Why

[blindman]

Based on talking to reading many posts, it seams that a .308 is a more accurate round than a 30-06.  When they can be loaded with the same bullet why is the .308 more accurate?  I keep hearing people talk about long range shooting with the .308, but I don't hear anything about the 30-06.  I am assuming that is for punching paper, I can't imagine more powder not being better for knock down ability. 

Thanks for the lesson

[quickdtoo]

If you google 308 vs 30-06, you'll get all you want to read on the subject.

Tim

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

[Tencubed]

If you google 308 vs 30-06, you'll get all you want to read on the subject.

Tim

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

Oh come on Tim!  Bring the 270 into this, could count up for a few hundred posts in a few hours.   

[DalesCarpentry]

I will throw another one out there. If the 308 has been proven to be a more accurate round than the 30-06 then why did they base the 50 BMG on the 30-06 round. All the 50 BMG is a scaled up 30-06. Dale

[Tencubed]

I will throw another one out there. If the 308 has been proven to be a more accurate round than the 30-06 then why did they base the 50 BMG on the 30-06 round. All the 50 BMG is a scaled up 30-06. Dale

Ummm.  Because the 308 wasn't around then?     Was there a prize for the first smart aleck?

Mike

[DalesCarpentry]

Good point. I was not thinking I guess. Dale

[PHATINJUN]

The 06 is the most boring round to talk about . It has been around forever and there is so little bad that can be said about it. But the fact remains I think I saw this some where it is still the most used and owned caliber for large game in the world . I know when I talk to the old timers around Wisconsin and you ask them what the goto caliber is ? They will tell you "06" 7 out of 10 times and the other 3 say 30-30. Ya just can't go wrong with either one. Kurt

[dpe.ahoy]

Right.  Thats why I own all these modern cartriges like the 45-70,38-55 45 colt, 30- Oh wait, Never mind!   DP.

[AtlLaw]

The 06 is the most boring round to talk about.
Kurt

How true, how true.
Back in '06 when all the gun rags were doing their obligatory 30/06 articles, I realized I didn't have a sporting gun in that caliber.  An assortment of Garands and 1917's and Springfields, but no huntin' gun!  So I decided to get one in a CZ, which I didn't have either, but lucked up on a M-700 Mountain rifle at a gun show.  Took it home, cleaned it up, shot it and she obviously wanted to shoot.  bedded the recoil lug and she shoots around an inch with just about whatever I want to stick up her spout.  And, I know what a 30 cal bullet will do on game so there is just no mystery to the cartridge!  Whatever you want her to do, she'll get 'er done!  Like you say, "boring!"   

But, I like it more then the .308... which is also boring.  Right now I'm going through a 6.5 & 7mm and .358 stage... 

[STUMPJMPR]

My opinion is one is not more accurate than the other....They both are capable of excellent accuracy in the appropriate gun....Although the lighter recoil from the 308 may attribute to better shooting....If someone declares that one is more accurate they haven't a clue what they are talking about.....

[DalesCarpentry]

My opinion is one is not more accurate than the other....They both are capable of excellent accuracy in the appropriate gun....Although the lighter recoil from the 308 may attribute to better shooting....If someone declares that one is more accurate they haven't a clue what they are talking about.....

Ok then 100's of Bench Rest shooters that shot 1,000's of rounds of the 308 are wrong? Dale

[Tencubed]

Oh, come on now fellows.  Don't forget the Triple Duce and the 270 and what about the 300 Win and the 32-40 and  - - - oh never mind.

I couldn't hit a flock of circus tents with any of em at a grand anymore.   

Look at the old record books during the last century, most of the time what the military rifle team is using is what is setting the long range records.  Lot's of bucks spent being winners and everybody jumps on the same wagon.

Mike

[wgr]

its just one of those rounds that are accurate  like the 222. but for most of us i don't think we could tell the difference

[petemi]

The .308s lighter recoil and short action in a bolt gun works for me.  I have a crappy scope setup on my 06 that I have to correct before I can honestly compare the two.

[LaOtto222]

For a hunting gun, there really is no difference in accuracy. If you want to build up an accurate long range gun the 308 is the way to go over the 30-06. The action is shorter (I am talking bolt) so it is stiffer. The cartridge is shorter so it is more efficient and consistent for accuracy (think smaller SD). I am not talking a whole lot of difference, just a little. It has been proved over and over that the 308 is more accurate than the 30-06. But again it is not by a whole lot, in a hunting gun the 30-06 is plenty accurate. I am talking maybe 1" difference at 300 yards with guns built up the same way.

[STUMPJMPR]

LaOtto,
You do have a point their I didn't even think about it like that...Which is the reason the BR calibers (30BR,6mmBR) are very very short...Most of your true Benchrest rifles are built with a very solid receiver so that most flex is eliminated in the action....From what i read the diameter of the bullet will make a bigger difference in down range accuracy....

[Badnews Bob]

Most of the result are case design' Not just bullet. The .308 is not a copy of the 06 it really is a different case, If you look at most long range rounds they are very similar to the .308 in design, something to do with the way the column of powder burns inside the case, Part of the reason the new .375 ruger can perform with the .375 HH with less powder and if you look at it you'll see it is basically a up sized .308 case, I have a article on it some where I think out of reloader mag I'll try and find it.

[Sourdough]

I own one .308, a Parker Haile that I bought back in 1971.  Can't tell any difference in recoil between it and any of my 30-06s.  While the .308 is accurate, five out of seven of my 30-06s can shoot just as accurately.  The semi-auto and pump can't keep up with the others out beyond 300 yards.  I carry a 30-06 almost all the time, and I shoot out to 500 yards frequently.  The optimum bullet (heaviest bullet that still gives decent range) for the .308 is the 165gr, for the 30-06 it is the 180gr.  Yes both will shoot heavier bullets accurately, but range suffers too much with them.  Since the game I shoot is usually large, big boned, and often dangerous, I opt for the 30-06 myself.

Ran into a victim of a bear mauling yesterday at the gym.  Never realized how badly he had been torn up till I saw the scares all over his body.