In light of the “Is 30-06 too much gun” thread, thought I’d start a new thread titled differently to ask the question that popped up in that thread. Has anyone ever run into a situation where a larger caliber, faster bullet, or some other combination was required to kill an animal – that a properly loaded 30-06 couldn’t handle?
A look at ballistics indicates the 30-06 can cover a bunch of ground. Think a 270 Win or 7 RM ‘smokes’ the 06? Run the ballistics on a 30 cal, 150 gr Nos AB scooting at 3000 ft/sec – 31 inches low at 500. A 7mm, 160 Nos AB at 3000 ft/sec is 28 inches low at 500 (a 7mm 150 at 3100 is 27” low). A bit less wind drift with the 160 AB but not a huge difference (30-06 19”, 270 18”, 7RM 15”).
A 180 Partition at 2800 from an 06 drops 35” at 500 using a max rise of 3.2” above horizontal. A similarly sighted 300 WM (3.2” max Y) at 3050, typical 300 WM velocities, using the same bullet drops 28” at 500 and drifts 1.5” less at 500. Using an arbitrary 250 yard zero the differences are less (300 WM drops 6” less than 06).
Bullet velocity and associated inherent velocity/performance envelopes (~ 2000 ft/sec) are sufficient for the 06 out past 550 yards (750 yards if you consider a bullet velocity envelope of 1800 ft/sec).
So the question really is: when will a properly loaded 30-06 not work and we need something flatter shooting or harder hitting to hit/kill our intended game?
