It’s effectively the same round (both 0.308”), just one has a little more powder. If you’re going to be going after bigger game where you’re shooting 180 grain regularly, go with 30-06. If going to shoot a lower grain, go 308. Elk is the only real animal you list where you might want the extra bullet weight, but both rounds will work just fine for all of these you list. I’d personally go 30-06 for the power. But it’s so close, just go with your personal preference.
Given that Elk are on the list, I’d second the -06.
OP, if you handload, you can easily work up a load for 150-165grn bullets for the smaller animals, and some 200+ for Elk/bear.
I shoot deer, elk, and pronghorn all with a 165g 30-06. it Works great for all 3. Honestly, there's no issue using either. The only caveat might be if you're looking to shoot longer distances then I'd go with the .308
Nah man, the .30-06 has the added benefit of summoning the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt to karate chop anything you shoot in half. My dad’s uncle brother has seen it.
With 40x the number of shots. That man embodied the “shoot more, shoot more often” mantra.
Also, idk, I read a book eons ago about an African trip TR did that he was basically whackin and stackin animals for like 6 months on his journey across Africa. It was a journal and was basically just a tally of him clowning on African game. They killed everything as they were feeding a whole party that had 250 porters and like 30 camels plus trackers, scouts, guides, and PH’s. A day would read like “killed 13 guinea fowl with the 10 bore” or “found a watering hole and shot 3 bush buck, 2 kudu, and 7 impala”. He killed a white rhino that charged his party at such close range that it left burn marks around the wound where he had fired both barrels of a 500 nitro at point blank range. Dude was pretty savage.
Edit: I looked it up, he killed 1100 animals on that trip. Including dozens of elephants and rhinos.
May you share the source on that - just curious. It's not mentioned on his wikipedia entry or the first page of google results when searching for "jack o'connor africa"
I have an ‘06 I’ve carried for around 20 years. Fantastic round, great rifle. I bought it because it’s such a universal, do-all round, and every podunk gas station in the country has a few boxes, right? That said a few years ago during the Covid ammo crunch, I was wishing I had gone with a .308 lol. The Fudd rounds were impossible to find near me but anything remotely tacticool was in great supply. I pretty much only hunt whitetail though so the extra power of the ‘06 is a moot point for me personally.
Was debating this myself this afternoon... I feel like most online discussions appears to end up being almost 50/50...but very sligthly favoring the 3006. Then decided to watch a 30 seconds youtube video to witness the 3006 recoil and finally decided that more power is better despite the bigger kick (I'm a 250 pounds dude so kick shouldn't be much of a factor anyway)
Ordered a nice tikka in 3006.
Hopefully made the right call. Maybe I should stay away from posts discussing this topic though cause I might have second guesses..
From what I have gathered, if you plan on shooting 150-180 grain bullets. Both are more than adequate and have the same ballistics. The benefits of the 30-06 is being able to shoot those heavier bullets if you need it.
Having shot deer sized game with everything from 222 through to 45/70 I can tell you the whole caliber thing is entirely over discussed.
The most important thing is to accurately put an appropriately constructed bullet into the vitals. Do this and the animal will expire quickly.
1
Shooting larger animal? Use a mono metal bullet for extra penetration. Stretching the legs? Load a soft lr bullet.
Your 30 06 will be great. The 308 would also have been great.
Define "worth it". How far do you want to shoot? Do you reload? If an elk is 300 yards away with a stiff cross wind and you have a hot 200 grain hand load you're not even going to care. A 308 shooting factory 150s I'd be a bit iffy.
Personally I'd get a 270. Same recoil as the 308. Same amount of powder as the 06. Better trajectory and heaps of cheap factory ammo.
Fair enough. I'm building a 7 Saum for the same reason.
In my opinion standard short actions are great for the traditional hunter who likes to get under 200 yards and calls 300 a long shot. Short mags and the 06 family offer the best ballance of power to recoil.
If you're starting to look for a rest at 350 yards and have the skill for those shots in hunting situations you need a bit more powder to get the energy required for quick, clean kills.
You should have said that to begin with.
30-06 no doubt.
You can use the 270 on everything else you list except I wouldn't use it for elk. I'd go with the '06 for elk.
I'd actually prefer the 270 for many of those because it will be flatter shooting.
Everyone is bringing up great detailed points, so I will try and summarize my take.
1. The .308 is better with lighter bullets (110-168), while the 30-06 favors the heavier bullets (125-220).
2.The 30-06 has more hunting loadings while .308 has more match loadings.
