30.06 and .308
 

I understand that these round have their own historical significance, and that the 30.06 is a longer cartridge than the .308, making a difference for some in a bolt action. Other than that, they are very similar aren't they?

I mean ballistically speaking, in terms of availability, and versatility for a reloader. Can't both rounds perform the same tasks equally well? Cartridges loaded similarly have similar recoil, stopping power, etc? Both pretty big boys too?

Faced with the decision to buy a single shot rifle in either caliber, is there any deciding factor between the two?

A lot of questions, I know, so thanks for any and all replies.:)

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

You can't go wrong with either one. For bullet weights up to 165gr. they are equal , but for the heavier stuff 180gr. or more the bullet protrude too far into the case on the .308 and this cuts down on powder capacity which cuts the velocity that can be achieved.

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

The 30-06 handles heavier bullts better than the 308 Win. Ballistically they are close with bullets 165 grains and under, but above that the 30-06 starts to pull away. Sort of boils down to whether you prefer a long or short action though. Personally if I have to shoot anything needing over a 180 grain bullet, I want to move up from 30 caliber anyways.

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

I own both. A 308 Browning A-Bolt and a Remintton 7600 30-06. The folks above are correct that under 180 grains both are pretty simular. However the 308 will never quite match the versitiliy of the older 30-06. If you are going to chase game bigger than elk I would pick the 30-06.

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

As other have said, its pretty much a toss up, until you get to heavier bullets. Even then, if you really NEED more than the .308 can give you, you probably NEED more than an '06 could give you too!

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

308 winchester = 30-06 winchester improved aka 30-06 short, to sum it up basically the same performance but the 308 is capable of shooting more accurately then a 06 for one simple reason the 308 is a much more stable loading, a much more forgiving cartridge. Not to mention it also produces less recoil then a 30-06 not by much but enough to tell a difference especially after shooting 20 or 30 rounds.

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

Essentially, the GI M2 Ball load for the .30/'06 with 4895 powder or the ball powder equivalent had about half an inch of empty airspace in it. So some genius in Army Ordnance said "why don't we cut off that half-inch of excess brass and set the shoulder back, re-neck the case, and keep the same bullet and powder charge?? This will reduce the size and weight of the ammo, make it easier to design machine guns and rifle actions around it, and still retain .30/'06-like ballistic performance." So they did, and the result was the 7.62X51mm NATO (AKA .308 Winchester). The fact that Savage had already done essentially the same thing a quarter-century earlier (the .300 Savage, a nearly identical cartridge), seemed to go unnoticed. The Army could have adopted the .300 Savage and designed the M1 Garand around it instead of around the .276 Pederson, which was the M1's original chambering. Had it not been for the intervention of Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. would have fought WWII with a 7mm caliber M1 rather than a .30!! Of course, all the light MG's and AR's would have had to be changed over too, otherwise we'd have been as bad off as the Japanese and the Italians, whom we used to ridicule because of all their different small-arms calibers!:)

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

i know the 30 06 is the most popular round , but the 308 is an inherently accurate round. most military and police sniper rifles are 308's. to me accuracy and shot placement are top priority over a few feet per seconds!!!

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

I have both in identical rifles, but prefer the 308, they are essentially the same ballistically , however when ejecting that first shell the 308 has a storter stroke, thus quicker for second shot , less muzzle blast, and less kick. I once sold an 06 bolt action because the muzzle blast was terrible and it made me flinch.

RE: 30.06 and .308
 

My favorite caliber of the two has to be the 308, I like this caliber several reasons. Short action, hard hitting,low recoil and most of all its the most accurate caliber out there. It also a great allaround caliber for what ever u hunt,