I am looking to acquire a 30 caliber rifle for long distance shooting and elk hunting, since some states require that caliber. I have narrowed it down to the venerable 30-06 and the 308. I have shot neither one very much so I am looking for suggestions. Which one would you go with and why?

You're going to get a lot of differing opinions here. 30-06 vs 308 is a debate that's been running for decades I think.

IMO, for LR hunting (how far do you mean really) the biggest thing is going to be how you correlate Point of aim with POI. this would have to be addressed with your optics and lots of practice, or alternatively with a fast, flat shooting caliber set to MPBR. Go read the current Weatherby thread running for more info on what I mean. 308 is certainly not a flat shooting caliber.

That's all I know, other here will have a lot more to add I'm sure

When I say long distance I mean 300-400 yards. The longest shot I have ever taken successfully is currently 245 yards and that was on a coyote with my 22-250.
90% of what I shoot is with my bow at close range, i just want the ability to rifle hunt elk and in some states that requires a 30 caliber so....

Just forget the 30 and get a 7mm-08, but if you must do a 30, get the .308

Done period, don't listen to any other opinions, just mine

30/06 will handle everything you're asking for and its popular enough that ammo can be found almost everywhere.

I think either would be fine. 308 is nice since it's everywhere. 30-06 has more power. Both are time tested rounds.


With that I may look at the 7mm-08 for my back up gun.

Stop with the recommendations of anything less than .30 caliber. The OP's concern is that some states require .30 caliber for elk, it's to be bought as an elk rifle, anything less than .30 is illegal.

Go with a 300 win mag and cover every base... It can shoot lighter loads well and it will obviously deliver very heavy loads with a lot more energy. I shoot many calibers but if I had to narrow it down to only one it would be my 300 win.

Load the .308 Win with a 180 gr bullet and it can push it 2680 fps MV.
Load the .30-06 with a 180 gr bullet and it can push it 2800 fps MV
Load the .300 Win Mag with a 180 gr bullet and it can push it 3000 fps MV

So you kept the bullet's weight and BC the same, and as you step up in cartridge size you increas bullet velocity. Increasing velocity decreases bullet drop and wind drift, it also increases energy delivery on soft tissue. However it increases recoil. Looking at pure performance the 300 Win Mag is the clear winner. If you want to reduce recoil as much as possible then go with the .308 Win. If you want the midground between the low end and the upper end, then go with a .30-06

It's just that simple.

For a primary elk rifle 0f the 2 I would go with 30-06.

Personally, I don't see any upside to a 30-06 when compared to a .308. If I was willing to take the recoil of a 30-06 I would just get a .300 Win Mag and be done with it.

I used a good ole 180 gr. Sierra Game King spire point boattail with a BC of .501

.308 Win 2700 fps MV

300 yards 1901 ft/lbs
400 yards 1630 ft/lbs

.30-06 2800 fps MV

300 yards 2057 ft/lbs
400 yards 1769 ft/lbs

.300 Win Mag 3000 fps MV

300 yards 2386 ft/lbs
400 yards 2062 ft/lbs

But if I were going to run a .300 Win Mag I would put a 210 gr Berger in it, push it around 2950 fps MV. Then you get...

300 yards 2944 ft/lbs
400 yards 2629 ft/lbs

I don't see the 06 as being enough better to warrant the recoil increase. Of your two, I'd go .308

Of the two you want the 3006 has a slight edge BUT to me that edge is not nearly enough to take on the extra recoil and the necessary 4" of barrel length to make it work to its best.
I would take a 20-22" 308.

All opinions

30-06 of the two listed. Elk are big tough animals so go with the one that offers higher MV and energy. Also check with Elk guides and I'm sure they will give you the same advice between the two choices you mentioned.

Love my T3 .30-06 with Sierra 165 grain handloads, but with the factory stock the recoil seemed excessive to me.

Put it in a B&C stock and it helped quite a bit. Really need to get the barrel threaded and install a good muzzle brake.

Fixed that for you.

If you're looking for long range then I think 300 win mag is the cal.

I'm curious as to which states require a 30+ caliber rifle to hunt elk? Of the five states I've killed Elk in that has not been a prerequisite, they all required a minimum caliber for big game "usually .24" but none at that time required 30+ caliber specifically for elk. At any rate good luck with your choice of a new .30 caliber rifle, obviously some good choices out there and lots of opinions on what to get!

Thank you for questioning the 30 caliber rule I referenced. It is indeed wrong. I was talking about elk hunting with a friend who has hunted in Colorado and New Mexico "many times" and he told me that the hunting regs for those two states require 30 caliber or larger. I now question many other things he has shared with me in the past. we all know what happens when you assume....
keep the opinions and info coming, you all are a great source to help me decide which caliber to go with

Is your friend over 60 and does has he ever worked behind the counter of a gun store?

I was wondering a kit the so called 30 cal rule


I am a fan of 300 win. If you can handle 30-06 I don't think 300 is that far off.

Go with the one you have the most confidence in. Select the right projectile and go with it. The more confidence the better shot placement. Just my .02 worth.

Ironically a good friend that's an elk guide has loaned his 308 over to clients to use for numerous bull kills.

A caliber is only as good as the shooter and only as accurate as the rifle shooter system.

A gentleman in the photo section posted photos of his son who had taken both a black bear and a moose with a .308. It is certainly capable of kills at distances you require with less recoil than 06. That'd be my choice