I've been shooting a 30-06 in one form or another for 35 years, mostly at whitetail deer, but a few other things here and there. Outside of a brief interval back at the beginning, where I was being handed obnoxiously loaded 180 grain handloads, I have never had a problem shooting the '06. For a while there, I was even using it as my primary groundhog chambering.
I don't mean to call out anyone in particular. I can see where a fellow with an rifle that is not properly fit for the shooter (or vice-versa) could cause someone to think 30-06 is too much, that is a simple matter of ignorance. However getting all uppity and name-calling just, because some folks can handle the round and don't see a problem is somewhat beyond my ability to understand. I've been called a booger eating moron on the 'Campfire for shooting a 30-06. I've been called gap-toothed trailer trash for for it too. I just don't see the problem.
The top deer getter in our camp is '06 followed by 35 Whelen. Now, I'll admit the 35 Whelen is overkill, but I just like shooting my "Whelenizer" and it has been following me out to top off the freezer the past 10 years. The ought-sixes? Those are bread-and-butter rifles.