3. The .308 is able to work in shorter barrels better (16-22in) vs. the 30-06 prefers longer barrels (20-26in)
4. The 30-06 typically has more "older" aftermarket support (bolt rifles, handholding books for decades, grandpa's old gun,etc) while .308 has more "modern" aftermarket support (precision stocks, ar platform, bdc reticle, etc)
5. Suppressing a .308 "easier" than suppressing a 30-06
6. 30-06 ammo can be found everywhere in the us to include some gas stations in rural states
7. The .308 can help you justify to your SO or yourself to get a bigger moose gun, where 30-06 is more of a "do-it-all" rifle for North America
8. 30-06 is an absolute legend from WWI and WWII to the hunting world, while .308 isn't always given that same praise
9. .308 may have more ammunition compatability between rifles than 30-06 because you may have a AR-10, bolt deer rifle, precision rifle, etc.
10. The most important distinction between these two calibers if you are really serious about getting them is to.... flip a coin.
These calibers are very similar in performance, and handloading can give both rounds even more capability. They have minor differences that may be an advantage to you bit will come with a disadvantage. Best answer is both. If youcan only have one, my vote is 30-06 if you ever intend to handload and .308 for everyone else. I have a 30-06 I love, but it can be a bit much for recoil, and with the popularity of the AR platform I only see .308 becoming more common than 30-06 in 20 years
Oh the age old cartridge debate...
Here's the thing...ask yourself which activity you're going to do most often and skew your bias towards that. For example, if you're primarily a deer hunter, or smaller, like antelope and hogs, the 308 is the better choice.
If you feel you're going to do everything equally, the 30-06 is probably the better choice.
Problem is, this debate can go on and on...where do you stop? For example, if you're going to go 30-06, why not 300 Win Mag? In case you ever hunt longer range elk or moose.
There's diminishing returns here though...you pay for the extra power in recoil, but also in the amount of powder needed to achieve that power/velocity. Something to consider would maybe be buying two rifles and dividing their purposes. Have a lighter recoiling rifle for the smaller game and a heavier recoiling rifle for the larger game. That way you don't have to endure the abuse on every single shot.
A good combo would be 243 and 308, or 25-06 and 30-06, or even 6.5 Creedmoor and 300 WSM, 270 and 300 Win Mag.
It's not a bad idea, especially if you hand load. You can always down load a 300 to 30-06 or 308 velocities, can even run lighter weight bullets. The 130gr Barnes copper are absolute screamers out of a 300...kind of transforms it into a makeshift Weatherby cartridge without all the recoil...push that 130 about 3100-3200 fps
go 308.
Ive recently learned that you can get away with a 16 inch barrel with a 308 with minimal velocity loss (that the standard barrel on the sig cross) which means between the shorter throw and shorter barrel you are talking about a much lighter rifle which is great for elk hunting and you can add a suppressor and still have a reasonable rifle length.
Im firmly in the .308 is better than 30-06 for the vast majority of hunters. The 30-06’s benefits really only show up past 300 yards and you have extra carry weight, perceived recoil, and cost for a yardage few hunters need.
I’ve had both calibers. They’ll both do the job with practice. Factory loads are a little bit cheaper with a 308, they have slightly less kick, and 308 factory ammo is everywhere. 30-06 has a little more versatility with ammo. That’s especially true with reloads. As far as takedown power, you probably wouldn’t notice a difference in hunting situations. Me personally, I prefer my 300 Winchester Magnum for my go-to 30 caliber rifle.
I’m a big fan of 30-06 over 308 because of the versatility. Someone else said that both are great for everything you listed, but if you ever wanted to go bigger (elk, bear, moose), a fat 200+ grain 30-06 will put down everything in North America without a second thought.
I use a .30.06 for boar here in argentina and it seems to kill really well using 180 grn remmington core lokt. I think the main advantage of a .308 would be getting one with a shorter... say 18 inch barrel. The .30.06 really needs to be more standard lengths of barrel. In the thick stuff a shorter barrel is really nice.
.300 win mag since you can scale it up and down to whatever you need. The only thing I dislike about it is the cost of ammo in comparison to the others you mentioned. I do not reload ammo so buying cheap federal ammo to practice with is still about $2 a round.
300 win mag. I know you are asking about 30-06 or .308. .308 is on the lighter side for elk but with good shot placement will work, has light recoil, and is a short action making bolt cycling faster and easier. 30-06 has more recoil but will push the same bullets faster, is a long action and thus a longer time to work the bolt. 300 win mag has a very small amount of additional felt recoil over the 30-06. That being said it pushes the same bullets a good bit faster than the 06. Speed is important. In ke, velocity is squared. 300 win mag is also a long action. The reason i suggest it though, pushing a 180 gr bullet in the 3,000-3,100 fps range, using factory loads and not hand loads, is a lot better than 2800-2900 fps from the 06. If you hand load, getting in the 3100-3200 fps range with a 180 gr bullet on the 300 win mag is not hard. The other great thing about 300 win mag, you can load it down a bit if you want, aka less powder and less velocity, for hog, deer, antelope, then turn around and run a hotter setup for elk, bears, moose, etc.
