308 vs 30-06

[ozstriker22]

After posting that I wanted that .243

and doing the research, I've decided to stick with a .30 cal or better.

Now, I did keep searching, but couldn't find many comparisons between the .30-06 and the .308 - maybe because they are such similar rounds?

I've noticed the 30-06 carries a little more ooomph than a 308... but 80% of the rifles I looked at today were chambered in 308! There were a couple of guns in 308 that had decent price tags too.

What do you all think? 308 vs a 30-06 - what would you buy? Why?


THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE!!!


Jesse

 

[BDB]

I am by no means an expert and I'm sure you will get some great reponses from the folks here. I had the same dilema myself and have owned and shot both calibers in the past. I chose the '06 with my last purchase but I doubt you'll go wrong in either caliber. The 308 is a short action if that makes any diff to you. Both are pretty common in terms of picking up ammo. As you said the '06 carries a little more punch but at reasonable distances I doubt the pig will notice the diff.

 

[reddog5]

I have both . Both are great . your right about the 30.06 having a little more oomph. Depending on what ammo manufacturer they differ by about 200fps (the 06 being faster) The down range energy differs by around 400ft-lbs. (Guns and Ammo 2004 annual) Its seems to me that i've found more places that carry 30.06 ammo than .308. Also seems the .308 is less expensive . Either way both are great rounds for huntin pigs and other stuff. I also dont notice any differance in recoil. I'm sure the .308 probably has a little less, but my shoulder cant seem to tell.

 

[hicntry]

When you are talking pistols and trying to save a buck(and still get a quality gun), it tough to do. Talking rifles, saving a buck is easy and still get a good rifle. Get the Savage combo or just get the Savage and put a better scope on it. Very vew of the high dollar guns are as accurate as the Savages right out of the box and most are not as accurate. I have killed a lot of deer with mine. I would stay with the 06

 

[prohunter]

You are right about a little more ooomph out of the 30-06. The big difference is a .308 you can get in a short action (lighter rifle). I still think the .243 would have been a great rifle..

 

[Speckmisser]

Good responses, and a nice dilemma to be in, Oz.

Both are good calibers, but as the guys are saying, the 30-06 is gonna edge out the .308, especially on the upper end and in versatility. At reasonable ranges (out to 250), you'd do pretty good with either one. It would be a hard choice, but if I were making it I'd probably go with the 30-06.

 

[ozstriker22]

I'd like to get a nice 30.06 with a wood stock or laminated wood stock. I've only seen the savage in composite... what make/model of rifle would you buy in the $500-$700 range?

My pre-requisite - I want a tack driver. That's why I was so big on the Steyr - hammer forged twisted barrel - I've heard nothing but VERY good things about their guns. Very accurate round and rifle. I've got a good scope and want a gun I can hunt with and also one to take to the range and shoot tight groups at 200 yards.

Besides, I've got 100 casings saved from my old 30-06 - so if I ever reloaded that'd be one less thing to buy!

Keep it coming, guys! Thanks.

Jesse

 

[Shot]

I have a remington in .06. It has held up pretty well considering all the abuse I gave it. Its not to heavy either.

 

[Bruz]

That's why I was so big on the Steyr

Got a Steyr in .308, would not trade it fer anything!

 

[F350]

Oz,
you obviously do your homework and evidently so does hicntry.
I have a Ruger M77 MKII in -06 and could'nt be happier but I've had to do a couple of things to make it do what I want.

As for the Savage? Hicnrty's right. 2 of my buddies went out and got 'em in -06 and, Man, was I amazed. No fancy stocks, no trigger jobs, no breaks no nothin'.
These guys are getting clover leaf groups @ 100 yds.

And what's worse, is that they're totally new to the sport. Really chaps my hide but I'm happy they saved money and got high quality rifles. Now their wives will let 'em hunt

"Nuff Said"

 

[Rancho Loco]

Big 5 flyer today has Savage 30-06 or 7mm mag (syn stock, removeable mag, cheepee scope) for $399...

Throw away the cheepee scope, add a Bushnell Elite 3200...Tax, license, destination fee and for $675 you'll prolly be able to outshoot guys with more spendy rigs. And outshoot me with the cheeper rig..

For something more expensive, Tikka's have a good rep for accuracy, nice looking too.

 

[m57jager]

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy a Tikka. Horrible customer service. I have one that the stock broke because of a defect. Ruined my B&L Elite 3000 and snapped my stock in half. They are the only ones who sell stocks for their guns. No aftermarket. They didn't replace it for free, nor give a discount. They wanted to charge me $464.00 just for the stock(just parts). Turners bit it, and replaced it for for me at under their dealer costs.

Personally, I would buy a Savage like Hicntry said. He's 100% correct. They are one of the most accurate out of the box. Definately more so than Remington, Ruger, Tikka. I own all of them, so I am speaking from first hand experience. Savage was the first to do dual pillar bedding, Remington and Ruger don't. Plus, Savage has a primo trigger with new accu-trigger coming out now. Savage has composite and laminate stocks. Go to savagearms.com and check it out.

The Bushnell Elite are awesome for your money. 98% light transmission and totally clear even at long ranges. I've been at 10,000 feet at -20 in the snow without ever fogging. Customer service is great too, anything and I mean anything happens to that scope, you send it in with $10 and you have it back in two weeks fixed.

