Savage 30.06 vs .308

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I am thinking of getting another Savage, probably a Model 12 (I currently have a Savage Model 10 in .223) to use target shooting with Cast Bullets. I want to use it in the CBA Postal Matches and local club matches, both cast and not-cast.

The question i have is 30.06 vs .308?

Currently I have about 3,000 rounds of Lake City 30.06 and another 800-1000 cases as well as the dies for my Dillon 550 and RCBS Rock Chucker. Also I have a Garand, a 1917 and a 1917 Sporter, a Gibbs 03A4, and am getting a 1903A3.

I have been told that ballistically they are about the same, I will be shooting mostly 50/100 and 200 yards with an occaisional 300 yard.

THere seems to be more choice in .308 but they do have 06's.

What do people think?

[lbaize3]

Ben, I like my 308 rifles but the 30-06 will outperform the 308 in certain handloaded categories. You can shoot heavier bullets and can get more velocity out of the 30-06 cases. And it sounds like you are already set up for the ought six in a big way. At the distances you are shooting, I don't think you will find much difference between the two cartridges.

[southpaw]

My thoughts. If your were going to be shooting just j-words I would go with the 308 ( I think it is more accurate). With bullets upto 165 the 308 and 06 velocities are about the same. Heavier than that the 06 has the case capacity advantage. I would choose the 06 for lead because of its longer neck (not to mention it sounds like you are pretty well set up for it).

If you do go with the 06 I think that you are gonna have to choose either the 110, 111, 114 or 116 model. I didn't see any 06's in the model 12 lineup. I coulda sworn that they had a 112 model but I do not see it on their site. I have a few savages (hey, they make left handed gun that is easy to get) and they are all very accurate. Well atleast with j-words, I really have not gotten around to slinging too much lead out of them yet.

Good luck with you purchase!

Jerry Jr.

[CWME]

My model 12 f-class is a single shot so I guess you could use a 30-06 in it with no magazine to worry about. Not sure about other model 12s but I think you would be better served with the 308 on that action.

I like both calibers so it is more an action/rifle combo thing for me.

[crabo]

Too bad Savage doesn't make a bolt gun in 30/30

[Doby45]

I got a Savage 111 in 06 and would not change to 308 for nothing. You can get a new take off barrel for the 06 for like $40 on savageshooters.com. People like to buy the 06 for other "projects" and end up selling the barrels for cheap.

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I wish you could mix and match actions, barrels and stocks.

I have the Savage 2011 Catalog and marked each gun that is .308 and each that is 30.06 and agonize a while longer while I save up.

I have the Lyman .311041 which throws really nice 173 grain bullets with my wheelweight mixture.

It took me about a year to decide I will probably (key word) get a synthetic stock. I like the looks of Walnut better but...

[rhbrink]

I have owned and helped several people use the Savage .308 in CBA shooting. The biggest problem with the Savage chamber is that the throat is very short, great for jacket bullet stuff not so good for cast. It really limits your choice of boolits that will fit the neck without dropping the gas check down past the shoulder neck line. If you are going to shoot in the Production class you can have the neck reamed out making it longer. You really need to be carefull here cause most gunsmiths don't have a clue about boolits I have seen two rifle barrels almost ruined by so called gunsmiths. If you want to shoot the new Hunter class them you cannot do anything to the throat and pretty much have to shoot as is. In that case I think that the 30-06 woould be the better choice.

Good uck

Richard

[NYBushBro]

After reading this thread (and starting my bullet mold collection), it has suddenly dawned on me why I have been buying up 30-06's over the past year...! :-)

[Hang Fire]

Too bad Savage doesn't make a bolt gun in 30/30

One can still find the Savage Model 340 in 30-30. I have a Stevens Model 325 (precursor of the 340) in 30-30 picked up few years ago for less than 200 bucks.

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

30.06, the Model 12 is out, but I like the Model 110, now Thumbhole or the Accustock with synthetic stock.

I have two Savage .22's one with a synthetic stock and one with a thumbhole. I am still trying to decide whether I like the thumbhole better or not.

[Pat I.]

If you are going to shoot in the Production class you can have the neck reamed out making it longer.

I think you meant to say throat here like you said later in your post. You can't do anything to the chamber and have it legal for production class.

[kelbro]

Double-digit models (10,12) are short action. Triple-digit models (111,112) are long actions. Another lefty here that Savage has won over. Never shot any cast though in any of my Savages. Need to get around to that some day.

[Three44s]

Actually, you can have both for a lot less money than you might think!

