I have a few 30.06's, and a while back I bought the insert to shoot .308's in a 30.06 (originally made for the M1 Garand). What I would like to know is: other than a .308 being a little faster (fps wise), does anyone have any "first person experience" on terminal impact, penetration, etc? I haven't had the opportunity to do any real testing on those two cartridges because I've been busy with other calibres. I would like to know if the chamber pressures are even a little less with a .308 and does the bullet have a terminal effect even close to a 30.06?

Comparing two 185 grain cartridges,

30.06 185 grain VV N160 59.2 grains 2637 fps 2857 fp

.308 185gr FMJBT VV N550 46.4gr 2536fps 2643fp

The .308 (7.62x51 NATO)
http://home.earthlink.net/~notpurfect/cart308.html

30-06 Springfield
http://home.earthlink.net/~notpurfect/cart3006.html

Now compare to The .300 Winchester Magnum.

quote:

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150gr BalTip VV N165 83.2gr 3197fps 3405fp

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http://home.earthlink.net/~notpurfect/cart300wm.html

The .300 Winchester Magnum.

Thank you for the info. I could swear my .308's are 200-300 fps faster than what that site quotes, I will have to check them out with the chronograph.

I'm still very interested in chamber pressure and terminal ballistics, I will test one of my 30.06's this weekend with some standard FMJ's and some AP's I've had lying around to see what happens.

I'd have to say the .06 shoots a little flatter than a .308. I like the .300 Win mag over both of them though. Remington has a website that shows alot of calibers. It has bullet drop and velocity out to 500 yards I think.It's not hard to find it, I just don't feel like looking it up right now.

I think this is what you are refering to???

.308 (7.62x51 NATO) Max press. 62000psi

30-06 Springfield Max. press. 60000psi

I'm sure actual operating pressure would vary with actual firearm.

As far as terminal ballastics, there was a bunch of ballastic gellatin tests done with the above calibers a couple years back. I can't find the link right now, will look for it later.

Thank you Mr. Poop.

I had heard that P-17 Enfield's in 30.06 tended to crack at the chamber after so many thousand rounds and I didn't want to take the chance of wrecking mine. I was also told that .308's had a lower chamber pressure and were faster (lies, all lies!).

I guess I will just have to shoot .06's in it and just not take it to the range that often.

http://www.remington.com/ammo/ballistics/ballistics.htm

That's the site I was talking about.

A .308 is .08 of an inch bigger than a 30.06 the 06 in this load stands for a year. They should be similar in penitration but the standard milatary sniper rifle is a 30.06

~~CTR~~

[This message has been edited by Genital-Warfare (edited 08-02-2002).]