308 vs 3006 vs 3030
- Thread starter CATI1836
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You bring up taking game animals at 600 yards and budget concerns.
I think you're dreaming of ethical shots that far. It does rely heavily on your budget though.
You can get a cheap rifle but you better buy a ton of ammo to practice with. Buy a better rifle and you'll need less ammo for practice.
The fact that you bring up a 30-30 in a discussion of 600 yard shots tells me you need to do a lot more learning before you buy any equipment.
I don't think you have any clue what it takes to make a 600 yard kill shot on anything.
We're here to help but you really need to learn the basics and ask better questions.
I think you're dreaming of ethical shots that far. It does rely heavily on your budget though.
You can get a cheap rifle but you better buy a ton of ammo to practice with. Buy a better rifle and you'll need less ammo for practice.
The fact that you bring up a 30-30 in a discussion of 600 yard shots tells me you need to do a lot more learning before you buy any equipment.
I don't think you have any clue what it takes to make a 600 yard kill shot on anything.
We're here to help but you really need to learn the basics and ask better questions.
^^^And there it is.
I shoot all 3 calibers and reload all of them. The .30-30 is a great round, but realistically it's not for long distance. It's nice to have a lever action rifle with you on your ATV just in case you need to bust a hog or something, but tubular magazines require flat nose bullets and that further decreases distance. (Yes, I know there are .30-30's without tubular magazines, like the Savage 99.) The .308 is the child of the venerable .30-06. It comes close to the same velocity and it shoots most of the same bullets. If you're going semi-auto, then of course the .308 is the round of choice. In bolt action, I favor the .30-06. It gives me the energy to comfortably take a longer shot (though honestly 600 yards exceeds that length by quite a bit). I've noticed that rifles shooting the '06 tend to be less sensitive to the bullet being used. My .308 bolt action (that I've sold off) was extremely sensitive to the bullet weight and velocity. It liked heavy and slow bullets (e.g., 180 grain), and the impacts would spread out with lighter rounds. For reloading, the '06 will also work with a wider variety of powders, a good thing in these days when availability is compromised.
Why I put the disclaimer “typically “in there. I have shot one deer at almost 400 yards with a .308, a 150 grain sierra game king, killed the deer, did not leave an exit wound or a blood trail. She walked off after the hit about 30 feet. After that I keep my .308 shooting to 300 or less. If I need to shoot at animals farther than that, it is .300 win mag.
Not saying it won’t kill deer past 300, but your shot placement has to be near perfect.
Not sure of your particular situation or where your land is at but Grayson County is an archery only county for white tails. Also black bear is a protected species in Texas and I definitely wouldn't shoot one unless harm were imminent
Grayson — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Let me know if you need a hunting buddy, I am over in Bonham
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Considering the things you’ve said @CATI1836 - it sounds to me that a primary concern for you is to determine the distance that you sight-in and know the amount of drop (or rise) for shots made other than your sight-in distance…. The amounts can be quite considerable with the varied ranges you might consider.
According to Outdoor Life, the “ethical kill zone” for a deer is about a 4-5” diameter circle indicated above.
At 600 yards, that’s a sub MOA shot with no wind, obstructions or movement, et al, with about 1/3 the muzzle energy remaining.
Not a high probability of success.
200 yards with 2/3 the muzzle energy is only a 2+ MOA shot many can make.
Good luck.
Info is available on reloading sites and from bullet manufactures. Forget the 3030, and 308 at 600 yds, let's just go for the 3006.
Your performance will vary. From a major manufacture. 150 gr spitzer boat tail, muzzle velocity 3000fps. Zero at 100 yards. Bullet drop at 500 yards 52 inches. Bullet speed at 500 yards 1800 fps. They don't list 600 yards but basic math puts it around 70 inch drop, at about 1350 fps.
Look at the previous post, can you make that shot?
Your performance will vary. From a major manufacture. 150 gr spitzer boat tail, muzzle velocity 3000fps. Zero at 100 yards. Bullet drop at 500 yards 52 inches. Bullet speed at 500 yards 1800 fps. They don't list 600 yards but basic math puts it around 70 inch drop, at about 1350 fps.
Look at the previous post, can you make that shot?
Thanks for the info. I hope I never have to take a bear. I'd just prefer to have 1 rifle to handle any critter I might want to eat or that might eat me.Not sure of your particular situation or where your land is at but Grayson County is an archery only county for white tails. Also black bear is a protected species in Texas and I definitely wouldn't shoot one unless harm were imminent
Grayson — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
tpwd.texas.gov
Let me know if you need a hunting buddy, I am over in Bonham
I used to live in Bonham - still go to church there.
S
So you gonna tell the OP he will need a 338 Lapua to get a bullet drop down to 12 inches at 600 yards?
I have a friend that shoots long range. He has a couple of Remington 700 looking actions in 308 with hi dollar glass. They are not field grade sporters and more kind to bench guns. My bullberry tuned emcore with Leopold 6-18 wasn't in the same league as them past 300yds and it shoots pretty good.
Nope, just that he needs to consider his shooting abilities. Maybe get a 6” plate and put it at varied distances between 300 and 600 yards. See how many first round hits he really gets without a nice bench to sit at and a known distance.
It’s not impossible. And I don’t think 600 yards is an extreme distance. But as someone else said, you’re looking at moa shooting by 600. The wind is gonna be the real issue.
