To Keep it simple for the 30:06, I chose three bullet weights most commonly used for deer hunting and essentially anything you would use a 30:06 for anyway. Each chart shows the bullet used (ALL Remington Pointed soft point core-lokt's). When sighted in between 1.8 and 2.1 inches high at 100 yards, there is only 2.1 inches difference in trajectory between the three loads out to 300 yards. I am not factoring in wind drift etc. As mentioned many times where I do most of my hunting, 98 % of all whitetails are taken under 200 yards and probably 85% plus are taken under 100. All three weights are used for deer hunting and I would personally use whatever shot the tightest groups. The first section of each box is the description of the load itself. The 2nd one is velocity and the 3rd on is trajectory,
First up is the 30:06:
| R30062 | 150 | Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt¨ | 9 1/2 | 24" |
| 150 PSPCL | 2910 | 2617 | 2342 | 2083 | 1843 | 1622 |
| 150 PSPCL | 1.8 | 1.6 | zero | -3.2 | -8.2 | -24.4 | -50.9 |
| R3006B | 165 | Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt¨ | 9 1/2 | 24" |
| 165 PSPCL | 2800 | 2534 | 2283 | 2047 | 1825 | 1621 |
| 165 PSPCL | 2.0 | 1.7 | zero | -3.4 | -8.7 | 25.9 | -53.2 |
| R30065 | 180 | Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt¨ | 9 1/2 | 24" |
| 180 PSPCL | 2700 | 2469 | 2250 | 2042 | 1846 | 1663 |
| 180 PSPCL | 2.1 | 1.8 | zero | -3.5 | -9.0 | -26.3 | -54.0 |
THE .308 WIN:
| R308W1 | 150 | Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt¨ | 9 1/2 | 24" |
| 150 PSPCL | 2820 | 2533 | 2263 | 2009 | 1774 | 1560 |
| 150 PSPCL | 2.0 | 1.7 | zero | -3.4 | -8.8 | -26.2 | -54.8 |
(165 grain PSPCL date not available for this post)
| R308W2 | 180 | Soft Point Core-Lokt¨ | 9 1/2 | 24" |
| 180 PSPCL | 2620 | 2393 | 2178 | 1974 | 1782 | 1604 |
| 180 PSPCL | -0.1 | zero | -1.5 | -4.6 | -9.5 | -16.5 |
THE .338 FEDERAL:
| Cartridge (Wb + type) | V/E @ Muzzle | V/E @ 100 yds | V/E @ 200 yds | V/E @ 300 yds |
| .338 Federal (180 BT) | 2830/3200 | 2590/2670 | 2350/2215 | 2130/1820 |
| .338 Federal (210 NP) | 2630/3225 | 2415/2719 | 2211/2279 | 2016/1895 |
In my opinion especially for whitetails there is not much one can do with one of these calibers that you cannot do with the other two. Other consideration at least where I live is the availability of factory ammo. If you load your own that is not a concern. I live in NYS and thanks to the legislation shoved through the system on no longer being able to order ammo through mail order, it has made choosing what factory ammo might work best from your rifle more difficult. For most folks it means buying whatever calibers and loads are available through your local retailer.
I have owned (3) 30:06's and (3) .308's and for my money the .308's have always out shot the 30:06's. I realize a total of six rifles is not an extensive test. One of the reasons I gravitated to the .308 years ago was the availability of factory ammo just about anywhere one travels to hunt. The same could be said for the 30:06. Every time I go to Walmart for example, there is still a selection of 30:06 ammo on the shelf and ZERO .308 Win. It has been that way since Cuomo shoved unconstitutional gun and ammunition legislation through the system in the dark of night in Albany. One can still find Winchester and Remington ammo at places like Gander Mountain and Bass Pro etc., however if you are looking for a particular factory load that shoots well in your gun, you choices are severely limited.
The .338 Federal is still available at Gander Mountain, however the cost of that ammo is now in the $35 to $55 range for a box of 20. OUCH!
Unfortunately I no longer own a 30:06. I am not about to sell my Savage Weather Warrior .308 and I have a lot of ammo for that gun right now. I have probably 12 or 14 boxes of once fired brass for the .338 Federal and IF I don't sell it, I will likely try and find a reputable person to load cartridges for that caliber for me.
On the other hand, I might very well sell the .338 Federal for the right price. My big game hunting these days is pretty much limited to whitetails and perhaps an occasional black bear over bait hunt. The .308 with 180 grain loads is more than adequate for the bears and I also have a Marlin Mdl 1895 45-70 that could easily handle brown bear or grizzly within certain range limits. On a baited black bear hunt under 100 yards (MOST are in the 25 to 50 yards range), I would likely use Hornady LeverEvolution 325 grain ammo.
