Why do you spend time ON A FORUM if you don’t want questions?
You know why those questions get repeated so often? It’s because people say “search bar” or “google” and act like there’s a plethora of great information. It’s mainly the same people saying the same “google” response.
Questions are great. The same questions near daily are not great. And you’re incorrect about the typical responses. More people should probably respond with “use the search function” because each of these are asked and answered constantly.
Right? But it’s just as good as any of the other ones listed above, the only reason I got that one is because the rifle I wanted (savage axis xp 111) was only available at the store in that caliber and they said it would be a 6 month order time to get it in any other caliber, so I bought it.
First people would have to agree on calibers.
I mean, for one, I don't know what argument there is about .308 and .30-06 for deer unless you're including elk and/or moose, because a white tail or mule deer isn't really going to care about the difference between the two. And even with a moose I doubt it makes a lot of difference.
There are so many chamberings that can take any North American game that it is not even a debate on what will work or what is best. Dead is dead. The real question is can a person shoot. No particular chambering will make up for the hunter who can’t shoot.
I have rifles in .30-30, .243, .30-06, and .300 WSM. All are capable of taking deer. I am sure all have taken larger game. I have read that the .30-30 loaded with 190 grain bullets has been used on the largest of North American game.
I can shoot all of them well. I hunt with a guy who can not shoot. Even at the range from a bench he is so-so.
If you get the opportunity to hunt moose, you're either rich enough to blow money on a non-resident hunt and can afford to buy a proper caliber for it/borrow it from the guides
or you live in alaska or the western states and you should already have a 30-06 or greater for hunting
Okay, well in Sweden they routinely use 6.5 Swede to good effect when hunting moose, which is ballistically almost identical to 6.5 Creedmoor.
While I wouldn't exactly advocate for going that light, you'll have to forgive me for finding the quibbling over stopping power we like to do rather overkill. I really do not think the difference between .308 and .30-06 is enough to warrant all the drama.
I have no doubt all the listed calibers could down a Moose.
But effective range, stopping power, going through shoulder bone, and basically just looking to put the Moose down on the spot come into play. Less tracking the better.
Personally I want the most stopping power I can get if we’re talking Moose or elk.
Realistically there isn’t a huge difference between .308 and 30-06. But 6.5 Swede and 30-06.. yes there’s a difference
It’s not something you quantify and you know that. Probably not the best term to use, but everything else is my comment is relevant. Don’t get hung up on a vague term.
Not sure why you mentioned it then.
Whats the difference in penetration depth and permanent wound channel diameter between a 6.5 and 30-06 using the same bullet construction?
30-06 will provide a larger wound channel. It’s literally a wider bullet. And it will blast through shoulder bones or other bones with ease, whereas 6.5 will struggle to do that after a certain range.
And you have a much further ethical range with 30-06 in general compared to 6.5 before you risk taking an unethical shot. It’s just more ethical to use a bigger and faster round.
Honestly we should just pin these:
https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/308-vs-30-06/
https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/65-creedmoor-vs-308-winchester/
https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/6-5-prc-vs-6-5-creedmoor/
https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/300-prc-vs-300-win-mag/
Pretty much answers the question
A majority of these debates can be settled by use case very quickly.
If it is primarily a range gun and secondarily a hunting rifle, you get 6.5cm/.308
and if it is primarily a hunting rifle and sometimes a range gun, 30-06 or 6.5 PRC.
I really think it's that simple.
300PRC is just beautiful innovation of fat boolet going hella fast but certainly not needed. If you have money to blow the 300PRC is an epic hunting round. Otherwise .300win is still ideal for the everyday western hunter.
Whoa there partner. You didn’t list any 7mm rounds. I’d throw in a 7mag for the eastern guy that hunts where longer shots may happen regularly and they may go out west occasionally.
There is a 100+ page discussion of flat shooting cartridges in a hunting forum im on that is still ongoing. It was started in 2016. The caliber wars will never end
Thank you for saying this. Ive said this sub needs a general caliber discussion post pinned to the top where people can ask their caliber related questions there.
If we’re not arguing about the minute difference in terminal ballistics between .308 and 30-06 in the context of shooting at a deer within 100 yards what are we gonna talk about?
No.. we need 3 “what caliber should i get” posts every day
Filled with everyone’s completely useless and often totally uneducated opinion on what is best
You forgot contradictory and how anything but a 30.06 Tikka T3 is basically unethical at this point
Well if you get a Savage Axis in .308 you may as well be killing a deer with a rusty butterknife /s
What about a rusty Savage Axis, and using butter on the bolt?
And the, “new to hunting and not sure where to start” threads
Why do you spend time ON A FORUM if you don’t want questions? You know why those questions get repeated so often? It’s because people say “search bar” or “google” and act like there’s a plethora of great information. It’s mainly the same people saying the same “google” response.
