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

I will admit to loathing the 30-06 the first 20 years of my hunting career. It did nothing well, especially nothing my 7 Maggie couldn't do as well or better. The other reason is likely twofold. First, I bought a 280 in 1982 and began killing deer on a regular basis in every conceivable circumstance - far, close, tight cover, tough shots - I thought the 280 and 284 bullets were magic. They are buts that's not the point Second my Dad and every other bubba shot one, mostly Rem 760 with a couple clips in the pocket. I called them the Pennsylvania machine gun. I even owned a 270 in a 760 for a while in the 1980s. I didn't care that it did things Good, it did nothing really well.

It wasn't until I started elk hunting in far flung western mountains that I saw the beauty of the 06. I began that adventure with 9lb 338 and discovered dragging that thing up to 11,000 feet sucked. I then bought one of the first Kimber MT in 300 WSM and re- learned physics the hard way. Recoil sucked from that rifle with full power loads. I sold it and went through several other 300 magnums in search of nirvana. Along the way I started killing a few elk and saw a bunch more shot with various artillery. They all died with a decent shot from a decent bullet - and even died with 'regular' bullets from 'regular' cartridges. I revisited the ole 30-06 and found a 180 Partition can be pushed within 100 feet of my 300 WSM and could be built in a 7lb rifle with tolerable recoil. For mountain hunting, this is close to nirvana. I tried several 7 mags in 7lb rifles and found burning 70+ grain s of powder under a 160 Partition had more recoil than I cared for.

So just finished loading some test loads for my Kimber MT 30-06 for my two elk hunts this fall. I suspect the 180 Partition at 2800+ will work adequately. My 270 or 300 WSM would shoot a bit flatter, but I have alot of confidence in my choice after watching it in action over the past 40 years.

Two elk with a .30-06/165g North Fork SS, both straight down.

Another I shot with a .30-06/150g AccuBond was on the ground for good before I recovered from the recoil.

What load are you gents using in your 06s to get 2800 fps? Right now I have a VERY accurate load with 180 Partitions or Interlocks using 58gr of H-4350 in my Browning Safari.

As much as I love my .300 Win and .340 Wby, and their effectiveness on elk with any reasonable bullet, I was more than a little impressed with my 6.5x284 on this Wyoming bull last fall. Shot was 125-150 yards or so, so not real far and with the dreaded 140 AMAX.


He took 1 step and collapsed hard, almost like he had someone help push him down. He's the only bull I have killed with that round/bullet so I plan to do more "research" this fall with an extra cow tag. It won't be taking a bull this year though since my 300 H&H and 200 grain old style grand slams are begging me to go.

I'd be a fool to deny the effectiveness of my .340 Wby on elk though...with a variety of bullets. This was just a cow, but she was a lead cow which are about as tough as bulls IMO. 350 or so yards and she took 3 chest shots, though she didn't take single step and was dead after the first one. I think this time I was using 200 grain accubonds, but may have been 225 grainers.


Those two rounds straddle the 30-06, proving to me that all is well in the world of elk hunting rounds.

Tell your friend to get some 200 gr Partitions and a jug of RL-22, learn to shoot, then prepare to be impressed.

Jorge, where are you going for your elk hunt? I assume it is this year?

Don't let me or anyone else let you change your mind concerning your .300 Wby, if that's what your heart is set on. It'll straight up knock an elk's dick in the dirt.

That's why I rebored a 338 to 358 Norma. Those 338s simply kick too much and waay underperform on the front end.

The load you posted has done 2800 in several 24" 30-06 for me. 58-59-60 of Hunter will, 59 IMR 4955 did last weekend for me. Re17 will as well but I don't recall the cbarge at the moment (55 gr?). In fact my current Kimber runs closer to 2900 with book charges of 4955, re17. I backed it down 2 grains from suggested max. When I reach 2850 in an 06 with a 180 I take the charge down a grain regardless if it's at book .ax or not. "Fast" barrels are a myth.......

Never had any problems with my 30-06 on elk, in fact I like the 30-06 very much

I would have to say, easy on this now, the 30-06 is the minimum caliber to b e used for a decent b ull. Only reason why is MOST, not all, MOST do not shoot enough to be that effective and do not learn there limitations. I feel, from my experience with hunting parties, the 30-06, using a premium bullet from the average hunter who might see the range twice a year, should be kept at 300/350 yards. Otherwise, I feel if your shooting this 30-06 at 450 plus at a quarter shot, using standard bullets, you might want to not shoot as a near shot is not good.

Using the good magnum calibers with faster speed and pounds using the same or larger bullets, will take a quarter shot and kill that elk much faster due to wound channels all the through. Just my humble opinion.

It is funny how I have hunted Elk in Colorado for decades and maybe talked to a few hunters afield, out of hundreds over the years, and the few had a 30-06. The rest had magnum rifles. Then on most forums and most discussions, I read nothing but the opposite, 30-06, 270, 25-06 being the choices. Hmmm, seems something is missing. Just telling it straight, unless your a range shooter often, experienced hunter and use good bullets, those calibers should be used for deer. Just remember before you butcher me here, my ideas if limitations and such using the lighter calibers.

True. Most elk hunters, like most deer hunters only get out a couple times a year. These do not fall into the realm of serious hunters and shooters, which make up a distinct minority. That minority is passionate about what they do,they practice regularly with whatever weapon they choose so as to insure humane kills, and simply put, they live to hunt.
You will find a LOT of them on forums like this, and many have discovered that it really doesn't take an uber-magnum and Hubble scope to kill elk. It just takes ability and a proper bullet.Hence all the faith espoused in the .30-06....

I can't imagine a better elk cartridge than the 340 Weatherby in the right hands (not that I've killed any elk with one - but I have taken 'a few' moose with it and many other rifles). That said, I've also seen it used poorly (in my hands even ) a couple of times on much smaller caribou, where an unknowing person might have suggested the need for something bigger. I personally think good, broadrange moose killing begins with 30-06, but it's a lot more than I ordinarily choose for caribou.

Roulon Jones' place:
Idaho Broadmouth Canyon Ranch

It's always fun to AGONIZE as to rifle/caliber/bullet combo. The 300 weatherby is a 1957 vintage Weatherby on an early FN Mauser action, 24" barrel and 180 TTSXs3240 fps. I also have a Model (pre-war) 70 in 300 H&H that loves the same bullet (3000 fps) but especially the 200 gr Partition, (2820 fps)although not as flat shooting as the 180 . The OTHER rifle is a Model 70 338 w 210 TTSXs2900 fps that is also very accurate. I always take two rifles, so probably both 300s.

Maybe because myBrowning has a 22" barrel? no matter though, for a thin contour it holds half inch all day long.

57 gr. of H4350 gives me 2,850 fps with a 180 gr Hornady from a 24" barrel. I wouldn't recommend jumping in at that charge weight in your rifle. Might want to work up to it.

With Sierra 165 gr SBT's or PT's, I can load 59gr of H4350 and they shoot great. However, with Sierra 165 gr HP's, the pressure skyrockets. My max load with HP's is 55 gr. Any more and the bolt starts sticking.

I've tried 58 H-4350, but 56gr works much better in my rifle and more accurate.

I've killed all my elk with a 300 Weatherby or a 7mm Remington/Weatherby mag but I have seen a boatload of elk and mule deer killed with a 30-06!

Nice. I've spent some time in that country. Should be a good hunt, especially on their private land where you can avoid the crowds.

Flinch much??