I just looked back at some old pics and realized I've owned 14 30-06's, this seems abnormal. Anyone else got my OCD beat?

Funny thing is, everyone of them would shoot IMR4350 and the Hornady 165 into less than an inch. How boring is that!

I gotta be pretty close to that in 243s

I've owned nine bolt action hunting rifles in 300 WIN MAG over the years - don't own a single one now! Of course those aren't 30-06 per your question.

Not sure how to count the 30-06 SPRG because of all the M1 Garand, M1903, A3-03, and US M1917 rifles I have owned over the years. At least 12 or 13 I can think of and then I have to figure up all the hunting rifles in 30-06.

Let's see; in Winchester two pre-64 M70 (a standard and a FW), in the early post-64 M70 I've had a 1964 and a 1968. I bought a 1981 M70FW when they re-introduced them. Had several of the 1970's XTR variations (two or three - cannot remember them all now). I owned one Remington M700 I got in a trade for a canoe (then I traded the M700 for a handgun of some type). There were others but they don't come to mind at the moment.

I currently have only 2, the ones I wished I had back were low comb stocks, a 51' pre-64 M70 and a Husqvarna I re-checkered. Shouldve kept one as a dedicated open sight rifle.

That sounds like the norm to me..

The first time I deviated from my usual 30-06 habit was a 300 WSM. I dint handload at the time and ammo was expensive. Plus it beat the hell out of me, yet didnt do anything the 30-06 didnt do. Since then, when I go outside my norm, I go all the way and grab a 280 or 270!

The one I would really love to have back was a high number (1955) Springfield Armory M-1, absolutely mint, with a DOD marked Birch stock. Should have never sold it.

I think we all have a handful of "never should've solds"...ya live and you learn.

Don't know if these all count toward an "official" tally but between a couple of 03-A3's, a good collection of Garands, a 40-x, and several 700's including a Custom shop model 700, and a couple of four digits from the first 1200 made...yep I got you beat

TomM1,

I've owned 22 .30-06's, including six at once. Have also owned them in every basic configuration: bolt, pump, semiauto, lever, single-shot and combination gun. But finally got over it as much as possible without giving them up completely. At the moment I'm down to one, my New Ultra Light Arms Model 24.

One them, a Browning BLR, was only fired with 165 Interlocks and 4350, just to see if it would shoot. It would.

I've owned 6 at one time and then asked myself why in the hell I had so many!!!!! I sold them all off except for 1. Now I have 2. I've owned about 14 total, all great rifles..

After all these years, my 54th must be the 'Americana' year -- bought my first ever 30-06, 45 ACP and .22 rimfire.

And a hush fell over the crowd ...

Holy chit, you were locked up for a long time...

I think thats purdy darn smart of you...I've only owned 6 and that won't be all but this last one a Tikka T3sl stainless.30-06 will take a dirt nap with me...That load you talk about will hover bout 1-1.5" @ 200yd all day long...ScottyO.

Just tough for me to get over. Im a sucker for versatility and have always glamoured all those magazine articles touting the mice to moose mentality, which is the reason I started handloading, I couldnt find any 110 varmint loads or 220 RN.

All of mine have been hunting riles, almost all M70, M77's and Rugers. I still use the ought-6 for groundhogs occasionally and have taken game up to brown bear with it. It would be tough for me to change at this point, though I do have a penchant for the 257 Roberts, again for its versatility. The versatility card might be a bit overplayed as just about all cartridges are versatile with diligent handloading. When I went through my large bore stage, I choose the 375 H&H for the same reason.

One of my remaining -06s is also a Tikka. Ive never seen a rifle put every load Ive ever put through it to the same POI, from Seirra 110 varminters to 200 Partitions. I just pick the load and hunt. It is utilitarian as they come.

30.06 seems to repeat itself in my gun rack also. I'm pretty partial to it and the 308 Win.

