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Posted: 3/8/2015 12:18:11 PM EDT
Which of the two calibers, the .308 or the 30-06 as an all purpose hunting rifle caliber?
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30-06. Gives you some better 180 and 200 grain options. Hell you can even go to 220 grain.
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FTPNI. If you handload, you can load down to 110 gr or up to 220. Mild to monster.
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30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. And 30-06 is what? 200fps faster? That's about it.
FWIW I got both. ![]() |
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Ain't nothing in North America a .308 won't kill. Shorter action, lighter weight. Works for me.
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For almost all hunting situations just flip a coin.
Personally, I like a lighter, shorter rifle for using climbing stands, so I carry my LW Ti .308 more often. Ain't no flies on the old dirty aught six though, but I prefer them with a little more weight and 24ish inch barrel. |
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The correct answer is: depends if you hand load or not.
Hand load? 06......for the stated reasons. Purchase? 308.....there is enough commercial ammo to take medium to large game. 308 will take a moose or bear with no problem. EDIT: the Winchester XP3 in .308 is a phenomenal round. Yes, it's only 150 grain but weight retention is excellent and expansion is sick. Most impressive is the trajectory after impact. I've done extensive testing with it on gel and flesh (secret squirrel ninja stuff ![]() |
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Quoted: Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: 30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. th. ![]() Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. |
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They're the same caliber.
Neither would be my first choice in their respective action lengths. . 30-06 does have a slight edge when getting over 180 grains but if I really need more than 180 grains - I need more than a 30-06 Talking hunting here. There's nothing I'd not poke a solid TTSX out of a 30-06 into and be scared of in NA. |
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The .308 is a 95% .30-06, adopted for civilian use military cartridge, so the .30-06 is the 100% more versatile of the two.
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Quoted:
Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. th. ![]() Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. The bullet is too long and you'd have to shove it down in the powder column reducing capacity therefore widening the delta between the two. ETA: Thats if your feeding it from a mag |
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Quoted:
Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. th. ![]() Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. The velocity difference between 308 and 30-06 gets greater with bullet weight. |
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Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Ain't nothing in North America a .308 won't kill. Shorter action, lighter weight. Works for me. Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds Shot placement....something, something. ![]() |
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The bullet is too long and you'd have to shove it down in the powder column reducing capacity therefore widening the delta between the two. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. th. ![]() Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. The bullet is too long and you'd have to shove it down in the powder column reducing capacity therefore widening the delta between the two. Not necessarily. Depends on how it's throated. I have seen many .308's that shoot 200-220 grain bullets for long range. |
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OK, what bullets can you get in factory .308 that are not available in 30-06? ![]() View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Hand load? 06......for the stated reasons. Purchase? 308.....there is enough commercial ammo to take medium to large game. 308 will take a moose or bear with no problem. OK, what bullets can you get in factory .308 that are not available in 30-06? ![]() Yeah, this! |
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I'll take a.30-06 every time if something needs to be shot. That said, I'd like a .308 AR someday.
ETA: .30-06 is a man's cartridge, the mere ~200 fps difference be damned. ![]() |
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Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Ain't nothing in North America a .308 won't kill. Shorter action, lighter weight. Works for me. Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds Anything an -06 can kill, a 308 can kill. They are the same. I like the 30-06 only because that's what i learned on and hand load for. If i had learned on 308 then i would like that one. Sometimes i think 30-06 is too much gun for what i want to kill. I am thinking about 6mm or 6.5. .243? that's just a necked down 308, right? |
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30-06 has a large number of factory loadings
308 all things equal shoots a tighter group. I can't imagine it would matter in most circumstances outside of s shooting match |
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Quoted: Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Ain't nothing in North America a .308 won't kill. Shorter action, lighter weight. Works for me. Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds |
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Not necessarily. Depends on how it's throated. I have seen many .308's that shoot 200-220 grain bullets for long range. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. th. ![]() Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. The bullet is too long and you'd have to shove it down in the powder column reducing capacity therefore widening the delta between the two. Not necessarily. Depends on how it's throated. I have seen many .308's that shoot 200-220 grain bullets for long range. True, with that being said though the 30-06 still holds a decent velocity edge over .308 and again your going to be single loading those 220/.308's as even AW mag have a 2.89 COAL limitation. |
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Woodleigh makes a 240gr .308" bullet... just sayin'... I like 06 myself. For most deer hunting, even .308 is plenty though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06. Gives you some better 180 and 200 grain options. Hell you can even go to 220 grain. Woodleigh makes a 240gr .308" bullet... just sayin'... I like 06 myself. For most deer hunting, even .308 is plenty though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Yeah...and that 240 grain bullet will preform better out of a 30-06..just saying... |
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30-06 is more powerful with heavier bullets and can kill anything on the planet
but it does have a significant recoil. .308 will do most everything except the higher end with much less recoil. |
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Was it O'Connor who said something like "30-06 is never the wrong answer"?
