Evaluating the .308 Win. (left) to the .30-06 is a traditional debate, however the variations between them are minimal. Tyler Freel

Hunters and shooters will stick with their weapons—and cartridge choice—generally to a fault. Sure, we’re entitled to our opinions, however these opinions inherently embrace a great dose of bias. When truthfully evaluating the capabilities of two well-respected cartridges such because the .308 Winchester vs .30-06 Springfield, we should throw opinions apart and deal with the information. 

Pitting the .308 vs .30-06 is a nostalgic conflict of two traditional cartridges. Each have confirmed their value over a long time of efficiency on the battlefield, on the vary, and within the backcountry. Each make the most of a .308-inch diameter bullet. However is considered one of these cartridges truly superior to the opposite? In brief, no. 

The essential distinction between the 2 is that the .30-06 is a long-action cartridge with a case size of two.49 inches and an general size of three.34 inches. The .308 is a short-action cartridge with a case size of two.01 inches and an general size of two.8 inches. 

Due to this, each cartridges include their execs and cons. For instance, the .30-06 delivers a little bit extra velocity and the .308 recoils rather less, a minimum of usually talking. So should you have been hoping for full-throated protection of 1 cartridge and scathing assault of the opposite, nicely, you’ve come to the fallacious place. Right here’s what it’s essential know in regards to the variations between the 2 cartridges. 

Historical past of the Two Cartridges

The .30-06 title is derived from the cartridge’s 30-caliber projectile and the yr it was launched, 1906. Its dad or mum case is the .30-03 Springfield. On the time of its inception, the .30-06 cartridge was the top of recent ballistics, launching a 150-grain projectile 2,700 fps. The .30-06 gained its notoriety on the battlefield, taking part in massive roles in WWI, WWII, and the Korean Warfare. Since its adoption, the 30-06 has grow to be probably the most frequent and succesful big-game looking cartridges in America and around the globe. 

Higher performing ammunition has additionally improved the capabilities of the .30-06 with 150-grain bullets now often pushing practically 3,000 fps. One of many many endearing qualities of the 30-06 is its means to shoot a variety of projectiles starting from Hornady’s 125-grain SST bullets clear on as much as Remington’s 220-grain Core-Lokt.

In 1952, half a century after the .30-06 was launched, the .308 Winchester was born. Its dad or mum case is the .300 Savage. The army model of the cartridge, the 7.62x51mm NATO, supplied troopers a rifle that almost matched the ballistic efficiency of the 150-grain, M2 Ball .30-06 ammo, however on a lighter platform as a result of short-action design. The army noticed the advantages of the brand new cartridge and finally changed the M1 Garand service rifles, chambered in .30-06, with the M14 chambered in 7.62×51, aka .308 Win. 

Learn Subsequent: Is the Winchester Mannequin 70 Featherweight as Good as It Used to Be?

Together with its rise within the army, the .308 Win. additionally grew to become fashionable amongst hunters favoring short-action rifles and lighter recoil. 

Ballistics

Ballistically, the .30-06 shoots sooner and brings extra vitality than the .308 Win. because of its bigger case capability. Evaluating ballistics of the 2 cartridges facet by facet, nonetheless, reveals the minimal good points made capturing the .30-06. Let’s take a look at two examples.

Hornady Clothing store CX 150-Grain

Hornady’s new Clothing store line features a 150-grain CX bullet, which is a mono-metal (copper alloy) projectile. Right here’s what the ballistics appear to be from the 2 cartridges, given a 200-yard zero.

.30-06 Springfield

• Muzzle velocity: 3080 fps
• Drop: 6.4 inches at 300 yards
• Vitality: 1955 foot-pounds at 300 yards

.308 Winchester

• Muzzle velocity: 2900 fps
• Drop: 7.4 inches at 300 yards
• Vitality: 1712 foot-pounds at 300 yards

Federal 165-Grain Fusion

One other instance that options even much less distinction in efficiency between the 2 cartridges is Federal’s 165-grain projectile loaded of their Fusion Line. That is once more with a 200-yard zero.

