.308 v. 30-06

OneShotOnly! · June 3, 2007, 07:31 AM

Which is better round for distance hitting and hunting?

I have a choice of buying .308 Remington or 30-06 Winchester. Both have advantages, however, I am being told that .308 is better then 30-06. How much truth is in that?

Jimro · June 3, 2007, 08:24 AM

It depends on whether you handload or not, they are pretty much ballistically identical in commercial loads up to 180 grains, only abuot a 100 fps difference max.

However if you handload 190 grain pills hot in the 30-06 it becomes a different story, and the 30-06 begins to shine.

For off the shelf commercial ammo the 308 has a much broader selection of "accuracy loads". I don't recommend hunting with SMK bullets, but you can buy 308 loads with the 175 gr SMK and that is generally considered the best for long range accuracy with the 308.

But if you really want to reach out and touch something get a 300 Win Mag.

Like anything else in the gun world, YMMV.

Jimro

OneShotOnly! · June 3, 2007, 08:26 AM

I would not hesitate on 300 Win Mag, but their ammo is not avialable in these neck of woods.

Fremmer · June 3, 2007, 08:46 AM

Man, everyone knows that the .308 RULES!!!

Additionally, please be advised that my sources indicate that the United States Government has performed extensive testing on the capabilities of each round for long range effectiveness against zombies. As we all know (I've been warning you people about this for months now), the impending zombie uprising will happen, and we need to be prepared for it. Studies show that the .308 performs better at long-range zombie-brain-splattering than than the .30-06.

Old Time Hunter · June 3, 2007, 09:18 AM

Tradition and history...the .30-06! It is chambered in more rifles than any other cartridge.

OneShotOnly! · June 3, 2007, 09:22 AM

After some research...308 wins hands down.
Check out:
http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AccuracyFacts.asp

rantingredneck · June 3, 2007, 09:26 AM

.30-06......

Wider selection of factory ammo

Approx 100fps faster with same weight bullet

.308......

Shorter action

Better selection in "premium" ammo

It's hard to go wrong with either, but when I had the same choice I went with the '06. I also went with a Rem 700, but the Win 70 is a fine rifle too.

629 shooter · June 3, 2007, 10:00 AM

Hard to find a .30-06 chambered in any "precision" long range bolt rifle. That is the type of rifle I prefer for extended shooting sessions. Just in the Remington line they have chambered in .308:

700P
700LTR
700 VLS
700 SPS Varmint
700 SPS Tactical
700 VS SFII

All of these are the heavy barrel tactical/varmint style rifles and none are chambered in the .30-06. If the largest rifle maker in the US chooses not to chamber these types of rifles in .30-06 it must indicate the demand is not there. In other words I choose the .308!

Art Eatman · June 3, 2007, 10:13 AM

This horse is still dead. This sort of "poll" nonsense has been done to death, over and over, since TFL first started.

There is a search feature, and I strongly suggest it be used, insofar as opinions are concerned. I note they haven't changed since the 1950s. Last I heard, that was way, way back. Heck, Buddy Holley was alive! And I was young and handsome!

Art

View Poll Results: .308 v. 30-06
.308	6	42.86%
30-06	10	71.43%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

June 3, 2007, 07:31 AM	#1
OneShotOnly! Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Next door Posts: 161	.308 v. 30-06 Which is better round for distance hitting and hunting? I have a choice of buying .308 Remington or 30-06 Winchester. Both have advantages, however, I am being told that .308 is better then 30-06. How much truth is in that?

June 3, 2007, 08:24 AM	#2
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	It depends on whether you handload or not, they are pretty much ballistically identical in commercial loads up to 180 grains, only abuot a 100 fps difference max. However if you handload 190 grain pills hot in the 30-06 it becomes a different story, and the 30-06 begins to shine. For off the shelf commercial ammo the 308 has a much broader selection of "accuracy loads". I don't recommend hunting with SMK bullets, but you can buy 308 loads with the 175 gr SMK and that is generally considered the best for long range accuracy with the 308. But if you really want to reach out and touch something get a 300 Win Mag. Like anything else in the gun world, YMMV. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

June 3, 2007, 10:00 AM	#8
629 shooter Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2002 Location: IN , USA Posts: 967	Hard to find a .30-06 chambered in any "precision" long range bolt rifle. That is the type of rifle I prefer for extended shooting sessions. Just in the Remington line they have chambered in .308: 700P 700LTR 700 VLS 700 SPS Varmint 700 SPS Tactical 700 VS SFII All of these are the heavy barrel tactical/varmint style rifles and none are chambered in the .30-06. If the largest rifle maker in the US chooses not to chamber these types of rifles in .30-06 it must indicate the demand is not there. In other words I choose the .308! __________________ "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

June 3, 2007, 08:26 AM	#3
OneShotOnly! Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Next door Posts: 161	I would not hesitate on 300 Win Mag, but their ammo is not avialable in these neck of woods.

June 3, 2007, 08:46 AM	#4
Fremmer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,482	Man, everyone knows that the .308 RULES!!! Additionally, please be advised that my sources indicate that the United States Government has performed extensive testing on the capabilities of each round for long range effectiveness against zombies. As we all know (I've been warning you people about this for months now), the impending zombie uprising will happen, and we need to be prepared for it. Studies show that the .308 performs better at long-range zombie-brain-splattering than than the .30-06.

June 3, 2007, 09:18 AM	#5
Old Time Hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2006 Location: Hinterlands of Wisconsin Posts: 488	Tradition and history...the .30-06! It is chambered in more rifles than any other cartridge.

June 3, 2007, 09:22 AM	#6
OneShotOnly! Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Next door Posts: 161	After some research...308 wins hands down. Check out: http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AccuracyFacts.asp

June 3, 2007, 09:26 AM	#7
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	.30-06...... Wider selection of factory ammo Approx 100fps faster with same weight bullet .308...... Shorter action Better selection in "premium" ammo It's hard to go wrong with either, but when I had the same choice I went with the '06. I also went with a Rem 700, but the Win 70 is a fine rifle too.

June 3, 2007, 10:13 AM	#9
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	This horse is still dead. This sort of "poll" nonsense has been done to death, over and over, since TFL first started. There is a search feature, and I strongly suggest it be used, insofar as opinions are concerned. I note they haven't changed since the 1950s. Last I heard, that was way, way back. Heck, Buddy Holley was alive! And I was young and handsome! Art