30-06 vs 308 Winchester: Which Penetrates Steel Better?

Published on September 8, 2022
Duration: 5:25

This video from Banana Ballistics provides an objective, experimental comparison of .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester cartridges to determine their steel penetration capabilities. The host, demonstrating high expertise through precise measurements and consideration of variables, tests both calibers against 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch mild steel plates. The .30-06 Springfield ultimately demonstrated superior penetration, creating larger bulges and deeper craters, attributed to its higher velocity and energy.

Quick Summary

.30-06 Springfield demonstrated superior steel penetration compared to .308 Winchester. In tests against a 1/2 inch mild steel plate, the .30-06 created a larger bulge and deeper crater, with measured penetration of 0.551 inches versus 0.404 inches for the .308, attributed to its higher velocity and energy.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Comparison Setup
  2. 00:471/4 Inch Steel Plate Test
  3. 01:473/8 Inch Steel Plate Test
  4. 03:001/2 Inch Steel Plate Test
  5. 03:41Measurements and Final Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cartridge penetrates steel better, .30-06 Springfield or .308 Winchester?

.30-06 Springfield demonstrated superior penetration on a 1/2 inch mild steel plate. While neither fully penetrated, the .30-06 created a significantly larger bulge and deeper crater, indicating greater energy transfer and penetration depth.

What were the key ballistics for the tested ammunition?

The tested 165gr Federal Deer Thugs loads showed the .30-06 Springfield with 2870 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and 2800 fps velocity, while the .308 Winchester had 2570 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and 2650 fps velocity.

How did the .30-06 and .308 perform on different steel plate thicknesses?

Both cartridges easily penetrated 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch mild steel plates. On a 1/2 inch plate, neither achieved full pass-through, but the .30-06 showed more significant impact deformation.

What tools were used to measure penetration?

Digital calipers were used to precisely measure the penetration depth of the .308 Winchester at 0.404 inches and the .30-06 Springfield at 0.551 inches into the 1/2 inch steel plate.

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