30-06 vs. 308

[bigchast1]

:?:  Of all the hoop-la which is; more accurate, harder hitting, and most of all most versitile for all North American game hunting, out to say 500 yds. Or is there a better caliber than these infamous two. Thanks for y'alls input.

[longwinters]

I dont think the caliber is nearly as important as the gun in the accuracy game.  

[jhm]

Big :  As far as the 2 cal. go at 500 yds with the same weight bullet about 200 fps faster with the 06 or close to that I think 168gr. in 06 abt 2800 and a little over 2600 for the 308 I would votr for the o6 of the 2 just my personal opinion but then like longwinters said if the rifle wont shoot what difference is the caliber.    JIM

[Castaway]

The question is a vexing one at first glance.  The facts are, the 308 is about 100 f/s slower than the 30-06 with a 150 grain bullet at max loads.  A 30 caliber bullet just doesn't hit harder because it was fired from a different rifle or out of a different chambering, they hit harder because the velocity is greater.  Start the same bullet in a 30-06 at the same velocity as a 308, there is absolutely no difference in performance at any range.  One might make an argument the 308 is an inherently more accurate round than the 30-06, but in a hunting rifle, I doubt most people can discern the difference.  The same placed shot with either rifle at your stated distance will cause the same results on game.  Dead is dead, wounded is wounded.  As to a starting velocity difference of 100 f/s making a determination in how far you can shoot, if you are a sophisticated enough shooter to shoot 500 yards (there are few that can do it), you are also sophisticated enough that you know the difference in drop in both the 308 and 30-06.  Bottom line, either caliber is fine.  It's a matter of personal preference.

[bigchast1]

ok add in the 270 Winchester and the 7mm Mag.

[Dana3of5]

From the Speer manual #13, page 281.

"We've had many callers ask why the .308 velocities are equal to or better than some of the 30-06 velocities shown a few pages ahead.  They ask if it is a mistake.  No, it's real, and there are 2 reasons.

First a compact case and a higher pressure limit give the .308 an edge with bullets up to 160 grains.  Things are equal with the 165 bullets, but the big 30-06 case's ability to hold a lot of slow-burning powder gives it the upper hand with heavy bullets."

It goes on to state that the 30-06 sporting rifle shot 50-100 fps less than the pressure barrel.  However the .308 sporting rifle shot equal or faster than the pressure barrel.  Both sporting rifles had 22" barrels.

Read more in the handgun section on "Why Ballasticians Get Gray"  in the back of the manual.  Great reading.

dana

[Dana3of5]

Should have been "up to 150 grains"  not 160.

[Mikey]

Bigchast1:  of all four calibers you mentioned I favor the 06.  It can do more than the 308 ever could throughout its entire range of bullet weights and especially at the upper end of bullet weights.  I don't see any factory loadings for 308 at 3000'/sec (don't look for them either), but you can load them for the 06.  

270 is nice but it ain't an 06.  Was it Townsend Whelan that developed that and loved it so much - same guy who didn't think the Mauser was worth a dang - go fer the 06.

7mm mag - 06 can outdo it, especially with the heavier loads.  Eg. - 175 grain 7mm mag at 2800'/sec vs a 190 grain 06 at same velocity, uh huh!  

Mikey.

[Sixgun]

I own an 06 and several 308s.  I guess you can tell from that line that I favor the 308.  Any handloader who owns both and a chronograph will verify my statement that up to 165 gr bullet, you will blow up an 06 trying to get it to shoot significantly faster than a 308.  The 308 will out gun the 06 on less powder too.  When you get byond the 165gr bullets, the 308 falls behind fast.  

Now I know that lots of people disagree with me on the above statements.  Even my own brother did until I got him out to the range and we tested it out.  It was my Rem 788 with a 18.5 inch barrel against his Win 70 with a 22 inch barrel.  Useing several max loads in each gun the 308 ended up with an average of 50fps advantage over his 06.  It was close but remember that the 788 had an 18.5 inch barrel.  My brother still owns his 06 but he went out and got a Savage 99 in 308 and carries it all the time.

Sixgun

[Selmer]

Sixgun should have finished with, "nuf said".  He hit the nail on the head, I own a 788 in .308 and a .30-06 in a M70 Classic fwt.  I love them both, the 788 wins the accuracy contest every time, and I'd gladly grab either of them for deer hunting, and both have taken deer past 400 yds, and with one shot kills, but only in perfect situations.  I usually grab the .30-06 these days cause my brother-in-law has started deer hunting with us the last few years and he uses my .308, but I'll never get rid of either of them.  If there is an advantage, it's one that hasn't been brought up, the .308 is easier loaded down for younger or smaller shooters and maintains it's accuracy well, I have some .30-30 class loads for my .308 that shoot sub-MOA, but I can't do that with the .30-06, but my rifle is finicky, so I won't blame it on the caliber.
Selmer