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Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Ain't nothing in North America a .308 won't kill. Shorter action, lighter weight. Works for me. Polar Bear and Moose may need a few extra rounds .308 will drop moose with authority. Hell I killed the snot out of huge elk with .308s , many times. |
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OP - that's a no brainer.
30-06 you can use heavier bullets and you get on average 150 fps faster muzzle velocity. Also it's very easy to find hunting ammo in tiny stores in the backwoods should you go on a hunting trip and forget to bring ammo (yeah..it happens...buck fever overriding sanity) |
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30-06
and I have both and have killed a truckload deer with each. 30-06 180 gr nosler partitions @ 2750fps have given me more DRT's than any other caliber combination over the years. Here's the thing, as far as all purpose hunting goes, your average hunting barrel length is anywhere from (22"-26"). With that length of barrel the 30-06 will always give you 100fps+ more with 180gr and up projectiles. Where I hunt, the shot could occur at 10 yards or 400 yards as in tight woods versus powerlines and ag fields. For this I have found the nosler partition to be the perfect hunting projectile. At 0-10 yards where your velocity is at its peak, most cup and cores (ie. winchester silver tips, corelokts) can come apart and frag out. I've had this happen several times at close distance and ruin alot of meat or not get the penetration on hard quartering angles. I've never had this happen with a nosler partition. The front will fall off but the ass end will follow through since its totally encapsulated. At longer distances, the 30-06 will keep the 180gr nosler partition in the expansion velocity (1800 fps) out to 500 yards where 308 will not. Will lesser calibers kill deer all day long? of course they will but my load is for deer, black bear and feral hogs. the nos. part. is the poor mans swift a-frame |
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True, with that being said though the 30-06 still holds a decent velocity edge over .308 and again your going to be single loading those 220/.308's as even AW mag have a 2.89 COAL limitation. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06 goes up to 220 grain bullets, 308 does not. th. ![]() Why can't you use 220 grain bullets in the .308? Both cartridges use the same caliber bullet, .308". Having said that, the limiting factor in that weight is usually barrel twist. The bullet is too long and you'd have to shove it down in the powder column reducing capacity therefore widening the delta between the two. Not necessarily. Depends on how it's throated. I have seen many .308's that shoot 200-220 grain bullets for long range. True, with that being said though the 30-06 still holds a decent velocity edge over .308 and again your going to be single loading those 220/.308's as even AW mag have a 2.89 COAL limitation. Not disputing at all what you just said. I was disputing the poster who said you cannot shoot 220 grain bullets in a .308 ![]() And yes, the '06 will have a velocity advantage due to more case capacity. |
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Woodleigh makes a 240gr .308" bullet... just sayin'... I like 06 myself. For most deer hunting, even .308 is plenty though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06. Gives you some better 180 and 200 grain options. Hell you can even go to 220 grain. Woodleigh makes a 240gr .308" bullet... just sayin'... I like 06 myself. For most deer hunting, even .308 is plenty though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Huh. Didn't know anybody was making a 240. I personally never go higher that 180 and its usually 165 or 150. |
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Not disputing at all what you just said. I was disputing the poster who said you cannot shoot 220 grain bullets in a .308 ![]() And yes, the '06 will have a velocity advantage due to more case capacity. View Quote Gotcha! ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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I have both but prefer the .308.
