30-06 vs 308

That's easy....30-06!

If your going to use it for hunting, and the rifle will be sporting a 'sporter' taper, light weight barrel with a stock configured for field use, I would think the 30-06 would be best.

It offers a little more smack than the 308, and loaded with match grade projectiles will defend its honor at the range.

True the 308 is offered in a wider range of bullet weights, and there is more 'surplus' ammo to be had and on paper it may look like it is a bit more efficient, but for hunting, and if you have a choice between the two, the 30-06 would be my choice.

Recoil between the two in negligible, so that's not a factor.....

I don't know....get em' both! hehehehe

You can't go wrong either way. The 30.06 has the edge if you want to shoot heavy bullets (200+ grains), but other than that, it is even. The 308 is essentially a shortened 30.06 that was made possible by newer powders, and the ballistics are about equal. If it matters and all else being equal, the 308 will be about 1/2" shorter. Both are American icons, and you should be able to buy ammo anywhere for either. The 308 may have a little less recoil.

In other words, get them both.

308 has noticeably less recoil. go that route.

308. unless you reload, then you can load the 30.06 to be like the 308. What you hunt won't notice the difference, but you will on recoil.

I choose the 30-06, but in hindsight I wish it was a .308

This is because the .308 is more versatile; I could buy anything from an old Savage 99 lever action to an AR-10 or another battle rifle and not have to stock different ammo. Maybe it's a little less powerful, but from the damage the 30-06 does, I could get by with a lot less.

I choose the 30-06, but in hindsight I wish it was a .308

This is because the .308 is more versatile; I could buy anything from an old Savage 99 lever action to an AR-10 or another battle rifle and not have to stock different ammo. Maybe it's a little less powerful, but from the damage the 30-06 does, I could get by with a lot less.

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Well, that's just another reason to get another rifle!




I had to make the same decision and purchased the .03-06 too. I'm very happy with it. I can shoot anything in North America with it.



I got a Browing X-Bolt Stainless Stalker, chopped the barrel from 22" to 18.5" and put on a Zeiss Conquest 3X9. The scope was $399 new on sale at Cabelas (sales still on) with free shipping. What a deal.

The 308 will do mostly everything the 30-06 will, but not out to the same distance. I don't imagine your shots willl be over 200yds so a 308 is fine.

How old is your son? If he's still young and not yet full grown, I'd opt for the .308 in a short action carbine-length rifle, like a Remington Model 7. Ballistically, it makes almost no difference otherwise.

Buy the rifle, not the cartridge. Look for a well built, well fitting rifle, and whether it's a .308 or '06, so be it.

Don

Recoil is a concern, is the difference noticeable?

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Yes.

im a big fan of both. Probalby more so the 3006 though. But in your case id look at a smaller lighter 308 like a model 7 rem. It would give you the option of having a more compact lighter gun for hunting where shots arent going to be extreamly long and be a handy gun for your boy.

there should be a recoil scale of some sort

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Recoil is largely dependent on the weight of the firearm. A single shot 12ga kicks like mule compared to a semi-auto gun in 12ga.

The Wallyworld Savages are good guns, but be wary of the scopes that come on them. Many are not the best quality. As far as the .308 vs. .30-06, it mostly comes down to personal preference, and neither is a wrong choice.

I like both

You can't go wrong with ether one. A lot of deer and moose have been taken with both. Also a lot of dead enemy soldiers form both. But your wife may not know that and would be a good reason to buy both.

I've used the 30-06 for ages and love it. But today, if I came across a good buy on a
.308 I'd take it in a heart beat and not worry a bit about it. I don't believe I've done anything with the '06 that I could not have done just as well with the .308.

I own both and for me I don't notice the difference in recoil. Out of the two I've owned the 30-06 longer but have taken deer with both and the deer didn't notice any difference either.

Unless you handload up to the cartridge's potential, there's not enough difference in performance to merit a coin-toss unless you get into bullets over 165 grains, where the ought six has an edge.

More velocity serves mainly to flatten trajectory. For bullet weights in the 150-165 grain class, and the game they're intended to take...a hundred fps plus or minus means little in killing power unless the ranges go over 300 yards, in which case you should probably be using a .300 Winchester or 7mm Remington mag. At typical hunting ranges...from 250 yards in...if you need more power, you need more bullet rather than more speed.

I would get the rifle you like the best and then see which caliber it comes in. If the place you are going to buy it has the rifle in both, then handle them both and pick the one that "speaks" to you.

If you need a definite choice, pick the 30-06, why, because I said so.

One thing to keep in mind was that .308 dried up during the last scare. All the hoarders cleaned the shelves off because it's a military caliber. And surplus won't last forever. There is much less of it available compared to 20 years ago.

.30-06 was on the shelf at every Walmart, Academy, and gun store in my area, and no problem getting more. The popularity of .308 is also it's weakness, lots of sudden demand makes harder to find than Cabbage Patch dolls.

They are both great and you couldn't go wrong with either. Like 1911Tuner posted, they are basically the same at 150 grain bullets, slight advantage at 165 grain for the .30-06 and more advantage 180 grain and up. With the ought six's case capacity it can hold more grains of powder and a slower powder, for more velocity with the heavier projectiles. The .308 can be loaded with a bonded or all-copper bullet in 150-165 grains and still take fairly large game without losing too much velocity. It's a win either way.

I've hunted deer with both. There's not a thing the .30-06 can do that the .308 Winchester can't do for killing deer. Stated otherwise, there's no practical difference of performance between the two calibers for deer hunting. The .308 produces about 15% less felt recoil (my rough subjective estimate). A 165 grain .308 puts deer down hard, and with outstanding accuracy. Take your pick, it really doesn't matter which caliber you choose.

+ I do not see me hunting for over 200 yards.

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That being the case, it doesn't matter one bit. It's good that you've decided and you won't be unhappy with the .308 win.
As far as the recoil, I am unable to tell any difference. If that is a concern with your son though, Remington makes reduced recoil ammunition that still shoots great. It should take the .308 or .30-06 down to .243 levels of recoil.