Someone talk me out of a 30-06
 

OK bear with me,

I'm looking for a new rifle (new to me at least). I'm looking for the "one rifle to rule them all". I have a 12 ga currently and that's about it. Owned a .308 win for years and loved the cartridge. Got rid of the rifle as it was too heavy for what I was doing.

So, now I'm looking again and am at the classic ".308 again or just get a 30-06" stage.

The scenario:
Two rifles are identical except chambering. Same barrel length, overall weight, model, twist rate (1 in 10). Only difference is the cartridge (and action length of course).

The hunter (me) is 90% whitetail. Been seeing more black bear in my area so I will likely carry tags for them more often. Moose are just too much meat for me right now so not on the menu. No exotics like sheep, antelope etc.
I do handload and have dies etc for .308.

The cartridges:
I see two primary differences between .308 and 30-06. Case capacity and velocity. Velocity doesn't appear significant as it typically seems to be about 100fps. I suspect you can get more with handloading but how much?
Case capacity seems to be an issue for the heavier bullets. I certainly remember crunching compressed loads with the .308 on occasion. Now, I don't see a 200+ grain bullet as necessary for anything in Alberta/BC so I'm not sure that it is a major selling point to me. A 165 GMX in my .308 did some pretty impressive damage.
.308 has a reputation for higher "inherent" accuracy (precision) due to case design and this principle seems to be based on some truth given the number of stubby cases designed for precision shooting. I know I'm capable of consistent tight groups and dearly love shooting cloverleafs at 100yds. Realistically, I've never shot a deer past 100yds and probably wouldn't pull the trigger past 250. So ballistics at 1000yds is not an issue at all.

Nothing else is on the table right now. I know the .270 is a fantastic cartridge and is fully capable, same with 7mm-08 and about a dozen other rounds. I'm only focusing on .308 / 30-06 though.

So, here's the thing. I want to get a 30-06. I know I'd be completely satisfied with a .308 though.

Is there any really significant reason (given the above info) that I'd be missing out on anything by NOT getting a 30-06 and just going back to the .308?

I know that both will kill things and that whatever is standing in front of them won't be able to tell the difference in all likelihood. What is the deciding factor between the two? Is it really a precision vs heavy bullets thing or what?

Edit: I know this had been discussed sort of ad nauseum and yes, I've googled. I'm sort of just looking for people's justification for making a choice between the two.

Why would anyone try and talk you out of a 30-06 :)

The only advantage in the 06 is heavier bullets as the OAL max is far longer, as you said both work well. If you know the 308 and have the gear I would stick with that.

Heavier bullets with new technologies are slowly going the way of the buffalo. As you said bullets like the GMX really have eliminated the need for slinging 200+ gr projectiles.

We all want something new when what we need is staring us right in the face. For your scenarios the 308 is perfect (unless you find a screaming deal on a 06).

decisions decisions!
 

Both listed cartridges could be called "classics". I have owned and shot both, and yes, they both get the job done.
I feel the 30-06 has more versatility for shooting larger game as it handles heavier bullets more efficiently.
Don't just look at moose hunting as "meat", but as additional hunting opportunities throughout the year as well. Partner up with someone, or just put the word out, and you will have no problem getting someone to take some of the meat.
With the proper load, a 30-06 will efficiently handle any animal in North America.

With so many good cartridges out there, why would you even consider a 30-06 or 308?

Why don't you buy which ever one turns your crank.

talk you out of a 30-06
 

No

Both will kill up to 250 very effectively. If you aren't reloading find a good deal on either and don't look back.

Id go 30-06 just because youve had a 308 already why not try something else other than that the main advantage would be shooting heavier bullets

Don't lie. Most of us here would buy them both! haha

Sounds like you’ve done some research on both cartridges. I say get what you want, not necessarily what you’re used to. I started with a 30-06, but now a .280 fan.... however I still have the 30-06 and thoroughly enjoy shooting it. It’s a timeless cartridge, and I would bet the majority of guys on the forum have one sitting in there safe or use one as their main hunting rifle.

You can't go wrong with either. Both the 308 and 30/06 are fantastic cartridges. The 30/06 will handle heavier bullets better, but you already know that. To me it would come down to the rifle. The 308 is likely going to be a lighter gun just because of its shorter action. Go shoulder a bunch of rifles and base your decision on the one that "feels" right. Good luck and happy hunting.

