Here are the numbers from Midway comparing like to like. You get 120 fps going from 308 to 30-06, but gain 330 fps going to 300 win mag from 30-06. If you are concerned about the recoil and the cost of ammo, my choice would be a 30-06. You can always download for smaller game such as deer with the 30-06, but you can also go with something heavier like a partition for Bear. I would personally want a 30-06 as the minimum for bear and moose. For elk, within 200 yards you won't notice much of a difference using the following loads in each gun. I've used both 30-06 and 300 WSM for elk and have not noticed a big difference.
308 Winchester Barnes 168gr TTSX $43
Muzzle Velocity: 2680 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2680 ft lbs
30-06 Barnes 168 gr TTSX $43
Muzzle Velocity: 2800 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2925 ft lbs
300 Win Mag Barnes 165gr TTSX $50
Muzzle Velocity: 3130 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3590 ft lb
just to add - those are conservative factory loads - which is apples to apples, I agree - but handloading bumps each one up a fair bit. Staying inside of reloading specs (actually .5 gr under book max) and I am getting 2900-2920 fps and 31-3200 lbs. with an '06 and 168 TTSX... just food for thought - you can add 100 fps per caliber (at least the 06 in my case) by handloading
I agree, within 200 yards, not much difference... have yet to recover a 168 ttsx - even from 320 yards on an elk my wife shot last year, the Barnes had 100% penetration.
Which brings an interesting thought - and along the lines of berger's bullets (which I shoot in my 6.5 CM) which aim to dump 100% of the energy into the target - in which case, I can see the benefit (if it is even really needed) of more energy/velocity.
If the .308 shoots an elk at 100 yards with a ttsx and is a complete pass through, what good is the extra energy/velocity of an 06 or 300WM? The .308 maybe "wastes", say, 300fps and 200 lbs of energy... and a 06, 500 fps, 300 wm 700 fps and so on... I understand that more velocity will help the bullets expand more violently, and break bone, but in the case of the barnes, I doubt you will see a ton expansion change between the 3 calibers... which leads me to think, that again, you are getting more range from each caliber (assuming a good, broadside shot).
That is all based off of my experiences with barnes bullets (which I do like). Again, bergers, or bullets like accubonds etc, I think you may see more benefits from the extra energy and fps being dumped into the animal... but again, not really under say 2-300 yards will you notice a difference...
sorry to ramble... just interesting to think/talk about - granted this is all "perfect world" hunting - which we all know doesn't happen as often as the internet wants us to think
