The takeaway? The cartridges are very similar at typical hunting distances with moderate-weight bullets. But if you’re interested in shooting heavier bullets (180 grains and up) at farther ranges, the .30/06 does proColton Heward
Fri, February 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM EST11 min read

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A comparison of the .308 Win beside the .30-06 Springfield.
A comparison of the .308 Win beside the .30-06 Springfield.
Hunters and shooters have been comparing the .308 vs .30/06 for decades. Some stand by the old warhorse .30/06 Springfield and others claim it’s descendant, the .308 Winchester, is better. Both are .30-caliber battle rifle cartridges that won the hearts of sportsmen worldwide. Though they have lots of similarities, it’s their key differences that give them their distinct advantages and disadvantages. If you’re making the .308 vs .30/06 comparison yourself, your conclusions will depend on one of those few factors where they don’t overlap.

A comparison of the .30-06 (left)
Both the .30-06 (left) and the .308 Win. have their advantages. Tyler Freel

History of the Two Cartridges
The .30/06 name is a derivative of the cartridge’s .30-caliber projectile and the year it was introduced, 1906. Its parent case is the .30/03 Springfield. At the time of its inception, the .30/06 cartridge was the pinnacle of modern ballistics, launching a 150-grain projectile 2,700 fps. The .30/06 gained its notoriety on the battlefield, playing large roles in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Since its adoption, the 30-06 has become one of the most common and capable big-game hunting cartridges in America and around the world.

Modern Advancements Boost Performance
Better performing ammunition has also improved the capabilities of the .30-06 with 150-grain bullets now regularly pushing nearly 3,000 fps. It can also leverage modern high-B.C. 225-grain bullets like the Hornady ELD-M. One of the many endearing qualities of the .30-06 is its ability to shoot a wide range of projectiles ranging from Hornady’s 125-grain SST bullets clear on up to Remington’s 220-grain Core-Lokt in factory ammo.

.308 vs .30/06 magazines and clips
The .308 (right) fits in more compact magazines with better capacity than the .30/06 pictured in 8-round M1 Garand clips. Tyler Freel
In 1952, half a century after the .30/06 was introduced, the .308 Winchester was born. Its parent case is the .30/06. The military version of the cartridge, the 7.62x51mm NATO, offered soldiers a rifle that nearly matched the ballistic performance of the 150-grain M2 Ball .30/06 ammo, but in a lighter, shorter package. The military saw the benefits of the new cartridge and converted some of, but eventually replaced, the M1 Garand service rifles, chambered in .30/06, with the M14 chambered in 7.62×51, aka .308 Win.

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Along with its rise in the military, the .308 Win. also became popular among hunters favoring short-action rifles and lighter recoil.

.308 vs .30/06 Ballistics
Ballistically, the .30/06 shoots the same bullets a bit faster than the .308, resulting in better trajectories and more kinetic energy — but don’t put too much weight in that. The biggest edge the .30/06 has is being able to shoot bullets heavier than 180 grains effectively. Comparing ballistics of the two cartridges side by side, however, reveals the minimal gains made shooting the .30/06. Let’s look at two examples.

Hornady Outfitter CX 150-Grain
Hornady's Outfitter .308 load
Hornady’s 165-grain Outfitter .308 load is a solid option for those wanting a monolithic hunting bullet. Tyler Freel

Hornady’s new Outfitter line includes a 150-grain CX bullet, which is a mono-metal (copper alloy) projectile. Here’s what the ballistics look like from the two cartridges, given a 200-yard zero.

.30/06 Springfield
Muzzle velocity: 3080 fps

Drop: 6.4 inches at 300 yards

Energy: 1955 foot-pounds at 300 yards

.308 Winchester
Muzzle velocity: 2900 fps

Drop: 7.4 inches at 300 yards

Energy: 1712 foot-pounds at 300 yards

Federal 165-Grain Fusion
A box of Federal Fusion in .30-06 used to compare ballistics with the .308 Win.
Federal’s 165-grain Fusion in .30-06 (pictured). When you compare the .308 Win. and the .30/06 cartridges side by side, the .30-06 has a slight advantage. Natalie Krebs
Another example that features even less difference in performance between the two cartridges is Federal’s 165-grain projectile loaded in their Fusion Line. This is again with a 200-yard zero.

.30/06 Springfield
Muzzle velocity: 2,790 fps

Drop: 7.9 inches at 300 yards

Energy: 1800 foot-pounds at 300 yards

.308 Winchester
Muzzle velocity: 2,700 fps

Drop: 8.6 inches at 300 yards

Energy: 1660 foot-pounds at 300 yards

Inside 300-yards, the ballistics and terminal performance of these two cartridges would be nearly impossible to distinguish between. Yes, the .30/06 does provide a slight advantage in performance but that additional performance does come at a price in terms of felt recoil, more on this in a moment.

Heavier Bullets
It’s worth noting that the .30-06 starts to pull away from the .308 as you move up to heavier bullets. For example, here’s how the two cartridges perform with a 180-grain Nosler Partition.

.308 vs .306 ballistics
Ballistics of the .308 (left) and and .30-06 right when firing a 180-grain Nosler partition with a 200-yard zero and 10 mph crosswind.
.30/06 Springfield
Muzzle velocity: 2,700 fps

Drop: 8.5 inches at 300 yards

Energy: 1865 foot-pounds at 300 yards

.308 Winchester
Muzzle velocity: 2,570

Drop: 9.4 inches at 300 yards

Energy: 1672 foot-pounds at 300 yards