308 or 30-06

[petev]

Feb 6, 2010 11:12:31 GMT -5 ozark said:

This thread could go on for years and there would still be hunters who liked one better than the other. My favorite meal is a thick Med. Rare Sirloin steak with a baked potato and fresh garden salad. But that doesn't mean everyone would agree. Some smart aclect might like inner tenderloin of young doe better.

The winter is long here, Ozark, so I like some of the discussions even when they go on! I don't think your .243 thread will ever die! Let's start a pool, as to when . Your favorite meal is the same as mine, I guess they're bound to be coincidences now and then. I guess I'm just extra picky about deer rifles, on average we have them for a long time, and we're probably all looking for that little extra advantage.

[ozark]

A trend in this thread is that the .308 could be a less than ideal elk rifle while the 30.06 would be just fine. I don't see the logic here. A .270 has long been known as a good elk rifle and I believe that the .308 is a good choice for elk. The velocity and energy appears to be sufficient.
Again, using either it is more where you hit and the bullet structure than the weight of the bullet. If elk hunting with either I would select a bullet weight around 165 grains and one known to penetrate well. 150 Grain Nosler Partition should do the job nicely in either rifle. I have never killed an elk but my older brother who has killed many claims they are no harder to kill than a deer if shot through the lungs or heart. He claimed that time between shot and death was about the same. He did say that the size of the elk made the target so large a hunter could get carless on bullet placement. But, I must confess that Jake The Woodsman was a 30-06 fan. I was his better on stationary targets but on moving targets he made me look bad. On running deer he could get lung shots most of the time.

[swampmen]

Well all your all correct .Now for my two cents the 308 is the most hardest hitting son of a gun I ever seen on trees it bad ,never seen a 06 do this dammage so the 308 wins hands down for me .Now look at some reloading or reg ball. the 308 is only aroung 100 ft slower then the 06 with any weight under 180gr bullet. But sure don't kick like the 06

[deadeye]

the .308 insufficient for elk is laughable,good bullet match is the key in any caliber.i usually opt for the long action type also. im scratchin my head here now,after setting up loads for over 600cf's,i have never done one for a.308 rifle but have for .308 pistol. in looking at herman's .308 groups i think i will go .308 rifle shopping since it is my birthday anniversary then ill have both& i have taken 14 elk but mostly archery ;D

[petev]

deadeye, I don't think you will regret your choice, let us know how you make out.

[cuda]

Well I am going to order the 308 I will do all of my own reloading anyway.

[tcmech]

I have killed both deer and coyotes with my 243, where I live all of the pig hunting is either shotgun or bow. I don't think a 30 caliber is your ideal varmint (coyote) caliber but it will definitely kill one.

[pposey]

you can get some lower weight varmit bullets for a .308 if you can get them to shoot for ya, handloading will help. I have some 100 grain sierra "I think" HP's that I load for my 7mm-08 that will about tear a yote in half at full speed,, I download them to 1800 fps and they are a fun yote load without all the noise and recoil

[northny]

Following on to pposey, my sons favorite thing to shoot at longer distances is a.308 ith Sierra 110 HPs (#2110). Pleasant to shoot, yet moving at 2500 fps. Will dump 'yotes, and ring the gong at 200 yards. I have loads set up so when they are in the x ring at 100 yards, remington factory loads (150 g) are two inch high and you are all set for deer.

[pposey]

Thats the best thing about reloading,, you can make custom loads for your purposes,, My 120 BT loads for deer/hogs are 1 inch high at 100, as are my full power 100 grain HP loads,,,and those much slower 100grain HP loads are about an inch low at 100, no scope changes needed,,