Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles I do not "hate" the 30-06, but...

As with the 270 Win., I don't dislike the 30-06, but I prefer other cartidges.

My "deer" rifles range from 240 PSP thru 6.5x.284, to 6.5 CM, to 7x57, to 7-08, to 7mm WSM.

My now deceased father was a 30-06 guy and my two favorite hunting uncles carried 30-40 Krag and 35 Rem.

I have a couple of 30 calibers, but do not feel the need to use them for deer sized animals.

Am I wrong?

donsm70

Not at all. If you don't like it, that's your prerogative.

I've never got all this, "I hate so and so cartridge" stuff on the Fire. Either you like a cartridge and can be competent with it or you don't/can't. I could care less what anyone else likes, dislikes, or chooses to hunt with - their business as far as I'm concerned. I do what pleases me.

Yes. 😉

I started with a 30-06 because its what my beloved grandfather used and Im a sucker for versatility. If hard times come a knockin' you can always get it done with a 30-06, which is why I also like the 270. After purchasing my first 30-06, grandpa said, your good that'll do everything, your done now....uh, surely wasnt. Tried rifles in a whole slew of calibers took a doe here or there with them, but used a 30-06 for the core of my hunting for almost 25 years.

The older I get, the more I want to travel and hunt, I really enjoy it. 30-06/270 ammo is everywhere and well suited for the mixed bag hunts I desire the most. In the end, we use what makes us happy as they all work.

Don't want to sound harsh (well maybe a little), but WGAF?

What is this, junior fugging high school?

I don't think so, in fact for quite a few years I felt that the 06 was more than necessary for deer.
Even tho I have 1 and killed deer w/it last year, I believe it's better suited for larger game.

OTOH I really like the 7 mm RM because of it's flatter trajectory FOR longer ranges.

I also have and really like my Win 70 Black Shadow in 300 WM ---- just because. It's irrational I know but
I've always liked the cartridge and IMO the 300 WM is hard to beat for an Elk rifle in open territory.

Sometimes WE just like a cartridge and DISlike others. I read threads per cartridges I don't like but MOST of the
time I don't comment for that reason.

We only have ourselves to please.

Jerry

Is a 30-06 overkill on deer? Do they blow to pieces when hit with a 150gr core lokt? Jesus Christ....my 100lb 16 year old daughter shoots a 30-06. She drives a mini Cooper with pink stickers on the back window. Go start a Maybelline vs revlon thread.

I’ve never been a huge fan. I’ve killed a few animals with it and never got better results than I did with cartridges that kicked less or shot flatter with about the same recoil.

I still respect its versatility, though. I have just always preferred .257 - .284 bullets to do the jobs I need done. Maybe because I’ve always been an open-country hunter that I gravitate the way I do.

No, it's the off-season.

The -06 is more than you need for most deer but it is always reliable. It will always get the job done when things are less than perfect. I realize some of my eastern brethren shoot deer at relatively short ranges and out of stands so a smaller caliber makes sense but for us western folk where shots can be hurried and at long range the -06 will always get er done. The 270 aint no slouch either.

I vote Revlon, make my complexion absolutely sparkle!!!!!

I guess I'm a slut. I'm in love with the rifle I hold in my hands at the moment. I've shot medium game with a pile of them from 243 to 500 BPE and every one was perfect! Oddly, the 30-06 is not one of them.

Having a preference is fine. Hating an inanimate object like a cartridge is a little nuts.

This is a place mostly for gun enthusiasts, and the 30-06 is not really an enthusiasts cartridge. Its what a 305 Chevy is to car guys....."boring". But, if you want to put somethings ass on the ground or get yours down the road, both represent "greatness". I like both!

Here is what I've gleaned from several years on these forums:
The 243 is not enough except for dinks but the 223 AI is perfect. The 6mm Rem is OK because the "maybe" extra 100fps makes a huge difference. The 30-06 is over kill unless you're shooting into the next county. Then you need the 6.5 CM, 257 Weatherby, a 7mm mag, or a 300 mag. Sorry if I left out your favorite "guns of Navarone" cartridge. The 270 is gay and the 280 (especially the AI) is uber. For the "next county" shots you will need glass capable of picking off Aborigine midgets on the dark side of the moon even though hunting regs state from 1/2 hour before sun rise to 1/2 hour after sun down. YMMV

Finally...someone "gets" it...

I suddenly have an urge to buy a .300 RUM!

Not here it isn't. Busy getting ready for late archery/muzzleloader.

"Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Maybelline"?

I know the " in crowd" at the 'fire will want to burn me at the stake for this, but I had a 300 RUM years ago and I really liked it. Might even buy another one if I can stock up on Retumbo and 200gr Accubonds beforehand. 😎

'06 is never a wrong choice.