30-06 vs .308?

[tennbuck]

whats the best choice on whitetail @ 100-150 yards, 30-06 or .308? using the same grain.

[32-20 wcf]

Nada, zip, zilch zero!
Differences in the 2 don't show until you start approaching 200gr. and above.

[nasem]

Buy the one you have always wanted...  I, 90% of the time, load my 30 caliber rounds with some type of 180 grainer, and they both handle the 180 grainer pretty good.  the 30-06 can push them a little faster, maybe 100 fps faster.  the only time I load 165 grainers is when I use the Barnes TSX, those bullets, the faster you push them, the better they perform, they were designed to be pushed at super velocities of the big magnums.

a long time ago, I had a choice on my first rifle, and it was a 30-06, I used to own a 308, but after seeing how close they both performed, I decided to keep only 1, so I kept the one that has about 5% more power, '06

[Cement Man]

Whichever rifle you might choose for either cartridge would be a more significant decision.  I have shot dozens of whitetails at those ranges with both cartridges - performance to me is identical with comparable (150, 165 gr.) bullets. .308 is a shorter action and cartridge, slightly handier, and I like it better for the shorter barrels that I prefer for woods hunting (18.5 - 20")  

[Redhawk1]

Either one will work just fine, but if you ever intend to use it for something bigger, the 30-06 will be better in the heavy bullet category.

[hillbill]

the only difference i could ever see is that the 308 will do what the 06 will do with slightly less powder.out to 200 yrds you will never see a difference.

[dw06]

Either one will work just fine, but if you ever intend to use it for something bigger, the 30-06 will be better in the heavy bullet category.

+1

[lgm270]

Has anyone ever made a custom .308 on an intermediate length mauser action and throated to handle 165-180 grain bullets with the base of the bullets flush with the case neck?   This enables cartridges with longer OAL than when seated to SAAMI  OAL specs.  "Long throating, which allows longer bullets to be seated to longer OAL length makes available  powder space that would otherwise be occupied by the base of longer bullets protruding down into the case.

I've seen some data that suggests that custom loaded .308's equal or exceed factory 30-06 loads. 

Any thoughts?

[jro45]

The 30/06 has about 100 FPS faster and it can shoot the heaver bullets with more FPS. But the 308 has a little less recoil.

[Ranger J]

I have a Savage in each.  If I knew that I was not going to shoot anything larger than a whitetail the rest of my life I would only have the .308.  That is the one that I usually take hunting.  I shot two deer this year at about 90 yards with 150G bullets.  This is the same bullet I reload in my 30-06.  The throw on the bolt is a little shorter with the .308 and I use a little less powder to get respectable speed and thus a little less recoil.  I wouldn’t feel out of place shooting the same weight bullet in the 06.  I keep it just in case the time comes that I might get a chance to go after something a little larger than a whitetail or something that might fight back and I would need a larger bullet and a little more speed than I could get with that heavy bullet the .308.  You can’t go wrong with either caliber. 
RJ

[wncchester]

I am an -06 lover above all.  But for the parameters you state, neither you nor the deer will know any difference between those two cartridges.  Use 150 or 165 gr. bullets and you will be in very good shape to 250 yards or more.  SO - make your choice of rifles.  What feels - and looks - better to you would be the "best" choice.  

For deer hunting, I chose the Rem. 700 Mtn. Rifle in -06 as the best handling tool for me.  But the.308 in a Rem. Mtn. or  Mod. 7 or a Ruger UL are all effective, easy carring and well balanced deer rifles to me.

[captdp]

Has anyone ever made a custom .308 on an intermediate length mauser action and throated to handle 165-180 grain bullets with the base of the bullets flush with the case neck?   This enables cartridges with longer OAL than when seated to SAAMI  OAL specs.  "Long throating, which allows longer bullets to be seated to longer OAL length makes available  powder space that would otherwise be occupied by the base of longer bullets protruding down into the case.

I've seen some data that suggests that custom loaded .308's equal or exceed factory 30-06 loads. 

Any thoughts?

These are just thoughts, so take them with a grain of salt!
 If you long throat it you might gain a small amount using some powders. Many don't take up 100% anyway until you get to 200gns and then I'm not sure, unless you planed for heavy bullets that the normal twist would be enough to stabalize them. Let's assuume that you can gain 50fps which is a plus.
The negative, as I see it is the long throat also.What you gain in spead, in the heavier bullets, you give up in accuracy in all factory loads and probably 150gn and lighter H/Ls as the longer 'jump' to the lands does not lead to great accuracy. It's all a trde-off. Of course one thing trumps all others: Just cause you want one!!! captdp

[jvs]

whats the best choice on whitetail @ 100-150 yards, 30-06 or .308? using the same grain.

In my opinion, there is no better one of the two, even though the .308 Win might hold a slight edge.  Personally, I would choose .308 Win in 150 or 165gr for something 150 yds or less.  There's nothing wrong with a .30-06 at that range either, but going through too quickly could be a problem with faster bullets at 100 yds or less.  You would be overpowered at 50 yds with an 06, not so with the .308 Win.  If it was going to be 200, 300 or so yds, then I would definitely pick the 06. 

The way I look at it, 150 yds is just about at the border line for the choice of those two calibers.

[Swampman]

I love the .308, but I'd choose the .30-06.  It handles the heavier bullets better.

[Coyote Hunter]

Either one will do fine for the distances you cite.  In either case I would use a premium bullet do to the short range and high retained velocity.  Federal offers the Partition, TSX, and Trophy Bonded.

I wouldn't worry about the same weight though.  The .30-06 will give higher velocities for a given weight but stepping up to the next level will slow things back down - maybe not all the way but close.  If using standard bullets and the .30-06, I would go heavier than I would for the .308.  But then again, I don't use standard bullets unless nothing else is available.

[banen]

I'm a 308 snob,  I love the cartridge.  It is inherrently accurate and thats the edge I think it has over the 06.  NOT that there aren't a hole lot of great shooting '06's out there.  But there is a reason why the 308 is known to be a match round.  I haven't heard of too many 308's that people can't get to shoot well.  There is a very very slight velocity edge with the 06 but trust me the deer on the other end sure won't be able to tell you the difference.  If nothing else, I also prefer short actions.  If your range is limited to 100-150 you are probably hunting in the woods, the ~ inch shorter overall length will come in a lot more handy than 100 fps.  I would also recomend the ruger ultra light or remington model 7 which are both nice compact rifles that handle well in the woods and come in a 308.  As far as bigger stuff, a 308 will do just fine for elk or blackbear, for moose or anything toothy you would want something bigger than an 30-06 anyway.  But alas you only said whitetail so none of that makes any difference. 

[Swampman]

I would have thought the .30-06 was more accurtae at 1000 yards, but I guess I'm wrong.

http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AccuracyFacts.asp

[targshooter]

Deer ato 150 yards. Unless you need to consider bullet sectional density due to brush, I would probably go with the .308, as the 165-180 bullet weights at these distances see no appreciable difference between the two cartridges. The .308 allows the use of short action rifles, giving a weight savings. It also allows you to practice fairly cheaply with surplus ammo, readily available in a currently issued service round.

[Zachary]

whats the best choice on whitetail @ 100-150 yards, 30-06 or .308? using the same grain.

I have used both.  Neither you, nor the deer, will know the difference.

Zachary