07.15.2024 | By Joel Hodgdon
Who doesn’t love a good argument about the merits of arguably two of the most classic hunting cartridges of all time? Generations of big game hunters have debated the performance of the 30-06 Springfield vs the 308 Winchester since the 308 was introduced in the early 1950s.
But which cartridge is superior? Does the 308 or the 30-06 have better ballistics? Accuracy? Which cartridge has less recoil? Does the 30-06 or the 308 have more ammo and projectile options? Rifle options? Read on to find out.
Pre-dating the 308 by a half-century, the 30-06 Springfield was introduced as a US military cartridge in 1906. The cartridge gets its name from its 30-caliber diameter, year of introduction, and original chambering in the Springfield armory-built M1903 service rifle. The ‘06 went on to be used in two world wars and remained in military use as late as the 1970s.
Originally firing a 150gr flat-base spire point FMJ bullet, the 30-06 Springfield was chambered in a wide array of firearms, notably the iconic M1 Garand. This cartridge was utilized in many different action types and militaries the world over during its heyday and became a popular big game hunting round following its adoption on the battlefield.
308 Winchester’s origin also began with the US military. During the 1940s, the US began development of the experimental T65 series of cartridges. The goal? A cartridge to match or beat the performance of the 30-06, in a more portable, lightweight, short action round easily adapted for feed, function, and fire in a semi-automatic or automatic firearm.
The result was the 308 Winchester. The 308 was introduced to the commercial or civilian market in 1952. Its slightly lower pressured military cousin, the 7.62x51mm NATO, came along a couple of years later. Still in use by NATO countries and militaries today, the 308 Win remains a popular caliber for standard service rifles, designated marksman/sniper rifles, and fully automatic rifles alike.
The 30-06 and 308 share many similarities. Both cartridges 30-caliber bullet diameter, range of projectile grain weights, commonly loaded velocities, and wide usage in hunting, shooting, and military applications make both cartridges a mainstay in any gun safe. You’ll find plenty of both types of ammo at your local gun store, along with rifle options for sale.
While there are differences at the lightest and heaviest ends of their ballistic performances - a 308 Win firing a 125gr varmint bullet does very different things vs a 30-06 shooting a monolithic 220gr dangerous game projectile - both cartridges commonly fire 150-185 grain bullets around similar velocities.
This crossover in external ballistic performance downrange means for most hunters and shooters, the velocity and drop charts on the back of your ammo box are going to look similar.
308’s short action and slightly faster twist rate lend themselves to shorter-barreled rifles and make suppressing your hunting rig easy. Why is a shorter barrel handy? An Idaho, Colorado, or Montana mountain hunter might prefer a lighter rifle to lug around the backcountry, while a Mississippi or Alabama deer hunter might want a shorter, handier rifle for quick maneuvering up a tree stand or in a box blind.
Similarly, 308’s slightly higher-pressure max and twist rate means it can be loaded at higher velocities than a 30-06. These factors have led to the 308 Winchester’s long tenure as a match and benchrest cartridge, along with the plethora of “sniper” type rifles available for precision shooting.
Felt recoil is another factor that leads some hunters to choose 308. All else equal, an 8-lb rifle chambered in 308 Win. firing a 180gr bullet at 2,610 feet per second at the muzzle produces about 14% less free recoil energy than an 8-lb 30-06 SPG firing the same 180gr bullet at 2,700 FPS. Force is equal to mass times acceleration, and you can’t argue with physics.
The 308 is also slightly more versatile because of the cartridge’s range of bullet grain weights commonly found on the retail shelf. Varmint hunting, medium game, or large game can all be felled with an appropriate bullet loaded in the same 308 Win rifle.
The 30-06 remains a solid choice for hunters on big game hunts and especially shines (vs 308) on dangerous game. The 06’s ability to be loaded with heavier, 185gr+ bullets compared to the 308 Win’s slightly lighter range of projectiles means the 06 is a great choice when you don’t feel like wrestling that water buffalo with your pocketknife.
While it might not matter much inside common hunting distances of 250 yards in, the 30-06 Springfield also shines at farther hunting distances. The 06’s increased bullet grain weights and hence terminal energy means the cartridge can carry more punch, but you’ll want to compare energy across yardages with your specific bullet and velocity to make an apples-to-apples comparison.
Both the 308 and 30-06 are classic hunting cartridges that’ll be around for a long time to come. From a whitetail hunt in Arkansas to a sheep hunt in Tajikistan, you’ll find either ammo on the shelf and well-loved by locals. Choosing 308 vs 30-06 comes down to your personal preferences. As always, it’s best to pick the right tool for the job at hand.
Premier Long Range
Core-Lokt Tipped
Premier Scirocco