First, a 10 twist is a lot faster than you need for any hunting bullet you are likely to use. There is some merit going with the slowest twist as it (theoretically) reduces torque roll which translates into better potential accuracy (consistency).
Among same weight rifles, 30-06 recoil is noticibly greater than the 308 ... and... lower recoil translates into better potential accuracy. (It is doubtful that the case length difference between the 06 and the 08 makes any difference related to accuracy).
Typically, the 06 likes a longer barrel (slower burning powder), so you may find a shorter barrelled 08 (marginally) easier to handle.
The 08 employs a short (vs 06 long) action which some find easier/faster to cycle.
Hope that helps with your choice...and remember, If you can't kill it with a 308, it doesn't need to get dead!

Why would anyone talk you out of the most versatile, well rounded cartridge for most hunting on this continent? There’s a reason it’s got 113 years of history and everything else is compared to it. It’s the reigning king.

I’ve hunted and killed with everything from 130 to 220 grain bullets. Here’s some velocity numbers.

130’s - 3320 FPS
150 - 3050 FPS
165/168 - 3000 FPS
180 - 2850 FPS
200 - 2730 FPS
220’s - 2500ish? Never bothered to chrono

The ‘06 is never the wrong choice, in my mind the question isn’t why would you shoot one but why wouldn’t your shoot one? There’s nothing wrong with a .308 but it starts lagging behind after 165 grain bullets. If your shooting 130-165’s it’s (ballistically) everything the ‘06 is.

Stay with the .308. Premium 165gr bullet will deliver exact same results in any, and all, realistic hunting scenario with a lighter rifle. On all north american game.
If you “just want” a .30-06 then go get one. There is no argument against “I just want one”!

Yet another one of these crazy "one gun" threads. when faced with a decision between two right answers which 308 and 30-06 are the best answer s both :)

or 270Win

Simply to own rifles chambered for two great cartridges that have spawned a multitude of great cartridges . I would get one before they both became obsolete.

From how you described everything, and to own one all around rifle that's going to be used for whitetail deer hunting most of the time, I'd go with a light weight .308 with a 20" barrel.

Do you reload?

I have a 30-06 and my buddies all have .308s and the main difference I see in the two is my ability to really tailor a round to any purpose, from super light popcorn fart 140/150 for the kids to work with, to a nice medium weight 150/160 for deer up to a bigger, heavier all-purpose bear/elk/moose destroyer of worlds.

Either way, if you reload the 30-06 is versatile but the .308 will do the job too, so no matter what you choose, you'll be fine, as long as you're content with the choice.

Thanks for the quick thoughts guys. A couple of good points raised.

Most of these ideas presented are basically what is bouncing around in my head.

Just to address a few things:

No, I can't/won't get both. I really find that if I have multiple rifles I really only end up using one. Finances are an issue as well. No need to have two money-burners in the safe. Nice try though :)

" With so many good cartridges out there, why would you even consider a 30-06 or 308? " Well, I tend to try to focus more on the "need end of things than the "want" end. If money wasn't an issue I'd probably have a dozen rifles in all sorts of flavours. There are certainly alot of interesting options out there but I'm not doing this for entertainment.

I do reload so the versatility of the 30-06 is appealing but when I consider what I will realistically use it seems less of a critical factor. I'd rather have one or two loads that I've really dialed in and know very well than have a dozen options for specific circumstances. I guess this is mostly because of the time and effort needed to get familiar with them and get them optimized (more bullets, different powders, load development time etc = resources I could spend elsewhere). Same reason I don't want a dozen specialized rifles for different cartridges.

I'll probably toss this around for a while more. Might even end up just going slug hunting this fall.


Cheers all. Enjoy the cabin fever.

Feel free to keep the discussion going...

Don't go slug hunting... when you put salt on them they shrivel up and you end up with almost no meat.

I find skinning a slug a real bugger

Both are good cartridges both as plain and boring as the other. For all it really matters you can just flip a coin to decide.

I have 308 and 30 06 they make a good clean kill every time great guns

x2 another top load is a 190gr nlra for the 308 - i started with a 303... went to a 30-06 for years ... a 300wsm ... and now back to a second 308 ... exceptionally accurate round, hence it knocked the '06 of it's perch there.. and just'a joy to shoot ... i have taken elk and moose with 165gr's out to 200m with no worries ... that said ... nothing is going very far once you dump a 180gr round into the lungs at any reasonable range

If you like the 308win, why change?

.. not to mention std twist rates. The .308 has 1-12, the '06 has 1-10.

The problem I have with the thirty odd six is well, it’s just to dam universal, it kind of eliminates the need to own any other rifles.

But, the question is...

Do you need a 30-06 for slugs or will a .308 work?

could be a subject for debate at another time , couldn't it ?