Deer hunting: 30-06 or 308?

[ID_shooting]

"FWIW, short vs. long action has NOTHING to do with length of pull, which is the length from the butt end of the stock to your trigger finger."

John,

True, but it can affect the position of your off hand on the stock wich can affect the percieved ballance of the rifle.

 

[JShirley]

How so? I don't see an extra .25" of length or so dramatically affecting the balance of the rifle.

I have yet to hear any of the very experienced shooters I enjoy spending time with claim .308s were going to be too short for taller shooters! (FWIW, most of the time, .308s have been chambered in long action sporting rifles, until relatively recently.)

Again, length of pull is the important thing. Most American rifles now have over-long LOP, especially for combat-style shooting at close range, and even more especially if wearing body armor.

John

 

[Stiletto Null]

Well, I don't think anybody bothers to make .30-06 rifles with carbine-length barrels. Maybe that's what he was referring to?

 

[ArmedBear]

Well, I don't think anybody bothers to make .30-06 rifles with carbine-length barrels.

Not true.

Remington makes their 7600, 7400 and 750 in carbine-length .30-06 (18.5" barrels).

Note, however, that these guns are pumps and semiautos, with steel receivers that are the same size for short and long brass, and that they balance more like shotguns, not bolt-action rifles.

 

[Frog48]

If you're really recoil sensitive, go with the .308.

If recoil is an issue, Remington makes their "Managed Recoil" line. I've shot it out of my .30-06, and it makes it feel like a .22LR... ok, maybe thats a little bit of an exaggeration, but it seriously makes a huge difference.

I prefer .30-06 because of ammo availability, price, and tradition. .30-06 rifles are almost always cheaper to buy than a .308. And the ammo is usually cheaper, and every manufacturer makes it. Not to mention, it can be found everywhere.

And .30-06 is what that my grandfathers used in WWII.

The .308's only advantage is the shorter action. But to me, personally, thats not an issue.

 

[ID_shooting]

Ruger International rifles are also carbine length in 30-06.

The point I was making in the people like me 5'4" with short arms have troubles with longer guns. A long action rifle feels heavier on the front than a short action. I guess it has to do with extending my arms out more. I tend to have my off hand on or near the floor plate on most long sporting guns. Short action rifles tend to not affect me this way.

My hunting rifle, Win m70 in 30-06, had to be modified to fit me, not only did I remove 1.5 inches from the stock, I also had 2 inches removed from the barrel to improve the ballance of the gun. That two inches did not account for much actuall wieght, but out there at the end of a lever, it felt like a bunch.

My shooting partner has a Savage in .308 short action gun, even though the stock is too long for me, it ballances fairly well.

 

[JShirley]

I have a whopping 12.5" LOP with sporting rifles (my M4 stock, on the other hand, I keep pushed all the way in, since I'll be square to the target, and wearing IBA).

As far as balance- when I got back from basic training, suddenly all the really heavy and unwieldy rifles (HK 91, Rem 700 PSS), while still not ideal suddenly balanced better. (Might have had something to do with the ten pounds I gained.)

John

 

[Oregongundude]

I've had both rifles and I perfer the .308

In my own experience I perfer the .308. The 30.06 had more recoil especially with heavier bullets. I use my .308 for hunting deer, and Large Elk in the Oregon mountains and it's usually a one shot affair in most cases. I had a springfield 30.06 and it's kicked alot more than my .308 browning semi automatic does. I don't care what the numbers say. I'm a lot better shot with my .308.

Just my opinion.

 

[Frog48]

I don't care what the numbers say. I'm a lot better shot with my .308.

Good point, thats the bottom line. Using a "better" round doesnt mean jack, if you cant hit the target.

 

[pete f]

Flip a coin.


ammo availability is a wash, BOTH rounds are going to be available anywhere. iF they carry '06 ammo, they will -08 ammo.

performance, deer hit well with die with both rounds.

If you are thinking about trying big bears or moose or Elk, the -06 might be a slightly better round, MIGHT be. Using permium bullets in them both will kill what you hit.

Gun length. inconsequential.

availability of rifles, every gun chambered for a 30-06 will have a match in 308.

rifle fit, they will all be the same length of pull in the same model, IE the length from the butt stock to the trigger.

THE only place where the .308 clearly outshines the 06, is when you use shorter barrels and do not plan on handloading. In the shorter barrel, the .308 will often exceed the 30-06 solely based on the powders used.

 

[NoVaGator]

long action/short action refers to the length of the...drum roll...action.

Not the length of the weapon.

:banghead:

A bolt action 30-06 has a longer action than the 308 because of the longer brass.

 

[ArmedBear]

Not the length of the weapon.

Not true.

A short-action gun with a 13.5" LOP and a 22" barrel will be shorter than a long-action gun with the same stock and barrel.

The only time this isn't true is if you have a manufacturer (Tikka?) that just plugs the long action rather than making a short action.

 

[NoVaGator]

the length of the bbl and the length of pull are not related to the length of the action, except for the fact that certain manufacturers offer certain configurations. But nothing would you prevent you from having a 16" bbl and a short LOP on a magnum action. (you might have to build it yourself)

Short actions are generally built around 308 length cartridges
Longs are 30-06
Magnums are 375 h&h

That's always been my understanding

 

[vmfrantz]

30-06, I love mine. But then I never owned a 308. Its just feels good to own a caliber with so much tradition.

 

[Legionnaire]

I have both. If you're only going to buy one, and you're not going to reload, I'd go with the .308. Although it won't handle the heavier bullets as well as a .30-06, a well constructed 150 grain bullet will do just fine on deer. You won't get the most versatility out of the .30-06's larger case unless you reload.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I beg to differ to a degree on the surplus ammo bit. With the 308 you will find tons, that we are sure of. You need time, patience and plenty of different types of surplus ammo. It isn't military surplus just to be military surplus there is a reason for it. You gotta to find out why. It might be corrosion, dents from the factory or age. Research it out on the net and find out why.I presently don't shoot .308 but I might do so in the future. Your rifle might be a bit finicky and like one type and shoot 5'' groups with another. When you find your type of round get as much of that type that you would want to comfortably lay on to and try to match the same lot if you can.

 

[Hazzard]

To get back on topic, no the 308 will not chamber or fire the 7.62x39. Is the 30-06 or 308 better? For practical applications, as an earlier poster said, flip a coin. Both are very effective rounds and I don't think you will see much difference in recoil in real use. The 308 may edge out the '06 by a bit in accuracy with the right rifle. In the real world, this won't matter that much. Either would be a fine caliber for deer sized game.