The 30-30 vs 308 Winchester debate always comes up when talking about hunting at a moderate range say 200 to 300 yards
These cartridges are similar just as they are different. One of the most common similarities between these two rounds is that they are both smokeless with that extra punch to down big-game. Additionally, both are 30 calibers, with the same diameter and would work with similar rifles.
308 |
30-30 |
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Overall Length 2.8 In Max Pressure 62,000 Psi Velocity(150gr) 2,820 ft/s Energy (150gr) 2,648 ft-lbf. |
Overall Length 2.55 In Max Pressure 42,000 Psi Velocity(150gr) 2,390 ft/s Energy (150gr) 1,902 ft-lbf. |
Bullet Diameter 0.308 In
Bullet Diameter 0.308 InComparison of 30-30 vs 308 Winchester
All the similarities aside these two rounds are also different in so many ways. The 30-30 was designed way back in 1895, way before the 308 which came about in 1952. The 308 will work with both the bolt action as well as the modern automatic rifles. Some might argue that the 308 is an upgrade of the 30-30, but this conversation would only result in more disagreement.
Some of the other distinguishing differences are;
Length
While both rounds have the same diameter, the 308 Winchester is approximately 0.30 inches longer than the 30-30. This permits it to accommodate more grains of powder, making it slightly more potent than the 30-30.
Velocity
A round with a high velocity can cover more distance and maintain a flatter trajectory. The .308 Winchester holds more powder from the longer tube thus higher chamber pressure, of 62,000 psi compared to the 30-30’s 42,000 psi, resulting in a higher velocity. The .30-30 has a maximum velocity of about 2350 fps while the .308 can manage 2750 and up to 3000 fps if hand-loaded with a slightly lower than 150-grain powder, and fired from a longer barrel.
Rimmed vs Rimless
Because the 30-30 was initially designed for traditional bolt action, single-shot rifles, it characteristically came with a rimmed design. The rim provides a solid surface for the extractor to grasp. The 308 Win, conversely, is meant to be used with modern rifles that feed ammo from a magazine. The rimless design is meant to facilitate smooth feeding.
Effective range.
The 30-30 will mostly be useful below the 200-mark range, this is because the more you move past the 200 mark you lose almost all the energy heading to 300 yards. The 308 will very easily have enough energy to take out a target, at 300 yards, and this is nearly the same amount of energy it had on the 200-yard mark.
Accuracy
The accuracy is the other thing that the 308 outdoes the 30-30 apart from the effective range. The accuracy of the 308 is brought about by the speed and minimized bullet drop over the 300-yard and 200-yard mark. In perspective, if both were fired at a target 300 yards out, the 30-30 would drop by up to 2 feet while the 308 would only drop by 3 inches.
Conclusion
In all aspects the 30-30 doesn’t come close to those of the 308 Winchester, which is very odd that some shooters compare these two when it comes to performance. The 30-30 however is a classic round that brings back nostalgic memories to many shooters. The memories surround the use of lever action, single-shot firearms. The 30-30 would also be a contender if a shooter doesn’t need to shoot over a range further than 200 yards, and needs just enough punch to take out a large target. The 30-30 also has a lower recoil than the 308 which again would make it desirable.
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