.30-06 vs. .308
William Janssen
Does anyone know the actual weight and velocity of the bullets
for both rifles ?
Will Janssen.
Bart Bobbit
: Which rifle has more energy ? .30-06 or .308 ?
Given equal barrel lengths and both cartridges producing the
same peak pressure, the '06 will shoot a given bullet weight
about 100 to 150 fps faster than a .308. So, the '06 cartridge
produces a tad more energy. This is with bullets weighing less
than 200 grains. With heavier bullets, the '06 will shoot 'em
about 150 to 200 fps faster.
: Does anyone know the actual weight and velocity of the bullets
: for both rifles ?
They'll both handle bullet weights up to about 250 grains.
Depending on the make and type, bullet weights vary in
different weight increments from about 100 grains up to 250
grains. Check a handloading manual or a factory ballistics
table for exact numbers. They vary from about 2150 fps for
a 250-gr. bullet in a .308 to 3300 fps for a 100-gr. bullet
in the same cartridge. Muzzle velocities for the '06 go about
100 to 200 fps faster.
30 caliber bullets can be used in both cartridges. Typical
weights are 100, 110, 125, 135, 145, 150, 155, 165, 168, 173,
175, 180, 185, 190, 200, 210, 220, 240 and 250 grain weights.
There may be other weights, too.
BB
John Clifford
<wjan...@clark.dgim.doc.ca> writes:
The .308 is basically a shortened .30-'06, along with some changes to the
extractor groove. It was conceived in the late '40s as a means to put the newer
propellants' higher specific energies to use and generate '06 power from a
smaller case. The shorter body also feeds easier in machineguns.
Sure, you don't save much brass and weight on one cartridge, but multiply the
savings out over millions and millions of cartridges and it quickly adds up.
For sporting use, there's about 50 yards of difference between the '06 and the
308 -- in other words, the '06 gives the same velocity/energy at 50 yards as
the .308 does at the muzzle. For deer-sized game, the difference is negligible.
The .308 is purportedly an inherently more accurate cartridge due to it's
shorter powder column length-to-width ratio. But it's not enough to make a
difference for hunting, and the '06 was the favorite target cartridge for many
years so it isn't inaccurate by any means.
It all comes down to personal preference. I have one of each -- and I find I
just like the '06 more.
John Clifford
Weapons Safety, Inc.
Disclaimer: Who needs 'em? I represent myself now!
Sam Gaylord
<stuff deleted>
: The .308 is basically a shortened .30-'06, along with some changes to the
: extractor groove. It was conceived in the late '40s as a means to put the
newer
: propellants' higher specific energies to use and generate '06 power from a
: smaller case. The shorter body also feeds easier in machineguns.
Actually it was developed in the '30s. The .30-06 was deemed too long to
be used in a automatic weapon, to the Pentegon developed a shorter round for
use in autos. But then with WW-II looming on the horizon, they decided not
to gear up for a new unproved infantryman's weapon, so it was put on the
shelf until after the war.
<more stuff deleted>
samg
Mailstop Guy
manual will show that the .308 is NOT the same as the 30-06 and never
will be. The 30-06 is a superior big game hunting cartridge by virtue
of its ability to handle bullets over 180 grs. well and always beats
the .308 out on velocity by anywhere from 150 to 200 fps almost all
bullet weights, particulary heavy. These are NOT the same cartridges in
different clothes. The .308 is a fine round and is a better choice for
military and target shooting applications, but the same as the '06 it is
not.
Cheers,
Conrad
J. Spencer
>John Clifford (john...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
>: .....and the '06 was the favorite target cartridge for many
>: years so it isn't inaccurate by any means.
>That's almost right. It was the only cartridge folks could use in
>most NRA highpower matches.
Are you saying that other, comparable, cartridges (the .303 for
instance)were all banned? If so, was it simply a case of only being
permitted to use the "current US" service round or some such rule?
--Jonathan
Bart Bobbit
: Are you saying that other, comparable, cartridges (the .303 for
: instance)were all banned?
Yes.
: If so, was it simply a case of only being
: permitted to use the "current US" service round or some such rule?
Yes.
BB