Two cartridges that have seen use in both world wars and have their reputation for being among the greatest big game hunting cartridges in the world are the 303 British and the 30-06 Springfield. However, these two rounds are seldom compared even though they are used and designed for very similar tasks. So in this article, we will compare both the 303 British and the 30-06 to see which is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 30-06 is the more powerful and versatile caliber of the two, with a flatter trajectory, greater effecetive range, and larger array of bullet weights available. However, the 303 British is still a reliable and accurate caliber that has been used for hunting and military purposes for many years.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-depth Look at the 303 British
The 303 British cartridge was introduced in 1888 and was used by the British military until the 1950s. It is a rimmed cartridge that fires a .311-diameter bullet. The cartridge has a reputation for accuracy and reliability, and many hunters still use it today.
The 303 British has a muzzle velocity of around 2,400 feet per second and can shoot accurately up to 300 yards. It has a moderately flat trajectory which makes it good for hunting at medium range but it does start to lose most of its power past 400 yards. The 303 British is commonly chambered in the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle, which was widely used by British forces during World War I and World War II.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 303 British with a 150-grain bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2690 | 2410 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2565 | 2190 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.9 | 2442 | 1987 |
| 150 | -1.4 | 2.2 | 2324 | 1798 |
| 200 | -4.4 | 4.1 | 2208 | 1624 |
| 250 | -9.2 | 6.6 | 2096 | 1463 |
| 300 | -15.9 | 9.7 | 1988 | 1316 |
| 350 | -24.7 | 13.3 | 1881 | 1179 |
| 400 | -36.1 | 18 | 1780 | 1055 |
| 450 | -50.5 | 23.6 | 1683 | 943 |
| 500 | -67.8 | 30 | 1590 | 842 |
In-depth Look at the 30-06
The 30-06 cartridge was introduced in and adopted by the US military in 1906. Shortly after both world wars, this cartridge earned its reputation as an effective big game hunting cartridge. It fires a .308-diameter bullet and can be loaded with bullet weights from 110-220 grains.
The 30-06 is considered one of the most versatile cartridges out there. This is due to the fact that it has enough energy to take all big game animals in America but can also be loaded with light bullets to take smaller game like deer and pronghorn.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 30-06 with a 180-grain soft point:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2700 | 2913 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2584 | 2668 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.9 | 2470 | 2439 |
| 150 | -1.3 | 2 | 2359 | 2225 |
| 200 | -4.2 | 3.7 | 2252 | 2026 |
| 250 | -8.8 | 6 | 2147 | 1842 |
| 300 | -15.3 | 8.8 | 2045 | 1671 |
| 350 | -23.8 | 12.1 | 1945 | 1512 |
| 400 | -34.6 | 16.2 | 1848 | 1365 |
| 450 | -48.1 | 21.2 | 1756 | 1232 |
| 500 | -64.6 | 27 | 1667 | 1111 |
In-depth Comparison
When it comes to power and range, the 30-06 has the edge over the 303 British. The 30-06 has more energy, a later trajectory, and less wind drift, basically, the 30-06 is just a more powerful cartridge. However, this is not to discredit the 303 British which is still a cartridge that can take down game as large as elk.
In terms of recoil, the 303 British has moderate recoil, making it a good choice for hunters who are sensitive to recoil. The 30-06 has a bit more recoil, but it is still manageable for most shooters.
The availability of ammunition and rifles is also an important consideration. The 30-06 is a popular caliber and ammunition is readily available. It is also commonly chambered in many different rifles, making finding a rifle that suits your needs easy. The 303 British, on the other hand, is not as commonly used, and ammunition and rifles can be harder to find.
Conclusion
The 30-06 has greater power and versatility, making it a good choice for long-range shooting and hunting larger game. The 303 British is a reliable and accurate caliber that is a good choice for medium game hunting.