.308 vs 30-06

[WoodsWalker270]

Been kicking around the idea of a new rifle purchase. I figure .308/30-06 is probably the largest caliber I personally would ever need. Mainly use this rifle for long range shooting and elk hunting. I know these two calibers are very similar and use the same size bullet. 30-06 has a wider range of cartridge capacity. Is there any real advantage of one over the other?

 

[hunting1]

The 30-06 in the real world will yield around 150-fps faster if both are using a 165/168 round. Sure you can hot rod the 06, but I load for accuracy and step up in caliber if more is needed. Where the 06 really pulls ahead is when you get to 180's and heavier. I can assure you both with kill elk.

the advantage of the 308 is a short action, light weight rifle, and lighter recoil. My personal limits for game is 300-yards on the 308 and 400 for the 06. This is just my opinion and I have several of both calibers you are asking about and have killed elk and smaller with both.

So, if targets and an occasional elk was my goal, I would get the 308 and a bunch of 155 Scenars or 165 Nosler Partitions and a bunch of Varget.

 

[6mm Remington]

I'd go 30-06 it's just a great cartridge. A 300 WSM would also be a consideration.

 

[StrutNut]

When you say long range shooting and elk hunting I am wondering if you are also planning on long range elk hunting. If thats the case I would look at a different caliber. Even long range shooting in general I would look for something different. The .260 and 6.5 CM will do fine on elk in close to moderate ranges and have far less wind effect on bullets for better long range performance. If you are wanting a rifle for long range elk hunting then I think I would go with 300 win mag on up. With brakes the larger calibers really are not that bad to shoot. I would shoot my braked 300wm over my buddies 30-06 bolt any day.

 

[belly-deep]

If you want to do a bunch of LR target shooting, I'd go the .308 route for the simple fact that it burns less powder. Not much of a consideration when loading for a hunting gun, but if you are going to shoot a few thousand rounds, it will add up.

And the .308 will work fine on elk out past 300 yards with most bullets. Even further with match bullets.

 

[Beastmode]

Been kicking around the idea of a new rifle purchase. I figure .308/30-06 is probably the largest caliber I personally would ever need. Mainly use this rifle for long range shooting and elk hunting. I know these two calibers are very similar and use the same size bullet. 30-06 has a wider range of cartridge capacity. Is there any real advantage of one over the other?

What do you consider long range? Are you going to be shooting animals or targets? If you are going to be shooting animals long range I would definitely go the 06 route if these are the only two calibers you are considering.

 

[lcxctf2000]

What bullet weights do you think you'll be shooting?

If you aren't going to go over 180's you might also want to look at the 280 or 7mm-08. You get better BC's for long range stuff for bullets in the sub 180 grain range. If you are going to be slinging 200+ grain slugs you should look at a 300 win mag.

 

[WoodsWalker270]

Thanks for the input guys! Elk hunting is in my future and consider 400 yards a long shot. Here in southern Indiana it would be difficult finding a place to shoot a target that far. I agree with what hunting1 said about the .308, which is why I'm leaning that way.

 

[luke moffat]

A 180 grain accubond launched at 2700 fps from a .308 is till going over 2000 fps at 400 yards which leaves plenty of speed for the bullet to expand.

Have taken caribou and moose both at or just a bit beyond 400 yards with a .308 and it certainly does the trick. Haven't killed an elk though so maybe it wouldn't work.

That said you can get that same bullet to 2900 fps with a 30-06. The difference is a slightly heavier rifle and having to pull back the bolt and extra 1/2" (GASP).

For what you are describing I would go with a 30-06 personally. But to each their own.

 

[hodgeman]

There isn't a critter alive that can tell the difference between the two. I've used them both quite a lot and I can't say one ever did more for me than the other.

Buy the one you like the most.

 

[GKPrice]

A 180 grain accubond launched at 2700 fps from a .308 is till going over 2000 fps at 400 yards which leaves plenty of speed for the bullet to expand.

Have taken caribou and moose both at or just a bit beyond 400 yards with a .308 and it certainly does the trick. Haven't killed an elk though so maybe it wouldn't work.

That said you can get that same bullet to 2900 fps with a 30-06. The difference is a slightly heavier rifle and having to pull back the bolt and extra 1/2" (GASP).

