308/30 06

W

w686mt

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Been reloading for a while. I have been reloading 308 but never before 30 06.
I understand that the projectile is same in both. I know every thing else is different. Any helpful comments will be appreciated.
 
Nothing that different really, other than load data and the ability to shoot heavier bullets in the 30-06. Primers are also the same and many of the powders for .308 are also good for the '06. For bolt rifles and 165+ gr bullets I really like H4350
 
You'll no doubt get a variety of helpful comments on this one. To start things off I'll just mention that powder selections for both calibers have something in common, but of course higher charges for the '06. 4064 and 4895, especially with the mid weight .30 caliber bullets like from 150 to 180 gr (but even extending upward to the 200 gr), are popular choices. Slower powders like 4350 for the heavier bullets are often recommended. So maybe not a whole lot of differences, the .308 might be thought of as the '06's little brother.,
 
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The two calibers as loaded for the M1 Garand vs the M14/M1A are equal. In modern bolt actions with comercial hunting ammo, the 30-'06 has a slight lead in velocity and power. Handloaded with optimal powders and to the same maximum pressure, the '06 takes a more pronounced lead ahead. And, with a faster twist, it's more suitable for 220 grain bullets.
 
Hi. The .308 exists because the U.S. military wanted to take advantage of then new powders in the early 50's but still have .30-06 ballistics.
The only thing that's different is the case length and the heaviest bullet(200 for the .308. 220 for the '06.). Velocity will be roughly 100 FPS faster with like bullet weights and powders. The '06 likes the same bullet weights and powders as well. Bit more powder, of course.
IMR4064 is your friend.
 
Bart Bobbitt made a number of posts on this topic over 20 years ago [before the www gun forums err gun lists]:
http://yarchive.net/gun/ammo/308_vs_30-06.html

But he was shooting 3.25" 20 shot groups at 800 yards in the 90s.
We non competitive shooters do not have to worry about everything he worries about.
But if he doesn't worry about something, like weighing each charge, then we don't have to worry.
 
Many common powders and bullets. Kind of like the .40S&W and the 10mm. Similar, but a bit more punch in the bigger one.
 
While you can use the same powders in both, you'll get best results using different powders. Get a manual and use online data from places like

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...wderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=25&cartridge=83
http://www.ramshot.com/

With bullet weights from 150-180 gr it is hard to go wrong with either H4350 or IMR4350 in a 30-06 for both speed and accuracy. Neither of those work well in a 308. With heavier or lighter bullets different powders may be more effective.

With the best loads in each the 30-06 is about 100 fps faster with 150 gr bullets. But as bullet weight gets heavier the 30-06 has more of an advantage. Closer to 200 fps once you get to bullets 200 gr or heavier.

All things being equal most 30-06 loads will generate about 20% more recoil too.
 
Man I really like my 3006, it handles everthing I've tried so far: 150 grn Btips, 165 Btips, 165 grn Accubonds, 190 grain Accubond long range...Sierra 165 grn hpbt gamekings, 168 grain Matchkings......its never disappointed me..Rem 700 ADL synthetic with matte black finish, 24" 1-10" twist, stock has been pillarbedded and freefloated as well as Devcon plastic steel bedded the recoil lug....it sports a Vortex Viper HST 4-16x44 30mm tube on Leupold rings and Buris bases, (cause I had em). The trigger is the old style that I did a Remington Crisp on it breaks like glass at 2.5 pounds. Wouldnt take a truckload of any rifles for that one!!
 
The .308 exists because the U.S. military wanted to take advantage of then new powders in the early 50's but still have .30-06 ballistics.
Click to expand...
The 7.62x51, released commercially as 308 (1952), before 1954 NATO adoption, was designed by the U.S. military to be shorter than the 30-06, so that the receiver of machine guns and rifles could be even more shorter (by a factor of 2:1), with the same performance with ~150 gr ball projectiles. The 7.62 debuted with the M-60 and M-14, for which it was designed. The design process began after WWI and was still on-going at the end of WWII.

What you can do in the 30-06, that you cannot do in 308, is 220 - 240 grain bullets with very slow powders (like WC872). That is a bolt gun only proposition.
http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Surplus/default.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62×51mm_NATO
The cartridge itself offers similar ballistic performance in most firearms to the .30-06 Springfield that it replaced in U.S. service. Though shorter, standard loadings fire similar bullet weights with only a slight reduction in velocity. Modern propellants allowed for similar performance from a case with less capacity. The smaller case requires less brass and yields a shorter cartridge. This shorter cartridge allows a slight reduction in the size and weight of firearms that chamber it, and somewhat better cycling in automatic and semi-automatic rifles
Click to expand...

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/
http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf
 
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As has been said, loading for military semi-autos, both 150grn class bullets ('06, M2 Ball = 150grn while 7.62, M80 Ball = 147grn) are loaded to 2,820fps so there is no real difference as they use the same powder as they both to varying degrees are sensitive to excess pressure on the op rods, however, because the '06'd case is bigger, the case density is less in the '06 which is why many CMP shooters say the 7.62 is more accurate. But, with heavier military bullets like the 173 grn class, the '06's larger case gives it an advantage as you can load it a bit faster.

In commercial hunting ammo for bolt guns, the '06 can be loaded with a larger charge of slower burning powder (Win 760 vs Win 748) which gives it a velocity advantage of a about 100-200fps (depending upon bullet type) with a 150grn bullet. Further, as the Win 760 charge weight is higher, the case density is higher and the combination of higher velocities and higher case density make for the potential of a very accurate long range round. Finally, Hodgdon recommends the slower burning Win 760 rather than Win 748 for bullet weights of 180 and 200grn.
 
The most helpful comment I can think of is "refer to your reloading manual(s) for powders, powder charges, and cartridge dimensions...".

You'll get a few "discussions"/opinions on the origin/history of the cartridges, which is all well and good for general knowledge, but get your load data and component suggestions from your manual(s).

I have both, and I use the same bullets in both, and a couple powders are used in both, but, my load data is straight from reloading manuals, no forum expert, no range rat, no pet loads website, gun counter clerk or gun shop guru...
 
"Roger" to the above but loading data for the '06 Garand seem more obscure and are not spread out all over the manual reloading page, so if one is interested in Garand loads, it makes sense to ask as was done in a recent thread. There were little variations to the responses as you would find in general '06 loadings.
 
My Hornady manual has an excellent section devoted to Garand loads. But I must admit to using some loads from a M1 Garand website...
 
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