.308 Win vs. .30-06 Spr for big game

R

rpc55

New member
I'm looking for opinions on both. Good and bad. Price, ballistics, availability, etc.

Firearm will be Tikka T3 used for mostly whitetail, black bear, and perhaps moose.

thanks guys
 
Other than the obvious differences that go along with action length, such as bolt throw and weight, the 308 is roughly 90% of what the 30-06 is performance wise, while being more efficient and recoiling a little less. Being a Tikka, it only comes in one action length anyway. Availability is a non issue for either. Other than that, not much of a difference. The critter won't know the difference between which one hit it.....
 
being a bit recoil shy i don't care for the 06, but it can handle up to a 220gr bullet iirc, where as you will be maxing the .308 out with either 180,s or 190,s... unless you are hunting the biggest, toughest animals in N. America, there is no practical difference.
 
I have a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06, that i have had for about a year. So far it has been a great rifle but i have yet to take any game with it. I have been mostly target shooting and even with the limbsaver pad it still kicks like a mule and for that reason only i wish i hd gone with the 308. Other than that it has done everything i have asked it to. I am still working up a load and i can tell you what it dosent like. Lol
 
Good point about the 220grs in the 30-06. The heaviest 308 bullet I've seen loaded, personally, is 200gr.....

I have a very old box of Remington 220gr bullets here that I have no idea where they came from......
 
What bullets are you using? If it kicks too hard for your liking go with something lighter.

I would think you could kill most critters up to the size of an elk with a 130gr Barnes TSX zippin' along @ 3200-3300fps out of an '06. Or a 125 ballistic tip for thinner skinned game and target shooting. Recoil would be minimal, and velocity would be impressive.....
 
I am shooting 165gr SSTs, Nosler Accubonds, and 168gr Nosler Ballstics tips. When i say it kicks like a mule its after about 40 rds. Haha. Its probably also because i dont have the best shooting technique either. I can never get the rifle to return to the same postion right after firing.
 
for using the 130 grainers i just use the ol 270, or 6.5 swede....just have an 06 because i wanted it. i also just realized rpc55 is from maine, so bear and moose is a factor, i say go 06. where i hunt anything over .30-30 is just overkill, i need to pay more attention to where people are from.
 
As above, besides action length they are almost identical. Either will go up through moose with the right bullet and 180's will do fine, either are more than enough for black bear. You'll find 308 in 99.99999% of stores, -06 in 100%.

The .308 has a marginal advantage up to about 165gr, the 30-06 has marginal advantage above 165.

This is a lot like asking which honda is faster, the red one or the blue one
smile.gif
 
As stated the tikka's use the same action for all calibers so the weight and length savings of long vs. short doesn't apply here. With that and the fact that the 30-06 handles the heavy bullets better I would go 30-06 all the way.
 
Anything the .308 will do, the '06 will do with a bit more authority and, as has been previously stated, no 220 gr. .308 ammo available.

Regards,
hm
 
This is my way of thinking and is not to be interpreted as me saying my opinion is to end all. But with all things being virtually equal, I would go with the one that is inherently more accurate. After all it is all about shot placement.

My vote is .308

Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: rpc55I'm looking for opinions on both. Good and bad. Price, ballistics, availability, etc.

Firearm will be Tikka T3 used for mostly whitetail, black bear, and perhaps moose.

thanks guys

You've asked this same question on multiple sites. It reads the same on all of them. And for the most part you got the same answers. Seriously do you think that there is that much of a difference or have you ever looked at a ballistic chart.
 
Thank you guys! I really do appreciate ALL the reply's. I was leaning toward the '06 and will go with that. I'll post a range report after I get the gun and find time to shoot.
 
"You've asked this same question on multiple sites".

2 sites, here and NPHA. There are members I respect here and over there and was looking for opinions from both. Is there a rule that i don't know about?

"It reads the same on all of them. And for the most part you got the same answers".

I value all opinions.


"Seriously do you think that there is that much of a difference or have you ever looked at a ballistic chart".

Yes, I know that they are close, I was just looking to get personal opinions and experiences. I have never owned a .308 or 30-06.

Do you have anything positive to add?
 
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