Mine is partial to 165 grain Gamekings over IMR-4350. I've not found a load to beat it.

Tom -

I don't know exactly how many 06s I've owned. I kept a record of rifles and a separate record of handguns that I ' have ' and ' had '. Somewhere in a move those records got mis placed or lost.

I do remember at one time I owned 5. The best guess I have is 8-10.

I went for a no. of yrs w/o an 06 in the stable. I had 270S & 7 RMs and 300 WM so I really didn't feel the compunction to get an 06.

I now have 2, one was my Dad's 700 BDL in top notch condition. The other is a Rem M 6 that I haven't hunted or killed anything with YET. It's now ready with 165 HBTSP over H 205 and obviously IMR 4350 as back up. I'm down to my last # of H 205.

I plan to bloody the M 6 this year. I almost feel that it's UN-American not to own a 30-06 !!

Jerry

I have only owned a few compared to some of you folks.I do have trouble hanging on to them though.

Of course, I was thirty or so before I went away from lever action .300 Savages and .308 Winchesters.

In order;
1. Ruger M77 RST -Sold it to my brother-in-law to fund
#2.
2. Model 70 pre-war .30 Govt '06. It is now in a Pacific
Research stock but I still have it. It will go to my
oldest grandson when he gets out of the Air Force.
3. Model 70 FW .30-06, 1954, It has a Bansner stock on
it, and it was matte finished. I gave it to my oldest
son. He still has it.
4. Savage 110. I bought it for a spare but a guy from
work needed a deer rifle.
5. Sears Model 54 - an econo M-70. Another guy from work
wanted that one. He still uses it.
6. Model 70 Classic SS FW All Terrain. Rebarreled a .270
with a Boss on it to get this one. My favorite rifle.
7. Remington 740-garage sale-I wanted the scope. Oldest
grandson loves it. It is his now.
8. M-70 post 68 G-Model. My youngest son has it now.
9. Kimber 84L Montana. Shaq helped me find this one. I
had the barrel cut to 22" and iron sights added. It
was doing good until I started getting misfires. The
firing pin adjustment screw, etc. got loose. I reset
it to get through the hunt but took it in two days ago
to get the firing pin protrusiob set by a gunsmith.

This .30-06 tinkering is an addiction I guess. I have a line on a pre-64 FW with a 3-9 Leupold on it for $600 and a sporterized Springfield '03 for half that. They'll have to wait until after hunting season though.

At one time there were 13 different 12 gauges in the house.

As to 30-06 - owned 3 or so. None now.

I'm up to 4 or 5

I'd have to go downstairs and count, but I have somewhere around 20 '06s. The majority are counted in the military vintage collection. The 30-06 has taken the widest variety of game for me, from ground hogs to elk, with bullet weights spanning 100 grains. To be sure there are cartridges that may be better suited to a particular task but I can do almost anything with the venerable '06.

I like my 308s, but the '06 pushes heavies a little faster. My 243 'yote rifle is a hammer with the 75gr AMax, but the '06 has much better barrel life, my 6.5 Creedmoor rings IPSC steel almost musically a 1,000+, but so does the '06 AND it can take large game at distance with any number of premium bullets available for 30 cal...

I've only had 4 over the years. The Rem 700 Mtn Rifle was the one that got me to put on the binders for 30-06 acquisitions. Light, accurate and dammm good lookin too.

I don't know for sure but I know it's over 10 .30-'06's. I currently have a Husqvarna '06.

I may have had 3 or4, not sure. This is my unluckiest calibre. I have never taken game with an 06. My current one is a M85 Finnlight Sako and is a delight to shoot. Because I so seldom see game when carrying an 06 I have just about quit hunting with this cartridge. Since I've finished my eighth decade I'm not prepared to gamble any of my remaining time on using the 06.

Tomorrow I will be leaving on a moose hunt and will use my .338 Win. This one has always seemed lucky for me. It got me a moose on my first hunt with it and several since.

