VA Shooter
Single-Sixer
Im planing to buy a rifle and can't decide on cal either 308 or 30-06. I will be using this for deer and black bear. I plan on reloading for it also Thanks for your help
308 or 30-06
- Thread starter VA Shooter
- Start date
My advice has always been "If you're going to make do with one rifle, make it an '06".
The old .30-06 with factory loaded 220 grain bullets will do the job on brown bears, and for long shots, the Hornady "Light Magnum" ammunition will come darn close to matching a .300 Win Mag.
And if you're a handloader, the word "versatile" is the best way to describe the old timer.
Edit - - Talking with a shooting pal, I mentioned this thread, and he told me it's been too long since I bought any factory ammo. The "Light Magnum" has been discontinued and is replaced by "Superformance" ammunition. It's supposed to be even better.
The old .30-06 with factory loaded 220 grain bullets will do the job on brown bears, and for long shots, the Hornady "Light Magnum" ammunition will come darn close to matching a .300 Win Mag.
And if you're a handloader, the word "versatile" is the best way to describe the old timer.
Edit - - Talking with a shooting pal, I mentioned this thread, and he told me it's been too long since I bought any factory ammo. The "Light Magnum" has been discontinued and is replaced by "Superformance" ammunition. It's supposed to be even better.
I go with the 308 just to get the short action and the fact that I'm a 308 nut. However, due to the current situation with ammo, I still see 30-06 ammo at Wal-Mart and most other places and there's always range pick up 30-06 brass. The 308 brass gets picked up immediately by all of the black gun reloaders. The animals you mentioned would never know the difference. Next trick is to find some bullets, primers, and powder. Bob! 
justbill2013
Bearcat
No hesitation - .30-06. Anything the .308 can do, the Old Warhorse can do a bit better. And as rangerbob said, ammo is always available. Three oh eight is a distant memory these days.
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I prefer short actions, and have 4 rifles in 308. Either caliber would be fine for anything in the lower 48 without any problems. That being said I would recommend a 30/06, for all of the reasons posted above.
OP
VA Shooter
Single-Sixer
Well I got the Ruger American in 30-6 yesterday. My LGS had 3 of them for $329.99 $30 less than Walmart. Now need to get a set of dies and start reloading. Thank you for your input.
I would get the .308. It's a bit more pleasant to shoot and the Hawkeyes in this caliber come in a shade lighter. The ammo shortage is already starting to fade away with the recent vote in Congress. The .308 will get it done and burn less powder doing it. You don't need a 30-06 if you have a .308 and vice versa. Pick the one you want for your own reasons. I doubt you'll have any regrets.
leon670 said:
He already got the '06, so it's kind of a moot point.
However, if you think there's a chance for an Alaska brown bear trip when you win the lottery, the .30-06 is the hands-down choice. Same thing for moose or caribou where a heavy bullet is desired; with 150 or even 165 grain bullets, the .308 comes pretty close to the .30-06. Load up some 180s and the gap widens significantly.... not certain, but I dont think there are any 200 or 220 grain loads for the .308.
Maybe a trip out west for elk.... definitely a better chance of that happening. If you get that lucky, you need to plan on a 300 to 400 yard shot (although you may end up with a 50-yard shot). If you end up having to take a long poke, the .308 will do it, but the '06 will do it better.
trauma1
Single-Sixer
30-06, 30-06, 30-06, 30-06, 30-06, 30-06! Any questions? Ammo availability, longevity, track record, versatility, lethality and on, and on, and on.
Only reason to choose the .308 in a hunting rifle is that you really want a short action. When the .308 brags about being "almost equal to the 30/06" in a more compact package, it's really just saying "not quite as good" when the chips are down.
I own and shoot several .308's but most are target type rifles. For this use, I prefer the .308 over the 30/06 because of economy of reloading and it's often easier to find a super accurate load. For hunting, I often use sporterized military rifles which are all long action so the 30/06 is the logical choice.
I own and shoot several .308's but most are target type rifles. For this use, I prefer the .308 over the 30/06 because of economy of reloading and it's often easier to find a super accurate load. For hunting, I often use sporterized military rifles which are all long action so the 30/06 is the logical choice.
Floridaoutdoors
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- May 21, 2011
- Messages
- 210
Speaking of short actions,if a single shot is acceptable you might find the Ruger No.1 International in 30-06 to be one trim,handy rifle.In fact,any No.1 version offers 'short' action relatively speaking.
.30-06 ... Best rifle cartridge ever made when all factors are considered. If loaded with 179 grain bullets this is a sub moa caliber, ammo is everywhere and cheap, the new light magnum loads by hornady put it into 300 win mag performance range, and it just one of the coolest calibers out there.
