.308 vs 30-06

im4flight

im4flight

New member
So I am looking at picking up a .308. I already have a 30-06. Was wondering what y'all think about the difference... kick? stopping power? accuracy? anything else? What I am really wondering is will I like the .308 better than my 30.06, and will it do everything the 30.06 does. I am not a big fan of my .06. I can shoot well enough with it, but it sure kicks something fierce.

Thanks,
 
When I first started Centerfire Benchrest shooting competitively in 1970, there were competitors who used the 308 due to its accuracy. It is well known for its accuracy.
 
I have shot both extensively, and, in my opinion, I prefer the .308 hands down over the .06.

Recoil on the .308 is very tame compared to the .06, and is much more enjoyable to shoot.

The .308 kills deer and elk just as dead as the .06 does as well.
 
Great news so far, just was I was hoping to here, would love to here more specific if any of you have them to share.

Thanks,
 
I bought my .308 for coyote hunting for a few reasons, Accuracy, Stopping power, and a bullet that wouldnt be effected much by wind. I bought the right gun, I'm shooting 3" at 300 yards every time with my 700 and a Bull Barell I do have a big Nikon 6-18x scope on it though, I use this gun for calling in areas where I'm most likley going to shoot them past 100 yards (yesterday I poked one at 400 yard and he was DRT) anything inside of that I use my 12 G or AR 15. I've got an 06 its older Remmington model four I belive. I would prefer the 308 any day. The 30-06 is less accurate drops more, kicks harder and is quite a bit louder than my .308.

I do not regret my choice at all and hope this helps with your decison. (.308 is still fairly reasonable compared to the hot-shot rounds) I paided 16$ for a box o 20 a couple days ago.
 
I do have other predator rifles. I would use this one in the larger game arena. My main conern is that it would not handle the large game like the 30.06 will? So far, it is sounding like it might?

I do have a .243 and .223. I am pretty sure I will be picking up the .308 too, so wondering if I should think about getting rid of the 30.06. I try not to double up too much with my rifles... I know, you can never have enough :0),

Would they both be able to handle a moose or a bear?
 
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You are going to love that .308....It certainly kicks less than the 30-06 in rifles of comparable weight. I do believe you will not choose to use the '06 very much after aquiring the .308...However, you did mention Bears. The '06 does offer you the ability to use heavier bullets.
 
Yeah, I'm doing some reading on it while waiting for replies here. It looks like I may end up having to keep the 30.06 for when the need arises.
 
Yeah, I'm doing some reading on it while waiting for replies here. It looks like I may end up having to keep the 30.06 for when the need arises.
 
I've never shot a .308, an -06 was the 1st rifle I ever bought. So I can't comment on recoil other than the 06 is pretty tame compared to some of my collection. I'll let you do a box of my hot 45-70's and then send you back to the 06. You won't mind the recoil anymore
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But back to topic, both shoot the same bullets. The 308 "usually" has an edge up to 165 grains but that flips with the heavier bullets. The edge is going to be pretty minimal. The biggest bennie I can think of is the 308 will be a short action vs the long. Both are good for pretty much anything but even the 06 with the heaviest bullets is considered the bare minimum for great bears. Up through elk size, they'll both dump most of their energy on the other side of the ribcage. I could go either way with them, there's just not enough of an on paper difference to really matter to me.
 
I own & have shot both quite a bit. 308 recoil is a bit less, 06 handles heavier bullets better, as has been stated. It really is a matter of - do you prefer red delicious or yellow delicious apples?? Functionally, I consider them interchangeable on anything up to & including elk.
Mark
 
IF you shoot the same bullet weight then there is very little difference on noticable recoil between the 308 and the 30-06. Anything the 308 can do, the 30-06 can do just slightly better, however the 308 has slightly less recoil. The 308 was chosen for the military because it gave the same ballistics(close) with a lighter overall cartridge weight. Some 308's are more accurate than 30-06's. No doubt. However most 308's are in more modern firearms. The main accuracy advantage the 308 has is that it is a short action, so the action is a bit stiffer than a long action.

You can notice a difference in the recoil between the two cartridges if you shoot the rifle cartridges in different rifles. A lot of felt recoil is due to the particular firearm you use, and not just the cartridge. If you want reduced recoil then get a rifle designed to lessen recoil. Tom.
 
Originally Posted By: HOGGHEADIF you shoot the same bullet weight then there is very little difference on noticable recoil between the 308 and the 30-06. Anything the 308 can do, the 30-06 can do just slightly better, however the 308 has slightly less recoil. The 308 was chosen for the military because it gave the same ballistics(close) with a lighter overall cartridge weight. Some 308's are more accurate than 30-06's. No doubt. However most 308's are in more modern firearms. The main accuracy advantage the 308 has is that it is a short action, so the action is a bit stiffer than a long action.

You can notice a difference in the recoil between the two cartridges if you shoot the rifle cartridges in different rifles. A lot of felt recoil is due to the particular firearm you use, and not just the cartridge. If you want reduced recoil then get a rifle designed to lessen recoil. Tom.


+1 Tom, summed it up pretty good.
 
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I didn't know there was a difference between .308 and .30-06. Don't the same shells shoot in both guns?

All kidding aside, I do own both and there is not really a "functional" difference. yes, everything that has been said above is true but if you think the -06 recoils hard, you'll think the 308 recoils hard. The difference is only like 10%. If that is the main reason for looking at a 308, you might be better off looking at recoil pads. length of pull, and the shape of the stock. you might also be surprised how ring height can affect how recoil feels. if you are jamming your face hard onto the stock to get down to a set of low rings, the felt recoil can increase by punching you in the cheek. Make sure that -06 fits properly before you give up on it. Good Luck!
 
The .308 will give you the same performance as the 30-06...50 yards closer.

Accuracy is more dependent on an individual rifle's capabilities and compatibility with the load used than it is on the cartridge the load is based on.

A bit less velocity with same weight bullets from same weight and design of rifle will give a bit less recoil. If you handload, you could load to .308 levels in the 30-06 and not be able to tell the difference.

In a short action rifle, the .308 will be a little lighter to carry than a similar long action rifle in 30-06. The action will be a bit "stiffer", and might give you slightly better accuracy, but it's doubtful you'd ever see it in the field.

Some like blondes, others prefer redheads. Some like new and different, others prefer knowing what they have and can expect from it. Make your choice and go for it; a man should decide for himself what he needs and wants.

Daryl
 
Rifle design does play a lot into it. I have a few .243's. 2 modern with nice pads and an old savage 99 with a steel butt plate. Against all reason, the savage feels like a lot less felt recoil. Not that the .243 is bad out of anything, but the savage is a sweetheart.
 
I'm using my .308 on bears this season. My buddy dropped a black bear with his 308 out of a vice 2 years back at a touch over 650 yards hit him in the lungs and dropped him good.
 
Originally Posted By: NdIndyRifle design does play a lot into it. I have a few .243's. 2 modern with nice pads and an old savage 99 with a steel butt plate. Against all reason, the savage feels like a lot less felt recoil. Not that the .243 is bad out of anything, but the savage is a sweetheart.

For some reason, Ruger 77's seem to "kick" harder than others I've tried.

I have a Browning A-bolt in 7mm mag, and I was out with a buddy who had a Ruger 77 chambered the same. Shooting the same loads, the felt recoil on his was noticeably more.

Personally, I think it's the stock angle. Can't think of anything else that would cause the difference, especially since his rifle was heavier than mine.

Daryl
 
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