As far 308 versus the old trusty 06. 308 all the way, or maybe 7mm08. Short action, lighter smaller rifle, and you can get some pretty decent HE ammunition for it.
Why jump all the way up to the 06? It was a 243 before, which would have done the job. So you jumped to the 308, which is totally sufficient, and now everyones telling you go even bigger. Remember, even if you have a super canon, you still have to hit the right hole. So the whole argument about a shooter being not so good, so a bigger rifle should be better is bunk. You can gut shot a 100lb hog at less than a hundred yards with 300 wby and still have it run forever and never find it. Seen it with my own eyes. The most important thing is good optics, and shooting ability. The bigger and more powerful the rifle, the higher the chance of hindering shooting ability with the flinch factor.

So to sum it up. I'd choose a Savage 308/7mm08 with a Bushnell Elite scope. You won't be sorry.

 

[vandal968]

oz,
I have and would recommend the .308. The .30-06 and .308 are nearly identical ballistically with the '06 having a slight advantage in power. However, either rifle has plenty of power for anything you will ever see in North America. Since the .308 is still current military issue, there is lots of modern, cheap, great-shooting ammo out there. I am buying 1990's vintage Australian surplus for $36/200rnds this includes an ammo can, 4 bandoliers and 40 stripper clips. VERY hard to beat. True that you can still buy milsurp .30-06, but it is Vietnam era stuff.

The Savage rifle/scope deal is EXCELLENT as others have pointed out. But there is another combo deal for the same price that you should check out. Howa has an identical scope/rifle deal that goes for $399 or less. IMHO the machining and trigger on the Howa are a little nicer than the Savage. The rifle is made in Japan, and is also sold in the US as the Weatherby Vanguard (For about $575 without scope).

Here is a link to the .308 version:
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=16698388

And here it is in .30-06:
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=16697283

The included scope is excellent, in fact I like it better than the Leupold VX II that I have on my Ruger.

best,
c

 

[F350]

I still say 30-06.
Cheaper ammo? Mil surp? No thanks!

I don't feed my kids "Free Cheese" from the govt. either.
Or my dog the cheapie stuff.

30-06 is easier to reload due to availability and is still more common in a variety of ammo's at places like Big 5 & Walmart.

I say try a few different types and see what your rifle likes.
As for mine? Winchester xpress silvertips in 150 or 165 gr. The ballistic tip truly helps and the Molly coated bullet pre-lubes for following rounds. Again this is just what my rifle seems to like the best

 

[vandal968]

F350,
Um, I don't see what free cheese and Nato surplus ammo have in common. The Australian stuff (144gr) gives me 1-1/2" groups at 100yrds and the shooter is the limiting factor here, not the rifle or the ammo. For hunting ammo I've got Remington Core-lokt (150gr)which also gives me 1-1/2"groups (again the shooter is to blame) and patterns about 1/2" higher than the Nato stuff. For $.18 a round it can't be beat for practice.

Of course if you like to reload, that changes the equation. However, given the nature of the questions that OZ has asked, I'd venture a guess that he doesn't have a reloading bench at home. Given those factors, cheap surplus practice ammo is a good bet.

best,
c

 

[DILPRXO]

Hi Everyone,
While I shoot and enjoy an 06, I believe Vandal is on the mark here with regard to surplus ammo for training purposes. I have a buddy, who just went thru what Oz is last year. He wanted to hunt hogs in the worst way and wanted an 06..We found a nice 308 at a gunshop I hang out at and he "settled" for it. Money is alittle tight for him,and who isn't it for these days, so he started training with it using surplus ball..I don't know what country it can from ..but what difference does it make..it shoots accurately and affords him more trips to the range. His commitment and the use of surplus ammo for training paid off in the January POR.He knocked down a nice hog with one shot, using Core Lokts. As I've said before..Its not the wand..its the magician..if surplus ammo affords a person more trips to the range to become a better shooter, when they don't have time to take up reloading or their budget is tight to shoot the major brands, then it is a advantage in favor of that caliber.

My

Take care

 

[F350]

Vandal,
I absolutely see your point and not to get off topic, I think the surp is good for getting it on paper but after that point, I start shooting what I'm gonna hunt with so I know what I can count on. Seems anal I'm sure and I probably am but I get
1 1/2" groups with one type of ammo and then 1/2" groups with the stuff my rifle likes.
"Nuff Said"

 

[raidernation]

m57jager
I sure hope that's not how I get treated

Actually, I hope I never HAVE to call them.

But I will say this, I have heard nothing but good thing's as far as their customer service goes. A buddy of mine had a problem with his Trigger mechanism (Adjustable) and they set him up very nice for free. This was after Beretta started importing them. Maybe your problem was before (Hopefully).

The dealer's that don't even carry them have told me nothing but good things also.
Sorry to here you did not get treated well.

Anyways, A few months ago I purchased a Tikka in .300wsm

Have not shot it yet, Still waiting for a DEAL on a nice scope to come by me.

Tikka guarantee's MOA(1in. or less) right out of the box as of last year.

I picked it up for $560 out the door

 

[BDB]

vandal968 mentioned the Howa. I just wanted to say that I picked up the Howa 1500 in '06 and love it. The trigger is just fine for me out of the box was getting 1" groups at the range. The gun outshoots me thats for sure.

 

[Bruz]

I use milsurp for pratice...at first had alot of misfires but tightened the spring and have not had one since. Bought 1000 rounds from somewhere, can shoot 4 leaf clovers at 100 yards with them as well.