Gromky

Plus the .308 is dropping in popularity for military snipers, from what I've heard (the main military use for it I know of...the grunts are using .223). If something is going to be banned, it would be .50 cal over the whole "one mile assassination" thing. In fact, I've often run into fears about civilian .50 caliber rifles, but never about the .308. I guess people could be freaked out about the AK-47 and such rifles, since 7.62 is almost fully interchangable with .308.

Either way, it makes handloading even more attractive. I'm not sure if it's as cheap to pick up .308 military surplus as it used to be, but once you have a good supply of brass the primers and bullets will always be easy. If I didn't have a friend who loved handloading I would do it myself. I still may, at some point. My coworker's husband spent $50 on a box of .25-06 shells right before hunting season because it was all he could find in stock locally...I just find that staggering compared to what it costs for her to make a .308 round.

gspguy73

I have hunted with both and to me it's six in one hand and half a dozen in the other. No complaints about either one. If you are worried about recoil I know they make reduced recoil ammo now.

mikybigbuck

there's not enough difference in those two to make a true argument....with the exception of case capacity...you can shoot 220's with a 06, but you'd be better off with any magnum 7mm or bigger...

excalibur43

What you said on your first post is correct about the 06 being faster and flatter in trajectory. They are both 30 cal. and shoot the same bullets. The only difference is basically speed, as is comparison of the 06 to the 300 Win. Mag., or the 300 Win. Mag to the 300 Ultra Mag. etc. With the added speed you will get some added recoil, but the difference between the 06 and 308 is very little. Both are excellent deer / Black bear,( and other big game)calibers IMO.

tyleryeags

my pick would be the 308 thats my favorite gun

bmumford

Thanks everyone!

bmumford

Okay, I'd like to leave politics out of it, but I thought this was worth mentioning. My state is a battleground state (politically). Many of the Democrats are very pro gun in this state. In fact, I live in a VERY Republican county and I am more conservative about guns than anyone I know (except another fellow Democrat). Let me quote Heston and just say that they'll have to pry my gun out of my cold, dead hands.

There are a few high profile anti-gunners that get the attention, but you would be surprised how many Dems are all about guns. I think every citizen of sound mind and age should wear a sidearm at all times. Liberal gun-hating people are on their way out, as they should be (IMO). There is no place for them in a democracy or democratic-republic. Even though I ended up with a .30-06, banning .308 ammo is not an option!

fishguts

My wife shoots a .30-06.

seattlesetters

Someone else mentioned it, and I'd have to agree. With a .338 Federal, you can hunt anything that lives in North America and have a solid 300-yard range. All this with recoil equivalent to the .30-'06 and trajectory equivalent to the .308 Win. In terms of knockdown power, it beats both of them.

I just bought a rifle in .338 Federal. I doubt I'd ever need anything else, except for pronghorn or mule deer on the open prairie, where I'm going to want my .270 Win. However, I'm sure I could just work my way to within 350 yards and handle those shots with the .338 Federal, too.

bmumford

I agree the .338 is a stellar caliber. I would have to say, however, that the .30-06 is all I will ever need in North America. I read on the Alaskan DNR website last year that, not only were magnum calibers not needed to take brown bear, but that the .30-06 was all you needed to harvest bear (that and good aim). I went back about a month ago but couldn't find it (the quote) again to give people the reference. In any event, Teddy Roosevelt was happy using it to take an elephant (with iron sights no less). That's not to say it isn't prudent to use a stronger caliber for brown bear, it is (and elephants too), but throughout history, an element of danger was always part of hunting, so I personally will not choose to go with a magnum caliber. That's just me (and maybe I'm foolish). The 338 Federal would be nice to have though!