i want to buy a remingto 700 but i dont know if i wan the .308 cal or the 30-06?

Question

I most likely will do alot of target shooting maybe get into some amature competion and some deer hunting. I just want to know what is a better cal. for what i plan on doing or if there is a better remington out there then the 700. thanks, matt

Answer 1

most of the answers you have been given are correct. i worked in a very high volume gun shop for years and have personally owned well over a hundred firearms. most of the rifles being in the 30 caliber class. you just said deer hunting, if that is the largest game you will be hunting a 308 is plenty. and as far as the people saying the 308 is flatter shooting. that is also very true. and commercially available loads are readily available for the 308 just for extreme accuracy. if you go with a 308 try factory remingtons loaded with a 168 grain hollow point boat tail. 168HPBT is how it will be described. if you load youre own you can get just as much accuracy from the 30-06. i shot many over the years and it also has advantages. the long range competions at military ranges have relied on experienced shooters able to handle the recoil of a 30-06. but if you are never shooting more than 150 yards and deer will be the largest game you intend to hunt a 308 is plenty. i got hooked on 30-06 from the older military guys. i have to admit that a garand is a very pleasant rifle to fire. both cartridges are great. when i shot 30-06 i always reloaded and there are so many options it is mind boggling. i loaded everything from 95 grain plinker loads using bullseye pistol powder to 230 grain full house loads that would just about dislodge my shoulder. to get back to youre question again, you mostly say target shooting and amature competition. then a heavy barrel is the best choice. and i dont know if you have youre mind set on remington for a certain reason but money wise there are better choices for accuracy versus money. and im not just blowing smoke out of my butt. i have owned well over a hundred firearms and have fired atleast a thousand different configurations. so i am slightly biased from my own experiences. remington manufactures great arms but for very accurate target shooting and competition you will notice that a bolt action rifle is usually used. and i have to say that savage arms is the best for the money. i have owned browning and ruger and remington bolt action heavy barrels. but the savage rifles have always been more accurate. i have a savage model 110 fp in 308 that i can pick off crows at 200 yards easy. i believe the new version is called a model 10, they shortened the action. and my savage 112 bvss in 30-06 is a rifle i could never part with. shooting hand loads with 168 grain sierra hpbt and pre fired remington brass. i have had many times groups well under .500. my most accurate load is pre fired remington brass neck sized with a cci # 200 primer and a charge of49.3 grains of IMR 4064 powder followed by a sierra 168 grain hpbt set at an oal of 3.292. but every rifle is different but that works perfect for me. if youre just going deer hunting get a basic plain jane rifle. even an inch of target isnt a big deal in that situation. but if you really want accuracy i have already gave you my opinion. i think the 308 or 30-06 are both great choices. and the ammo is readily available for both given they are military cartridges, surplus ammo just for plinking and having fun is available cheap. and on the fun side is really neat to buy surplus military ss-209 , 223 rounds and pull the bullets and load them in sabots which i believe are still available.if not i have gobs of them i bought years ago and would be willing to sell some. a 223 with a steel penetrator in a sabot comes out of a 30 caliber about 3700 fps. it will go right through an inch of solid steel. i hope i was of some help.

Answer 2

I personally own a early 80's Remington 700 chambered in 30-06. Next to the Winchester 30-30, the 30-06 is one of the most widely used round in history. I have actually hit deer at 700 yards, and I have hit targets at over 800 yards, and this is with basic, off-the-shelf ammunition. The '06 and the .308 are very similar, but the '06 has a slightly higher charge behind it, and both are very common and it is easy to find ammunition for both, including bulk surplus for target shooting. I personally prefer the 30-06, but that is what I am used to.

Answer 3

Can't go wrong with ethier really. The .308Win was developed in the 1950's as a shortened 30-06 for military use. Both are rather common and can be used on just about everything in North America gamewise. Other caliber to consider? A model in 6.5x 55mm Swedish mauser. Less recoil, great balistics. Other rifles?? Winchester model 70's & Browning A-bolts & BAR are great guns. If into military target shooting? The Springfield Armory M1-A's or a surplus Garand or 1903 are useful dual purpose guns.

Answer 4

For target shooting the 308 does have a very slight accuracy advantage and is also a more common target load and therefore easier to find. There is little practical difference between the two.

Answer 5

The 308 shoots flatter but the 06 is more powerfull depends on your hunting situation. If your shooting over 150 yds. Not much punch from the 308

Answer 6

For target, 308 all the way. But its not as good of a round for hunting. Okay for deer, nothing bigger.

Answer 7

.308 is the best
30-06 are cheaper to shoot amowise

Answer 8

You may want to give the .300 win. short mag. some consideration.

Answer 9

30.06 caliber is a better for the simple fact that they are easier to find in most sports shops.