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

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

.30-06 shoots flatter with these representative loads: 64.6" vs 73" of drop at 500 yards. .30-06 carries more energy downrange: 1099 vs 917 ft-lb retained at 500 yards. .30-06 drifts less in a 10 mph crosswind: 27.2" vs 31.8" at 500 yards.

Figures use each cartridge's representative factory 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
your focus is tactical

Pick .30-06 if…

you want the flatter trajectory (64.6" vs 73" at 500 yd)
you want more retained energy at distance (1099 vs 917 ft-lb at 500 yd)

Side-by-Side Specifications

	.308 Win.	.30-06
Representative load	180gr Norma Oryx	180gr Federal Power-Shok 180gr 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	71.1 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	-39.1"	-34.9"
500 yd	-73"	-64.6"

Retained Energy (ft-lb)

	.308 Win.	.30-06
100 yd	2235 ft-lb	2433 ft-lb
200 yd	1819 ft-lb	2019 ft-lb
300 yd	1467 ft-lb	1665 ft-lb
400 yd	1168 ft-lb	1361 ft-lb
500 yd	917 ft-lb	1099 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	10.3"	8.9"
400 yd	19.2"	16.6"
500 yd	31.8"	27.2"

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 355 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.

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