The two main reasons are a bit less recoil and the .308 cartridge does pretty well with shorter barrels such as my walk hunting bolt action with an 18.5 inch barrel and I also prefer a true short action. Just look at the .308 as a 30-06 lite. They are both top notch. |
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Huh. Didn't know anybody was making a 240. I personally never go higher that 180 and its usually 165 or 150. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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30-06. Gives you some better 180 and 200 grain options. Hell you can even go to 220 grain. Woodleigh makes a 240gr .308" bullet... just sayin'... I like 06 myself. For most deer hunting, even .308 is plenty though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Huh. Didn't know anybody was making a 240. I personally never go higher that 180 and its usually 165 or 150. Yeah Berger makes 230s and 240s, VLD and Hybrids |
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My hunting rifle is a Tikka T3 Super light in 300 WM; I considered one in 308 and 30-06, but you can step down loads to whatever you're hunting better with a 300 wm.
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Quoted: Huh. Didn't know anybody was making a 240. I personally never go higher that 180 and its usually 165 or 150. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: 30-06. Gives you some better 180 and 200 grain options. Hell you can even go to 220 grain. Woodleigh makes a 240gr .308" bullet... just sayin'... I like 06 myself. For most deer hunting, even .308 is plenty though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Huh. Didn't know anybody was making a 240. I personally never go higher that 180 and its usually 165 or 150. |
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Quoted: 30-06 is more powerful with heavier bullets and can kill anything on the planetbut it does have a significant recoil. .308 will do most everything except the higher end with much less recoil. View Quote Recoil is relative. Weight of rifle and stock design play a factor. To make a blanket statement that the 308 has much less recoil is not based in fact. Doing the math on 150 grain handloads right out of the Nosler manual and assuming a lightweight Kimber on BOTH at 6lb, each load calculated as the FASTEST one in the manual - the 308 shows 21.2 0 lbs of recoil compared to the 30-06's 25.17 Hardly "much less" recoil. |
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30-06 and I have both and have killed a truckload deer with each. 30-06 180 gr nosler partitions @ 2750fps have given me more DRT's than any other caliber combination over the years. Here's the thing, as far as all purpose hunting goes, your average hunting barrel length is anywhere from (22"-26"). With that length of barrel the 30-06 will always give you 100fps+ more with 180gr and up projectiles. Where I hunt, the shot could occur at 10 yards or 400 yards as in tight woods versus powerlines and ag fields. For this I have found the nosler partition to be the perfect hunting projectile. At 0-10 yards where your velocity is at its peak, most cup and cores (ie. winchester silver tips, corelokts) can come apart and frag out. I've had this happen several times at close distance and ruin alot of meat or not get the penetration on hard quartering angles. I've never had this happen with a nosler partition. The front will fall off but the ass end will follow through since its totally encapsulated. At longer distances, the 30-06 will keep the 180gr nosler partition in the expansion velocity (1800 fps) out to 500 yards where 308 will not. Will lesser calibers kill deer all day long? of course they will but my load is for deer, black bear and feral hogs. the nos. part. is the poor mans swift a-frame View Quote Sir, I'm going to have to honorably disagree with you. 180 is way too much for a white tails. I have killed a few with it, but boy, what a mess! Last deer i killed was with a 175 grain 50 caliber round ball from a flint-lock. It passed clean through and the deer moved (maybe) 30 yards before he fell down dead. My longest shot was 150 yards with a 30-06, 155 grain partition (there we agree). She fell down dead. I would never take a shot at 500 yards no matter what the bullet. But that's just me. YMMV |
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30-06
But that's just me. Your welcome to have your own differing opinion, even if you are wrong. |
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