For what you are describing I would go with a 30-06 personally. But to each their own.

I'd have to agree with ya Luke - one can always dial back the velocity on an '06 load, to .308 levels if that was the goal but it's pretty hard to move the other way ....

 

[GKPrice]

Thanks for the input guys! Elk hunting is in my future and consider 400 yards a long shot. Here in southern Indiana it would be difficult finding a place to shoot a target that far. I agree with what hunting1 said about the .308, which is why I'm leaning that way.

400 IS a long poke for most of us but depending on the country hunted it only takes an UNspooked elk a few steps to cover 50 yards either way - I've chosen to error on the + side and shoot a 30.06in a T3 superlight so I don't give up anything to a .308 in the same gun - At 450 a 180 Accubond hits pretty darn hard from either but harder from the '06 with not much more recoil at all

 

[gelton]

The advantage of the 30-06 over the .308 is that the 30-06 can do everything the .308 can do and more. I look at the 30-06 as a .308 magnum

The debate between these two cartridges is never ending and is so bad that my dad refuses to buy or shoot the .308 on the AR platform, where, I think it excels, just because he is such a fan of the .06.

 

[Ian]

I recently read that the .308 is slightly more accurate at extended range due to the powder burn rate attributed to the length/ diameter ratio of the case vs. the '06, however it was so slight that few would notice the diff. I've hunted .308 in bolt, and AR. platforms for 20+ yrs. I shot my first Bull this fall at 365 with the AR10, and I was very impressed with what the 168 Hornady A-Max did. I wouldn't go over 175 grn in the .308, but the '06 can handle 200 grn+.

 

[Thinkingman]

I recently read that the .308 is slightly more accurate at extended range due to the powder burn rate attributed to the length/ diameter ratio of the case vs. the '06, however it was so slight that few would notice the diff. I've hunted .308 in bolt, and AR. platforms for 20+ yrs. I shot my first Bull this fall at 365 with the AR10, and I was very impressed with what the 168 Hornady A-Max did. I wouldn't go over 175 grn in the .308, but the '06 can handle 200 grn+.

This.
The .308 is intrinsically more accurate and more efficient than the '06.
With modern, all-copper bullets, there is less need to push 180gr to get the BC and penetration.
Given the choice, I'd take the 308.

 

[realunlucky]

This.
The .308 is intrinsically more accurate and more efficient than the '06.

Guess I don't understand this argument. Same bullet, same barrel twist?

 

[dotman]

Guess I don't understand this argument. Same bullet, same barrel twist?

You know I have always wondered about this argument as well. Just doesn't make sense.

 

[GKPrice]

You know I have always wondered about this argument as well. Just doesn't make sense.

I agree 110% with you two guys on this ! If the argument was short action vs. long action it might make a little bit of sense but not the efficiency thing Splitting hairs is, to me, a waste of time .....

 

[NEhunter]

I agree 110% with you two guys on this ! If the argument was short action vs. long action it might make a little bit of sense but not the efficiency thing Splitting hairs is, to me, a waste of time .....

I agree. I own both and prefer the 06.

 

[Desk Jockey]

The 30-06 in the real world will yield around 150-fps faster if both are using a 165/168 round. Sure you can hot rod the 06, but I load for accuracy and step up in caliber if more is needed. Where the 06 really pulls ahead is when you get to 180's and heavier. I can assure you both with kill elk.

the advantage of the 308 is a short action, light weight rifle, and lighter recoil. My personal limits for game is 300-yards on the 308 and 400 for the 06. This is just my opinion and I have several of both calibers you are asking about and have killed elk and smaller with both.

So, if targets and an occasional elk was my goal, I would get the 308 and a bunch of 155 Scenars or 165 Nosler Partitions and a bunch of Varget.

You will get a lot of input on questions like these. I like this answer fwiw.

06 is a great round with a proven history. 308 is too. I am on the wrong side of 40 and starting to like less and lighter weight gear. 06 doesn't have enough of a ballistic edge for me over. 308 to justify the bigger heavier gun. My favorite all around rifle for what you describe is a light 308 with a 20 inch barrel. It will do the trick at 300-400 yards with a 150-165 grain bullet.