To add to my post....the reason the .308 is perceived as more accurate is because the 155 grain bullet that was common for both is better suited to the case angle of the .308, once you start to step up the weight, the .30-06 stabilizes producing tighter groups. Not sure the science behind it all, but 179 grain has proven the most accurate weight for .30-06.
dakota1911
Buckeye
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2009
- Messages
- 1,021
I would vote 30-06 right now due to the ammo situation. I also reload and it is lovely when you do that. I love the Ruger No. 1, and you can still have a short rifle in 30-06 with it. Below is my Ruger No. 1 International flanked by two Ruger 10/22 Internationals.
Shooting Coach
Bearcat
Another vote for the Thirty-Ought-Six. Period.
Heavier bullets, more power, the standard by which ALL others are judged.
Heavier bullets, more power, the standard by which ALL others are judged.
Nomosendero
Single-Sixer
VA Shooter said:
As they say, an '06 is never a bad choice.
I shoot 308 far more, but I have a VERY accurate 300WM that I use when I need more long range punch, these days my '06 doesn't get much action. But for a one rifle guy the '06 is about as good as it gets.
i hope your 30-06 does as well as my 308 American, it is a shooter!!
ndcowboy
Blackhawk
OIF2 said:.30-06 in a customized Ruger Hawkeye...doesn't get any better.
Bob
Nice rifle!!!
But they put the bolt on the wrong side :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
For sake of discussion....
I faced a similar circumstance (choosing a 30 cal) a year ago and chose the 300 Winchester due to greater versatility to the hand-loader. I can load to -06 and 308 velocities with the WinMag, just not the other way around. By a similar rational, I would chose the -06 over the 308. I also thought I might end up in Wyoming or Alaska so I wanted a big gun.
The only reasons I would chose a .308 are if I preferred the model/configuration of a rifle only available in 308 (best reason), I was recoil sensitive and only used factory ammo, or I just don't care about cartridge hype or ballistics charts (which is reasonable). What I mean is that I don't get the short action logic. While many short action rifles are configured by design to be shorter, lighter, and more maneuverable, this has little to do if anything with the 1/2 inch shorter action.
Further, it seems from research that the short action "accuracy advantage" is yet to make its way from .308 shooters' imagination to the realm of reality. We'll see if it ever completes the journey. I think it's called purgatory
I faced a similar circumstance (choosing a 30 cal) a year ago and chose the 300 Winchester due to greater versatility to the hand-loader. I can load to -06 and 308 velocities with the WinMag, just not the other way around. By a similar rational, I would chose the -06 over the 308. I also thought I might end up in Wyoming or Alaska so I wanted a big gun.
The only reasons I would chose a .308 are if I preferred the model/configuration of a rifle only available in 308 (best reason), I was recoil sensitive and only used factory ammo, or I just don't care about cartridge hype or ballistics charts (which is reasonable). What I mean is that I don't get the short action logic. While many short action rifles are configured by design to be shorter, lighter, and more maneuverable, this has little to do if anything with the 1/2 inch shorter action.
Further, it seems from research that the short action "accuracy advantage" is yet to make its way from .308 shooters' imagination to the realm of reality. We'll see if it ever completes the journey. I think it's called purgatory
ruggedruger
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2009
- Messages
- 462
I bought a .308, after which my buddy said "Good caliber. Ammo always available..."
hahahahahahahahaha.
I can find 30-06 in every store I walk into. Little .308.
Not worried yet. I imagine it'll come around.
hahahahahahahahaha.
I can find 30-06 in every store I walk into. Little .308.
Not worried yet. I imagine it'll come around.
Nomosendero
Single-Sixer
ruggedruger said:
Seeing more 308 ammo in my area now!
My father an old Korea Marine.... swears by 3-06... he says they used to shoot through concrete block walls with a BAR.... after shooting the Garrand I gave him and seeing those full metal jacket rounds go through two 12" oak trees.... YIKES!
I'm nothing close to an expert on these rounds but staying under something like a 300 magnum.... or 50 cal... I'd love to have a bolt action 3-06. It seems it would reach out way past my visual range.
I'm nothing close to an expert on these rounds but staying under something like a 300 magnum.... or 50 cal... I'd love to have a bolt action 3-06. It seems it would reach out way past my visual range.
Nomosendero
Single-Sixer
OIF2 said:A bolt gun is nice, if you're limited to one gun. If I could have two, it'd be ANOTHER .30-06...my customized 77 and this No 1. One zeroed for 180s, the other for 150s.
Bob
Beautiful rifle, I hope I don't see one like that for sale!!