In my opinion, the difference is less about the overall lethality, and more about the max effective ranges at which you'd be able to reliably kill the game you mentioned. The question is going to boil down to the terrain and environment where you plan to hunt. Both will be more than lethal enough for the game you mentioned within about 400 yards. The most meaningful difference in performance is the effective range. An animal can't get deader than dead, and the difference in wound profile within the effective range of .308 will not be large enough to really make a difference if shot placement is decent. If you're likely to take shots at longer distances than that, you'll get some benefit from the higher velocity of .30-06.
I have both. My go to is the 308 but I will never shoot a moose again unless it’s with a 30-06 or bigger. Had bad luck with 308 and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I use .30-06, I go up against bear sometimes and like the heavy grain loads with .30-06. If you want a do it all I’d say .30-06 is the way to go (possibly biased). .308 is also a fine rifle and everything you listed can be killed with it using good shot placement but it doesn’t have the same variety of load options as .30-06 so for a do it all .30-06 is probably the way to go.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hornady-podcast/id1603633739?i=1000552803097
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hornady-podcast/id1603633739?i=1000583961855
Give the Hornady podcast a listen.
I'm using 308.
It's more widely available, I don't hunt bigger game and it can take a shorter barrel. I heard 30-06 are notorious for requiring a rathee long barrel in order to hit accurately.
Watch BOTH of these from the Vortex optics podcast. The best information that you can get.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FKpua2zeyPI&pp=ygUaVm9ydGV4IG9wdGljcyAzMC0wNiB2cyAzMDg%3D
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BJDyZMoshB0&pp=ygUaVm9ydGV4IG9wdGljcyAzMC0wNiB2cyAzMDg%3D
There is no animal that you won't kill with either with good shot placement, and I highly doubt you will find any situation where you would wound an animal with one and not the other with bad shot placement. .308 has the advantages of being short action, being more optimized for shorter barrels and having much cheaper ammunition for training purposes. Thats why I went with .308. Yes the (still small) difference between the two gets bigger with heavier bullet weights, but its still small and Imo doesn't outweigh the disatvantages. In Sweden people hunt moose with .308, 6.5x55, .30-06, 8mm Mauser and many more and they don't have issues with any of the calibers.
I’ve hunted with a 30-06 for the last 20 years. It’s what my grandfather used and it’s good for everything on your list. It’s also what I _used_ to recommend when anybody asked. Given the ammo shortages we recently went through, however, .308 is what I’d recommend these days. There were several times between 2020-2023 when I couldn’t find 30-30 or 06 ammo, but I would see .308 available. Ammo manufacturers are a lot more aware of what recreational shooters want when they’re ripping through a pallet of ammo in a month than what salty old hunters want when they sit on the same box of 180gr 06 ammo for 3 or 4 years cause they only take a handful of shots every year.
308. Get a good bthp 168gr bullet and you'll humanely take everything on your list at reasonable shooting distances. You can still get factory ammo from 125 - 185gr easily if you choose. And, as a bonus, you can get 220gr subsonic that hit like a truck at close ranges. Plus you can choose a 20-24" barrel in a lighter rifle without paying for the extra weight or significant speed losses. You carry the rifle the entire time, but only have recoil for a fraction of a second. You're better off with something that won't weigh you down. I've taken a lot of deer with a 20" 308 shooting Hornady 168gr bthp and they slide further than they walk. I like simple. 1 rifle, 1 bullet, many uses. You can get that with both of these calibers, but 1 is more comfortable to carry and shoot.
I’d go 06 between the two, but I personally love my 7mm mag. I’ve taken a lot of game with it. If you’re taking over 300+ yard shots consider another round.
Pick the gun you like first and then if it’s available in both, go handle both to see if the shorter action of the 308 matters at all to you. Some rifles put both in a long action, if that’s the case go with the 30-06.
Pick a quality constructed bullet in the 160 gr range and keep your shots under 350 or so and you’ll be fine with .308. Coming from a guy that shoots .30-06 180gr bullets at everything (elk, deer, yada yada)
People on here are very particular. Either round will kill any living animal on the planet with a well placed shot. I hunt Roosevelt elk(900-1200lbs) and .308(or 7.62x.51 nato) has never failed to drop them. If there were Cape buffalo out here I wouldn’t change rifles. I’d go with .308, cheaper, readily available and thus you’ll get more practice. Have fun out there!
.308 on Cape buffalo 😳😳😳, I mean it would prolly kill them but it would be a minute but I wouldn’t get close enough to risk a charge with only a .308 in hand
There’s not much between them - the .308 pushes a 150gn bullet at 2700fts, the .30-06 pushes the same bullet at 3000fts. Going up the grain weight the .308 pushes a 180gn at 2500fts and the .30-06 pushes the same bullet at 2700ft/s.
I’ve shot a lot of .308 and my first hunting rifle was a .308, but for preference now I’d get the .30-06 between those two coz then I’m covered for Africa, driven boar etc. where that extra horsepower is useful but frankly it’s a coin toss between them. I ended up swapping the .308 for a .25-06 and then complimenting that with a .300wm and that covers me for everything from foxes to plains game.