Jim

Edit to correct an error.

Currently have 5 - 3 custom Mauser 98's, a custom Springfield, and a M1 Garand.

It's odd - I've never been able to get 165's to shoot as well as 180's in any of mine (except the M1 - it only sees 150's).

I've owned 14 different .30-06's, with six at my peak. I currently own 2, a pre-64 FWT and a 1944 Springfield Armory Garand. Don't think I'll sell either one.

I can't compete with that on the 30-06, but if my math is correct I've had an even dozen 308's... currently have 3 at the house.

Most I've own at one time is three 30-06 but have had close to 10 of them total. Dang cartridge just works. I can say the same for 30-30.

Geez, now you have me counting....
1917 sporter, BLR, Ruger #1A, Mauser sporter, JC Higgins mdl 50, JC Higgins mdl 51, Husqvarna 1640, Browning 1885, custom built on a commercial FN, push feed M70, and a Colt Light Rifle that has been NULA-ized.

The cartridge just works and it's available in a lot of attractive packages. Easy to load for, great accuracy in a good rifle. I keep going back to it.

30-06 is one of my favorite calibers. Probably had 20 or more over the years. I think OCD is pretty accurate. 2 years ago I had 5, got down to 3 and back up to 5. I may be stuck at that number. I've had more than a few in 338 WM as well, but probably only about a half dozen in 375 H&H.

As far as I can tell I've had 11.

I'm thinking there has been 8 of them.

1 M70 classic stainless feather weight.

2 721s

3 M700s

1 Tikka T3

1 Interarms MkX

I guess I'm in the minority. I currently own one .30-06, and it's the only one I've ever owned. It's a Stainless Laminate Left Hand Ruger 77 MKII.

I think I have read all the posts on this topic so far and am having a slight problem….wouldn't OCD by definition be a "disorder". Everyone here sounds pretty normal unless we are talking about someone who never owned an 06! That sounds more like a disorder to me.

I have owned two and still have them, a Remington 760 pump(1974) and a browning BAR (1985) both are good shooters and I have taken a lot of whitetails and I mean a lot in the past 42 years. Until 1974 I hunted with a shotgun and a pack of hounds then started still hunting. I am almost 72 now. I just purchased a cooper model 92 backcountry in 7mm rem mag. I haven't shot it but I am a 30-06 person.

I have no idea how many. I used to collect Springfields and had to sell due to illness.
Still have one O3-A3. A few others. If you have a good 06 then you won't NEED much else for a center fire.

30-06 is good for coyotes too.

I think a lot of it is Rifle vs. Headstamp. You get a particular rifle in your mind, then you find one and it happens to be an -06, then you say...no flies on the -06, already have dies, components, and so it goes home with you.

I have handloads I made for 6,7,8 -06's ago, but they still shoot good in my current ones.

There are four .30-06 rifles in my safe at the moment. Three are mine, one will be a wedding present to a then son-in-law next April. (Of course if the wedding gets called off I'll have another .30-06. )

The funny thing is I didn't start out to get a .30-06. The first was when my wife and I spent 4 months in Houston while she received leukemia treatments. I wanted to go hog hunting and picked up a nice Ruger tang-safety M77 at a gun show for that purpose. Never got to use it for hogs but have taken a couple f elk with it.

The second was a Remington M700 on end of year closeout at a local sporting goods company, $425 and tax. It has been elk hunting but I've only taken antelope with it to date.

The third was a used Ruger MKII, stainless. It came in a laminate that I replaced with Ruger's Zytel 'boat paddle' stock I bought online. One elk for that rifle.

The rifle chambering for my future son-in-law was never in question - both of my current sons-in-law got .30-06 rifles as wedding presents as well. I do have to say the 20" Ruger is a handy little thing and very accurate - I'm kind of envious...

I think I still own seven. I believe that was last count. Over the years I've probably owned an additional seven.

