well once i get some bills paid off im gonna be putting a rifle on the Christmas list this year. doesnt have to be the latest and greatest fancy one, just hold a tight group and take down big game. of course for the time being id use it for deer and hogs, but the navy sends people all over and if id later end up in washington state id want something capable of taking down an elk, bear, or moose. i was originally thinking 30-06 since its very versatile and i have no problem seeing ammo available, but a guy on base said to maybe look into .308 as well. i know the size of the bullet itself is practically the same, but how does each perform at range? accuracy? ammo price? knockdown power? ive shot a 30-06 before and didnt think the recoil was that bad, but never shot a .308 before. any thoughts?
They both shoot the same bullet. They are ballistically the same for the most part. The 308 is a shorter casing making a shorter action. The 30-06 is a longer casing and it takes certain rifle actions for a semi auto. The 308 works in an AR platform.
You will find 30- 06 ammo everywhere, not that 308 is not popular, but I see 30-06 ammo sometimes and not 308. With this big gun and ammo scare that we are just creeping out of, availability is something to consider.
I have a 30- 06 I got when I was 18. Killed lots of deer, but I haven’t used it in 10 years. I seem to grab the 7mm or 45-70 depending on how I hunt. When my son can handle it, he can lay some out with it too.
Long story short, decide if you are looking at a short or long action rifle. Both are great.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
pretty much what Matt said.
The advantage on the .308 in the day was the availability of “free” ammo from some friends.
I’ll take the 30-06 any day of the week… Unless I find another source for free .308 ammo. 
im looking into a bolt action over semi auto, but aside from cartridge length ive never owned/hunted with a centerfire rifle whats the real difference between long and short action rifles?
The only AR platform that I know that shoots 308 is AR-10 and lr-308. Ar-15 will not and uses larger lower and upper receiver.
For majority of sc hunting I can not see why a 308 or 7mm-08 is not more than enough. I have owned 7mm mag and 270 win and neither one made deer any more dead than my 308 or 7mm-08. From my personal experience only, I have become more fond of lighter recoil for hunting. Hard kickers make people flinch, and less “thump” allows you to stay on target or even get back on target to actually see how the deer reacts.
Another thing to consider is if you go with a lighter recoil round is the weight of the rifle. Go and buy a super lightweight rifle and you will still get beat.
so far im looking at the remington 700 and a couple savage models. ive heard good things about the 700 from several people. anyone have any input on the newer savage models?
I am partial to 700’s lately after shooting a-bolts religiously.
A-bolts for me were not as accurate, but more than accurate enough for hunting. I actually prefer the shorter bolt lift of the a-bolt and the hinged floorplate with box magazine.
My 700’s with a little trigger work have been amazingly accurate for what they are/were. Like many others I regret the day I let them go.
Savage for the most part makes a no frills rifle that just plain shoots. Last one I owned in centerfire was a model 10 270win. Accurate but kicked like nothing else I have ever shot.
The new 700’s, especially the SPS suck ass in the factory configuration, the higher cost lines are much better. To me they are nothing more than donor barrelled actions. The stocks suck, the factory trigger is a POS and the finish will rust if you look at it wrong. Accuracy is still fine but they have to be worked on to be shootable guns IMO. Savage puts out some good rifles as well as some crap in the lower ends as well. Out of the box, slap a optic on it and go kill critters because I don’t care if it is ugly, I’d take a Savage any day of the week. The only reason that I’m shooting a Remington 700 is that they were the only Manufacturer that had a varmint contoured barrel chambered in 7mm08.
It’s like everything else in the world today, the manufacturers make products that will get the job done barely at a bargain price but are ultimately crap. They also make products that are very nice and will last a very long time, you just have to pay a lot more for them.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I have a Browning A-Bolt 30-06 and a Remington 700XCR. I had a trigger job done to the A-Bolt and it is highly accurate and has a great classic look to it. My wife now uses this gun. I load her Nosler Ballistic Tip 125gr and she can handle the recoil just fine.
My Remington 700 is my true hunting gun. It is all stainless but coated in black finish that wont rust. The stock has Houge rubber pads molded into it which helps me keep a steady hand especially with gloves on. The gun has an adjustable trigger on it with little creep.
Whatever you choose, spend a little more and get something nice. It will be with you for a long time and you can pass it down when the time comes.