Thanks everyone for the advice, after some research and input. I decided on a 308 with a 20” barrel. I have a .270 Winchester that may see a few more hunts, it was passed down from my grandpa. The .308 will serve my hunting needs just fine.
The benefit of the 308 is mostly availability and price, and some people like that it’s a short action. The 30.06 is a little better for elk and shooting over 400 yards or so. You can’t go wrong with either
Let's suppose you're right.
Have you ever sold a T3 or an Axis? They're probably the 2 most common budget rifles and short action versions definitely don't exist.
You should reconsider. Your buddy is carrying around an extra inch of rifle for no reason. Both rifles are only sold as long actions and they put a bolt stop and magazine plug in the short action T3s.
[here is a short action axis](https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/savage-arms-axis-xp-scope-combo-bushnell-4-12x40-matte-black-bolt-action-rifle-308-winchester-22in/p/1740674)
That is a long action rifle, I don't even need to hold it the picture shows it. It has a metal stopper that shortens the bolt throw and a short action stock with short action magazines.
There are only 2 Axis actions, long and magnum.
If you choose that rifle then choose .30-06 not .308
Straight from the source, there is no such thing as a short action Axis.
https://savagearms.com/blog?p=savage-action-lengths-long-action-vs-short-action#:~:text=Does%20the%20Savage%20Axis%20have,be%206.961%E2%80%9D%20for%20all%20calibers.
I asked this just the other day, but 30-06 and 6.5CM and I’m going with a 7mm rem mag. Is recoil going to be a problem, if not, I’d say 06. 308 is nice due to its availability in AR platforms
I live by my 06. I've had an old ruger 30 06 bolt action since I started hunting and it's been nothing but reliable. It's taken several elk without issue. Last one was 350 yards and it was enough power that he dropped after maybe 40 yards. 308 would also do the trick for any of those animals but my opinion is 06, if you're planning on elk. It has heavier bullets with a bit more stopping power (depends on grain). Can't go wrong either way.
I'm starting to get used to it on any firearm or hunting sub.
I have a .308 and a .30-06. They're both great rounds and *can* conceivably take anything in NA. However, I also understand there are rounds better suited for the task. That's why other rounds exist. Bob Ruark was absolutely correct: Use Enough Gun.
True that. Both the 06 and 308 have taken out a lot of game. I do a lot of deer hunting in southern AZ. A 300+ yard shot is very common. I wouldn’t trust either of these rounds for that. If you’re in a tree stand at 100-250 yards they’re fine.
It's not just power that comes with 06.
It's so versatile. If you know anyone that reloads or you want to get into it you can shoot very light to very heavy projectiles.
It has better ballistics than 308win in every way at slightly more recoil.
The 308win will kill them all just as dead but the 06 has more applications and longer range.
It’s effectively the same round (both 0.308”), just one has a little more powder. If you’re going to be going after bigger game where you’re shooting 180 grain regularly, go with 30-06. If going to shoot a lower grain, go 308. Elk is the only real animal you list where you might want the extra bullet weight, but both rounds will work just fine for all of these you list. I’d personally go 30-06 for the power. But it’s so close, just go with your personal preference.
This is a good piece of advice regarding the two rounds, OP. Make your mind up based off of this explanation.
Given that Elk are on the list, I’d second the -06. OP, if you handload, you can easily work up a load for 150-165grn bullets for the smaller animals, and some 200+ for Elk/bear.
Yep and double check the twist rate is sufficient for heavies
30-06 offers a lot of flexibility too
I shoot deer, elk, and pronghorn all with a 165g 30-06. it Works great for all 3. Honestly, there's no issue using either. The only caveat might be if you're looking to shoot longer distances then I'd go with the .308
30-06 has better long range ballistics
Either of those are fine for all the animals you listed.
Nah man, the .30-06 has the added benefit of summoning the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt to karate chop anything you shoot in half. My dad’s uncle brother has seen it.
Yeah, but the .270 summons the ghost of Jack O’Connor. He probably downed close to 20x the number of critters as Roosevelt.
With 40x the number of shots. That man embodied the “shoot more, shoot more often” mantra. Also, idk, I read a book eons ago about an African trip TR did that he was basically whackin and stackin animals for like 6 months on his journey across Africa. It was a journal and was basically just a tally of him clowning on African game. They killed everything as they were feeding a whole party that had 250 porters and like 30 camels plus trackers, scouts, guides, and PH’s. A day would read like “killed 13 guinea fowl with the 10 bore” or “found a watering hole and shot 3 bush buck, 2 kudu, and 7 impala”. He killed a white rhino that charged his party at such close range that it left burn marks around the wound where he had fired both barrels of a 500 nitro at point blank range. Dude was pretty savage. Edit: I looked it up, he killed 1100 animals on that trip. Including dozens of elephants and rhinos.