.30-06 Springfield

• Muzzle velocity: 2,790 fps
• Drop: 7.9 inches at 300 yards
• Vitality: 1800 foot-pounds at 300 yards

.308 Winchester

• Muzzle velocity: 2,700 fps
• Drop: 8.6 inches at 300 yards
• Vitality: 1660 foot-pounds at 300 yards

Inside 300-yards, the ballistics and terminal efficiency of those two cartridges can be practically unattainable to differentiate between. Sure, the .30-06 does present a slight benefit in efficiency however that further efficiency does come at a worth when it comes to felt recoil, extra on this in a second.

Heavier Bullets

It’s value noting that the .30-06 begins to drag away from the .308 as you progress as much as heavier bullets. For instance, right here’s how the 2 cartridges carry out with a 180-grain Nosler Partition. 

.30-06 Springfield

• Muzzle velocity: 2,700 fps
• Drop: 8.5 inches at 300 yards
• Vitality: 1865 foot-pounds at 300 yards

.308 Winchester

• Muzzle velocity: 2,570
• Drop: 9.4 inches at 300 yards
• Vitality: 1672 foot-pounds at 300 yards

The takeaway? The cartridges are very comparable at typical looking distances with moderate-weight bullets. However should you’re fascinated about capturing heavier bullets (180 grains and up) at farther ranges, the .30-06 does present a bonus in retained vitality.

Recoil

Recoil is an enormous deal to some and never a lot to others (regardless that it needs to be). Once I was youthful, I paid little or no consideration to felt recoil, chalking it as much as a mandatory evil of capturing. Nevertheless, the older I get, the extra I draw back from heavy-recoiling firearms. Neither the .308 Win. or 30-06 are identified for being mild recoiling cartridges, however they aren’t precisely punishing to shoot in standard-weight looking rifles. Given the bigger case capability and elevated powder consumption, the .30-06 will sometimes produce extra recoil than the .308 Win. For some very fundamental recoil figures, a 7-pound .308 generates about 21 foot-pounds of recoil in comparison with a 7-pound .30-06 producing about 25 foot-pounds of recoil. However these numbers don’t inform the total story, as a result of the distinction in felt recoil is extra nuanced.  

The general weight of the rifle, inventory dimensions, use of a suppressor or muzzle brake, and cargo mixture all contribute to the quantity of felt recoil a rifle produces. Resulting from its short-action design, rifles chambered in .4308 Win. are sometimes a number of ounces lower than the identical rifle chambered in 30-06. For instance a Browning X-Bolt Medallion in .308 weighs 6 lbs. 8 oz. The .30-06 model of the rifle weighs 4 ounces extra. 

Extra importantly, there are a selection of mild mountain rifles out there in .308, and fewer of those weapons are chambered in .30-06. So should you’re on the lookout for a light-weight looking rifle in .30-caliber (and don’t need the punishment of a big-booming .300 Win. Magazine.) then the .308 is an effective alternative. Gentle rifles are nice for backpacking however do generate extra recoil. 

There are actually methods to cut back felt recoil. Whereas I detest muzzle brakes, they do serve their function and scale back the quantity of felt recoil for each cartridges. Even higher, suppressors present the identical advantage of recoil discount whereas saving our ears from the abuse of a muzzle blast.

Learn Subsequent: Why the .308 Winchester Will By no means Die

Accuracy

The definition of an correct rifle varies from shooter to shooter. No matter what your definition is, each the .308 Win. and .30-06 are able to producing correct outcomes for looking functions. From a purely anecdotal perspective, I’ve had higher success getting rifles chambered in .308 Win. to shoot sub-MOA than I’ve these chambered in .30-06. However bear in mind, that’s an anecdote, not exhausting knowledge. I believe the rationale that the .308 persistently out shoots the .30-06 when it comes to accuracy is due to its extra environment friendly cartridge design.

