I am trying to decide on a rifle and cartridge that will not break the bank and will take any game in Texas/Oklahoma up to 600 yards. I'm also looking at this from a preparedness angle for what kind of ammo will be more likely to be available if it gets hard to find again. What are your thoughts? Will 3030 still be effective at that difference? I lean 308 for various reasons, but I'm also fond on 3006 and lever guns. TIA
308 vs 3006 vs 3030
- Thread starter CATI1836
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I went through a similar exercise 5 years ago.
.308 appears to have an advantage based on sources listed on Ammoseek.com, if that’s the only criteria your looking at.
Cost per round also seems to be a little less on the .308.
In an urban / suburban setting you may also want to consider subsonic .300 BO, which at short ranges out to 100 yards is much less likely to wake the neighbors.
Let’s hope you never need any of these for your stated purpose.
.308 appears to have an advantage based on sources listed on Ammoseek.com, if that’s the only criteria your looking at.
Cost per round also seems to be a little less on the .308.
In an urban / suburban setting you may also want to consider subsonic .300 BO, which at short ranges out to 100 yards is much less likely to wake the neighbors.
Let’s hope you never need any of these for your stated purpose.
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Get yourself a Browning BLR in 308?
Three o eight.
Tree oh ate?
98% of hunters can’t reliably hit game animals at 600 yards and if they do will more than likely only cause a wound that leads to a slow and painful death with no recovery of the animal by the hunter.
Edit to add: If you have to ask which cartridge you should use, you fall very far in the that 98%. Please don’t attempt it.
Edit to add: If you have to ask which cartridge you should use, you fall very far in the that 98%. Please don’t attempt it.
Sure. 30-30 at 600 yards would have the trajectory of a rainbow. 308 and 30-06 are much faster and flatter shooting rounds. 308 and 30-06 are similar in ballistics with the 30-06 having a slight advantage. 600 yards is a stretch for shooting game with any caliber. My vote goes to the 308. It is probably the most prevalent of the 3 and I suspect the least expensive ammo. The 30-30 is a pretty short range round and the 30-06 has a bit more felt recoil than the 308.
Lonesome Dove
A man of vision but with no mission.
30/30 is a 200 yrd gun at best.
308- 30/06 are equal.
You will get guys that say oh but the 30/06 will shoot heavier bullets better. Really? How heavy of a bullet do you need? Especially for little Texas size deer
308- 30/06 are equal.
You will get guys that say oh but the 30/06 will shoot heavier bullets better. Really? How heavy of a bullet do you need? Especially for little Texas size deer
Fishkiller
TGT Addict
.308 will do the chore. But unless you are an expert marksman please do not shoot at animals past 200 yards. BTW for most Texas deer hunting a 200 yard shot is very rare, more like 50 to 100 yards.
cycleguy2300
TGT Addict
I was about the type this word-for-word.
As a newer shooter, get the 308 then get good at shooting before you lob bullets and injure animals that you may not find.
I really can't think of a hunting scenario in Texas or Oklahoma that would justify a 600y shot.
Here is what I'd suggest you do before buying a thermal etc.
Get an less expensive AR10 like a PSA, buy a 1000rnd case of brass cased m80 type ammo. Get where you can shoot at 1-200 at paper with the first 500rnds, then go to a run-and-gun match (OEdefence, MysteryOps, WTF...) and get a chance to shoot in the field from trees, rocks, etc at 50-600+yd like you might if hunting.
When you see a target 600yd you're going to realize just how far away it is.
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This. 110% this. A .308 typically lacks the ass to deliver ethical kill shots on game animals at much past 300 yards, and as much as I shoot with 30-30, realistically, it is a 200 yard gun with the right ammo.( I have reached out and dropped deer at 225)
The 30.06 is the only one in the group you mentioned that would have the juice for 600 yards, but there will be a huge learning curve for you to be truly accurate at that range
.308,
Bolt action
learn to reload for two reasons:
1) become less dependent on other sources for ammo
2) load sub-sonic if that interests you
Another topic/concept that might interest you is a scout rifle. Google “Jeff Cooper Scout rifle “. The resultant information may help you clarify in your mind what requirements are most important to you.
Bolt action
learn to reload for two reasons:
1) become less dependent on other sources for ammo
2) load sub-sonic if that interests you
Another topic/concept that might interest you is a scout rifle. Google “Jeff Cooper Scout rifle “. The resultant information may help you clarify in your mind what requirements are most important to you.
I agree with everything except “much past 300 yards” unless your are talking about larger game. For most animals the size of or smaller than a mule deer the proper bullet and shot placement will go the job. The issue is putting the bullet in the right spot, which very few can do in the field.
Here's a little more context to the question:
I am familiar with the very, very basics of 308 and 3006 capabilities. I'm not a novice shooter, but I am a novice hunter. And 600 yards and change happens to be the distance from my front porch to the front gate, and I'd like to be able to adequately drop anything in between. Much of the land I have access to has line of sight 8-900 yards or better, with a mix of some brush keeping visibility sub 100 yards. But the short distance is not my primary concern here. And game can range from pigs to deer, but I also want to be able to deal with the rare, but occasional, mountain lions and black bears that are spotted from time to time. Predators that LGDs can't handle.
I am familiar with the very, very basics of 308 and 3006 capabilities. I'm not a novice shooter, but I am a novice hunter. And 600 yards and change happens to be the distance from my front porch to the front gate, and I'd like to be able to adequately drop anything in between. Much of the land I have access to has line of sight 8-900 yards or better, with a mix of some brush keeping visibility sub 100 yards. But the short distance is not my primary concern here. And game can range from pigs to deer, but I also want to be able to deal with the rare, but occasional, mountain lions and black bears that are spotted from time to time. Predators that LGDs can't handle.
