The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Ballistics: 30-06 vs 308

armedandsafe · December 27, 2007, 08:55 PM

The main difference between the two cartridges do not lie outside the barrel, but within the chamber.

.308 can be idealized with faster powders and smaller densities, for a (relatively) small range of bullets. 30-06 can be idealized with slower powders with heavier load densities over a much larger range of bullets. To the one gun handloader, this makes a world of difference. To the commercial ammo shooter, this makes no difference. Once it leaves the barrel, the deer can't tell what rifle it came from.

This is similar to the 12/16/20 gauge dispute. Standard commercial load for each of those three gauges is one ounce of shot at ~1250 fps. The only way to tell the difference between them, once the shot leaves the barrel is to measure the length of the shot string.

Pops

December 27, 2007, 08:55 PM	#9
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	The main difference between the two cartridges do not lie outside the barrel, but within the chamber. .308 can be idealized with faster powders and smaller densities, for a (relatively) small range of bullets. 30-06 can be idealized with slower powders with heavier load densities over a much larger range of bullets. To the one gun handloader, this makes a world of difference. To the commercial ammo shooter, this makes no difference. Once it leaves the barrel, the deer can't tell what rifle it came from. This is similar to the 12/16/20 gauge dispute. Standard commercial load for each of those three gauges is one ounce of shot at ~1250 fps. The only way to tell the difference between them, once the shot leaves the barrel is to measure the length of the shot string. Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."