Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 30-06 didn't impress me.

John, can I "almost kill an elk" from my recliner and does it count? powdr

I wouldn't mind an elk or deer for that matter to run a mile or two after I shoot them....

Just as long as it's toward the truck/canp

It is funny. My 30 06 ( 30 Goverment ) if u B hip. Buddies Make fun of the 7 mag. Claim it kicks harder outta the back end more than the barrel. I wouldn't want to stand in front of either of em. Nor do I think the elk do. Very silly.

That would be ideal...

I will be using my 30-06 this year. 180 grain Nosler A/B should do the trick.
So wish me luck.

I had a guy once tell me,he shot at a deer that was so close the the arrow didnt have enough distance to speed up.I tried to explain the physics behind his flawed logic.Nope...lol

Through the years, I have killed and seen killed by clients a semi-truck load of elk with the 30/06. Distances ranged from 50 to 400 yards. Anyone that says the 30-06 isn't a good Elk caliber hasn't killed many elk.

Flip side to the story in a way... I shot 243 on deer for years. Had a lot of em fall where they stood. Rest didn't run far. Then moved up to a 300 wtby, for larger game, but what the heck, lets use it on same deer. Never dropped one. Most ran as far if not farther, generally farther. Not sure why but it was evident. and bullet wise ran 180 nosler solid base vs 105 speers in the 243, and a few 180 partitions...

06 would have some limitations but inside that wouldn't bother me in the least on an elk or a moose.

now you know your 30 Government won't kill Elk as well as your 30-06

About the ONLY reason to choose a 300 over an 06' for elk and it's a pretty slim one at that, although I must say I have noticed a difference on elk-sized game (specifically kudu) between the two:
3006:
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2705.5 2.423 2925.1 0.000 0.0 ***
100 1.9 1.9 0.6 0.6 2543.4 2.278 2585.0 0.114 20.1 19.2
200 -0.0 -0.0 2.5 1.2 2386.9 2.138 2276.8 0.236 41.6 19.8
300 -8.0 -2.6 5.9 1.9 2236.0 2.003 1998.0 0.366 64.4 20.5
400 -23.1 -5.5 10.8 2.6 2090.5 1.872 1746.4 0.505 88.8 21.2

300 Weatherby:

200 -0.0 -0.0 2.0 1.0 2850.3 2.553 3246.5 0.199 34.9 16.7
300 -5.4 -1.7 4.6 1.5 2682.8 2.403 2876.2 0.307 54.0 17.2
400 -15.7 -3.7 8.5 2.0 2521.5 2.258 2540.7 0.422 74.3 17.7

A 180gr TTSX or E-Tip at 2,800fps seems like plenty of gun for nearly anything smaller than a grown steer.

I used a 270 on elk for years with excellent results, then switched to a 300 WSM for another 10 or 12 years. However, when I added it up, I'd never shot one with either rifle that couldn't have been taken equally well with a 30-06. So, I switched to a 30-06 last year. I've only shot 1 deer with it so far but it's a pound lighter than the 300 WSM and that counts for a lot.

I have no problem with the 06... Used one for 10 years.. Still have two and use one every now and then..

When comparing the .300's to the 06 and sighting in at 200 yards they look close.. But the 06 is higher at 100 yards to get the 200 yards zero.. Put the .300 at equal elevation, and the diff. is even greater at long range.
It may not be important to some, but it seems the really big bucks are just a bit smarter.. I like that edge..
Even with jorgeI's figures.. the .300 out classes the 06 at 400 by 10 inches. That is a lot.. If you never need it then it is unimportant.. I don't always hunt in areas that range is needed, but when I do, it is nice to have that edge..

This is precisely why I'm taking a 300 on my first elk hunt. Love my 06's but I need an edge!

Best of luck!!!

I imagine there will be several .30 Govt 1906's in our elk camp this October.

Well, ok,,,, it's not really a camp. Since we stay in the guest house there on the ranch. Nontheless 06's will be present!

The vast majority have been with 180 gr Partitions. I changed from a Ruger M77 tang safety to a Tikka T3 a few years ago and am now shooting the Barnes TSX at 180 grains. It shoots better in that rifle than the 165 gr TSX or I would be using it.

All things being equal, you all are right...but put a bullet with a decent B/C in either chamber and the margin tightens, at least within sane ranges.

Nothing at all wrong with the 300 Wby...it's a killer no doubt but after killing elk with my 6mm Rem, .25-06 and 6.5x284, I really don't want to put up with the heavy recoil of my 340 Wby and 300 Win anymore.

I am taking my 300 H&H this year though, just because.

My personal 30/06 has been a loaner rifle in South Africa for more then 2 decades. I'll bet off the top of my head a dozen guys or their wives and kids from this website have used it.

It's killed easily over 1000 big game animals, many pushing or exceeding the 1000lb mark

There has never been a struggle or a disaster with this choice. There have been bad shots! I will defer to the resolution of that many successful hunts by a wide range of hunters skills.

There are plenty of other cartridges with equal performance or better. However I still believe after 25 years hunting the biggest game on earth that the 30/06 is the base line of successful hunting cartridges.