30-06 vs 308: The Swedish Perspective

The venerable 30-06 is losing ground to the shorter 308 Winchester.

Going back about five to six decades, the 30-06 was by far the most popular chambering for hunting rifles in Sweden. For a long time the old classics “Model 1640” and “Model 1900” rifles, manufactured first by Husqvarna and later by Carl Gustaf, reigned supreme in the thick and misty Swedish forests. The chambering of choice was undoubtedly the 30-06, or “30-06 US” as some older rifles say on the barrel. Other cartridges had their place, with the 6,5x55 a firm second and the mighty 9,3x62 a somewhat distant third.

But over subsequent decades the old standard started to slip, at first slowly and then more rapidly, to the point where today it is uncommon to find a new rifle on the shelf chambering 30-06. Going into any modern Swedish gun store, the patron will most likely be greeted by rows upon rows of new Tikka, Sako, Sauer, and Mauser rifles all sporting the same engraving on the barrel – “308 Win”.

How could the undisputed king of the moose-forests of Sweden be brought so low by its much younger sibling? The idea that 30-06 is a “real” cartridge with “true power” has died away among Swedish hunters, and now-a-days all of them are buying 308s. What happened?

Bull moose don’t like either the 30-06 or 308 Win.

Differences Between the 30-06 and the 308

To answer this question, we need to understand what really differentiates cartridges from each other. A cartridge is usually described with two dimensions –  bullet diameter and case length. These two measurements will be the constrains within which the cartridge is able to operate. A larger bullet diameter will naturally allow heavier bullets and a longer case more powder and velocity.

Looking at the 308 and 30-06, we see that both have the same bullet diameter – .308”, but the case lengths differ,. The 308 case is 2.015” long while the ’06 case is 2.494” long. This suggests the longer case will reach a higher velocity.

So that’s our answer, right? The 30-06 is better since it’s able to achieve higher velocities.

Not so fast there! The case and bullet dimension set only a theoretical benchmark, while actual performance won’t necessarily align with this conclusion. To better understand how the cartridges differ in a real-world application, let us have a look at some load data from factory ammunition. 

Conventional wisdom states that the 30-06 should do better with heavier bullets with performance being more equal when using lighter bullets. However, in this case, with factory loads, the very opposite is true. For the 165gr bullet the 30-06 has a clear advantage while for the 180gr performance is remarkably similar. Goes to show that it is well worth your trouble to check the ballistics data on the ammo box before buying.

Also, the 3% increase in velocity you get out of the 180gr comes at the price of 16% more recoil. How come?  

Bigger isn’t necessarily better. The shorter 308 Winchester is sometimes loaded to higher muzzle velocities than the longer 30-06.

To answer that question, we need to look at the dimensions of the case. Since the pressure inside the case needs to reach a certain level in order to accelerate the bullet down the barrel at a given speed – a larger case will need more powder to generate the same pressure. The 30-06 has a larger case and thus needs to burn more powder to achieve the same internal pressure. And powder burning under pressure generates recoil. This is why the much-feared (at least over here in Sweden) ultra-magnums that burn 100grs. or more powder generate such ferocious recoil. Even in Sweden there is no free lunch!

Since silencers became unrestricted here, their popularity among Swedish hunters has sky-rocketed. It is now almost a 50/50 split between hunters who use them or not. Short rifles have also become very popular and most hunters now-a-days expect their brand new rifle to have a 20” barrel (never mind that once the silencer is attached, length quickly approached the old classic 24”). Also, since the 308 generally uses faster-burning powder, it generally doesn’t lose as much velocity as the 30-06 with short barrel lengths.  

308 Winchester Wins the Popularity Contest

Swedish hunters tend to be pragmatic in their approach and many just want something that works, is easy to shoot and to find ammunition for. Simply put, a new rifle in 308 with a short barrel and silencer is a hard proposition to beat once all things are considered. The overall package is smaller, recoil is virtually nothing, and effective performance with factory ammunition at shorter ranges (we never shoot game beyond 200 yards) is indistinguishable from the full-size 30-06 rifles of yesteryear.

Of course, it’s still fair game to tease other hunters for their choice of rifle, regardless if they are sporting a brand new 308 or their grandpa’s old 30-06. And if you’re packing something more powerful than the ’06 – prepare to be relentlessly asked about your bruised shoulder.

It’s all in good fun, sitting around the campfire after a good hunt and arguing which is superior, the 30-06 or 308. Each of us gets to decide, but one thing is certain: Sweden’s moose won’t like either.