This question has probably been answered a million times but not for me. I Have always shot the 30.06 and loved it. I read Silent warrior with Carlos Hathcock and he used both the .308 and the 30.06 for sniping but why don't you hear of the 30.06 being used much over the .308 for long range sniper type shooting anymore????? Everything I see is all about the .308 and other larger calibers. when I look at the ballistics of a 30.06 compared to a .308, It looks plain to me that the 30.06 should out do the .308. I don't get it?????
.308 vs 30.06
- Thread starter mtboho
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C-grunt
Member
I think that since the military switched to .308, all the effort has been to make that round shoot better. So many companies sell match grade and "tactical" 308s, that no one wants to put the effort forht to "sniperize" a round that wont give a whole lot of improvement.
jeff-10
Member
I believe most professionals use the 308 and if they are going to goto something that takes a longer action, but is still 30 caliber, they upgrade to the 300 Win Mag.
From what I understand .308 is slightly more consistant than .30-06, so it tends to group slightly better.
Unless you're trying to get groups as tight as humanly possible, or save every possible once of weight for the rifle/ammo combination, the .30-06 is a more versatile cartridge. In a bolt gun, factory loads like hornady light magnums can equal (or even slightly exceed) 7mm magnum. Hand loads could do even more. Versatility is the problem though. .30-06 is often regarded as not being the best cartridge for anything, but possibly the best all around cartridge. So while the everyday shooter may like the versatility, a professional sniper is going to want consistancy, period, so they're going to use .308. Plus, like someone said, if one of those guys wants/needs more than .308, they probably just get a LOT more than .308.
Unless you're trying to get groups as tight as humanly possible, or save every possible once of weight for the rifle/ammo combination, the .30-06 is a more versatile cartridge. In a bolt gun, factory loads like hornady light magnums can equal (or even slightly exceed) 7mm magnum. Hand loads could do even more. Versatility is the problem though. .30-06 is often regarded as not being the best cartridge for anything, but possibly the best all around cartridge. So while the everyday shooter may like the versatility, a professional sniper is going to want consistancy, period, so they're going to use .308. Plus, like someone said, if one of those guys wants/needs more than .308, they probably just get a LOT more than .308.
The .308 does not group better than the 30-06. It's not more accurate either.
The biggest practical difference between the two is the 30-06 will drive a heavier bullet than a .308 at any given velocity.
If anything the 30-06 is more accurate because the heavier bullet has a higher ballistic coefficient.
The biggest practical difference between the two is the 30-06 will drive a heavier bullet than a .308 at any given velocity.
If anything the 30-06 is more accurate because the heavier bullet has a higher ballistic coefficient.
rangerruck
Member
the 308 was chosen over the 30/06 because of the physics, and therefore rigidity, plus cost , in making a receiver fo the short action 308 versus the long action 30.06 but yes the 30/06 is a much more versatile cartridge, from sabot loaded 55 grnrs screaming out of the bbl. to 200 plus grnrs, that can take out a moose.
Richard.Howe
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This one recently got hashed out pretty well here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=178898
Rich
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=178898
Rich
USSR
Member
mtboho said:
If you are talking about the military: logistics. If you are talking about LE: over-penetration. If you are talking about competitions, there are a few of us. I have a Winchester Model 70 built into a Tactical Rifle by Jack Krieger for shooting at 1k in F Class. Ballistically, with my loads, it is actually closer to the .300WM than the .308. The only downside to using the .30-06 on a sniper/tactical rifle platform is the lack of suitable LR ammo; it requires that you handload to get the full potential out of the cartridge.
Don
30Cal
Member
mtboho said:
The military shot the same 173gr FMJ bullet in both calibers, both doing 2550fps at the muzzle.
USSR
Member
30Cal said:
.30-06 M72 Match ammo is listed at 2640fps @ 78', which for whatever reason is the distance from the muzzle that USGI ammo is chronagraphed at. Figure 2700fps @ the muzzle for M72, and 2600fps for M118.
Don
Thanx for responses. Richar Howe it seems to only be talking about recoil on the other thread you spoke of. I can't see why one would be more accurate than the other, But I could see why the .06 would shoot farther???? My Freind told me they did that to standardize ammo in the military. I guess that is mostly the caliber carried .308. Still don't get it.
30Cal
Member
USSR said:
Yeah, you're correct. Still, not much of a difference downrange.
Ty
Don't Tread On Me
Member
.30-06 is ballistically superior I think, wider range of bullet weights - more power.
However, the .308 is suppose to be more accurate. Not slightly, but noticeably more accurate according to this guy's article:
http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AccuracyFacts.asp
.
However, the .308 is suppose to be more accurate. Not slightly, but noticeably more accurate according to this guy's article:
http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AccuracyFacts.asp
.
bogie
Member
A shorter powder column will ignite more uniformly.
The '06 can shoot heavier bullets.
Personally, I'd go with the .308 - Not likely I'll need more than a 180 grainer anyway, and if I do, then I'd go for a magnum.
The '06 can shoot heavier bullets.
Personally, I'd go with the .308 - Not likely I'll need more than a 180 grainer anyway, and if I do, then I'd go for a magnum.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
IMO, .308 is good enough. Next step up with be AP "black tip" .30-06, but if the .308 doesn't cut it, consider the .50 BMG.
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