Savage 30-06 VS 308
 

I am new to hunting and I am going to be buying my first brand new rifle on a budget. I have done some research and I have picked Savage, either a 10 GXP3 308 or 110 GXP3 30-06 SPFLD! I have two questions; What does anyone or everyone think or experienced with Savage? 2nd which caliber is best 308 or 30-06 SPFLD for an all around gun meaning for deer and or moose? What is the difference between the two calibers? All experinces and opinions welcomed.
Thanks

I you throw moose and possibly elk into the formula, the 30-06 will be your best option. It handles heaveir bullets than the .308 is designed to do. I don't own a Savage but having read the posts of those that do, I think you'll find they are good accurate rifles.

All the Savage rifles that I have used are much more accurate than they should be, especially for the price. Using a 180 gr bullet in either caliber will work well on deer and moose. You may get a little more velocity with the 30-06 using the 180s, but you won't go wrong on either caliber.

I go with the 30-06, that's what hunt with for 40 years.
I use a Federal Premiun N. Partition Bullet 150 Grain For deer and 180 for Elk or moose and African Game.
You may want to check prices on Weatherby Rifles rather than a savage.
But Savage is OK.

Savage makes an excellent rifle in the 110. Very much a proven firearm.

I'd go with the 30-06 simply to get more options in terms of loads. Both cartridges would work fine, though.

I like Savage, I own a 16 FCSS in .204 and it's a shooter.


However, I would stay away from a "package".


If I were on a tight budget, I would look at;

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...Action/XL7.asp


http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ucts_id=105615



and

http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-ri...ff-3-9x40.html



Deer and smaller = .308

Deer and larger = .30-06


All around hunting = .30-06


Good luck with your decision !

30-06 recoil will get old. 308 is plenty for deer or moose. You can load it down to 125 grains all the way up to 220 grains.

I'm not knocking the 30-06, but it's really overkill for deer or moose. Less recoil makes you more accurate and shot placement is more important than the small ballistic difference between the 308 and 30-06.

Trust me, the 308 is an amazing hunting cartridge. It's good for anything on North America minus the grizzly.

My wife got me the Savage 30-06 for our anniversary, and unbelievably accurate out of the box. I have taken a doe and a big bodied 4ptr. The buck ran maybe 10 yds if that.
Go with the Savage

Moved to the gun forum...

The 30-06 will do anything the 308 will do-just slightly better. If you want a little less power then just use the reduced loads that are available for the 30-06. Also the run of the mill 30-06 ammo is a little cheaper than run of the mill 308 ammo. The only advantage to a 308 is that it comes in a short action. However unless they have changed the 110 action, the 308 is a long action also, so there is no real advantage there. Most mfrs. put the 308 in a short action. But to keep costs lower, Savage just uses one action length, like Tikka. Tom.