Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles In 20+ years of hunting, buying something I've never had before

A 30-06

I know, I know, this thread is useless without pics. I'll get that out of the way.

Getting a stainless SPS from a buddy, putting it in an olive Hunter's Edge, Talley extra lows, and 6x36 LRD. Also have some dies on the way and going to try out 180 NPs with IMR 4350.

Thinking a closer range elk rifle, with the 280AI as my primary rifle for deer and elk.

So... provided it shoots well I'll leave it as a 30-06, but bought it with the possibility of making it a 338-06. And I know, I know... never shoot the donor.

For those with experience (not I read this or I heard that) how has an '06 done on elk compared to a slow(ish) 338? Say sub 200 yards. Any real reason to rebarrel, other than just because?

Send that sucker to JES for a rebore and shoot heavies as far out as you want.

Spending your money is way too easy.

280AI and a 30-06?

Don't shoot it. Send it for the re-bore, IMO. Sounds like a nice rig.

owing a 338/06 I dearly love...

with 220 and 225 grain bullets available for the 06 and H4831
SC.. I don't think the 338/06 is worth the extra expense unless you think ya gotta have one... which I did at the time...

but since Hornady has canned most of my favorite 338 bullets, the motivation just isn't there....

Three elk with .30-06, two with 165g North fork SS, one with a 150g Nosler AccuBond. All three dropped at the shot.

Ranges from ~25-30 yards to 262.

My hunting partner has taken three elk with his 30-06 and the 180 gr. Hornady Interlocks.
I witnessed all three kills. I have taken one elk with the 06 and the 165 gr. Nosler Accubond. Mine was a little over 100 yards and his ranged from 150 yards to one out at 350. Distance checked with laser range finder. My take is the 30-06 works just fine.
Paul B.

Everyone talks around the 30-06 on this site, but no one bad mouths it that I can remember. I've owned several 06's and still have a couple and every one was a reliable shooter, accurate as I could hope for, and easy to reload for. Even though I shoot other rifles for elk, my son still shoots my Pre 64 Model 70 30-06 for deer and occasionally elk and it still works just fine. My nephew shot his elk with an 06 that I sold him this year and, other than some crappy shooting on his part (nerves and his first elk) it worked just fine. I wouldn't feel handicapped using it either and may do that this year. There are lots of great elk cartridges and the 06 is one of them, IMHO. If it can't be done with the 30-06 it probably can't be done unless it is taller than you and on the African continent....

Bob

I built a 338-06 17 years ago because I had to scratch the itch. It's simple to form brass. At the end of the day I saw no reason for it. If I want more than the 30-06, I'll jump up to a 300 Mag or 338 WM. As far as performance on elk, I've not shot an elk with the 338-06. My friend Dober has, and I know he'd tell you there's really no difference. He uses the 200 gr Ballistic Tip. I've shot enough elk with the 30-06 and 338 WM to know that it's the speed of the lighter 210 Partition form the 338 WM that seems to make a bit more impression on elk than the more placid 180 grainer from the 30-06.

I love the 30-06. And it's capable as far as anyone has any business shooting elk. To me the 30-06 is "the" elk chambering. If you're after phenomenal penetration, run a 200 gr. Partition.

If the 338-06 is an itch, scratch it. But I'd rather hunt the 30-06.

Took an elk with one shooting 165 BT's pushed by IMR4350 at a whopping 78 yards on the run. First shot entered behind the ribs and exited just in front of the shoulder. 2nd Shot punched through from about 30 yards out through both shoulders. Chest was soup.
Too many elk taken with a 'lowly' 30-06 for them not to be good. Everybody thinks they have to have the latest whiz-bang caliber

In my experience, the 30-06 combined with the 200gr. partition competes damn well with a "slow-ish" 338. I also noticed no difference between it and my 9.3x62mm in effective killing power on elk. Thus one of the reasons I sent the 9.3 packing.. If you have a good shooting 30-06, there's no "real" reason to have it bored out (when talking "closer range" elk cartridges)... JHMO..

You should probably sell the .280 AI. Nothing it does that the 06 can't do as well or better. Of course, that can be said for most cartridges.

Nah, unless the '06 is shooting sub .5" but not selling a full custom just to keep a factory tube

I have a Remington 700 SPS 30-06 and a Kimber Montana .338 Federal.

In the last dozen years,I've shot a handful of spikes and cows with each rifle. From 29 paces in the timber to 330yds.

Honestly,I haven't seen a bit of difference between the two in their performance on elk.

Many are experiments, the 30-06 is a proven. It will work!

Hunters Edge is ready to go, have the 6x36 and Talley extra lows, now just waiting for the rifle to get out here.

Before I buy dies, brass, and bullets I bought two boxes of ammo to test potential accuracy. Went with Hornady 178 ELD-X and 180 SP. If I stay with '06 I'll have that brass to play with, then will try out the 168 TTSX, 180 NP, and 200 ELD-X

I have "many" rifles…
But have never even owned a 30-06..
If I had owned one i wouldn't need another big game rifle.

I'll never own one!
Billy

Really your 280AI and 30-06 would be good for elk at any reasonable range. I believe you wouldn't gain diddly with the 338-06. If you want to rebarrel a 30-06 a 270 or a 9.3x62 are the only two directions I would go. If you want a 338 buy a win mag or a 340. Additionally, there are a lot of decent 165s in the 06 for elk.

Sounds like a great Signature Line! If you only buy what you need.

First, everybody should have an '06--you know, just in case.

Secondly, the '06 will shoot just as far as the 280AI. The 24" bbl on that SPS might surprise you.

Third, don't use IMR4350--it's been temp sensitive when I have tried it in the past although that's been quite a while ago. Think H4350, or possibly the new IMR4451.

Have witnessed elk killed with 338-06's, and have killed an elk with a 35 Whelen. The '06 is a better choice--less muss, fuss, expense and recoil.


Casey

Sage advice here. That's why I own several.