The short action and try .308 and 7-08 and even all the short cartridges.

And a long action for -06 ............ and all of it's off-spring ............ change out to a magnum bolt face and associated box magazine and follower and run with magnums.

I started my oddessy with Savage with a plain 111 in 7mm Rem mag.

Also, for quite a while Savage made nothing but long actions and put a blocker to limit magazine length. I like the present condition:

SA for the "shorts" ................ LA for the "longs" and the large shanks for the fat magnums.

My main CB shooter right now is a Savage LA with a .338-06 barrel on it. One pass with good lube in a stanard .338-06 die and you've got a 30-06 case converted! I realize the .338-06 may not reach production class requirements? What about the .35 Whelen ......... ?

Just lately, I found a Marlin XL7 in .25-06 and I'm getting real fond of it's trimness. It also takes Savage barrels! I have the Pro-fire trigger (standard) set right now for 2.25# .......... for hunting and toting around, my plan is to increase that to the fat side of 2#'s.

Three 44s

[Char-Gar]

I have 4 308s and 6 30-06s and shoot cast bullet in all of them and they all do well.

1. The 308 has a smaller powder room, which is a plus for cast bullet shooting.
2. Many 308s come with a 1-12 barrel twist, which is a plus for cast bullet shooting. Although IIRC Savage uses a 1-10 twist.
3. The 308 has a short neck which is a minus for casdt bullet shooting, limiting the choice of bullets, although the RCBS 165 Sil seems tailor made for the round.
4. The 30-6 has a longer neck and usually a longer throat, which is a plus for cast bullet shooting
5. A good 30-06 will produce accuracy fully equal to the .308, in a good rifle.

Either rifle will make you happy. If I could have just one, it would be a 30-06, but I don't have to have just one, so I like them both very much. I also like the 30-30 and the 30-40 Krag. I have 3 30-30s and 4 30-40s. You can tell I like 30 caliber rifles and cast bullets.

[pdawg_shooter]

I am a fan of heavy for caliber bullets so I would always choose the 06 over the .308. Just saying.

[Tatume]

The 30-06 has a longer case neck than the 308. It is more flexible in accepting cast bullets, as the neck is more likely to cover the lube grooves while still keeping the gas check inside the neck.

[Shuz]

Since you are so well endowed with .30-06 stuff, I'd go with that chambering. Both cartridges have shown to be real accurate. The CBA shooters in Production Class, overwhelmingly lean toward the .308 Winchester, but I firmly believe that is more due to cheap brass availability than anything else. Others have mentioned the pros and cons of both.
But what do I know, I shoot the .250 Savage in a Savage 16 in local CBA matches, and have set no records. I'm still trying,and I love to shoot the .250 Savage! I've often thought of using one of my .30-06's for CBA Production, but I haven't given up on the .250 Savage yet!

[1Shirt]

Flip a coin! 308 probably a bit more economical to load.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I agree that some of the popularity of .308 is that it is the current military ammo and lots of cheap suplus ammo and once fired brass available.

[mpmarty]

I faced a similar dilemma and chose 308 in my short action Savage. It is very accurate and the barrel doesn't lead at all. it has never had anything in it but cast. I've got several thousand rounds of South African 308 military stuff that I shoot in my 7.62 Nato Saiga but won't run that stuff in my Savage.

[Rico1950]

If you only can have one, I'd say the .308. I have a Mark X in .308 with a short throat and it loves the 311299. Gas check within the neck and plenty of accuracy for your 300 yard shots.
As mentioned above, plenty of available brass, less powder.
I also have an O3A3, it too loves the 311299, 311284 etc. etc.

[Bob Krack]

Currently I have about 3,000 rounds of Lake City 30.06 and another 800-1000 cases as well as the dies for my Dillon 550 and RCBS Rock Chucker. Also I have a Garand, a 1917 and a 1917 Sporter, a Gibbs 03A4, and am getting a 1903A3.
What do people think?

:veryconfu What was the question again?:mrgreen:

Bob

[Harter66]

I've worked up 4 loads and 2 boolits for my 65' 110LH in 30-06' it was probably a special order gun, its got a too long throat and a 1-9 twist. It shoots them very well ........................well for me. 12" steel at 300 is no problem. 100 yd 3" groups are the rule sitting 3point off my knees. I have shot a few cast in my daughters 110E in 308 but no real joy there I don't ever recall the groups just that the loads in the LC match wedged in tight due to the extra thick necks. That 308 also just doesn't like any thing over 175gr.