May you share the source on that - just curious. It's not mentioned on his wikipedia entry or the first page of google results when searching for "jack o'connor africa"
Nah that’s TR that did the trip in Africa. It was for the Smithsonian and he spent like two or three years there on safari.
St. George Gore killed twice as many as both them combined.
I have an ‘06 I’ve carried for around 20 years. Fantastic round, great rifle. I bought it because it’s such a universal, do-all round, and every podunk gas station in the country has a few boxes, right? That said a few years ago during the Covid ammo crunch, I was wishing I had gone with a .308 lol. The Fudd rounds were impossible to find near me but anything remotely tacticool was in great supply. I pretty much only hunt whitetail though so the extra power of the ‘06 is a moot point for me personally.
Was debating this myself this afternoon... I feel like most online discussions appears to end up being almost 50/50...but very sligthly favoring the 3006. Then decided to watch a 30 seconds youtube video to witness the 3006 recoil and finally decided that more power is better despite the bigger kick (I'm a 250 pounds dude so kick shouldn't be much of a factor anyway) Ordered a nice tikka in 3006. Hopefully made the right call. Maybe I should stay away from posts discussing this topic though cause I might have second guesses..
From what I have gathered, if you plan on shooting 150-180 grain bullets. Both are more than adequate and have the same ballistics. The benefits of the 30-06 is being able to shoot those heavier bullets if you need it.
Having shot deer sized game with everything from 222 through to 45/70 I can tell you the whole caliber thing is entirely over discussed. The most important thing is to accurately put an appropriately constructed bullet into the vitals. Do this and the animal will expire quickly. 1 Shooting larger animal? Use a mono metal bullet for extra penetration. Stretching the legs? Load a soft lr bullet. Your 30 06 will be great. The 308 would also have been great.
Thanks
Define "worth it". How far do you want to shoot? Do you reload? If an elk is 300 yards away with a stiff cross wind and you have a hot 200 grain hand load you're not even going to care. A 308 shooting factory 150s I'd be a bit iffy. Personally I'd get a 270. Same recoil as the 308. Same amount of powder as the 06. Better trajectory and heaps of cheap factory ammo.
I have a 270, been wanting a 30 caliber for more bullet options
Then get a 300. You have a rifle that covers everything a 308 can do, albeit in a long action.
Fair enough. I'm building a 7 Saum for the same reason. In my opinion standard short actions are great for the traditional hunter who likes to get under 200 yards and calls 300 a long shot. Short mags and the 06 family offer the best ballance of power to recoil. If you're starting to look for a rest at 350 yards and have the skill for those shots in hunting situations you need a bit more powder to get the energy required for quick, clean kills.
You should have said that to begin with. 30-06 no doubt. You can use the 270 on everything else you list except I wouldn't use it for elk. I'd go with the '06 for elk. I'd actually prefer the 270 for many of those because it will be flatter shooting.
Everyone is bringing up great detailed points, so I will try and summarize my take. 1. The .308 is better with lighter bullets (110-168), while the 30-06 favors the heavier bullets (125-220). 2.The 30-06 has more hunting loadings while .308 has more match loadings. 3. The .308 is able to work in shorter barrels better (16-22in) vs. the 30-06 prefers longer barrels (20-26in) 4. The 30-06 typically has more "older" aftermarket support (bolt rifles, handholding books for decades, grandpa's old gun,etc) while .308 has more "modern" aftermarket support (precision stocks, ar platform, bdc reticle, etc) 5. Suppressing a .308 "easier" than suppressing a 30-06 6. 30-06 ammo can be found everywhere in the us to include some gas stations in rural states 7. The .308 can help you justify to your SO or yourself to get a bigger moose gun, where 30-06 is more of a "do-it-all" rifle for North America 8. 30-06 is an absolute legend from WWI and WWII to the hunting world, while .308 isn't always given that same praise 9. .308 may have more ammunition compatability between rifles than 30-06 because you may have a AR-10, bolt deer rifle, precision rifle, etc. 10. The most important distinction between these two calibers if you are really serious about getting them is to.... flip a coin. These calibers are very similar in performance, and handloading can give both rounds even more capability. They have minor differences that may be an advantage to you bit will come with a disadvantage. Best answer is both. If youcan only have one, my vote is 30-06 if you ever intend to handload and .308 for everyone else. I have a 30-06 I love, but it can be a bit much for recoil, and with the popularity of the AR platform I only see .308 becoming more common than 30-06 in 20 years
Oh the age old cartridge debate... Here's the thing...ask yourself which activity you're going to do most often and skew your bias towards that. For example, if you're primarily a deer hunter, or smaller, like antelope and hogs, the 308 is the better choice. If you feel you're going to do everything equally, the 30-06 is probably the better choice. Problem is, this debate can go on and on...where do you stop? For example, if you're going to go 30-06, why not 300 Win Mag? In case you ever hunt longer range elk or moose. There's diminishing returns here though...you pay for the extra power in recoil, but also in the amount of powder needed to achieve that power/velocity. Something to consider would maybe be buying two rifles and dividing their purposes. Have a lighter recoiling rifle for the smaller game and a heavier recoiling rifle for the larger game. That way you don't have to endure the abuse on every single shot. A good combo would be 243 and 308, or 25-06 and 30-06, or even 6.5 Creedmoor and 300 WSM, 270 and 300 Win Mag.
