Thanks for your input, I am starting to lean towards the 30-06 on the basis it gives me more future hunting scope. I'm also thinking I apply for both calibres under my variation application and leave the door open for now, at least that would enable me to get the application process underway.You simply can’t go wrong with a .308 or .30/06, as so many agree have attested with great advice and experience. Given your future hunting plans, I would lean slightly towards the .30/06 because it handles heavier hunting bullets much better. It also just so happens to be my favorite hunting cartridge!
Calibre Advice for the 'all rounder'?
- Thread starter Bigfoot1973
- Start date
JohnCZ
Well-Known Member
I like the 30-06, gives you some room to load for accuracy without harming velocity to much meaning you can back the top end down to an accuracy node and still outperform a 308. Here in Oz the 308 has some kind of mythical ability, the 30-06 is just better.
I have had 300Win and 300Wby, both now gone however I kept my three 30-06, just easier to shoot well over a magnum and handle heavier loads better than 308 too. There is probably a caveat on this and I would say if you are only ever going to shoot 150gr bullets then buy a 308, there's not a lot of difference between 308 and 30-06 with 150gr bullets, any heavier get a '06. The action length argument for me and Tikka owners is a moot point, I shoot mostly Blaser so action length is irrelevant.
Next season I am going to hunt mostly with 9.3x62 so we will see how multi-use that is.
I have had 300Win and 300Wby, both now gone however I kept my three 30-06, just easier to shoot well over a magnum and handle heavier loads better than 308 too. There is probably a caveat on this and I would say if you are only ever going to shoot 150gr bullets then buy a 308, there's not a lot of difference between 308 and 30-06 with 150gr bullets, any heavier get a '06. The action length argument for me and Tikka owners is a moot point, I shoot mostly Blaser so action length is irrelevant.
Next season I am going to hunt mostly with 9.3x62 so we will see how multi-use that is.
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Put in for both and then find a rifle that you like.
JohnCZ
Well-Known Member
I was an eight year old kid when I shot a M1 Garand Pop bought back from WW2, first centre fire I shot. It kicked like a mule or so I thought until I shot a 460Wby 15 years later
I’m more than happy to if you actually want it, but I don’t want to waste time arguing over what’s a simple fact. There’s no replacement for displacement, the .308 is a smaller case. I’ve just looked in my hornady manual and it gives top velocity at max pressure in a .30-06 at 2750fps with a 180grn cx, or 2550fps with the same bullet in .308.
My 9 year old son shot a .308”WIN with no recoil issues in South Africa.
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Excited
I am heading to South Africa tomorrow with my three boys. Very excited for my first trip for plains game. I am not taking my rifle as we are going on an extended trip with an extensive itinerary and a few internal flights, plus international transfers. I will hopefully get some good pictures and...
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tackb
Well-Known Member
ok , i won't waste you or anyone elses time with facts
using a 175gr lrx bullet the 2000fps limit you imposed is 300m in the 308 and 400m in the 30/06 using your rather biased velocity data
i am not disputing that the 30/06 is capable of more velocity than the 308 but the difference isn't what the 30/06 fan boys would have you believe
Polar Lynx
Well-Known Member
Practical issues. The 30:06 will need a (much) longer barrel than a 308 or 24' vs 20' for the 308 to be ideal. When moderator is added the 308 will be ok but the 30:06 will be 'a long stick' to move.
Also, when shooting from a high stand most often animals do not come out where expected. So one has to take an akward shot and recoil may be an dreadful issue.
Further, with heavy recoil eye relief or distance to scope is something to think of.
Anyway, 308 and 30:06 are of same caliber so question is: willI I need extra power (speed, bullet) of 30:06 or will a 'softer' rifle do.
Also, when shooting from a high stand most often animals do not come out where expected. So one has to take an akward shot and recoil may be an dreadful issue.
Further, with heavy recoil eye relief or distance to scope is something to think of.
Anyway, 308 and 30:06 are of same caliber so question is: willI I need extra power (speed, bullet) of 30:06 or will a 'softer' rifle do.
JohnCZ
Well-Known Member
There definitely isn't a lot of difference between a 308 and a 30-06 and as you put it the 30-06 fan boys rant for the 30-06 over the 308w and the 308w fanboys claim the 308w matches the 30-06, I own both and my Garmin Xero confirms the 308w is slower with both light and heavy bullets. With a 24" barrel, about a 150fps velocity with light bullets and a 200fps with heavy bullets. Much difference, not really, but tell a 308 fanboy that a 300 Savage is as good as a 308w and see their response. Of course there is a difference, much? No, but there is a difference. I personally enjoy both but my go to is the 30-06 most of the time.
tackb
Well-Known Member
you can stretch a 308 to close the gap but it's stretching to do what the 30/06 does easily without stretching
that being said i'd bet the farm that nobody has ever lost a deer because they were using a 308 not a 30/06 ......
