308 vs. 30-06 under 400 yards

[Ringbill27]

If most of my shots are inside of 400 yards, will the animal be more likely to drop faster if both bullets hit the same spot with a 180 grain 30-06 vs 165 grain 308?

For a deer/bear rifle I run the 168TTSX or the 175LRX over the 180ttsx. The min expansion velocity for the 168 is 1800fps and the 175LRX is 1600fps. You need speed to expand especially with coppers.

 

[wildwilderness]

.308 will be the staple for many decades to come so it will stay cheap and abundant. It's shorter action so you can get lighter rifle as well. 30-06 is more powerful but that difference is what that bullet loses in 30 meters of flight (meaning 308 at 100 meters is the same as 30-06 at 130 meters).

Just get .308 unless you want something more powerful then think about .300win mag.

Not true in a Tikka- all actions are the same Long action

 

[wildwilderness]

I currently have a 308 Tikka CTR (20 inch barrel) that I'm shooting 165 grain trophy coppers out of. It's a little heavy and I'm going to pick up a new T3x lite (with the factory threads) to build a new rifle but can't decide between 308 and 30-06.

Sounds like you are using the T3x lite as a donor action? What would your "build" consist of?

If you are using the Tikka I would go 30-06 for the simple reason all Tikka's are built on the the same "long" action. If you go 308 its just a shorter bolt stop and a 0.5" plug in the magazine to get short action cartridges to feed.

Might as well take full advantage of the magazine length and bolt in a 30-06. if you handload you can down load it to 308 velocity pretty easy anyway. Also gives you the options to go faster as well if you want it (maybe save you another "magnum" rifle in the future. plus you already have the 308 ctr

 

[Taudisio]

This is just an FYI for Barnes consumers. This is an article, from their website, from their “ballistic lab and R&D supervisor”.

Whatever they recommend as a minimum velocity, add 200 fps. I know some experienced users recommend 2000fps as an impact velocity.

 

[KenLee]

For your use, I'd grab a 22 inch x-bolt 300wsm and bust em with 150 gr monos.
Recoil is a pussycat. Anyone that says a 308 Tikka has less felt recoil either hasn't shot both, or is a liar. Tikkas kick hard for caliber.

 

[Lock3]

Sounds like you are using the T3x lite as a donor action? What would your "build" consist of?

If you are using the Tikka I would go 30-06 for the simple reason all Tikka's are built on the the same "long" action. If you go 308 its just a shorter bolt stop and a 0.5" plug in the magazine to get short action cartridges to feed.

Might as well take full advantage of the magazine length and bolt in a 30-06. if you handload you can down load it to 308 velocity pretty easy anyway. Also gives you the options to go faster as well if you want it (maybe save you another "magnum" rifle in the future. plus you already have the 308 ctr

I put in an order for an XLR chassis. I think the issue is the magwell on that one. They seem to have diff sizes for SA/LA on tikka even though the action length is the same.

 

[Lock3]

For your use, I'd grab a 22 inch x-bolt 300wsm and bust em with 150 gr monos.
Recoil is a pussycat. Anyone that says a 308 Tikka has less felt recoil either hasn't shot both, or is a liar. Tikkas kick hard for caliber.

Trying to stick to calibers where I won't burn out the barrel practicing at the range in <1 year.

 

[Rich M]

You need speed for the copper bullets. Get the fastest and lightest. Gonna punch all the way thru.

Retained energy doesnt work here. Id worry about it w elk but not deer pigs bear.

 

[FredH]

In a Tikka the action length is the same for the 30-06 as it is for a 308. So you gain nothing by going 308. I see the 30-06 as having a slight edge for your hunting.

 

[Shumba]

I can easily get +3,200 FPS using 130 TTSX out of my Tikka .308 using Ramshot TAC Powder. It is actually my son's rifle and it will shoot 1/2" groups with the 130 TTSX at 3,200 FPS. Still under the max charge per the Barnes Load manual/website

I have a 30-06 130gr TTSX load that does 3100fps at Barnes book max. It's basically turned it into a 270 and is ripping fast. My 308 with the same weight bullet won't go above about 2900. If you shoot monos, you want the speed. They don't lose weight so you can shoot at 130 and it will be equivalent to about a 150-165 gr. 30 cal bullet.

 

[natedock1]

I know this question has probably been beat to death in different permutations but hoping for some direct clarity.

I currently have a 308 Tikka CTR (20 inch barrel) that I'm shooting 165 grain trophy coppers out of. It's a little heavy and I'm going to pick up a new T3x lite (with the factory threads) to build a new rifle but can't decide between 308 and 30-06.

I am hunting black bear and deer in very steep mountains (or sometimes wild pigs in the hills), and am thinking about whether it would be a good idea to pick up a 30-06 to shoot 180s. For the deer/bear, if they run too far, I wouldn't be able to retrieve in many places. I'm trying to avoid magnum calibers until I move up in game size.

If most of my shots are inside of 400 yards, will the animal be more likely to drop faster if both bullets hit the same spot with a 180 grain 30-06 vs 165 grain 308?

I’m not super worried about versatility for elk because (1) I won’t do that for another year or two and (2) I’d buy another gun in a magnum cart.

I’ve never been mad enough at a deer to think I needed to use a 30-06

 

[ganderson01]

I think an important factor is with the Tikka actions you aren’t seeing any benefit from the short action cartridges vs. a long action. Anything a .308 can do a 30-06 can do just as well, with the benefit of a little more velocity. My money is on the 30-06, especially pushing 150 grain coppers!

 

[ZAK13]

Either one will do well for you. I don't think you need to go heavy with the 180's in 30-06 either, a good 165-168 will do you just fine out to 400 or a bit further. Now with the -06 if you were interested Winchester makes a load using a 190 ABLR, that is quite capable out to 500 yards, if you handload that same bullet, I'm sure you could push that capability out to 600 yards without issue.

 

[Packmansion]

I think an important factor is with the Tikka actions you aren’t seeing any benefit from the short action cartridges vs. a long action. Anything a .308 can do a 30-06 can do just as well, with the benefit of a little more velocity. My money is on the 30-06, especially pushing 150 grain coppers!

I think 308 still carries benefit over 30-06. SDs, recoil, and generally accuracy. I was in the 30-06 camp for years until I started shooting longer range. But 6.5 creed is superior to all the above...

 

[ganderson01]

I think 308 still carries benefit over 30-06. SDs, recoil, and generally accuracy. I was in the 30-06 camp for years until I started shooting longer range. But 6.5 creed is superior to all the above...

Can’t argue with you there at the end, my 30-06 has been collecting dust for some time now in favor of my 18” suppressed 6.5 CM. Guns way too easy and way too fun

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Keep the 308 load up some 137gr hammer hunters. If your shooting copper you need to speed it up.