The .308win is an excellent cartridge, as is the .30-06sprg ... There are two questions I would ask you before I'd let you decide on one or the other ... if I were the one in control...
1. do you have a serious preference for either a long action or a short action?
2. do you plan on shooting elk sized game at 400+ yards?
I ask those because those are really the only two differences. Both have a bazillion (technical term) choices in factory ammo, and if you're a handloader, you can find anything out there to tailor your loads to the game intended to be had. The .30-06 is a long action cartridge, and has roughly 13grains more powder capacity. It will carry it's velocity out a hair further (ie: .308 @ 300 yards has roughly the same velocity as the .30-06 at 400 yards) ... and it kicks a hair harder, but it ain't by much. The .308 is a short action cartridge, and has been tried and proven over and over again as an all around hunting catridge... because of the shorter action, and the ability to use a shorter barrel, it can be had in a more handy package ...
So, in my eyes, if you're shooting said pigs, deer, and maybe elk at ranges of 300 yards and closer, the .308 should fit the bill rather nicely. If you want to take it downrange a smidge more, opt for the .30-06.
Having said all that, if you're after a "pig getter", I'd opt for something in 7mm myself... like a 7SAUM, or 7mmWSM ... There are some DANDY bullets being produced in the 7mm caliber, and they are in a short action to boot. You might study the 7's a bit and see what I mean about thier upside, as it's hard to beat in almost all aspects.
I know I either just really clarified things for you, or confused the **** out of you. Either way, if I got you thinking about things you might not have considered, I've done my job here...
1. do you have a serious preference for either a long action or a short action?
2. do you plan on shooting elk sized game at 400+ yards?
I ask those because those are really the only two differences. Both have a bazillion (technical term) choices in factory ammo, and if you're a handloader, you can find anything out there to tailor your loads to the game intended to be had. The .30-06 is a long action cartridge, and has roughly 13grains more powder capacity. It will carry it's velocity out a hair further (ie: .308 @ 300 yards has roughly the same velocity as the .30-06 at 400 yards) ... and it kicks a hair harder, but it ain't by much. The .308 is a short action cartridge, and has been tried and proven over and over again as an all around hunting catridge... because of the shorter action, and the ability to use a shorter barrel, it can be had in a more handy package ...
So, in my eyes, if you're shooting said pigs, deer, and maybe elk at ranges of 300 yards and closer, the .308 should fit the bill rather nicely. If you want to take it downrange a smidge more, opt for the .30-06.
Having said all that, if you're after a "pig getter", I'd opt for something in 7mm myself... like a 7SAUM, or 7mmWSM ... There are some DANDY bullets being produced in the 7mm caliber, and they are in a short action to boot. You might study the 7's a bit and see what I mean about thier upside, as it's hard to beat in almost all aspects.
I know I either just really clarified things for you, or confused the **** out of you. Either way, if I got you thinking about things you might not have considered, I've done my job here...
