.30-06 vs .308 power choice

[rdsii64]

My current load for my .308 rifle is as accurate as my skills will allow, and has a one shot DRT on a 250 pound ferrel pig to its credit. Even though I hunt with it, when I put this rig together its primary function was target shooting. My wife has informed me that as soon as we get over a couple financial hurdles, she is going to send me on one of those primo guided big game hunting trips. She even advised me to start looking at at putting together a new rifle. This rilfle's sole purpose will be hunting. My caliber of choice is nothing fancy, just a good ole fashioned .30-06 with the same barrel profile as my .308. Here is my question. If I'm going to use the same 175 grain bullet that I use in my .308, should I use the same powder or a slower one.

 

[Buttermilk]

It's been my experience that the 30-06 may prefer slower powders than the 308. The exception might be the lighter bullets.

For example, I've had my personal best results with Varget in the 308 and with the 30-06, I've had excellent luck using H4350, RL17, H4831sc, and similar burn speed powders.

With the 175 grain bullet, I'd expect the 30-06 to perform best with a powder that's slower than what the 308 would prefer.

Regards,

Rog

 

[backwoods83]

in my opinion i think that your best choice would be something with a 26" 12 twist barrel medium sporter, recessed target crown. with that combo your best chioce would be 168 grain nosler ballistic tips or the combined technology version, and depending on your seating depth 58-59.5 grs H4350 will land you around 2925fps with good energy, 3191 ftlbs to be exact, plus good terminal energy. you can also use the 175 grainers with 56-57.5 grns H4350 or about 59 grns Imr 4831sc and get about 2850fps but the external ballistics are not as impressive. you can use Varget, 4064, or 3031 but speed and consistency suffers. good luck though, and good choice cause a 30-06 is not very picky to load for, there aren't to many powders you can't use.

 

[Firecat]

I'm shooting 168 grain Sierra Match King's from my Remington 30-06. They are chronographed at 2936 from a 24 inch barrel using 52 grains of IMR 4064. Thats pretty darn good for an 06 in my opinion. I would agree with the 168 grain Nosler BT for hunting. I'll bet they are wicked mean on deer.