But if a person only knows U.S. hunting cartridges, then using the .308 (closer in size) and .30-06 as references would be a logical comparison for them, for size and performance.
Well I do yes. Probably because I take a historical connotation in the description, and the historical link is not there. As I pointed out earlier, one can compare the ballistics of almost all .30-.32 cal medium to long case cartridges and declare them "the same" if a difference of a few hundred fps doesn't bug you. To say they are similar can be useful as a frame of reference. Getting back to the Russians, the Soviets flat out copied many things, like the B-29. Thus, that is what I'm thinking when I hear "Russian .30-06". To a neophyte, I might describe it as a .30 cal rimmed case, with a length between that of an -06 and a .308. But that's just me. Depending on their level of knowledge, I might also say its a shiny thing that goes bang. :-)