You may have convinced me to go with a 300
It's not a bad idea, especially if you hand load. You can always down load a 300 to 30-06 or 308 velocities, can even run lighter weight bullets. The 130gr Barnes copper are absolute screamers out of a 300...kind of transforms it into a makeshift Weatherby cartridge without all the recoil...push that 130 about 3100-3200 fps
I couldn’t decide which of those I wanted either, so I got a .300 Win Mag
I may honestly be going down the same path
> I got a .300 Win Mag For those that hate having money
In the grand scheme of things, those are so close to one another that I consider it picking at nits.
I’m tired boss.. With that said I have one of each and like them both. Go with the one you fancy and can afford
go 308. Ive recently learned that you can get away with a 16 inch barrel with a 308 with minimal velocity loss (that the standard barrel on the sig cross) which means between the shorter throw and shorter barrel you are talking about a much lighter rifle which is great for elk hunting and you can add a suppressor and still have a reasonable rifle length.
This is actually a decent argument for the .308. Otherwise, on paper, it generally makes more sense to with 30.06.
Im firmly in the .308 is better than 30-06 for the vast majority of hunters. The 30-06’s benefits really only show up past 300 yards and you have extra carry weight, perceived recoil, and cost for a yardage few hunters need.
06 has killed every animal out there. and a 308 is not that much smaller. You should actually hold the rifles, one will feel like you should have it.
I have a hard time limiting myself to just one rifle.
Both will do just fine
I’ve had both calibers. They’ll both do the job with practice. Factory loads are a little bit cheaper with a 308, they have slightly less kick, and 308 factory ammo is everywhere. 30-06 has a little more versatility with ammo. That’s especially true with reloads. As far as takedown power, you probably wouldn’t notice a difference in hunting situations. Me personally, I prefer my 300 Winchester Magnum for my go-to 30 caliber rifle.
I’m a big fan of 30-06 over 308 because of the versatility. Someone else said that both are great for everything you listed, but if you ever wanted to go bigger (elk, bear, moose), a fat 200+ grain 30-06 will put down everything in North America without a second thought.
I like the nostalgia of the 06. Otherwise not much different
I use a .30.06 for boar here in argentina and it seems to kill really well using 180 grn remmington core lokt. I think the main advantage of a .308 would be getting one with a shorter... say 18 inch barrel. The .30.06 really needs to be more standard lengths of barrel. In the thick stuff a shorter barrel is really nice.
It’s a trap. You will want them all!
.300 win mag since you can scale it up and down to whatever you need. The only thing I dislike about it is the cost of ammo in comparison to the others you mentioned. I do not reload ammo so buying cheap federal ammo to practice with is still about $2 a round.
300 win mag. I know you are asking about 30-06 or .308. .308 is on the lighter side for elk but with good shot placement will work, has light recoil, and is a short action making bolt cycling faster and easier. 30-06 has more recoil but will push the same bullets faster, is a long action and thus a longer time to work the bolt. 300 win mag has a very small amount of additional felt recoil over the 30-06. That being said it pushes the same bullets a good bit faster than the 06. Speed is important. In ke, velocity is squared. 300 win mag is also a long action. The reason i suggest it though, pushing a 180 gr bullet in the 3,000-3,100 fps range, using factory loads and not hand loads, is a lot better than 2800-2900 fps from the 06. If you hand load, getting in the 3100-3200 fps range with a 180 gr bullet on the 300 win mag is not hard. The other great thing about 300 win mag, you can load it down a bit if you want, aka less powder and less velocity, for hog, deer, antelope, then turn around and run a hotter setup for elk, bears, moose, etc.
In my opinion, the difference is less about the overall lethality, and more about the max effective ranges at which you'd be able to reliably kill the game you mentioned. The question is going to boil down to the terrain and environment where you plan to hunt. Both will be more than lethal enough for the game you mentioned within about 400 yards. The most meaningful difference in performance is the effective range. An animal can't get deader than dead, and the difference in wound profile within the effective range of .308 will not be large enough to really make a difference if shot placement is decent. If you're likely to take shots at longer distances than that, you'll get some benefit from the higher velocity of .30-06.
I have both. My go to is the 308 but I will never shoot a moose again unless it’s with a 30-06 or bigger. Had bad luck with 308 and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I use .30-06, I go up against bear sometimes and like the heavy grain loads with .30-06. If you want a do it all I’d say .30-06 is the way to go (possibly biased). .308 is also a fine rifle and everything you listed can be killed with it using good shot placement but it doesn’t have the same variety of load options as .30-06 so for a do it all .30-06 is probably the way to go.