Sea Hunt 202
Yam 150
I have a 2012 700 that I was skeptical about buying after hearing how they are now junk, bad machining, etc. The bolt is solid and it shoots great. The trigger definitely needs work but I rarely like a factory trigger.
My main go-to has been m-77’s. I own several and really like them without being modded. Everyone has their own preference, just like Ford and Chevy. I know someone on here will disagree with me, but it would be hard to beat a Marlin 336 in a 30-30 with the new Hornady Lever-evolution loads. They put a lot of added range to the old girl for the field, and its still compact and quick shooting for stalking.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
I have a savage model 111 30-06. it was a $300 combo package, but it now has a Leupold VX-III and shoots like a dream. the 3 deer i have shot at dropped dead in thier tracks. Sight in has always be less then 5 shots to zero and I have never had an issue finding ammo. 150grn rem Cor Lokts work well in mine. this gun doesn’t hurt my shoulder like other guns I’ve shot. I have not had any mechanical issues with it and i love the drop out magazine. The only thing I would consider changing is the trigger pull, feels kinda heavy, i know I can change it to a lighter pull(3-4 lbs) but not too concerned with that right now.
Have friends that shoot 30-06’s with 150 grn bullets who have taken Elk and caribou out to 300 yards, if that matters to you.
Thats is the only hunting rifle I have, so i don’t really have anything to compare it with. have shot others and they just don’t feel right.
I have heard alot of good stuff about the Savage 270 also, that would be the next rifle I look into. hope you find something you’re happy with.
not out to take 300 yard shots to prove anything but long range capability would be nice and id like to continue my streak of never tracking a deer ive hit with a gun although if needed ill stick it out rattlesnakes in my face or not 
. im leaning a bit towards the savage but putting a nicer scope on it since theyre consistently lower cost and i havent heard too much negative on the newer savage models. even in the worst of the ammo grab i was still able to see a couple boxes of 30-06 if anything. as of now all id need is something for deer and boar…elk sized game would be later on if id get sent somewhere theyre available but it would be nice not to have to spend more money if that opportunity would present itself. i know id be glad to have the extra power for a big hog but a hit from a 30-06 isnt complete overkill and ruins half the meat on a deer though is it?
Dead is dead, no matter what round you choose to shoot. Shot placement is the key to preserving meat. Getting a rifle that is accurate and that you have confidence in along with the optic you choose makes it easy for you to place your shots where you want. Bullet choice and construction also play a part in what you lose on the meat side, shoot one square in the shoulder you lose a good part of the shoulder meat. Shoot on 4-6" down from the top of the back at the shoulder you don’t lose so much plus you never have to track it, they can’t move when the spine is severed.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I love my 25-06!! Upside, very flat shooting round, makes those reach out and touch someone shots easier… Downside, not a popular caliber, so I have to order my ammo to get the good stuff…
Key West 19’6" CC 115hp Merc
14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
30-06 is my choice for all the above reasons and if you reload you can load everything from a 110 grain bullet to 220 grain
bullet and be able to handle a wide variety of game.
WS Tarpon 120
WS Tarpon 100
Heritage Ultralite 9.5
got a savage 111 yest that came with a nikon scope. havent had a chance to play with it yet but looks great!
quote:
Originally posted by OhioNavyNukegot a savage 111 yest that came with a nikon scope. havent had a chance to play with it yet but looks great!
I have the 111 in .270 with a Simmons scope on it. It’s the most accurate rifle I’ve ever shot. I sight it every year, and haven’t had to adjust the scope in about 5-6 years. I can hit a pencil eraser from 100 yards.
I think you’re gonna like it.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
got to play with it today after night shift and it was def off out of the box but now put 3 shots in 1" at 100 yards off the bench rest with core lokts. recoil is def there but less than the slug gun i also sighted back in so i can hopefully put the guy that let me shoot at his place on a deer. his backyard does have a bit of woods in the property line and immediately behind the line is 600+ acres of club land. im sure we can put some corn out on his side of the line and put something in his freezer…said he sees them most every night.
i have a 700 with the xmark pro trigger in 270 that sits at the house. My deer gun is a savage 110 with accutrigger in 243. in four years and 50 or 60 deer from three shooters I have had to trail one deer more than 20 yards and that was with factory ammo.
If elk a possibility, then 30-06. Your choice in bullet design will determine extent of meat damage on smaller game.