[CAP]

for accuracy, distance, price, availability, performance.

Thanks,

[Zak Smith]

.308 has more inherent accuracy than .30-06 due to the more compact powder column, but no one but a match or "precision" shooter will notice. .308 surplus is cheaper than .30-06 surplus, which is now becoming rare.

.30-06 is a more versatile round if you're handloading, but requires a long action rifle.

-z

[Covey Rise]

For my 30-06 I have bullets weighing from 50 grains@ 4000 fps all the way up too 220 grains@ 2200 fps. The .308 goes from 143 grains to 180 grains.

The 30-06 is slightly more powerful, it can get a 180 grain bullet up to 2800 fps, where the .308 can only get the 165 grain bullet up to 2800 fps.

[HSMITH]

The only difference worth mention is pushing heavy bullets runs out of room quickly in the 308, the 06 has a good advantage with the 180 and heavier bullets. Otherwise they are very close, not enough difference to talk about.

Covey, any bullet that you can load in an 06 round will load in a 308 round, they are the same diameter. Loaded ammo there will be a bigger selection for 06, but not drastically.

[goon]

The old '06 wins with the heavier bullets, but the .308 can beat it by a little with the lighter bullets.
But the odds are that whatever you shoot won't know the difference.
Personally I go with the .308. Mostly because you can get Portugese 7.62 nato for about $130 for 1000 rounds.

[Dan Morris]

If you hand load, go with the 06. As to surplus 308/7.62........cheap but not uniform. If you are going to hunt with it, I think the 06 would be the choice. Just my own opinion.
Dan

[Marshall]

You can buy 165gr .30-06 bullets that perform at over 3000fps with 3600lb ft of energy, a .308 won't touch that. The .30-06 is more versatile and fired from an accurate rifle you won't be able to make a .308 any more accurate than .30-06. The .06 also has a flater trajectory than the .308 from the muzzle out to 500yds and at each 100yd mark in-between.

However, it is a long action caliber if that makes any difference to you? For larger game and longer shots I want the 30.06 over the .308 but, I like both!

Price difference is negligible and availablity is too.

[jem375]

this subject again?????????

[cratz2]

If you want to use 150 or 165 gr bullets, there ain't a whole lot of difference. If you want to use 180, 200 and 220 Gr bullets, go for the 30-06. If you want every last f of fps, go with the 30-06.

[Art Eatman]

The big "however" in all this mostly has to do with barrel length. The .30-'06 is on the edge of overbore, and benefits from a barrel of 24 to 26 inches.

The .308 isn't hurt as much when you cut back from the longer barrel length. Since so many sporters have 22" barrels, the .308 and .30-'06 are pretty much equal with 150- or 165-grain bulelts.

Another factor concerns factory ammo. Since rifles for the .308 don't include WW I manufactures, the .308 is loaded to around 53,000 psi. The standard .30-'06 loadings, historically, were loaded to around 49,000 psi. SFAIK, this is the primary benefit to "rolling your own" for the '06.

Art

[SteelyDan]

I wrestled with this question a couple of times, and both times I went with the .30-06. Haven't ever regretted it.

[BIGR]

Here is what I think. Comparing those two calibers the 30.06 is the king of the woods. I have been doing some serious thinking about getting a .308 in a lighweight bolt gun but just can't make myself do it just yet. I like to use the 180 GR. bullets so I think the 30.06 has the edge in that area.

[PATH]

.30-.06 is where I went. I like it a bit more than the .308. Just a preference of a personal nature.

[YodaVader]

For accuracy shooting I'll go with the .308 . As far as current factory rifles cannot think of any of the heavy barrel "Sniper/Varmint" types that are even chambered in .30-06.

For military rifle long range competition the .308 has proven its superiority over the .30-06 long ago.

Like mentioned above - for hunting purposes don't think anyone could go wrong with the .30-06 or the .308 for that matter.

[Quintin Likely]

I don't own anything in .30-06 yet, so I can't really compare how they'd stack up side by side in regards to accuracy.

The 30-06 is probably one of the most, if not *the* most versatile round out there...load 'em up with light bullets and electrocute varmints dead in the their tracks. Get some heavier bullets and you'll be ready to take on some of the biggest game that walks the face of this planet.

Generally speaking, the average Joe Schmoe out looking to get Bambi or rockin' steel or paper at distance couldn't really go wrong with either. Me personally, I like .308. If something ever happened to where I'd need to acquire ammo buy other than legal means, I think surplus .308 would be a lot easier to get the .30-06.

[Crimper-D]

Got both in bolt guns, they are equil for anything of deer size, for pigs, I do prefer a heavy bullet - 180 or 200 gr., so the 06 gets the draw for this chore. For autoloaders, I like the US Rifle Cal 30 M1 - I was in the service when the transition was made from the M1 to the M14 (Navy) - everyone loved the 'new' guns.:)
I still occasionally shoot in the Service rifle Competitions with the Garand, lately the only one on the line, but I/it hold out quite nicely.;)

[CAP]

Thanks all.

[cheygriz]

If you don't handload, there is little difference. If you handload, .30-06 beats out .308 by 200-250 FPS with nearly all bullet weights.

[Zorro]

Handloaded .30-06 will BEAT! Factory Loaded .300 Winchester Magnum!

I Prefer the .30-06.

.308 is really only superior as a military Autoloader round.

[thumbtack]

I vote 30.06.

I think with handloads and top shelf ammo it could replace a lot of the other calibers currently available.

[labgrade]

I've a couple in both.

Even with my stubby M7 & "measly" .30-40 Krag/.300 Savage velocities, a 165 gr (@2400 fps) will do anything this side of Eden.