Lot of truth here.

As for my last 06 acquisition, I was looking FOR an 06 IN the Rem. M 6.
I have experienced your description with other cal/cartridges.

Jerry

I have owned three... The first was my grandfather's model 54 06.. I had it restocked and scoped.. For about 10 years, from the time I was 15 til I was 25, it was my main rifle for big game and much varmint shooting.. Probably the last time I shot it was maybe 10 years ago.. I need to take it out sometime soon..

The second one I owned was a model 700. I bought if from a fellow who needed $. Scoped with a Tasco, sling, hard case the price was $135. Sold it to a guy I taught school with..

The third is a post 64 model 70 that was my father in laws.. He passed in 95, I have had it ever since.. So far I have never chambered a round in it..

If I were still doing a lot of hunting in the eastern forests for whitetails, I think I would pickup a Rem. pump in 06.. But that is not likely to happen..

Since I am doing less big game hunting than 10 years ago, I doubt I purchase another 06..

I got 3 now, but have owned 4 others over the years.

I have owned easily more than a dozen, not counting those bought with an eye for profit when I was in the business as a sideline. Today, I own three.

Cousin and I bought or traded for an engraved, nicely custom stocked 1903 Springfield in the late 70s. I ended up with it. The stock is a bit to Weatherbyesque, but it is a nice rifle and it shoots. A S-I-L has his eye on it. We shall see.

In the 80s, I picked up a nicely custom stocked FN wearing the late 50s nicely tapered 24" barrel. The stock resembles the style of Brittish rifles in that the Neidner steel bitt is a half inch or so short and so is the forearm. The wood is not fancy, but it wears fine line checkering and a thin oak leaf border around the checkering. The stock maker was proud enough of his work that he placed his bench mark, an H within a diamond, just behind the pistol grip. It shot 180 interlock Light Magnums so well that I bought a large supply. I'm down to my last two boxes, so I may load for it.

The recent addition is a Grade III BAR wearing about grade IV or V wood, fine line checkering, and hand engraved in the rose and scroll pattern, with a deer and antelope head, on a silver receiver. I have owned maybe a dozen BARs over the years and most shot w ell. This one is no exception. A little heavy to tote afoot these days, but I don't do much of that anymore. All I have shot in it is 150 CoreLokt. They group really close to the magic inch.

I keep these three because they are fine rifles. Surprisingly, the recoil is gentle on all three. Gas system on the BAR and stock designs on the other two. The 1903 is padded, but I have never even been tempted to pad the FN.

Best wishes,

Jack

I've owned more than I can remember, most of them Rem 700's. I have 2 squirreled away for when my kids get older and bigger.
I have a Tikka SL i'm quite fond of, and my other rem 700 made a trip to Oregon and returned a 338-06.

I forgot one - an original Oberndorf Mauser sporter. Quirky deal at my lgs. Picked it up for $350 thinking it was a very nice guild gun. I figured out what I had, never shot it and sold it to a true collector of the Oberndorfs.

I have two. An old reliable Remmington 721 and a new Browning BLR Stainless Steel TD model. A great round.

I started hunting years ago with a 30-06, but seem to use other cartridges more these days. I currently have 3 '06 bolt rifles and a M1 Garand which is more than I have in any other chambering except 22 rimfires. I've been asking myself for years why I keep them around when I use them the least. I think it's more about the rifles they're chambered in than the cartridge itself. I'll be the first to admit the '06 makes more sense than anything else I use...

jwall, I'm like you, down to my last can and a half of H205. I have often thought the 24" FN would humm with a 165 over the H205.

Best,

Jack

I've only owned 6 30-06's. Now I have none. I swore when I recently sold my 308 that 223 and 44 mag were the only rifles I need for where I hunt. Yesterday, I saw a lefty 30-06 Ruger American that I keep talking myself into and out of buying for some reason...