Given the trendy developments in rifle and ammunition manufacturing, there are many manufacturing facility rifles chambered in each cartridges that can shoot manufacturing facility ammunition sub-MOA in three-shot teams and close to MOA in five-shot teams. In Tyler Freel’s check of the greatest mid-priced rifles, he discovered that the perfect rifles shot about 1.3-inch, five-shot teams (this was accomplished after averaging the ten greatest teams from every rifle).

Learn Subsequent: The Finest 308 Looking Rifles

The overwhelming majority of rifle firms all chamber and promote rifles in each .308 Win. and .30-06 because of their widespread reputation. The identical will also be mentioned for ammunition firms with .30-06 and 308. Win. ammo being amongst their prime promoting SKUs yearly.

Terminal Efficiency

We already established that the .30-06 shoots a tad sooner and subsequently packs extra punch than the .308 Win. Nevertheless, lifeless is lifeless and the buck or bull you compromise your crosshairs on this fall won’t know whether or not they have been shot with a .308 vs .30-06. As an alternative of cartridge alternative, hunters ought to deal with bullet development when attempting to maximise terminal efficiency. Because of the booming reputation of each of those cartridges, hunters have a smorgasbord of killer bullet choices to select from.

For max penetration on larger recreation, shoot stable mono-metal bullets. A few of my favourite mono-metal projectiles embrace Hornady’s CX, Nosler’s E-Tip, and Winchester’s Copper Influence. 

For an all-around succesful big-game possibility, you’ll be able to’t go fallacious capturing a bonded bullet similar to Nosler’s Accubond from both the .30-06 or .308 Win. Skinny-skinned deer and pronghorn could be hunted with ease with each cartridges with nearly any looking bullet, although many desire a rapid-expanding projectile to maximise inner trauma.

Ammunition Availability and Choice

One of many largest benefits to capturing each the .30-06 and .308 Win. is that ammo is sort of all the time available. Even throughout the latest ammo scarcity, .30-06 and .308 Win ammo might nonetheless be discovered. Price varies based mostly on ammunition model and bullet sort, however usually the .308 Win and .30-06 ammunition share comparable worth tags. For instance, a field of 20 .308 Win. 150-gr. Remington Core-Lokt is listed on Halfway USA for $28.99. That very same field of ammo for the .30-06 is listed for the very same worth of $28.99. Common worth for a field of 20-rounds for each cartridges will hover between $35 and $40.

And there are a ton of choices to select from. On Halfway USA alone, each cartridges had greater than 100 ammunition choices from all kinds of producers and bullet configurations.

Learn Subsequent: The Finest .308 Looking Ammo

One of many endearing qualities of the .30-06 is its means to shoot heavy-for-caliber projectiles. The .308 Win. also can shoot lots of those self same heavy bullets, however you’ll have a more durable time discovering manufacturing facility looking ammo loaded with 190-grain bullets or heavier. 

Ultimate Ideas on .30-06 vs .308 Win.

The reality is that you would be able to’t go fallacious with both of those cartridges when choosing your subsequent big-game looking rifle. Each carry ample killing energy and supply hunters with a variety of ammunition choices to successfully goal every part from dainty pronghorn to huge bull elk. Given the same rifle configuration, the .308 Win. will exhibit barely much less recoil and is inherently extra environment friendly than the .30-06. However, irrespective of how exhausting folks attempt to persuade you in any other case, the .30-06 will ship larger velocity and vitality, all different elements being equal. The .30-06 additionally possesses the power to raised stabilize and precisely shoot the extraordinarily heavy-for-caliber bullet choices with its sooner twist charge.

It’s additionally vital to notice that there are many new cartridges using trendy cartridge design that outperform each the .30-06 and .308 Win. Nevertheless, the historical past and nostalgia surrounding these two cartridges has made them a chunk of Americana historical past that hunters and shooters refuse to let slip into the “has been” class. Anticipate to see them facet by facet in looking camps and on gun retailer cabinets for a few years to come back.

The put up .308 vs .30-06: Is Considered one of These Traditional Cartridges Actually Superior? appeared first on Outside Life.

Articles could comprise affiliate hyperlinks which allow us to share within the income of any purchases made.