308 or 30-06?
- Thread starter jr1968
- Start date
If you are never planning on hunting elk. moose or somthing a little larger where the 180 gr bullet might be a better option I would pick the 30:06 if that is not in your future, pick the rifle you like the best. My self at one time I owned 5, 06's, I now have one and a 308, ballistically they are "similar" but you will never find a 308 that packs a bigger punch that the 06, but the 06 will always pack a bigger punch than the 08. My .02.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,554
- 6,665
I never wanted a .308; they are too pedestrian. Likewise, I never wanted a .30-06; everybody has one. However, I've owned two .30-06s, and both performed precisely as they should have. Either killed pretty much all game with boring regularity, weren't a handful to shoot for young shooters and were pleasantly accurate. Every .308 I've loaded for was quite accurate and would have performed on game just as well as did the .30-06. I do have several rifles chambered in cartridges built on the .308, and each is very accurate. Likewise, I've shot quite a few rifles, and owned a few, that were chambered in cartridges built on the .30-06 case. Really, a hunter (or a shooter) won't go wrong with either of these cartridges. To refocus on the question at hand that was posed by jr1968, select the rifle that you enjoy the most. The cartridge, whether .308 or .30-06, will meet expectations.
RiverRider
Handloader
- Dec 9, 2008
- 1,454
- 107
DrMike, I always spurned the .30-06 because everyone has one but some clever writer put the idea into my head that if it's thought of as a .300 Whelen, it's a lot more sexy.
I have a walnut Model 70 LA blind-mag stock that wants a barreled action really bad, and I think it's going to get fit to something in .300 Whelen.
I have a walnut Model 70 LA blind-mag stock that wants a barreled action really bad, and I think it's going to get fit to something in .300 Whelen.
- Nov 4, 2004
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RiverRider":19ws8ib9 said:
The 300 Whelen would be a classic! :mrgreen:
JD338
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,554
- 6,665
Now, that is just too delightful! :grin: I'm glad I have a 300 Whelen, even if everyone else has a 30-06. :lol:
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,622
- 9,854
BK":p5x2ansz said:
Or a 7mm Remington Express or 7mm-06 vs a 280 Remington. :mrgreen:
JD338
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,278
- 709
30-06 with 165 gr. bullets!
280 Remington and 140 gr. bullets!
For the rifle find the one you really really like. Good luck.
David
280 Remington and 140 gr. bullets!
For the rifle find the one you really really like. Good luck.
David
RiverRider":2furpap1 said:
If you want to impress the euro crowd, call it a 7,62X63mm. Throw a surperfluous Lapua, Brenneke or made up german name on the end. 7,62X63mm Jägermeister might sound cool enough. Use mil. brass so the guys at the range won't know your dirty little secret. Of course you'll have to invest in some Zeiss or Swarovski glass!
I seem to end up with all the oddball euro rounds. Lets see, 7,92X57mm, 7,62X54R, 7,62X25 "Tokarev" etc. Guess my budget combined with the low price of ex-commie imports sent me in that direction. Gives me a good excuse to handload and develop my garage gunsmithing skills.
Back on topic, they both kill the hell out of deer by any name. Th '06 is a tad more verstile if larger stuff is in the works. I've owned both. Wore out my .308 and sold it for parts. Now do my deer hunting with a 280 rem and picked up an '06 for bigger stuff or friends to borrow. Great old round, just a bit too common for an oddball like me to be seen with on a regular basis.
9.3X62mm Like a euro 35 whelen. Very popular round over there for Scandi moose I hear. You'll find some in Afrika (especially where they spell it that way) Sarco was importing quite a few built on Husqvarna actions a couple years back. Fits in any action that will handle a 30-06. You can make brass easily from 35 whelen, there's some good bullets out there for it.BK":20bj0tt9 said:
RiverRider
Handloader
- Dec 9, 2008
- 1,454
- 107
Wouldn't a 9.3mm be a .36 Whelen? I thought 9.3 meant a .366" bullet.
Looks like my stock is about to become inhabited by a .300 Whelen barreled action!
Looks like my stock is about to become inhabited by a .300 Whelen barreled action!
Mountain Goat
Handloader
- Dec 14, 2010
- 386
- 12
I'll leave the 30-06 vs. 308 alone since it has been well covered with great advice so far. Here is what I would look at for a 300 yard deer cartridge in addition to what you have specified:
7mm-08: light recoil, easy carrying rifles, very accurate
25-06: very light recoil, 24" barrel typically, kills with more impression than it should.
270 Win: I can't think of a better choice(270 WSM)
280 Rem: Perhaps my all-time favorite. Easy to shoot like the 270, flatter shooting than the '06 and is just plain cool.
I could add several others, but I feel that from the 7-08 to the 30-06, you have several choices in factory ammo for each, fewer for the 280, and all can be handloaded easily.
I'll restate the main point. Find the rifle that you like best and what ever it happens to be chambered for is what you should go with. Stay away from the 30-30 though. :lol:
7mm-08: light recoil, easy carrying rifles, very accurate
25-06: very light recoil, 24" barrel typically, kills with more impression than it should.
270 Win: I can't think of a better choice(270 WSM)
280 Rem: Perhaps my all-time favorite. Easy to shoot like the 270, flatter shooting than the '06 and is just plain cool.
I could add several others, but I feel that from the 7-08 to the 30-06, you have several choices in factory ammo for each, fewer for the 280, and all can be handloaded easily.
I'll restate the main point. Find the rifle that you like best and what ever it happens to be chambered for is what you should go with. Stay away from the 30-30 though. :lol:
filmjunkie4ever
Handloader
- May 4, 2011
- 2,015
- 1,542
Well I will say this. i have had extensive experience with both cartridges as I own one of each. In my opinion, there is no huge difference in killing power. The 308 kicks less, the 30-06 runs faster. My 30-06 is a Win 70 with a 24" barrel while my 308 is a Savage 99 with 22" barrel. They both shoot amazing with a variety of bullet weights and loads, factory and handloaded ammunition.
Here is my theory on the 30-06 vs 308 dilemna-
If you want a bolt-action get a 30-06 and here's why. The only way a 308 can usually compete with '06 velocities is with a 22-24 inch barrel especially with bullets of 165+ grains in weight. Things are about equal with 150's which is a great whitetail bullet.
If you want a levergun, pump action, or self-shucker get a 308. They usually are handier with barrels of 20-22 inches long and shoot accurately enough for the 0-300 yard ranges you mentioned. There are several bolt guns with short barrels but I dont really care for them even though they do handle well and shoot nice.
Thats my reasoning and its backed up through my personal experience. Either one will give you great success in filling the freezer each year.
Here is my theory on the 30-06 vs 308 dilemna-
If you want a bolt-action get a 30-06 and here's why. The only way a 308 can usually compete with '06 velocities is with a 22-24 inch barrel especially with bullets of 165+ grains in weight. Things are about equal with 150's which is a great whitetail bullet.
If you want a levergun, pump action, or self-shucker get a 308. They usually are handier with barrels of 20-22 inches long and shoot accurately enough for the 0-300 yard ranges you mentioned. There are several bolt guns with short barrels but I dont really care for them even though they do handle well and shoot nice.
Thats my reasoning and its backed up through my personal experience. Either one will give you great success in filling the freezer each year.
