308 or 30-06 with heavy’s

Going short barrel to run a suppressor. Will be used for hunting out to 400 yards. Mainly inside of 200 yards on elk. Was wanting to mainly shoot 200 grain Nosler Partitions and Barnns 175LRX Bullets.

Brian

I'd build a 308, I run one with a 26 inch barrel and have no issues with elk well beyond what your looking at, the 215 Berger is all I'll run though the 200.20X is also starting to hunt good!!
 
Either will do what you are hoping to do. The 30/06 will do it with a better velocity. I have a 22" 30/06 and have no trouble reaching 2450 safely with a 230 berger, super-sonic to 1,400. H4831sc gives a very good case fill and very low SD. Ive taken dozens of deer and several hogs, the furthest at 719. I've never had any need for a second shot. With my specwar 7.62 suppressor mounted it's a little nose heavy, but with my Varmiter 30 it's pleasant to handle in the field.
Build which ever one you are most interested in and go have fun!
 
So sorry, I was thinking of hunting.....again! I forget about paper punchers and metal dingers! If you're hunting at shorter ranges where the limited velocities will not hinder expansion, or your hunting steel or paper.....then heavy is fine! Obviously.....this is my opinion! memtb
At 400 yds a 200eldx is travelling 100fps slower than a 168eldm with my 308 despite starting 200fps slower. The same efficiency with heavy bullets in a 300win mag applies to the 308 and 30-06, just slower more mortar like
 
I like my 308's & Ought-6's. Both have their little nitch.

30/06 gets a fraction more velocities,,, 308 a bit less recoil...

I think of them as the old school proto type of the Creedmore but in 30 caliber...

Of course other cartridges showed up that become favorite to each shooter,,, but over all the work horses will be here for many years to come... I'd stay this route my sell,,, but its time to once again scale down for me that is...

I had 2 good runs with both cartridges over the years,,, 1981 if I recall,,, a 4 year stint with a 308,,,, then my final kick at the can starting in 2014/15 till now...

If I was younger I'd stay the course, but it's 7 mm on down to the 6mm/ 243,,, even the mid size larger 6.5 as planned...

But yes, both can harvest critters and fill in at plinking if it has a bit less of weight,,, lots of Feather weigth units are shooting spectacular groups as well...

Good luck finding what your looking for,,, a world of endless opportunities await. LOL
 
My T/C Encore 16.5" bbl in 30-338WM has done the following:

Berger 175 VLDH @ 2846 fps
Nosler 190 ABLR @ 2725 fps
Nosler 180 BT @ 2800 fps

Personally, I'd choose the 30-06 over the 308 for shooting heavies in a 20" bbl.

I've had several short bbl setups in 308, 30-06 AI, 280AI, 30-06 JDJ, 30-280AI, 7RM. Larger case always gave me more velocity even in my short bbls.
 
I only got a little more than 2600fps from a 24" 30-06 and 61gr R22/200PT. I would think you would be hard pressed to get that in a 20". The 175, you bet. I don't see how a 20" 308 can pass up a 30-06, IMHO. That 30/338 of Buttermilks is snazzy! wow! Have a ball pard!
 
I have a 20" 308 that I put an 1-8 twist on. It shoots like a laser! 185 Berger's on top of MR2000 I was seeing 2730fps measured with a Magnetospeed V3 .
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Right out of the gate you may want to cross off the 200 gr partition. Idk about the Barnes but I'd wager the partition is not only heavy but has a lot of bearing surface and a low BC. The Barnes may give you good enough velocity but I'd plot it out and see if it gives you enough velocity at your max range since mono's are known to be little tough.
 
So sorry, I was thinking of hunting.....again! I forget about paper punchers and metal dingers! If you're hunting at shorter ranges where the limited velocities will not hinder expansion, or your hunting steel or paper.....then heavy is fine! Obviously.....this is my opinion! memtb

I only hunt with mine, no way would I go back to light bullets nor low BC bullets.
My slow load with a 215 does an amazing job on mule deer and elk out to the 800 yard range, my high node load which is pushing the 06 level has gone well beyond that. It has a rainbow trajectory but the wind drift is similar to a good 6.5, but you have to load the right bullets, going at 308 speeds it's all about the bullet!!!
 
I am a guest hunter in a trophy planned lease so I have to be sure that I do not shoot a button buck, mistaking it for a doe. I can shoot cull bucks (OLD 8-point, and OLD spikes). Those restrictions limit me to being sure before shooting. Since that is difficult to be sure of beyond 200yds I will lay my 338 EDGE aside this year and hunt with my 358 Winchester. It pushes a 200g Sierra RN to 2650fps. It is most desirable that the deer drops where hit because the brush /cactus makes it very difficult to follow a blood trail. I like the 308 and 30-06 families of cartridges as brass is plentiful and easy. Cartridges between the 35 Whelen/358Winchester and the 25-06 or 243 give lots of low cost options and great performance. I am an old guy who likes the old ones... Bigger is better. Beyond 300 yds? be a better hunter: get closer
 
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