The 30-06 vs. 5.56 comparison is interesting. The two rifle cartridges were designed for very different purposes, and therefore share very little in common.
Let’s discuss what makes these two rifle cartridges so different. We’ll judge their relative pros and cons, as well as their specs, ballistics, and hunting capabilities to help you decide which is the better option.
Overview of 30-06 and 5.56 Ammo
The .30-06 Springfield (aka 30-06 Springfield, 3006 Springfield, or 30-06) was designed to achieve a muzzle velocity of 2,700 fps and muzzle energy of 2,429 ft-lbs. The “.30” in its name designates its caliber; the “06” (pronounced “aught-six”) designates its year of adoption by the U.S. military (1906).
The 30-06 saw massive success on the battlefield and in the commercial market. 30-06 ammo has remained Americans’ favorite de facto deer hunting cartridge for over a century. All others are measured against it.
Bullets for 30-06 commonly weigh between 110 and 220 grains, with 180 grains being the most popular among big game hunters.
The 5.56x45mm NATO has been the gold standard AR-15 cartridge since its adoption by the U.S. military in the 1960s. It has seen combat on five continents in the hands of the U.S. military and its NATO allies.
The 5.56 is a favorite among civilian shooters because 5.56 ammo is relatively inexpensive, has minimal recoil, and is accurate enough for many defensive, hunting, and competitive shooting applications.
Bullets for 5.56 commonly weigh between 50 grains and 77 grains, with 55 grains being the most sought after.
I do .. I think its time proven ths 30-06 has more trophy game kills to its credit that the 223 will ever have . It just isnt big enough to take every animal in N. America .
Heck for the the sake of arguments sake the30-06 has probably taken a lot of war time life also . But I would venture to say the 223 may have the edge on that dreary topic.
The market speaks of ease, not necessarily effectiveness. Many, many people own an AR; indeed, it is the most common rifle in at least America. The advantages of the platform are low weight and ease of accurizing.
But .308 AR’s are beginning to show their face about. And in my mind a .308 bullet no matter the cartridge is more effective. SO a 300 BLK is better than 5.56 in short, built-up arenas, a .308 is better than a 5.56 is long battlefields and in the intermediate ranges, the match is a toss-up. You have never watched trees chewed to pieces by a BAR. Deadly - and not that big a distance either.
First, let me say that I am a fan of .223 AKA 5.56. They are legal for deer hunting in my state, and I am fully confident that it will do the job.
Having said that, I absolutely believe that .30-06 is a much better all-round cartridge. For one thing, while deer hunting with a .223 is legal in my state, it is not in a lot of states. And with the right bullet and load, .30-06 can kill even large and dangerous game. There is no argument, because it has done so many times. I know Eskimos kill polar bears with the .222 and even .22 Hornet, but I would rather have a properly loaded Ought Six. If I can’t have a .375 H&H or something similar, that is.
At the same time, I can load the Ought Six down to .32-20 level using fast pistol/shotgun powders and cast bullets, 100 grain Plinkers or 110 grain bullets intended for .30 Carbine. Good for plinking and small game hunting.
The title says “Hard Hitting vs. High Velocity,” but you really don’t have to make that choice if you have a .30-06. The '06 can drive a 110 grain spire point faster than a .22-250 (another favorite of mine) can drive a 55 grain bullet, and it can drive a 125 or 130 grain bullet to approximately the same speed (well over 3500 fps) as the 55 grain .22-250. The '06 can also drive a 150 grain bullet to about the same speed as a 55 grain bullet in 5.56; well over 3000 fps.
I don’t typically drive them that fast, but I can if I need the extended range. For deer, I’m more likely to drive a 150 grain bullet to around 2600 fps. That bullet weight and velocity level works extremely well for deer in several different cartridges besides the '06: 7x57, 7mm-08, .280 Remington, 8x57, 8mm-06, .308, 7.65x54, .303 British, etc.
?:Like maybe next year or so!