It's remarkable how many people think that the 308 Winchester and the 30a6 Springfield are very similar cartridges.

In reality, they're real different. Each of them has its own set of features and characteristics.

So, which is best. Welcome to the Backcountry Henning Podcast, folks. I'm Joseph Van Benedict, your host. And today we're going to explore that question.

What's better for your purposes, throwaway Winchester or the Grand Old 30-06?

First though, let's go to our upfront Q&A section and answer a question submitted by Brent via

Patreon. I'm going to read that on my computer here and then we'll answer it

before digging into the 36 versus 308 debate. Okay so Brent wrote in and he said he's military stationed in Colorado.

Thank you for your service, my friend, much appreciated.

He says, I've never hunted before and I plan on hunting this fall and to try and make the most out of my opportunities here in Colorado.

He says he's got two questions. The first one is he's got a 7 mm-o-8 rifle and I found, I presume while researching,

mixed results about hunting elk with it. The rifle is a Ruger, American Gen 2, so it's a nice new rifle, right?

He says, is it enough cartridge to do it?

Meaning, I presume, hunt elk.

And if so, what bullet would you recommend? I understand that this

caliber would keep me with a max of 400 yards and even then may be pushing it. The second

question I had was preparing for a solo hunt and what a

first-timer needs. Since he's got some training and some old gear from the

military but he is on a bit of a budget. So Brent, great question.

Thank you for submitting it.

And I'll do my best.

It's pretty broad subject, two subjects, really.

The second one, you know, what kind of gear and so forth is needed to prepare for your first solo hunt, but we'll try and condense it into a useful answer here. So, I responded to the 7-M-8 is on the light side for elk but it's also

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