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Actually, ballistics tables show the .30-06 and the .308 to be closer than the .303 when the bullet weight is the same (and the manufacturer). Felt recoil depends on the firearm as well,(especially for me because the '06 I have is a bolt rifle and the .308 is semiauto). I'm fairly good sized and do not notice that much difference.

The .303 is the lightweight of the bunch, though. Hard to believe many aircraft machine guns were in that caliber well into WWII. I have an old Ross, but it is incomplete and until I get a round tuit and go over it pretty thoroughly, I won't shoot it (straight pull action). Maybe I will pick up a SMLE, just to check it out.

You be careful with that Ross. It killed a lot of Canadian soldiers when the bolt was reinstalled backward after cleaning. Stupid design. I might do what we did with an old SMLE of uncertain origin -- clamp it down to a benchrest, surround it with sandbags, and pull the trigger off with a string.

The .303 is often compared with the .30-40 Krag, but its ballistics are closer to .308. The 174 gr Sierra boattail is what I use, I never liked the 200 gr although if I were going after bear I might change my mind.

The .308 develops a little more more velocity with the same weight bullet. I can get 2500 out of a 174 in a .303, but that is really pushing it and accuracy suffers, while the .308 will do 2800 easy.

I think where you really notice the higher case capacity and bigger energy potential in the .30'06 is in the heavier weight bullets. The .308 is very unhappy with 200 gr and Hodgdon doesn't even recommend a load for the 220, but the .30'06 will still heave a 220 out there at 2400 fps.

I have an SMLE in .303. It’s a pain to shoot because of the constant cleaning due to corosive ammunition. I also have an Ishy Enfield in 7.62 Nato (which is sometimes incorrectly called .308)