308 or 30-06 - which is best?

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If anybody is willing to bring their 30-06 to Tennessee....I'll see what I can do to prove it. In a friendly competition of course...I have a few 308's to choose from...

How would we determine "inherent accuracy" though??? What would the parameters be for a test like that???

And I'm not saying that the 308 will be more accurate...just that I'm willing to find out.
 
Isn't it a general consensus, that the case design of the .308, short and fat, gives a better, more consistent powder burn? Also, I've read that uniform seating of bullets is easier on the .308? Yes or No?
 
If anybody is willing to bring their 30-06 to Tennessee....I'll see what I can do to prove it. In a friendly competition of course...I have a few 308's to choose from...

How would we determine "inherent accuracy" though??? What would the parameters be for a test like that???

And I'm not saying that the 308 will be more accurate...just that I'm willing to find out.
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Ridgerunner665, I'll see your .308 and raise you a .30-06 at 1,000 yards.:)

Win06t1.jpg

No, really, how DO you determine inherent accuracy? If a cartridge is developed that is only used in benchrest competition in custom built guns, is it fair to compare it to a cartridge which is chambered in many factory rifles of varying quality? Outside of benchrest competition, the "inherent" accuracy thing is a misnomer. What you have is a cartridge designed for a specific purpose, for which quality ammunition/components and rifles are available. When the .30-06 can be loaded to drive a 190SMK with a BC of .533 at 2900fps, why shoot the 175SMK's at a .308's velocity?

Don
 
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Isn't it a general consensus, that the case design of the .308, short and fat, gives a better, more consistent powder burn? Also, I've read that uniform seating of bullets is easier on the .308? Yes or No?
Click to expand...

no , why in the would would bullet seating be eaiser with a 308? You can buy the same cocompetition dies to use with both

If anybody is willing to bring their 30-06 to Tennessee....I'll see what I can do to prove it. In a friendly competition of course...I have a few 308's to choose from...

How would we determine "inherent accuracy" though??? What would the parameters be for a test like that???
Click to expand...
If the range is inside 300m can I play with my inherently inaccurate 7.62x39
 
Isn't it a general consensus, that the case design of the .308, short and fat, gives a better, more consistent powder burn? Also, I've read that uniform seating of bullets is easier on the .308? Yes or No?
Click to expand...

In modern rifles I doubt there is a nickels worth of difference between the 2. Weatherby makes a .30-06 that shoots 1/2" MOA. It was tested back in the summer by American Rifleman magazine. Heck, thats more than accurate enough for a hunting rifle.
 
At over 800 yards the 30-06, with its higher BC bullets, has a clear advantage...I wont argue that.

But up to 800 yards the 308 can hang right in there with the 30-06...and, more often than not, beat it. (with the same guy doing the shooting)

It does not shoot quite as flat (fast), but trajectory is the easy part...wind is the real challenge, but that too can be "figured out" and is easily repeatable (with practice)

I have no idea which is better or more accurate...just that I do my best shooting with a 308, no matter the range.

I don't have a 30-06 set up for LR shooting...but I do have a few 308's and 2 300 Win Mags.

The Win Mags are accurate and will easily reach the 1,000 yard mark, and then some, but I am more accurate shooting the 308...even at 1,000 yards.

I'm guessing its more me than the round itself...as I get older, I don't care so much for recoil (even in 13 pound rifles....less is better)...which leads me to shoot the 308 MUCH more than the 300...

And therein lies the answer to this question...get familiar with whatever you choose (know the limits of the rifle and ammo), and the little guns can hang in there with the best of them....a 308 at 800 yards can do just as good as any other round...that does not mean that it will at any given time.

And add a lil moly to the 308 bullets (208 AMAX's) and watch that lil booger "step right on out there" to well over 1,000 yards.
 
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It does not shoot quite as flat (fast), but trajectory is the easy part...wind is the real challenge, but that too can be "figured out" and is easily repeatable (with practice)
Click to expand...

Hmm, I've been shooting at 1,000 yards for 6 years, and I STILL haven't completely figured out the wind. How many decades does it take?:D

Don
 
You're right..."easily repeatable" was a bit of overkill for that statement.

I don't think anybody has ever "completely" figured out the wind...but they sure have worked hard on developing bullets that "defy" it a little better (real long, heavy for calber, high BC)...when I started shooting at long range (26 years ago) we didn't have quite the selection we have now...hell, I still shoot 168 grain bullets (but not SMK's)
 
I shoot both 308 and 30-06. Each one has its own niche. For hunting I think the 30-06 takes the edge. Just a little more versatile IMO.
 
I'm not sure I buy that short fat case idea. Check with the benchrest winners. I think the '06 shooters used the old Springfield 03 actions, the .308 used newer actions. I was with an AMU unit in the 60's and they all used M14's, which were .308's of course. The .308 may be more accurate. I'm not convinced it's that much more accurate. Either is plenty accurate for hunting.
The .308 is more widely available in varmit and sniper rifles. The 30-06 in hunting rifles. Both are great . I'd like to know more about those shooting matches and the rifles used.
 
I bought a .308 because of the rifle, not the cartridge. The little stainless M7 is rugged, light weight, short action, short OAL with 20" tube, gives up a couple hundred fps on my son-in-law's SPS with 26" barrel, but a compromise I'm willing to make in rough country or even in a tight box blind or stand.

The .308 is, I'm convinced, an inherently accurate round, but .30-06 does NOT lack hunting accuracy. The .30-06 might be a little superior ballistically for a handloader like me, but that's okay, I have a 7 mag if I need more.
 
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