308 win vs 30-06 for hunting

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So my choice is either a 30-06 or a 308 for deer to elk size animals? Hmmm, I have multiples of both and each has its own personality. My problem is that like kachook said, shooting deer with an '06 can be a bit extreme. But if you pull your shot a bit at range with a 308 on an elk you have the opposite problem. So if I can only choose one caliber, I have to drop back to my favorite all around of all time 25-06. You keep your '06 case size but have better choice in loads to shoot anything from groundhogs to elk. You can choose the right bullet combo even in factory ammo for varmints, deer without turning them into hamburger and elk out as far as most people can hit them in the sweet spot. So I answered half the question but best I could do with my experience. If I could only own one turn bolt out of all I have, the 25-06 is the best all around I have ever fired outside of wildcats. Sorry I no answer question fully. Next best answer is to buy a 308 and a 300 WSM both and skip the '06. That would give you a wider range of potential.
 
While there can be no such thing as a "Perfect" deer cartridge the 25-06 is right in the sweet spot. Here is my A-list criteria for the all around deer rifle.
minimum 100gr projectile
minimum 243 caliber
Must maintain 2000fps and 1000ft/lbs out to 500 yards
No more then 15lbs of free recoil in sporter weight rifles.
You would think that there would be alot of cartridges that meet those criteria but most fall short in one area or another. Here are my sweet spot contenders.
25-06/25WSSM slinging 115gr BT at speed in excess of 3000fps is running with the best of them. some of the blistering fast 100 grainers can pass too.
6.5x55/260/6.5Creedmore 120gr BTs also running well north of 3k, and these cartridges can also pass all criteria with 130 and 140gr bullets as well. Best external ballistics of the bunch.
270 Winchester, a 130gr bullet running 3060fps is a fantastic choice, nearly the same trajectory as the others but unlike the others the 270 is limited to the lighter bullet weights, it barely makes the 15lbs of recoil limit with 130s in an 8.5lbs rifle
 
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This will do just fine for me and any deer in the lower 49 (includes Hawaii).

.308 Win Kimber Montana and a Barnes 150gr TTSX VOR-TX factory load.

MUZZLE - 2820 fps, 2649 ft-lb, -1.5"
100Y - 2603 fps , 2258 ft-lb, 1.8"
200Y - 2397 fps, 1913 ft-lb, 0.0"
300Y - 2199 fps, 1612 ft-lb, -7.9"
400Y - 2012 fps, 1348 ft-lb, -23.0"
500Y - 1834 fps, 1120 ft-lb, -46.7"
 
Kachook, For most deer in North GA and Western NC i use a 90 grain bullet in my 25-06 that is clocking across my chronograph at 3,375 fps. This load is still running at 3,050 fps at 100 yards and 2,400 at 300 yards. I wont hesitate to take a fair shot out to 400 yards with this on a deer and 500 if relatively simple shooting equation on a standing still animal. If I were inclined to shoot at elk, I would use my 117 grain load at 3,110 fps muzzle, 2,870 fps 100 yards, and 2,290 at 300 yards. I would probably limit myself to a 300 yard shot unless had a perfect broadside standing still elk down range then I may stretch it another 100. With a 75 grain bullet any coyote or ground hog I can see better be caught up on his praying. While there is a better caliber for each scenario, no single reasonably popular, i.e. buy lots of good factory ammo for, that I have used that is so multipurpose. Some of my 7mm's come close, but not as easy to buy as wide of purpose off the shelf ammo for.
 
This will do just fine for me and any deer in the lower 49 (includes Hawaii).

.308 Win Kimber Montana and a Barnes 150gr TTSX VOR-TX factory load.

MUZZLE - 2820 fps, 2649 ft-lb, -1.5"
100Y - 2603 fps , 2258 ft-lb, 1.8"
200Y - 2397 fps, 1913 ft-lb, 0.0"
300Y - 2199 fps, 1612 ft-lb, -7.9"
400Y - 2012 fps, 1348 ft-lb, -23.0"
500Y - 1834 fps, 1120 ft-lb, -46.7"
Yeah just leave out the 500yard, most if not all bullets will expand notably better in the 2000fps range vs 1800fps. Seem several bullets tested at 1800fps on 10% BG the "expansion" was usually nothing more then a slightly deformed tip, step them up to 2k and you get much more impressive results. The TTSX is something of a tough bullet, if I ever were to use a bullet at such low impact speeds it would be something tipped, thin jacket rapid expansion not a solid copper bullet.
 
If you are only going to shoot factory ammo, the .308 is probably a better choice. If reload or have any intention to reload, the .30-06 is a much more versatile cartridge. Remember, you can always tailor your load to the purpose.
 
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