.308 vs .30-06???

L

Laxidasical

New member
I'm planning on buying a custom Remington 700 from JP Enterprises. It's primamry use will be for hunting. I know this has probably been ran into the ground, but if anyone has any comments/suggestions on the .308 vs .30-06 debate please give them!!!

Also, I have heard that some states restrict hunting with .308...is this true???
 
I've never heard of .308 being restricted for hunting, and I can't imagine why they'd do that. Of course, if you live in a state like NJ, where there's no rifle hunting, I guess that could happen. :) As far as which caliber to buy, either will do the job just fine. The 30-06 can handle slightly heavier bullets, so if you ever plan on hunting something the size of elk, it would probably be a slightly better choice. The .308 has a bit better accuracy, all other things being equal, but I doubt that the typical hunting shot will be affected very much. You'd be well served by either one, pick the one that strikes your fancy.
 
For folks sorta young in the .30 game, I'll go along with the .308. I guess mostly because it's a lot cheaper to shoot a lot while you're "getting married" to your rifle.

My case is a bit different; there *was* no .308 when I started center-fire rifle. I got my '06 and started reloading in 1950, so I've mostly just stayed with it. My present "pet" has been with me for 30 years.

Once you have established the accuracy and "pet" load for your rifle, buy cheapjunk ammo and practice non-benchrest shooting to the greatest extent you can. If you're primarily going after whitetail deer, I'd go with 150-grain bullets. If you get into elk hunting, the 180s are probably better, per many posts here. The 110-grain is a good varmint load, although it's a bit, er, uh, "explosive". :)

Read through the thread, here, about offhand shooting. Often, that's your only choice.

FWIW, Art
 
Although I am a big fan of the 308, unless you are shooting match, I see little accuracy difference between the two. Lots depends upon what you are looking to do with the firearm. If you are looking for a lightweight carry rifle in a bolt rifle, the 308 should be lighter based on a shorter action. If your hunt revolves around moose or bear, the 06 will handle the heavier bullets better. If you are punching holes in paper or just for a plinker, the 308 is going to give you more opportunity for cheaper ammo and the target versions are much easier to find new than the 06.
 
I recently faced the same decision and went with .308. Last weekend, when I went to a gunshow to get some cheap ammo, I felt validated in my decision. There was lots of .308 milsurp stuff but very little .30-06. I wound up getting ammo for a song.

However, I went ahead and got the .308 for another reason. I don't reload yet. I want to start in the next year or so, and handloading will be the perfect excuse to get a .30-06 rifle. From what I gather, no other caliber gives you such a wide range of choices for reloaded cartridges.
 
Both are ECXCELLENT! everything said before is 100% correct. One thing if you would go with the 06 more stores carry that ammo than the .308. I am not speaking of gun shops but local hardware stores. Also when Wally Mart and K Mart have their big pre hunting ammo sales (in this area at least) all that is on sale, besides shotshells, is either 30-30 or 30-06 but that is just a minor point for hunting you just wont use that much ammo even with pratice rounds.
 
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