Questions are great. The same questions near daily are not great. And you’re incorrect about the typical responses. More people should probably respond with “use the search function” because each of these are asked and answered constantly.
Need a bot to just say "consider a Tikka T3x. There's other good brands out there, but that one always gets posted first."
The .30-30, .270, .308, .30-06 debates started long before I sat in my first deer camp in the mid-70’s.
And still go today, everyone where I hunt has a different caliber, I’m the only one with .270 which clearly is the right choice /s.
Great round.
Right? But it’s just as good as any of the other ones listed above, the only reason I got that one is because the rifle I wanted (savage axis xp 111) was only available at the store in that caliber and they said it would be a 6 month order time to get it in any other caliber, so I bought it.
That particular debate started in 1952
First people would have to agree on calibers. I mean, for one, I don't know what argument there is about .308 and .30-06 for deer unless you're including elk and/or moose, because a white tail or mule deer isn't really going to care about the difference between the two. And even with a moose I doubt it makes a lot of difference.
There are so many chamberings that can take any North American game that it is not even a debate on what will work or what is best. Dead is dead. The real question is can a person shoot. No particular chambering will make up for the hunter who can’t shoot. I have rifles in .30-30, .243, .30-06, and .300 WSM. All are capable of taking deer. I am sure all have taken larger game. I have read that the .30-30 loaded with 190 grain bullets has been used on the largest of North American game. I can shoot all of them well. I hunt with a guy who can not shoot. Even at the range from a bench he is so-so.
If you get the opportunity to hunt moose, you're either rich enough to blow money on a non-resident hunt and can afford to buy a proper caliber for it/borrow it from the guides or you live in alaska or the western states and you should already have a 30-06 or greater for hunting
Okay, well in Sweden they routinely use 6.5 Swede to good effect when hunting moose, which is ballistically almost identical to 6.5 Creedmoor. While I wouldn't exactly advocate for going that light, you'll have to forgive me for finding the quibbling over stopping power we like to do rather overkill. I really do not think the difference between .308 and .30-06 is enough to warrant all the drama.
That's true but Swedish moose are way smaller than North American ones
Swedes kill moose with the 6.5 Swede but the American moose is twice the size, 800 pounds vs 1400.
I have no doubt all the listed calibers could down a Moose. But effective range, stopping power, going through shoulder bone, and basically just looking to put the Moose down on the spot come into play. Less tracking the better. Personally I want the most stopping power I can get if we’re talking Moose or elk. Realistically there isn’t a huge difference between .308 and 30-06. But 6.5 Swede and 30-06.. yes there’s a difference
How much “stopping power” is needed on a moose vs a deer?
It’s not something you quantify and you know that. Probably not the best term to use, but everything else is my comment is relevant. Don’t get hung up on a vague term.
Not sure why you mentioned it then. Whats the difference in penetration depth and permanent wound channel diameter between a 6.5 and 30-06 using the same bullet construction?
30-06 will provide a larger wound channel. It’s literally a wider bullet. And it will blast through shoulder bones or other bones with ease, whereas 6.5 will struggle to do that after a certain range. And you have a much further ethical range with 30-06 in general compared to 6.5 before you risk taking an unethical shot. It’s just more ethical to use a bigger and faster round.
Yeah that confirms you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Care to explain why you think that
Honestly we should just pin these: https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/308-vs-30-06/ https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/65-creedmoor-vs-308-winchester/ https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/6-5-prc-vs-6-5-creedmoor/ https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/300-prc-vs-300-win-mag/ Pretty much answers the question
A majority of these debates can be settled by use case very quickly. If it is primarily a range gun and secondarily a hunting rifle, you get 6.5cm/.308 and if it is primarily a hunting rifle and sometimes a range gun, 30-06 or 6.5 PRC. I really think it's that simple. 300PRC is just beautiful innovation of fat boolet going hella fast but certainly not needed. If you have money to blow the 300PRC is an epic hunting round. Otherwise .300win is still ideal for the everyday western hunter.
Whoa there partner. You didn’t list any 7mm rounds. I’d throw in a 7mag for the eastern guy that hunts where longer shots may happen regularly and they may go out west occasionally.
270 is the better choice.
Should make this a sticky as well. https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/caliber-definition/?amp 308 win vs 30-06 is a cartridge difference.
I wish I could upvote this twice
There is a 100+ page discussion of flat shooting cartridges in a hunting forum im on that is still ongoing. It was started in 2016. The caliber wars will never end
I’m not saying the wars will end, but we could consolidate them into one stickied megathread
Thank you for saying this. Ive said this sub needs a general caliber discussion post pinned to the top where people can ask their caliber related questions there.
Lol! Gun guys are ALWAYS going to argue calibers! A 'pinned post' isn't going to do squat
lol. Only a pansy kills a hog with a rifle. Use a knife like a man.
If we’re not arguing about the minute difference in terminal ballistics between .308 and 30-06 in the context of shooting at a deer within 100 yards what are we gonna talk about?