I've only shot 180 gr Interlocks out of every 30-06 I've owned. Never had one shoot over an inch, no matter what powder I've tried.

Gentlemen, be very careful about giving S-I-L rifles. I also started to give one to mine but, something made me hesitate. I discovered why about 12 years later. Be sure they are not con artists.
Back on subject, I have a few '06s and mostly because the rifles of choice were so chambered but, that is not ment to disparage the old solder's effectiveness.

Posted this pic before but this Oberndorf B was fitted with a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester barrel back in the 50's in 30/06. I put the Lyman 48 on it one day at work.

Another beautiful rifle KW!

A nice classic irons only rifle. Would like to build me something similar.

Joe, notice that I said, "We will see." Cousin and I have had bad experiences gifting S-I-Ls rifles. Two got fired and kept the guns. This one has been around twelve years and has sired three lovely granddaughters. At about the fifteen year mark, I may give him the 1903 as a reward, stay or not? He can't be a money grabber. Daughter is a teacher, however she does have a lot of equity in real estate here in the city. He owns outright something over five sections of land, and they are jointly adding more as the opportunity arises.


Best,

Jack

I must have this disorder, too. My .30-06s all represent different interests and reflect different phases of my shooting career. I currently have 4.

The first is my main hunting rifle, a Remington 700 Stainless Synthetic Mountain Rifle from the early '90s. With a 168-grain Barnes TTSX at 2,950+, pushed by a max charge of Vihtavuori N560, there is basically no big game hunting in British Columbia that this rifle can't do.

The next is a Danish arsenal refurbished M1 Garand built out of a Winchester action with a Danish barrel. A real beauty that I bought for a steal many years ago. And it shoots even better than it looks.

Then there is a DWM full military Mauser that a gunsmith friend re-fitted with a military stepped .30-06 barrel and re-welded the bolt handle for scope use. He passed it to me as a gift a couple of years before he died of asbestos disease, and I cherish it, believe me. The darned thing shoots under 1 m.o.a. consistently with plain 180-grain Hornady SPs at 2,640 as far as I can shoot it (which has been 600 metres to date). And no other rifle I own feeds like this baby.

My most recent .30-06 is something that I built out of spare parts for backup use: A Brazilian 98 action with a Bold trigger that I had used in a .22-250; a Boyd's laminated stock (from the same .22-250 project); a barrel that I picked up from a gun show; and an old B&L Elite 2-7 scope that used to sit on my Remington mentioned above. This Frankenstein rifle shoots 150-grain Barnes TSX bullets at 3,000+ fps with a full charge of Ramshot Big Game (inspired by Mule Deer's article). Not bad for a backup rifle!

Fortunately, I don't have any more room in my safe...

Twenty-some years ago I bought a Pre-64 Fwt M70 30-06 and stopped looking. A few years back it went into a Compact Edge stock.

The only other 30-06 I have owned in that time, briefly, was an early #1A.

Well I don't own as many 30/06s as most on here own. I bought my first only eight years ago and now I have 5 and have bought and sold two others.

1) FN BACO Model 70 Featherweight DLX ( that first year with the pretty wood) I saw and bought it right there. It is accurate and has a 4X Leupold with lyman dot.

2) Husky Hipower with FN Action and Weaver 4 X that looks like an old homesteader gun. It is very accurate.

3) Cooper Model 52 with VX2 3X9. This gun has fantastic wood and is accurate.

4) 1895 Winchester 30-03- Its not entirely a 30-06 but it belonged to one of the most interesting men in the world who has now passed on.

5) 1 Sedgley Springfield 03A Sporter with a Model 48 Lyman sight and a compass in the stock. It has a classic style stock and I want to use it for a long hunt when I retire.

Bought and sold

1) Ruger All American- traded for the 1895.

1) Remington 700 ADL bought cheap and used as trading fodder.

I figure that I am pretty young so I probably will have opportunities for several others.