'06, period. I like the .308, but the 06 is more flexible. Fact is that the .308 was designed to be a compact version of the 06. But not all things are created equal.
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'06, period. I like the .308, but the 06 is more flexible. Fact is that the .308 was designed to be a compact version of the 06. But not all things are created equal.
I think it depends on the platform the cartridge is fired from more than anything else. If you are trying to make a light rifle; the .308 will allow a short action, saving you a couple of ounces. If you like long actions or heavy bullets; then the .30-06 makes more sense.
I like the .30-06 better -- just because. My last few years in the Navy I would come home during deer season carrying the latest rifle I had built or bought; but if it came down to the last day or so I had my Mauser in .30-06 too.
Like Stew I would like to get an M-14/ M1-A, but funds are too tight right now.
For cast, I like the case capacity of the .308, (and I have about 5 gallons of LC-64 brass), but I also like the longer neck of the .30-06.
I guess the best thing is to have both.
Robert
I went with 308 simply because I've used maybe 7 or 8 308's but only a couple '06's. I know the 308 and I like it. Were you to ask 358 or 35 Whelen then I'd go with the Whelen for the same reason.
Hmmmmmmm, wonder which one I chose-lol. My truck guns are an M1A and a Remmy 700-both in 51. I keep them in a metal rifle case with an "M" style SKS laying on top for quick grab. My "hobby" is collecting a few '06 pushers. I deer hunt with them and have for over thirty yrs. There is nothing on this continent that my old tried and true '06 will not down. Far as that goes nothing on the planet. Saw a pic of an elephant dropped by an M-16 so it can be done. Some are killed by arrows but IMO they(hunters) don't have a longevity problem-lol. There was a "real mall ninga" on another site that said the '06 was not a true 1,000 yard weapon. I told him he just did not want to find out the hard way. Good old trustworthy round and I like them. My son shoots with his sniper buds and runs down the '06 as not having a high Ballistic Coefficient. I just shrug and load my .50 round while he is loading his $2 round and I hit within an inch of his holes. Just tears him a "new one"--lol.
I thought long and hard about this one. I still have to say .30-06. I love the .308 but it really isn't the vehicle an 06 is when loading 200 grain partitions. I might never have need for 200 grain partitions again so the argument is kinda of moot, but the .30-06 does have a bit more uumph.
Nearly 50 years ago a 30-06 was the first centerfire rifle I ever fired. I was about 10 years old. The rifle was an as issued 03-A3 Springfield. That steel butt plate just about tore my shoulder off and lightning flashed in my head. My uncle laughed and laughed and said to my dad, " I bet he doesn't want to shoot it again. ". I stuck out my chin and asked for another shell. 30-06 has been my favorite cartridge ever since. I have many other calibers and I use them all but nothing will ever take the place of the 30-06 with me. The .308 is a nearly identical intended replacement to the 30-06. The .308 does not lack in power or performance. My Savage model 12 F/TR in .308 will shoot 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards nearly any day of the week. My 30-06 just happens to be the rifle with the best and most fond memories. Apples to apples.
God bless,
Nighthunter
Thats almost like asking me what I mine better - Ding Dongs, or HO HOs..........
I want both!
I use the 30/06 - better performance with heavy bullets
I voted for the 30-06 but for a penny I would vote for the .308!
I love them both.
I voted 30-06 but my best loved Rifle is 308 so we are really talking apples and apples to me.
So, does anyone ever do a .308 AI? I've never heard of one.
Never seen a 308 AI rifle but have seen the reamers listed. Not much their to gain in case taper like in 06.
Shooting buddy has a 30-06 AI. Great improvement IMO. He gets 3,000 fps with 180 grain bullets. Not sure of the barrel length. With a 24 or 26" barrel the 30-06 AI doesn't give up enough to notice to the 300 win mag and the mag needs 20 grains more powder to do it.
The name of the game is "What projectile do you want to shoot, and how fast?" Pick the case size and its fuel to do the job, not more, not less. Then pick out the barrel, action, and stock in that order. If nothing fits, then go full custom with each element to make the system fit into a solid machine. Everything else would be a compromise, making another gun and therefore further expense mandatory to meet specs. ... felix
From a hunting point of view, you cannot beat the all around versatility of the 30-06.
Loaded light with 125 grain bullets it's a varmit rifle
Loaded with 150 grain BT SPTs it's a 300+ yard white tail load (much better tragectory than .308 loadings)
Loaded with 170-180 grain bullets it can take Elk, Moose, bear, etc.
All of this in a cartridge that is easy to reload with unlimited supplies of brass for reloading available cheap.
If I could only have one rifle for hunting it would be the 30-06.
The recoil claim that the 308 produced less recoil bothered me. I first attributed it to different guns until I shot a 308 Garand along side a 30-06 Garand. I did some research and found that the weight of the powder charge and the powder velocity needs to be included in the recoil calculations.Quote:
As for those who say the .308 kicks less than the '06, if I'm not mistaken, Newton's Laws are still in effect. A 150 gr bullet fired at 2800 fps from either cartridge in the same weight rifle will surely develop exactly the same recoil.
One calculation of the recoil velocity is
(bullet weight X bullet velocity) + (powder weight X powder velocity)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- = Vel
7000 X weight of the gun
(7000 grains = 1 pound)
:redneck:Seems you are getting a lot of answers that are keyed on J-condom bullets, yes the 06 is more versitle with heavy boolits in cast because of the case neck length...that said, I don't shoot cast in M1A1...I do in my other 308's, but I have no use for 200+gr boolits in this caliber because I hunt with 30/30, 44mag, 45/70.......:cbpour:
I picked .308 based on one fact I have tiny little t-rex arms and i like the short throw.
I didn't see this covered but if it was and I missed it, I'm sorry for the repete. I have both the 06.and the 308 in many configurations I like them both, but if I had to choose between the two it would be the 06 for all of the reasons already stated plus a few more. Being a handloader, it is easier to turn 270, 280, 25'-06,and a few other 06 based cartridges back to 30-06 than it is to make them 308. Next. in a pinch you can chamber and fire 308's, oft times with quite accurate results out of a gad tight 30-06.
ßest wishes from the Boer Ranch,
joe
I thought of the .308 and 30-06 difference since I was a youngin. But always felt if you have a 30-06 why have a .308 lol. The debate between the two has gone on forever as far as accuracy and in this department the .308 does have more wins in its belt than the 30-06. But for most of us these are hunting weapons. So with the 30-06 as said can be loaded for a very wide range of bullet weights both in jacket and cast and I feel that it is one of the most widely used and carried cartridges one can find. So I still feel that people that hunt should at least have one 30-06 in there stash.
But the same thing as mentioned goes on between the .358 Winchester which is based on the .308 cartridge and the 35 Whelen which is based on the 30-06 cartridge. Many cartridges have been designed for there nitch use in both the 308 and the 30-06 so really in the end you can not really go wrong with either cartridge depending on what you plan to hunt with it. :)
As with everything else in this world it is not really what everyone else thinks but more of how a person decides for themselves there own personal use of any caliber or firearm
"The 'o6 has more flexability in loading , the smaller 308 ,while a fine cartridge seems to run out of case cap with some of the slower powders I have used. Both are more than accurate enough for my uses and my 308 is prolly my favorite rifle, but I started with the '06 and really like to load for it. my.02
John "
+1 Duckhunter