.308 vs 30-06

the real fuzz

Which is better for long range (500yds+)target and hunting.

RCrosby

What kind of target work? What kind of hunting?
You could make a good argument for either, though as the ranges stretch out there logic would tend to favor the larger round.
Personally 500 yards is a bit beyond my comfort range in the field, though lots of fun from a solid bench.
Good luck either way.

Highball

The .308, using 175-180 gr. bullets seems to be a well balanced round for what you have in mind. Using ten grains less powder for the loss of only 100 fps means less blast and recoil..a much more managable round.

The .308 seems to respond better in the accuracy department, also.

Neither are really suited for +500 yard hunting..not enough energy remaining....unless you intend coyotes and prarie dogs.

JustC

AND, that 10gr's less powder makes for longer throat life. The wealth of loading info on the 308 for long range alone would be enough for me to take that chambering.

Sig220_Ruger77

Both are great cartridges, but from my own experience here is what I would say...

1. Both cartridges(along with most others) can be loaded to excellent accuracy when using the correct powder, bullet, etc. combination. There really isn't a more accurate cartridge in this case.
2. However, with that being said the .308 tends to be less picky with powders. What I mean is that the .308 will shoot very good or excellent with most powders and loads, where as the 30-06 seems to be a little more picky. I'm not saying it won't shoot good, but from my experience you can't just go from one powder to the next and expect it to shoot great like you seem to be able to do with the .308.
3. Optics are a realy key here and no matter which gun you choose make sure you put some quality glass on it(Burris would be my choice).
4. The most important thing behind the accuracy of any caliber gun is the man shooting it and the comfortability factor.

With that being said I prefer the .308 because of the shorter and lighter action.

7.62x39

.308...less blast, recoil, easier to re-load. Inherritly more accurite

Snellstrom

Well now that you've heard from the paper punchers lets hear a hunters view?
I happen to shoot most of my game animals with a 30/06. A full 75% of the animals I've taken there would have been no difference if I was using a .308, 30/06 or a 300 mag, but some of the time the extra knock down power of the 30/06 over the .308 I think has been needed maybe just for insurance however another marksman very well practiced with his .308 could very well have duplicated my shooting and the end result ( dead elk ).
Either one is a fine cartridge and anyone with experience knows the differences are minimal at least from the animals perspective.
Pick the one that floats your boat and be done with it. For me it is the 30/06 but I'm a hunter not a target shooter ( I shoot my hunting rifles at targets to develop and polish hunting loads for hunting ), if you are a target shooter that hunts a little then a .308 may be what you need.
A 30/06 has more of what it takes out at the longer ranges but then again a 300 mag beats a 30/06, as does a 30/378 beat a 300 Win mag and on and on.

the real fuzz

Thanks for all the feedback. I do lots of both( hunting and target). I have what I believe to be the best glass on the rifle( leupold mark4 tacktical long range 8.5x25x50). I currently have a .308 but was considering a 30-06 for my upcoming elk hunt next year. Have the .308 sighted for hairsplitin(not braggin but I can hit a 18x18in steel plate at 700+). Takes a month of sundays to get there but it does. I also have a on order enough balistics jell to test how deep bullet goes in. Load is currently 168gr pill on 47.7gr H380 in a LC58(headstamp) match brass.

RCrosby

Sounds like a good shooter. Just make sure you have as good a handle on what the combination will do from field positions, and under field conditions, as you do from the bench.
Getting as close as you can to insure a clean kill is the difference between hunting and shooting.
Good luck.

7.62x39

quote:Originally posted by the real fuzz
Thanks for all the feedback. I do lots of both( hunting and target). I have what I believe to be the best glass on the rifle( leupold mark4 tacktical long range 8.5x25x50). I currently have a .308 but was considering a 30-06 for my upcoming elk hunt next year. Have the .308 sighted for hairsplitin(not braggin but I can hit a 18x18in steel plate at 700+). Takes a month of sundays to get there but it does. I also have a on order enough balistics jell to test how deep bullet goes in. Load is currently 168gr pill on 47.7gr H380 in a LC58(headstamp) match brass.



In real life, you won't be able to tell the difference in the .308 or the 30-06

sandwarrior

This is a common question. I look at it this way. In the long run, which is what you seem to be asking about, the 30-06 will push a heavier bullet faster than a .308. A .308 will stay right up to a 30-06 up to about 165 gr. then it starts to fall off as bullet weights get heavier. In order to maximize long range shooting for hunting you need to have heavy for caliber bullets. The 30-06 clearly beats the .308 in this department. It also comes at the price of increased recoil. You will need to shoot quite a bit to find out how this affects you.

If you look at references, the Military has deemed 800 yds as the maximum effective range of the .308. They deemed the 30-06 as effective out to 1200 yds. But, you have to use 190 gr. or 200-210 gr. bullets to get the advantage. Keep in mind that most of these bullet weights are target bullets. You will need to find hunting bullets to start shooting long range at animals. You will also need to ethically prove to yourself that you are capable of shooting these long distances if you attempt to hunt at these ranges. If I was pushing for more range I would go with a 30-06. If I was to stay within normal hunting distances I would go with a .308.

-good luck

nralifers

I hate to respond to a topic so old, but keep in mind one thing here. Either cartridge is fine (with the optimum load) for Whitetail size game to 500 yds. In fact, based on energy and the RIGHT energy to kill that size game the 30-06 is good to a little over 600 yds. That all said, you mention elk in your post. Neither cartridge can produce enough energy to kill elk cleanly and humanely at 500 yds. For elk the MINIMUM energy for a clean kill is 1500 ft-lbs. The right way is 2,500 ft-lbs. If you pick the middle of the road (2,000 ft-lbs) the 308 only goes to about 200 yds and still maintains this energy. The 30-06 holds this level to about 250 yds.

dcso3009

Elk are not that hard to kill! Every year people do it with an arrow. My arrows are about 490 grains. Speed is about 270 FPS. Makes for a KE of 79.34 ft. lbs. Infact most archery calcs will show taking moose, elk, and caribou with down to 50 ft. lbs. of KE. Now I know there is a big difference when using a firearm vs. a bow. My advice would be use the 308 with a premium bullet such as a Barnes MRX or TSX. Find the bullet weight that groups best and shoot it well. It is much more important where you hit the animal, than what you hit it with.

dtknowles

The 30-06 is really more gun than the 308. More so than most loading manuals indicate. Some weak guns were made in 30-06 and loading data often takes that into account. If you already have a nice 308 do not get a 30-06, get something more different. If you want to shoot Elk at 500 plus yards get a magnum something, lots of better choices.

Extra weight of longer action on the 30-06 should not be an issue especially if you are concerned about the recoil.

For me,

short range = stalk close, use handy light rifle, accuracy and recoil not issue, not magnum cartridge.

long range = can't get close, use powerful, accurate, rifle with big expensive scope, magnum cartrige, rifle weight - heavy to help with accuracy and recoil.

One gun do both jobs well, not likely

Tim

the real fuzz

Change in plans. I got a 300RUM for the hunt. traded the 308 and got a 22-250 for the cyotes.

nononsense

the real fuzz,

That sounds like an excellent solution to several questions. There are a couple of us that have used and do use the .300 RUM for longer distance hunting with great results. I also like the idea of using the 22-250 for coyotes with the better selection of bullets and bullet construction.

Let us know how the load development goes for both.

Best.