Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Any love for the 30/06

I hunted for my first 15 years with a 30/06, killing everything from crows to moose. I haven't shot one in almost 20 years.

It still can't be beat, but it's more rifle than I want to deal with for deer hunting.

Maybe you ready for a Creed.

May or may not want to answer that.

DF

try loading the 125BTip at about 3000fps. You may change your mind...

I usually shoot 165's @ 2750 fps out of mine and find it quite tame.

How far are you people shooting game that you need all this speed?

I’ve long held that the 125/130 weight bullets in the ‘06 are a sleeper. They’re accurate and surprisingly effective on appropriate game.

I started with them for a really light weight HVA rifle. I was impressed enough to load them for my hunting bud who is now a believer.

Urban legend as I recall, regarded light bullets not as accurate. I’ve found that to not be the case.

You won’t know until you try them. Those who have seem to be advocates.

DF

Not saying they are useless, but I never understood why you wouldn't just use a .25-06 or .270 if you want to shoot 120/130 grain bullets? Even in standard twist rifles with older bullets, you can get far better performance from them.

No reason.

The point is for those who have an ‘06 and want to use it. This is a way to have high performance with mild recoil.

I use my .257R and others, have plenty of choices.

The ‘06 is one of the most versatile rounds and this concept is just part of the spectrum.

DF

My quest for the perfect 30-06 has gone through quite a few rifles over the years. I started with a Ruger 77 tang safety, Remington 700 stainless synthetic, Rem. 700 LSS Mountain Rifle, Winchester M70 Extreme Weather, a couple of 7600 Carbines, 2 different 760's and I THINK I've finally settled on a Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker that shoots crazy good with everything I feed it. Even though I have other calibers, whatever 30-06 I've had has always been my "primary" deer rifle.

I have used many different chamberings as my primary BG rifle, I am currently using a .280AI exclusively; however, if I could start over I'd go with a 30.06 and a good bullet. All the animals that I have taken could easily have been taken with a 30.06.

True.

But you can’t admit you’re a one gun dude and it’s just an ‘06!

Ha!

DF

You are correct in that it effectively turns the ‘06 into a cartridge somewhere between the 25/06 and 270.

To answer your question, I have a 270 and a 25/06 and they work great. I also have an old 30/06 which has sentimental value. It belonged to my father and I like pulling it out occasionally and using it on bambi. Other folks may not own a 270 or 25/06 but would be happy to get close to their ballistics with a 30/06 that is already in their possession.

I love the .30-06, but I don't love trying to use it for every bullet weight from 125 to 250 grains. I personally never got worthwhile performance from the bullets at the bottom end of the spectrum. It wasn't just "urban legend" for me. They shot patterns out of my rifles, not groups. Growing up, I had access to a Model 30S and a J.C. Higgins Model 50. Each of them shot consistent 100 yard groups well under an inch using 150-grain spitzers (usually half inch for the 30S), but with the 125's, those half MOA or one MOA rifles turned into four MOA rifles. I'm glad that you got better results than I did.

I do think that if someone can only have one rifle, the .30-06 is probably the best choice. But I have always achieved best results with 150-, 165-, or 180-grain bullets. I've never had occasion to use heavier bullets, although I know that there are a lot of hunters who use the 220-grain bullets for heavy game.

Thanks for the response. Guess we are all products of our own experience. I must admit that my interest in the BTip in my 'ol '06 is because of how accurate it is!

A friend from the fire (wish I could remember who it was!) recommended it with 58.5gr of IMR4350. I tried it just for grins and they all went in the same hole!

That rifle has always shot 150s and 165s right around an inch, so plenty accurate for my needs. But the little BTip blew them away without even having to experiment. Then, when I saw how effective it has been on hogs and bambi, it became a favorite.

Seems getting the lighter bullets to shoot may require different powder. I’ve had great results with Big Game and mag primers. 59 gr works well.

DF

I've had great luck with IMR 4895 and 125 BT's in various 30-06's

30-06 and 165gr bullet go together like peaches and cream. If a person can't handle the recoil of a 165 GR bullet they probably won't care for the recoil of a 125gr bullet either.

To me, the lighter bullets kick less. That’s why I started using them in my very light HVA. I was amazed how well it shot them, so loaded more for my hunting bud and for other guns. That load with BG seemed to shoot well in other guns. And terminal performance was pretty amazing. So I became a fan.

DF

Weird. There's quite a difference in recoil between my 125 grain loads and my 165 loads

I had an HVA that I poured rounds through and it had been shot an awful lot when I got it. As the barrel was going out the last thing it would still shoot with decent accuracy was 125 grains.