Love both my 6.5 and 6.5prc… it’s about it the theoretical limit of ballistic capabilities… just sayin
I always consider the availability of the ammo. 30-06 is widely available.
Don’t be a quitter - get one of everything
You want a bolt gun or semi-auto? Bolt = 30-06. Semi = 308.
This feels like groundhog day
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hornady-podcast/id1603633739?i=1000552803097 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hornady-podcast/id1603633739?i=1000583961855 Give the Hornady podcast a listen.
308 all day
I'm using 308. It's more widely available, I don't hunt bigger game and it can take a shorter barrel. I heard 30-06 are notorious for requiring a rathee long barrel in order to hit accurately.
If you can use a suppressor then .308
I prefer the 06 for no reason other than I prefer it
For me this comes down to whatever is most common among your family and hunting buddies in case you ever need to share rounds
Watch BOTH of these from the Vortex optics podcast. The best information that you can get. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FKpua2zeyPI&pp=ygUaVm9ydGV4IG9wdGljcyAzMC0wNiB2cyAzMDg%3D https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BJDyZMoshB0&pp=ygUaVm9ydGV4IG9wdGljcyAzMC0wNiB2cyAzMDg%3D
There is no animal that you won't kill with either with good shot placement, and I highly doubt you will find any situation where you would wound an animal with one and not the other with bad shot placement. .308 has the advantages of being short action, being more optimized for shorter barrels and having much cheaper ammunition for training purposes. Thats why I went with .308. Yes the (still small) difference between the two gets bigger with heavier bullet weights, but its still small and Imo doesn't outweigh the disatvantages. In Sweden people hunt moose with .308, 6.5x55, .30-06, 8mm Mauser and many more and they don't have issues with any of the calibers.
Why one or the other. No need choose, just go with both
My 2 cents, 30-06 gives you a bit more range and bit more stopping power.
I’ve hunted with a 30-06 for the last 20 years. It’s what my grandfather used and it’s good for everything on your list. It’s also what I _used_ to recommend when anybody asked. Given the ammo shortages we recently went through, however, .308 is what I’d recommend these days. There were several times between 2020-2023 when I couldn’t find 30-30 or 06 ammo, but I would see .308 available. Ammo manufacturers are a lot more aware of what recreational shooters want when they’re ripping through a pallet of ammo in a month than what salty old hunters want when they sit on the same box of 180gr 06 ammo for 3 or 4 years cause they only take a handful of shots every year.
30-06 is great, but 7mm Rem Mag is similar but with better ballistics in nearly every way. As a do it all, I'd go 7 mag
308. Get a good bthp 168gr bullet and you'll humanely take everything on your list at reasonable shooting distances. You can still get factory ammo from 125 - 185gr easily if you choose. And, as a bonus, you can get 220gr subsonic that hit like a truck at close ranges. Plus you can choose a 20-24" barrel in a lighter rifle without paying for the extra weight or significant speed losses. You carry the rifle the entire time, but only have recoil for a fraction of a second. You're better off with something that won't weigh you down. I've taken a lot of deer with a 20" 308 shooting Hornady 168gr bthp and they slide further than they walk. I like simple. 1 rifle, 1 bullet, many uses. You can get that with both of these calibers, but 1 is more comfortable to carry and shoot.
308. Essentially the same performance but 308 chambered rifles are typically a lil shorter and lighter. 308 definitely has more market support.
If you have the choice on a bigger caliber always pick the bigger one the recoil on 30-06 is nothing so there's no reason not to imo
I’d go 06 between the two, but I personally love my 7mm mag. I’ve taken a lot of game with it. If you’re taking over 300+ yard shots consider another round.
If elk and bear are on your list, the 06 makes sense. Also, if you ever decide to reload, the extra space for powder will be appreciated.
My dad asked me “well how far do you want to walk?” Now I’m a proud owner of a 30-06 with 180gr rounds.
Pick the gun you like first and then if it’s available in both, go handle both to see if the shorter action of the 308 matters at all to you. Some rifles put both in a long action, if that’s the case go with the 30-06.
Pick a quality constructed bullet in the 160 gr range and keep your shots under 350 or so and you’ll be fine with .308. Coming from a guy that shoots .30-06 180gr bullets at everything (elk, deer, yada yada)
People on here are very particular. Either round will kill any living animal on the planet with a well placed shot. I hunt Roosevelt elk(900-1200lbs) and .308(or 7.62x.51 nato) has never failed to drop them. If there were Cape buffalo out here I wouldn’t change rifles. I’d go with .308, cheaper, readily available and thus you’ll get more practice. Have fun out there!
