308 question
 

I have a few rifles and want to get rid of one to my brother so he can start hunting. I have a 308 and 30.06. Both decent rifles but I really like the 308 and consider keeping it over the 06.

My question is, what can the 06 be used for that the 308 can't? We generally hunt deer but I don't want to be left under gunned if I ever go to calorado or Canada hunting ( elk or bear ) so again what is the 308 to small for? Currently shooting 165 forelimbs in both guns.

The .30-06 has much more varied factory ammo available.

If that's what is most important to you ?

Realistically, the .308 is under gunned for brown bears, and that's about it. The two calibers are so close to each other that neither is really better than the other.

I would prefer a .300 Win Mag or larger if I was to shoot a large bear so I would keep the .308. If you go to Colorado or Canada for a hunt in the future, keep the .308 and buy a larger rifle if the time comes.

When you say bear, do you mean black or brown?

Both calibers are very similar to one another. Both are perfectly capable for taking black bear. For brown bears, I would feel undergunned. Really undergunned.

If the .308 is under gunned then so is the 30-06. They are that close to one another in performance.

Nothing.

The .308 only gives up about 40 - 50 yards to the 30-06 in terms of down range energy at any practical hunting distance and the average hunter.

The .308 only gives up about 1.5 inches in trajectory at 400 yards if both are zeroed at 200 yards.

In other words.... same same.

IMO, only large dangerous animals like brown bears, etc...

308 is just as fine for elk as the 30'06. As bigbulls said, they are very close in performance, what one can do, the other can to. That being said, I would be less confident on moose, and would not push my luck with bison or bear of the non-black variety. Keep whichever gun you like best, and sell the other, if you like, or keep both. For the nastier critters, you may consider a 35 whelen, or a 375H&H.

Not brown bear. . Most likely and Elk hunt or black bear would be all i would ever do. thanks. right now leaning towards selling the 06. (the 308 is also stainless -savage weather warrior 16)

I would prefer the '06 over the 308. I must be crazy but I am just not a fan of the .308. I love the 7-08 and .243 but not the 308. That would be my first reason. The second is the longer case of the '06 makes it better to handle the heavier bullets should you decide to use them for bigger critters. I mean the bullets over 180 gr. The 200 and 220 grainers. They would have to be seated too deep into the .308 case to have them reach their full capability. (same could be said for loading a 175 gr bullet into a 7-08 case.)

If you need a bullet heavier than a 180 grain bullet out of any 30 caliber cartridge then you need a .338.

I agree with you BB, but some guys can't afford to buy another rifle.

If a person could afford or save up for a Colorado or Canadian hunt and do not live there, it is likely can also afford or save up for a second rifle.

If I need more than the .308 I need a caliber larger or longer reaching than the 30-06.

Biker

WELL I HAVE TO SAY , A 06 IS MY BEST CHOICE IN THE BARN ,this has been a public service warning , keep the ought 6 :rock:

Me personally im a 06 man. But the ol 308 is a great round ive used many times. Keep what feels best or youl likely regrett it. There aint a deer elk or bear out there that could tell the diffrence in getting hit with a 180gr 308 or a 180gr 30-06. As for the big brown bear they use to kill em with the 3030 and 44-40in the good ol days so a 308 would work maby not the ideal round but deqd is dead. If you like it better keep it.

Just about every animal on earth would fall to the .308 Win. I would not in any way shape or form feel under gunned.

The 06 has the advantage of having a greater selection of ammo. That's about it. The ballistic comparisons are just paper and the mindless jibber that fills the internet and hunt camp bs'ing sessions.

Tom

Id keep the 308.. Just like the shorter cartridge and lighter recoil..

I have two '06s in my safe and love em both. But honestly the .308 will do ANYTHING the 06 will do. Folks seem to forget that the 06 was shortened less than 1/2" and called the 308! As for the "well the 06 will push heavier bullets faster" arguement... with crappy bullets umpteen years ago that might've been valid but I can assure you that a 308 with 180Barnes WILL out penetrate a 200grain Nosler partition, corelokt and about 99% of anyother 200grn your going to buy over the counter and fire out of an 06!!!

As for the 220s, NEITHER are worth a toot in the 308 or 06 IMHO because the trajectory will be like a rainbow. 40-50+ years ago there might've been a reason for needing a heavy old 220 in an 06 because of the sorry bullets that were made back then. The basic philosophy was, "Start with enough weight so that after the light jacketed, lead cored POS bullet sheds so much of itself, enough weight will be retained to assure some sort of decent penetration of whatevers left of the bullet". But the last 20+ years have given us new bullets that don't need the initial weight yet still get deep penetration and by using those lighter bullets we gain improved ballistics.

If you are hunting big bears and other big game in CAN and AK then you have the $ for another gun anyway. (A .338 is great and the grand ol dame 375H&H is even better for bears that want to look for and eat you when you poke holes in them!) But I can assure you that a 308 with 180Barnes WILL reliably kill inside of 400yds ANY moose, buffalo, elk, caribou or anything else that aint dangerous on our continent. (Read my reminder of waiting/picking your shots below!) Someone go tell Jim Zumbo he HAD to have a 300+mag to kill all the elk he killed before the mid 80s when he got into bigger/faster calibers. He killed a boxcar load+ of elk with an ol 06 and many were OVER 400yds!

The difference (of the small 30s vs the 30mags or larger guns) is you'll have to put the bullet where it counts, even if it means waiting for the perfect angle/shot or even passing for another day. Put that same 180Barnes in a 300Wby, 300Win or any of the 300Supermags and have at it regardless of angle, the substantial increase in velocity will significantly increase the penetration which means you'll most likely reach the vitals if put it where it must go for that shot in the 1st place. IMHO penetration is KEY, not "energy" or anyother paper ballistics terminology you can find from the latest gunwriter! (If 1000#s was required to kill a 150# animal (deer) then why wouldn't it take 10,000#s to kill a 1000# animal (big elk)??? hmmmmmmm tell all the elk that are killed by 243 that it's just a figment of their imagination.)

I'd keep the 308, stoke it full of the new Barnes VorTex ammo (150 TTSX) and set out to dirtroll ANY whitetail that dares cross my path!!! ;)
HL

i would keep the .308, i hunt with a .308 semi-auto, and i love it. the gun has never failed me and i have never missed a deer with it, it is a great round with plenty of power, the farthest a deer has ever gone is 50 yards from point of impact, all but one dropped in sight, most fall within 15 yards.

if i were you i would keep the 308 because it has a little less recoil, and it is more accurate, but as far as killing power id say niether one beats the other, i guarantee you the animal wont know the difference between the two