Considering all the valued comments and input to date my thoughts are:
My heart says 30-06 whilst my head says .308, because:
I'd like a short (as it can be) manouverable rifle for a number of reasons.
I am used to shooting at distances out to 200yrds with the .223, and both rifles will easily extend that to say 300m (If I can't get close enough I don't shoot, thats my own personal rule).
As a 'learner' in this higher calibre do I need to shoot over 300m (I think not, will need to use my stalking skills to close any gap which is all part of the enjoyment).
I prefer closer shots to long range, I might 'put less meat on the table' but its usually dead with one round.
Shooting out to 300m should be easily achieved with the .308 as long as I understand my bullet trajectory (which I would plot with targets).
.308 will handle the game I would like to hunt in the coming 5 years say, to get proficient at the larger calibre use.
If I then want to purchase a 30-06 I should be able to when more pennies have been saved.
If I apply for both calibres on my FAC in the short term I might still be able to retain the choice, if the constabulary are happy, and I can change should discussions with the gunsmith lead me down that path........
Important step now is to get the FAC Variation Application in and considered by Kent Police me thinks.
My heart says 30-06 whilst my head says .308, because:
I'd like a short (as it can be) manouverable rifle for a number of reasons.
I am used to shooting at distances out to 200yrds with the .223, and both rifles will easily extend that to say 300m (If I can't get close enough I don't shoot, thats my own personal rule).
As a 'learner' in this higher calibre do I need to shoot over 300m (I think not, will need to use my stalking skills to close any gap which is all part of the enjoyment).
I prefer closer shots to long range, I might 'put less meat on the table' but its usually dead with one round.
Shooting out to 300m should be easily achieved with the .308 as long as I understand my bullet trajectory (which I would plot with targets).
.308 will handle the game I would like to hunt in the coming 5 years say, to get proficient at the larger calibre use.
If I then want to purchase a 30-06 I should be able to when more pennies have been saved.
If I apply for both calibres on my FAC in the short term I might still be able to retain the choice, if the constabulary are happy, and I can change should discussions with the gunsmith lead me down that path........
Important step now is to get the FAC Variation Application in and considered by Kent Police me thinks.
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
Not directed at you, but people usually don't understand the problems recoil brings. There are other such claims in this thread.
First problem is shooter "extra input" i.e. flinching and so on. Moderator will help here.
Second problem is less than ideal form when shooting. Field conditions make this worse, and moderator does very little here. It does add a bit of weight to the gun, but the bullet is already on it's way before moderator "helps" with "recoil problems". Same goes for muzzle brake.
Ill fitting lightweight 308 can definitely have accuracy/precision (what ever you want to call it, that shooter doesn't hit POA) problems with average shooter.
That's all well and good for the UK species but if going abroad country dependant longer shots are often required.
caorach
Well-Known Member
As ever there is only one answer to this question - go into your local gunshop and ask them to show you the range of ammo they have and buy the rifle with the most available ammo. Getting ammo can be hard enough these days and you either want to go deer stalking or want to go driving around the country looking for ammo, if you want to go deer stalking then get the most common as muck cartridge you can find. Arguments about having 1/2 inch less drop at 1000 yards or having another 100fps and that makes all the difference are all balderdash if you've no ammo.
For this reason I have a 308 as there is a filling station in the Outer Hebrides that can offer me a range of ammo choice for it.
For this reason I have a 308 as there is a filling station in the Outer Hebrides that can offer me a range of ammo choice for it.
JohnCZ
Well-Known Member
Recoil in lightweight rifles is definitely a problem, my Weatherby Mark V Ultralightweight was chambered in 300Wby and without the brake it was a hard charging monster however applying good fundamentals I was able to shoot 3 shot groups under MOA. Now I was shooting a 470NE recently and I am okay with recoil but lightweight rifles even in smallish calibers like the 308 or 30-06 are just plain harder to shoot than a heavier rifle.
My opinion is that both the 308 or 30-06 can be shot by an adult without recoil issues, 30 magnums or bigger bores may be different story, but rifle weight matters. There is an over emphasis on lightweight over shoot-ability.
Nothing like a great carrying rifle you can't hit stuff with.
mike243
Well-Known Member
.300 etc, thats a new one on me, is that a new chambering I've not heard of
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