The 30-06 and 7.62x54r are very identical cartridges not only in ballistics but also in look. However, these rounds still have very subtle differences that have a big impact on performance downrange. But what are the differences? Is one better than the other? And are they really that different?
Here is the short answer:
If you had to pick one, you would want the 30-06. The 30-06 is more available (in ammo and rifles), has less drop, and more energy. However, there is not a huge difference in the performance of either of the rounds.
With the short answer out of the way, we can take a deeper dive into both rounds and why I think the 30-06 is a better choice.
30-06
The 30-06 is one of the oldest cartridges that is still used today. It was first designed in 1903 and was adopted by the military in 1906. The 30-06 was retired by the military in 1970 because its roles were replaced by the 556, 308, and 300 win mag (the 556 and 308 replaced its infantry purposes, and the 300 win mag replaced its sniper purposes).
This cartridge is very good at taking down big game because it has high energy. The high energy lends well to having the needed stopping power to take down animals like elk and moose. The 30-06 is known to be able to take down any big game animals in North America, although the biggest animal it is used to regularly takedown is moose.
The 30-06 is a favorite among handloaders because you can get bullets that vary in weight from 110 to 220. This variability makes it a favorite because you can experiment with different loads to find which one shoots best out of your rifle.
7.62x54r
Much like the 30-06, the 7.62x54r is an old cartridge as it was invented in 1891 by the Russian military. However, unlike the 30-06, the 7.62x54r has not yet been retired, making it one of the longest still serving rounds ever.
The 7.62x54r has high energy up close, but at any range beyond 300 yards, it starts to lose its energy and velocity. However, the 7.62x54r does have enough energy to kill every big game animal in North America as long as you are close. But it is recommended to use a bigger caliber than 7.62x54r if you are going to hunt anything bigger than elk.
The biggest downside to the 7.62x54r is that it is not super available. It is only cambered in a few different rifles and ammo is somewhat hard to find. However, there are Mosin Nagant rifles that are still very common and can be upgraded to make a higher quality rifle. More on availability and rifles in a little bit.
Which one is better?
Now the part you have been waiting for: the head-to-head comparison. So without further ado, let’s dive into it.
Ballistics. Drop wise, the 30-06 and the 54r are almost identical. At 500 yards, the 7.62x54r has 50 inches of drop vs the 30-06 having 45 inches of drop. So you don’t have to be concerned about drop.
Energy-wise things are a little different. At 500 yards, the 30-06 has 400 more foot-pounds (1359 out of a 30-06 vs 957 out of a 7.63x54r). While it might not seem like it, 400-foot pounds is actually a lot of energy. Also worth noting is that the 7.62x54r can kill an elk at 400 yards and 30-06 can kill elk out to 600 yards.
Availability. The 30-06 is the clear winner in this category, The 30-06 is just a more available cartridge. There are a lot more rifles and a lot more ammo in 30-06. This is because the 7.62x54r never really gained popularity among ammo producers. The only really available rifle in 7.62x54r is the Mosin Nagant which is usually easy to find.
Recoil. Recoil-wise, both rounds are going to feel the same. While the 30-06 has a little bigger of a case, it will not make a very big difference.
Versatility. The 30-06 is often considered the king of all versatile cartridges. This is because it has a massive array of bullet weights. Because you can get bullets from 110 to 220 grains you can hunt anything from prairie dogs to moose. On the other hand, the 7.62x54r is not available in many different bullet weights so you don’t have nearly the versatility of the 30-06.
Conclusion
All in all, I think that the 30-06 is a better option. It is more available, it has a wider array of bullet grain weights, it’s more versatile, it has more energy, and it has less drop. If you were to pick one, you would want the 30-06.
See more blogs just like this one here