Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 30-06 is still a great cartridge

Convince me otherwise! Just seems like all the newer chamberings over the years are trying to be what the good ol 30-06 always has been .... versatile and dependable as a chambering can be. I’ll never turn my back on the 06!

Within reasonable shooting distances the 30-06 is very hard to beat.I'd venture to guess most game is shot inside 200yds.At that distance and even beyond that a bit,The 30-06 hangs with the best of them.Wide range of powder and bullet choices makes the 30-06 a true winner.

Came home from the GS this past Saturday with my very first 30-06, I'm 65, is it too late to learn????

Really nice Weatherby Vanguard.....

Came with the Box and the factory 3 shot, 100yd target........ 2 holes touching, he did pull one though. Still, 3/4" out of the box ain't bad....


https://imgur.com/9dPMqcA

Prepare to be burned and crucified.....

I believe you're right. On top of that, most of that game is deer. So for the most part of the most part why do folks use as much power as a 30-06 provides when something like a 7mm08 or 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Rem is plenty?

He's trolling for contrary views, so I ginned up one for him.

I got my first at age 62 or63, though likely I will never use it. I’ve loaded 30-06’s for friends and relatives for over 50 years.....yet never owned one. This rifle has been scoped, a load developed, and it’s sitting comfortably in the gun safe as a loner for friends or relatives, should it need to be put into service! memtb

Before anyone says something stupid, be aware the last 300 rounds or so that I've fired have been 30-06.

I have issues with recoil headaches so I load it like a 30-30 plus a little bit. But dinking around with different loads is fun and since it will kill nearly anything out there within 200 or 300 yards then the b.c. doesn't even matter and that nice big 30 caliber wound channel should do the job just fine.

Plus brass and bullets are everywhere and cheap. I have changed my opinion on this one

I've been doing some "300 Savage equivalent" experimentation among other things.

There is a reason that everything else is compared to it. It has been the standard for over 100 years. Besides, anyone who doesn't own at least one is probably a communist.

I've done some guiding for deer hunts.Many of those involve kids with small calibers and adults too shooting 270 Win or smaller.Sometimes it's very hard to positively tell if the deer is hit.A lot of times those hits are not well placed either and don't leave blood on the spot or not too much later either.Anybody that has ever hunted in the thick thorny bush of South Texas knows it's no fun looking either.I've never had to question whether a deer was hit with a 270 Win and larger.

From what I've seen with a 260 Rem and 125 gr. Partitions on deer, if a good hit can't be assessed with that combination it would take more than a 30-06 to resolve the issue for that particular deer.

I've repeatedly read the 06 is the most popular, most widely used cartridge in the world. I've used one on and off since 1972. A superb, do it all cartridge. What's not to like?

I agree with you.

ATST for some hunters, who are NOT loonys, and don't or won't have multiple rifles for larger game....

The 'venerable' 06 is a great round for deer --------> Moose. Maybe a guy is only going to hunt Elk a few Xs or
Moose a few Xs or Grizzly ONCE then the 06 makes a great choice.


Jerry

I've been thinking along that line. I've have said before, " I feel it's UN American NOT to own an 06 "


I plan to start a Thread Titled, "The Most American Cartridge". I'll do it now.

Jerry

Hee Hee. "Jack of all trades, master of none."

I've never owned one. Likely never will.

If I were to lay down the cash for an opportunity at a trophy elk, I'd want more than a 30-06.

For deer, hogs, and antelope, IMHO, the better BC of any of the 30-06's smaller-bored offspring, 25-06, 6.5-06, 270 Win, or 280 Rem, would be my preference.

And, for just sheer accuracy potential, I'd chose a 308 Win over the 30-06 any day.

Not saying the 30-06 wouldn't work, or that there aren't very accurate 30-06s out there. But 30-06 just wouldn't be my first choice for anything.

Load the 'ol 06 up with 165 grainers and IMR 4350 and go forth and kill stuff. Just one of the many loads that make the .30-06 a great round that has stood the test of time.

I pity you!