliber rounds are an American Favorite. Just check out reloading die sales.

My suggestion is that if you are purchasing now I'd go with the .270. If you want a little more power then the 7mm Rem Mag would be my next choice.
You can find that just about everywhere it just isn't as popular as the .30 caliber rounds.
 
Around mid-America 30-06 has more off the shelf availability of different bullets. The .308 typically only has a couple options in most stores around here. I see no advantage to .308 unless the shorter cartridge length is important to you.
 
Have you checked out the Kimber 84L? Fit and finish surpass those listed and is a beautiful rifle. In my mind the 30-06 is king. As you stated is gets the job done without fuss. I load my 180 gr to 2850 fps which is a tad slower than 300 WM and no game animal will know the difference. Your selection of bullets will show you this. I have so much confidence in th 30-06 it is going with me to Africa this August. The 30-06 is an all american cartridge you can't go wrong with. Good luck in your search.
 
Either cartridge loaded with a quality hunting bullet, will work just fine, with good shot placement.
With the advances in bullet technology, caliber selection has become less important than it was years ago.
The 30-06 with a Premium bullet like the Fail-Safe or even the old Nosler Partition will work just fine on Moose. There have probably been more Moose killed with the 6.5x55 round than any other caliber. It is still popular in other countries, from what I have read.

I'm not a fan of smaller Magnums. I really don't see much practical benefit for most situations. People claim they work great at 4-500 yards, and maybe they do. I don't shoot at that distance at game though, and in all honesty most people don't. Irregardless of what they tell you.
I do like larger magnums though. If I'm going to burn extra powder, and carry a longer barrel, I want something more substantial coming out the end of the tube... But much like the choice bewteen 308 and 30-06, it is personal choice...

You won't notice much difference in recoil between the two, if you are sensitive to recoil. Pick the one you like, find a particular load your rifle likes, and go hunting...
 
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