Sam A. is an avid hunter who lives in Maine.
One weekend, he went deer hunting and stirred up a buck in the area.
He took a shot at the animal but missed.
He spent two hours searching for a blood trail but couldn’t find anything.
Eventually, he left the area for the night.
Sam returned to the same place the next week hoping that the buck would still be hanging around.
As he walked the same path he didn’t find the buck.
Instead, he walked upon a large black bear.
“I was trying to go the same route I went before, so I was stopping and listening and seeing if that deer would mess up again,” Sam said.
“I came around a corner and saw black, and I wasn’t sure if it was a bear or not. Then I saw it moving, and I knew it wasn’t a cub. I love bear meat, and I’d take that over a deer any day,” he said.
Sam sighted in his .308 Thompson, fired one shot, and dropped the bear.
Now, a bear of this size could have the adrenaline to run even after it was shot.
But Sam likely hit the bear in a vital organ with his .308, so it collapsed to the ground where it was shot.
“I was surprised because that was the first bear I’ve ever shot that just dropped in his tracks,” Sam said.
Sam waited a few minutes before approaching the bear and called a friend for help packing the animal out.
When he finally approached the bear, Sam was shocked at what he saw.
It turns out the bear was pawing at the carcass of an 8-point whitetail buck (though not the same buck Sam shot earlier).
Sam and his friends realized it would be impossible to haul the bear out of the area intact.
(Wildlife officials estimated that the bear weighed more than 480 pounds)
So, they field dressed the bear and used a sled and ATV to move it.
Now, the .308 is a popular round but gets the inevitable comparison to the .30-06.
Both the .308 and the .30-06 have a track record of performing well.
Yet, if you are in the market for your next rifle here are a few things you might want to know about each caliber.
.30-06 Springfield:
The current version of the .30-06 was released in 1906 and was an impressive bullet design.
It’s a high-power cartridge that can be useful for a variety of tasks.
By the end of World War II, millions of Americans had been introduced to the .30-06.
So, after the war, it was a popular sporting rifle among hunters.
The .30-06 might be called an “old round” but it can still get the job done.
.308 Winchester:
The .308 was developed and designed for both machine guns and rifles (both semi-auto and full-auto firearms).
The round became increasingly popular during the Cold War thanks to its similarities to the 7.62X39 fired by AK-47s.
Winchester introduced their version of the .308 in 1952 thanks to its potential as a sporting round.
Ballistics:
The .30-06 and .308 both have a .308 diameter.
The .30-06 case is about 2.4 inches, while the .308 case is 2.0 inches.
Most .30-06 rifle barrels have a twist rate of 1:10, and the majority of .308 rifle barrels have a twist rate of 1:12.
Since the .308 cartridge is shorter it holds about 20% less powder, so travels with slightly less velocity.
But some shooters argue that the shorter .308 bullet is more accurate because it’s lighter.
Energy:
This is where you will notice big differences between the two rounds.
At 100 yards the .30-06 hits its target with 2,471 ft-lbs.
While the .308 hits with 2,248 ft-lbs.
As the distance increases the .30-06 continues to pack more of a punch.
So, when it comes to energy and stopping power there is no question that the .30-06 is more powerful.
In addition, most shooters who use a .30-06 are going to be shooting heavier bullets.
But that doesn’t mean the .308 is weak.
Self-Defense:
To be clear, either of these rounds is more than capable of stopping a threat and leaving massive wounds on their target.
Both of these rounds have been used in combat and have stood the test of time.
You can’t go wrong with either one, as each will get the job done – whether it’s hunting or home defense.
It boils down to personal preference.
If you want a rifle for distance and stopping power, go with the .30-06.
But, if you prefer a slightly lighter option, the .308 would be better.
While I personally prefer a 5.56 for home defense, if I had to pick between a .308 and a .30-06, I would go with the .308.
That’s because it’s slightly lighter yet still easily capable of stopping a threat.
