308 or 30-06 for M1 Garand ? I have a chance to buy an M1 from CMP. I want the least recoil producing round.?

Yes, .308 Winchester produces less recoil... But it's only 15% difference or so.

If you're going to get a Garand, don't get one in .308 Winchester. Buy one in .30-06 Springfield. If you want a rifle chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO get a Springfield M1A.

Always looking at the scientific element instead of what rifle really appeals to you or the best investment. If you are after caliber and recoil then buy the modern M1a....you most likely won`t find a M-14. If you want the M1 Garand experience then learn how to shoulder one and accept that recoil will be with you always. I can`t remember anyone out of a platoon of 80 recruits that complained about recoil and there were some puny ones that had never fired a weapon before joining the Marines.(All were M1 Garands until the M14 replacement) YA answerers have fabricated a recoil that I never realized existed. I still fire an old Norwegian Mauser that was factory barreled for .30-06 and still don`t mind the recoil. Learn how to shoulder one if you are going to play the .30 caliber game.

M1 Garand 308

Technically, the .308 produces the lesser recoil. However, you are not going to notice the difference because the perceived recoil difference is so small. I have never met anyone who had fired gas action rifle for .03-06 or .308 who complained about the recoil. Pick the one that you can afford to shoot with. Just remember to read the manual especially the part about what kinds of bullets you are limited to. The .30-06 chambered M1 is typically limited to 150 grain or less bullets, else the op-rod could get bent or break. Don't know about the .308.

The .308 Winchester / 7.62mmNATO cartridge produces less recoil (generally speaking) when compared to the .30-06 cartridge.

But the recoil difference is minimal.

Since the M1 Garand was primarily chambered for .30-06, there will be more parts & accessories available for that version.

If you really want to make your M1 Garand ownership interesting, you could have one re-built to use the .276 Pederson cartridge that is was originally developed to use during its prototype phase, decades ago. The .276 Pederson is smaller, and, the clip can hold 10 cartridges instead of 8.

.308 it is then. It produces slightly less though the difference is marginal, 7.62x51mm NATO is also more plentiful than 30-06, from the prices I've seen they are actually similar but it varies from place to place and most say 308 costs less due to its abundance. Though, for perhaps an illogical reason, I think I'd want a M1 Garand chambered in its original round, kinda like the 30-06.

I bought a "New" M1 Garand, a "New" Springfield M1A and I also have a modified M1917 in 30-06.

You may feel "Slightly" less recoil with the M1A vs the Garand and "Slightly" less recoil with the Garand vs the M1917. The Garand is a heavy rifle and will, by its weight absorb some recoil. The M1917 is lighter than the Garand therefore felt recoil is greater.

They are all "Extremely Accurate" in experienced hands. I recommend, if you do purchase a Garand from CMP, that you have the rifle inspected and tested by a "Smith" well experienced with that rifle. CMP sells many different levels of Garands with respect to condition and usefulness. They may have experienced armor's on staff but I would certainly get a second opinion. I have seen Garands at shows for 2-3 thousand dollars that could not hit a target at 50 yards...ie..."Smooth Bore".

As I said, I bought my Mil Spec Garand "New in the Box". Springfield retooled a few years back and produced ten thousand, Mil Spec, Garands. They are out there...look for one. I found mine in a little, hole in the wall, shop in Fairbanks, AK. for $1200.00...MSRP was $999.00. As well, I bought my NM M1A, "New in the Box" at a show in Reno...Cash and carry.

Look around before you buy. Better quality rifles are out there for about the same cost as CMP.

308 Garand

in terms of "felt" recoil you wont see or feel a difference in one vs the other.

The Garand with it's gas op system is about the most comfortable semi auto 30 cal out there for shooting. I'd rather shoot mine than the bolt action 03 using the same ammo.

308 Win typically produces less recoil than the equivalent 30-06 round, mostly because the .308 Win round has lower velocity.

30-06 Sprg launches 180 gr bullets at the same velocity that 308 Win launches 168 gr bullets.