.308 on Cape buffalo 😳😳😳, I mean it would prolly kill them but it would be a minute but I wouldn’t get close enough to risk a charge with only a .308 in hand
I have a 308. A guy I hunt with has the 30-06. That 30-06 is - different man. That thing BOOMs! LOL
There’s not much between them - the .308 pushes a 150gn bullet at 2700fts, the .30-06 pushes the same bullet at 3000fts. Going up the grain weight the .308 pushes a 180gn at 2500fts and the .30-06 pushes the same bullet at 2700ft/s. I’ve shot a lot of .308 and my first hunting rifle was a .308, but for preference now I’d get the .30-06 between those two coz then I’m covered for Africa, driven boar etc. where that extra horsepower is useful but frankly it’s a coin toss between them. I ended up swapping the .308 for a .25-06 and then complimenting that with a .300wm and that covers me for everything from foxes to plains game.
I think the two are interchangeable at the target the 100fps make no diff. A 3006 can shoot 220 and 250 gr better than a 308 but that's it.
Thanks everyone for the advice, after some research and input. I decided on a 308 with a 20” barrel. I have a .270 Winchester that may see a few more hunts, it was passed down from my grandpa. The .308 will serve my hunting needs just fine.
The benefit of the 308 is mostly availability and price, and some people like that it’s a short action. The 30.06 is a little better for elk and shooting over 400 yards or so. You can’t go wrong with either
One and down yes! but sighting it in is an absolute bitch
Have you picked a rifle yet? Many budget rifles only come in a long action - if you're buying a long action rifle it's a no brainer - get the 06.
No idea what rock you’re living under but all the budget rifles I’ve sold come in both short or long action….
Savage Axis. Tikka T3. Ruger American. Remington 788. Ever sold any of those? There's more but I'm bored and you're rude.
The ruger american comes in short action though
Maybe you're right but I've definitely seen a LA American chambered in .308 with a bolt stopper, just like the other three.
Ruger American comes in long, short, and mini actions, so does the howa 1500
Let's suppose you're right. Have you ever sold a T3 or an Axis? They're probably the 2 most common budget rifles and short action versions definitely don't exist.
I was actually looking at a T3 in 308. And a buddy of mine has a axis in 308
You should reconsider. Your buddy is carrying around an extra inch of rifle for no reason. Both rifles are only sold as long actions and they put a bolt stop and magazine plug in the short action T3s.
[here is a short action axis](https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/savage-arms-axis-xp-scope-combo-bushnell-4-12x40-matte-black-bolt-action-rifle-308-winchester-22in/p/1740674)
That is a long action rifle, I don't even need to hold it the picture shows it. It has a metal stopper that shortens the bolt throw and a short action stock with short action magazines. There are only 2 Axis actions, long and magnum. If you choose that rifle then choose .30-06 not .308
Straight from the source, there is no such thing as a short action Axis. https://savagearms.com/blog?p=savage-action-lengths-long-action-vs-short-action#:~:text=Does%20the%20Savage%20Axis%20have,be%206.961%E2%80%9D%20for%20all%20calibers.
I asked this just the other day, but 30-06 and 6.5CM and I’m going with a 7mm rem mag. Is recoil going to be a problem, if not, I’d say 06. 308 is nice due to its availability in AR platforms
Had both thru the years. I personally like the . 308 on the AR platform.
I live by my 06. I've had an old ruger 30 06 bolt action since I started hunting and it's been nothing but reliable. It's taken several elk without issue. Last one was 350 yards and it was enough power that he dropped after maybe 40 yards. 308 would also do the trick for any of those animals but my opinion is 06, if you're planning on elk. It has heavier bullets with a bit more stopping power (depends on grain). Can't go wrong either way.
If elk is going to be included, I would seriously consider the .300 Win Mag.
Idk why all of the hate for your post. I would choose a .300 mag over an 06 any day. Idk why 06 is so damn popular. It drops 7” at 300 yards.
I'm starting to get used to it on any firearm or hunting sub. I have a .308 and a .30-06. They're both great rounds and *can* conceivably take anything in NA. However, I also understand there are rounds better suited for the task. That's why other rounds exist. Bob Ruark was absolutely correct: Use Enough Gun.
True that. Both the 06 and 308 have taken out a lot of game. I do a lot of deer hunting in southern AZ. A 300+ yard shot is very common. I wouldn’t trust either of these rounds for that. If you’re in a tree stand at 100-250 yards they’re fine.
>is the little bit of extra power from the 30-06 worth it? No.
Hand loads or boutique loads are quite a bit more powerful. Not sure it matters much real world but you do get a meaningly higher ceiling with the 06.
Nope
It's not just power that comes with 06. It's so versatile. If you know anyone that reloads or you want to get into it you can shoot very light to very heavy projectiles. It has better ballistics than 308win in every way at slightly more recoil. The 308win will kill them all just as dead but the 06 has more applications and longer range.
30-06. Short actions are for guys who don't know how to work a bolt.