Hunting where I do in NY and with the majority of shots under 100 yards, I have the freedom to use my .270, or .35 Rem, or 45-70 or the Savage Weather Warrior .308 Win. I also own two TC muzzle loaders for the ML season which follows the rifle season.
I enjoy the process of deciding which rifle I might carry on a given day. If the weather forecast does NOT include rain showers, and I am planning on still hunting a good part of the time or changing stands etc., I will choose the Marlin model 336 in .35 Rem wearing a Mueller 2X7X32 power red dot scope.
If it is snowy or raining, I will likely take the Savage weather warrior in .308 which wears a Bushnell 3200 Elite 3X9X40 scope with the rain guard feature. My .Ruger .270 Win wears a Burris Fullfield II 3X9X40 scope with ballistic plex and features an illuminated reticle and might be my companion if I suspect during late season to find whitetails over the 200 yard mark feeding along crop fields on the opposite side of a wide field.
When I was in FFA in high school (graduated 1965) , my Ag teacher used to always say that variety is the spice of life. Perhaps he was right.
Let's add one more comparison between the 30:06 and the .308. This one shows that the .308 actually outperforms the ought six with bullets 165 grains and under out to 400 yards. If you switch to 180 and 200 grain bullets the 30:06 wins. Suffice it to say from my perspective what you can do with one, you can do with the other. Again, personally based on my own experience the .308 is on average more accurate than the 30:06's I have owned.
Hunting where I do in NY and with the majority of shots under 100 yards, I have the freedom to use my .270, or .35 Rem, or 45-70 or the Savage Weather Warrior .308 Win. I also own two TC muzzle loaders for the ML season which follows the rifle season.
I enjoy the process of deciding which rifle I might carry on a given day. If the weather forecast does NOT include rain showers, and I am planning on still hunting a good part of the time or changing stands etc., I will choose the Marlin model 336 in .35 Rem wearing a Mueller 2X7X32 power red dot scope.
If it is snowy or raining, I will likely take the Savage weather warrior in .308 which wears a Bushnell 3200 Elite 3X9X40 scope with the rain guard feature. My .Ruger .270 Win wears a Burris Fullfield II 3X9X40 scope with ballistic plex and features an illuminated reticle and might be my companion if I suspect during late season to find whitetails over the 200 yard mark feeding along crop fields on the opposite side of a wide field.
When I was in FFA in high school (graduated 1965) , my Ag teacher used to always say that variety is the spice of life. Perhaps he was right.
Let's add one more comparison between the 30:06 and the .308. This one shows that the .308 actually outperforms the ought six with bullets 165 grains and under out to 400 yards. If you switch to 180 and 200 grain bullets the 30:06 wins. Suffice it to say from my perspective what you can do with one, you can do with the other. Again, personally based on my own experience the .308 is on average more accurate than the 30:06's I have owned.
For a side by side comparison using Speer Reloading ‘Maximum Load” Data:
(data is Speer’s maximum FPS Muzzle Velocity showing grains and type of powder used and Sierra Ballistic software for energy calculations)
150 Grain Bullet:
308 with 150 grain soft point spitzer boat tails
49.0 grs. Re15 = 2919 fps muzzle velocity
Muzzle Energy = 2837.4 200 Yard Energy = 2005.0 400 Yard Energy = 1377.4
30-06 with 150 grain soft point spitzer boat tails
58.0 grs. H380 = 2847 fps muzzle velocity
Muzzle Energy = 2699.2 200 Yard Energy = 1900.3 400 Yard Energy = 1299.6
165 Grain Bullet:
308 with 165 grain soft point spitzer boat tails
47.0 grs. Re15 = 2812 fps muzzle velocity
Muzzle Energy = 2896.6 200 Yard Energy = 2112.4 400 Yard Energy = 1504.9
30-06 with 165 grain soft point spitzer boat tails
57.0 grs. 760 = 2803 fps muzzle velocity
Muzzle Energy = 2878.0 200 Yard Energy = 2098.0 400 Yard Energy = 1493.8
200 Grain Bullet:
308 with 200 grain soft point spitzer
42.0 grs. Re15 = 2416 fps muzzle velocity
Muzzle Energy = 2591.7 200 Yard Energy = 1996.0 400 Yard Energy = 1513.9
30-06 with 200 grain soft point spitzer
57.0 grs. H4350 = 2554 fps muzzle velocity
Muzzle Energy = 2896.3 200 Yard Energy = 2245.3 400 Yard Energy =1714.4
Dan
No comments:
Post a Comment