CaliberAtlas › Compare › .308 Win. vs .30-06

.308 Win. vs .30-06 — Ballistics Compared

.30-06 shoots flatter with these representative loads: 64.9" vs 73.3" of drop at 500 yards. .30-06 carries more energy downrange: 1094 vs 920 ft-lb retained at 500 yards. .30-06 drifts less in a 10 mph crosswind: 27.5" vs 32.1" at 500 yards.

Figures use each cartridge's representative load, computed with our validated G1 model at standard conditions. Full tables and every load are on the cartridge pages: .308 Win. ballistics · .30-06 ballistics.

Pick .308 Win. if…

your focus is target, which is listed for this cartridge but not the other profile
your focus is tactical, which is listed for this cartridge but not the other profile

Pick .30-06 if…

you want the flatter trajectory (64.9" vs 73.3" at 500 yd)
you want more retained energy at distance (1094 vs 920 ft-lb at 500 yd)

Side-by-Side Specifications

	.308 Win.	.30-06
Representative load	180gr Norma Oryx	180gr Federal Power-Shok JSP
Muzzle velocity	2612 fps	2700 fps
Muzzle energy	2728 ft-lb	2914 ft-lb
G1 BC	0.354	0.385
Case length	51.2 mm	63.3 mm
Overall length	71.37 mm	84.8 mm
SAAMI max pressure	62,000 PSI	60,000 PSI
Common twist	1:10"	1:10"

Drop Comparison (inches)

	.308 Win.	.30-06
100 yd	0"	0"
200 yd	-4.7"	-4.2"
300 yd	-17.2"	-15.4"
400 yd	-39.3"	-35"
500 yd	-73.3"	-64.9"

Retained Energy (ft-lb)

	.308 Win.	.30-06
100 yd	2233 ft-lb	2431 ft-lb
200 yd	1813 ft-lb	2015 ft-lb
300 yd	1456 ft-lb	1656 ft-lb
400 yd	1160 ft-lb	1350 ft-lb
500 yd	920 ft-lb	1094 ft-lb

Wind Drift — 10 mph Full-Value (inches)

	.308 Win.	.30-06
100 yd	1.1"	1"
200 yd	4.4"	3.8"
300 yd	10.4"	9"
400 yd	19.5"	16.7"
500 yd	32.1"	27.5"

Hunting Energy References

.308 Win.: Retains about 1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized energy reference) to roughly 465 yd. Retains about 1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized energy reference) to roughly 290 yd.

.30-06: Retains at least 1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized energy reference) through 500 yd — the end of the listed data. Retains about 1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized energy reference) to roughly 350 yd.

A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.

Open in the interactive comparison tool · Ballistic calculator · Build a range card