.308 vs 30.06 vs .338 . Which One to Choose?

IJ1981 said:
I have been invited by a retired co worker for next years hunting season in Mississippi.

His mom owns more than 1000 acres of prime land near Waynesboro, filled with deer , razorbacks and some black bear.

So it sounds exciting! I only want to bring one gun. What do you THR guys and gals suggest among the 3?
Click to expand...
Feral hogs don't take anymore killing than deer. Bear populations there are very sparse.

With that said, you are asking which of those chamberings you should use for deer. The answer is the one that you shoot well. Statistically speaking that's the lightest recoiling one. My son-in-law's family owns about 120 acres adjoining Leaf River Wildlife Management Area about 50 miles south of Waynesboro. They pile the deer up. One uses a 223. The other uses a 22-250. They hit what they are aiming for and the deer die quickly.
 
dranrab said:
How did you arrive at that? How many from that area have you seen and weighed?
Click to expand...
Thanks for asking the question. The deer I have seen in that area represented southern whitetail deer. Smaller in size. This is by design, with living in hot temperatures being smaller with less fat, they will stay cooler. Northern deer are larger with more fat to survive extremely cold temperatures. It doesn't make them any less of a trophy it's about survival.
 
I like the 30-06. It will kill anything in North America with the right load. I have killed deer going 200 lbs+/- with handloaded 130gr GC bullets. I my area I prefer my 30-30 Marlin but that isn't part of the conversation.
 
dranrab said:
Feral hogs don't take anymore killing than deer. Bear populations there are very sparse.

With that said, you are asking which of those chamberings you should use for deer. The answer is the one that you shoot well. Statistically speaking that's the lightest recoiling one. My son-in-law's family owns about 120 acres adjoining Leaf River Wildlife Management Area about 50 miles south of Waynesboro. They pile the deer up. One uses a 223. The other uses a 22-250. They hit what they are aiming for and the deer die quickly.
Click to expand...
Depends on the hog. Deer don't have 2" thick gristle plates or a bad attitude.
 
Guess Im a weirdo.....but I like short action rifles
In a Ruger #1 it doesnt matter, but my preference is for short action rounds even in those LOL
 
Of those three, I'd take a .308. My go to rifle for many years was a Model 7 in .308. But I got out of .30 cals several years ago.
 
CraigC said:
Seems to me the 200-220gr game bullets are going the way of the dodo bird. Trying to get some 200gr Partitions to test and coming up short. ZERO 220's.
Click to expand...
How do you feel about swift??
www.midwayusa.com

Swift A-Frame Bullets 30 Cal (308 Diameter) 200 Grain Bonded

With its unique cross-member copper jacket design and a bonded front core, the A-Frame has become famous for its ability to combine 3 performance...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com

SWIFT 30cal (.308) 200gr BULLET A-FRAME 50/bx - Graf & Sons

For 25 years Swift A-Frame® rifle bullets have set the standard by which all bonded bullets are measured. With its controlled expansion of 2.2x and 95%+ weight retention A-Frame® penetrates deep and mushrooms perfectly, making it the choice of hunters for use on any game, anywhere in the world...
www.grafs.com www.grafs.com
 
horsey300 said:
How do you feel about swift??
www.midwayusa.com

Swift A-Frame Bullets 30 Cal (308 Diameter) 200 Grain Bonded

With its unique cross-member copper jacket design and a bonded front core, the A-Frame has become famous for its ability to combine 3 performance...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com

SWIFT 30cal (.308) 200gr BULLET A-FRAME 50/bx - Graf & Sons

For 25 years Swift A-Frame® rifle bullets have set the standard by which all bonded bullets are measured. With its controlled expansion of 2.2x and 95%+ weight retention A-Frame® penetrates deep and mushrooms perfectly, making it the choice of hunters for use on any game, anywhere in the world...
www.grafs.com www.grafs.com
Click to expand...
Swift makes fine bullets and they're probably better than Nosler but I was specifically wanting to test the 200-220gr Partition out of the .30-06.
 
CraigC said:
Swift makes fine bullets and they're probably better than Nosler but I was specifically wanting to test the 200-220gr Partition out of the .30-06.
Click to expand...

Nosler's kinda been on their Azz for a while now as far as production of hunting bullets go. I've had "in stock" notifications for .358 225s from multiple source for a couple years now. I'm finally just going to make the switch to Barnes, at least for 350RM.

I finally found a couple hundred .264 130 ABs a couple weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Hornady is taking over the world..
 
CraigC said:
The Swift is bonded and a much newer design. I know folks that swear by them on dangerous game out of handguns but the Partition is never mentioned. I specifically want to test the Nosler.
Click to expand...
I completely understand how they are made, I along with Bill Steiger pioneered bonded core bullets.

Yes, it's bonded and it also has a jacket design that makes it different from an NP, and THAT is why I don't like them as well at the NP.

I'm talking out of rifles here...

The Swift design generally won't penetrate as deeply as an NP, so less of them go on through. They also expand slower and that's not desirable when used on smaller animals like deer, or where you want more expansion along with the DEEP penetration.

I much prefer the Nosler's.

DM
 
DM~ said:
The Swift design generally won't penetrate as deeply as an NP, so less of them go on through. They also expand slower and that's not desirable when used on smaller animals like deer, or where you want more expansion along with the DEEP penetration.
Click to expand...
You know those two statements conflict with each other, right? At a given weight and impact velocity, the bullet that expands slower should penetrate deeper.

I really don't care to argue about it either way. It's the Partition I want to test, not the Swift.
 
CraigC said:
You know those two statements conflict with each other, right? At a given weight and impact velocity, the bullet that expands slower should penetrate deeper.

I really don't care to argue about it either way. It's the Partition I want to test, not the Swift.
Click to expand...
How are you going to test them, I'd be interested in what happens, maybe make a thread on the tests.
 
CraigC said:
You know those two statements conflict with each other, right? At a given weight and impact velocity, the bullet that expands slower should penetrate deeper.

I really don't care to argue about it either way. It's the Partition I want to test, not the Swift.
Click to expand...
IF you understood how an NP works, you wouldn't think I made a conflicting statement.

Your statement is only true IF both bullets are the same diameter from beginning to end, they aren't.

BTW, what are you testing them in for test media?

DM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Campfire tales of great hunts and good shots; eyewitness or otherwise
Replies
19
Views
2K
tahunua001
tahunua001
P
  • Locked
Katrina: more lessons learned
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
Kodiaz
K
R
  • Locked
Colorado elk trip GMU24, story with photos
Replies
17
Views
1K
Dan H
D
Trent
  • Locked
Accurate Rifle Ammo
Replies
6
Views
677
gamestalker
G
J
  • Locked
Updated...You might be a gun nut if....
Replies
11
Views
2K
sm
S
Back
Top