Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Why Do Folks Call the 30/06 Boring?

30-06 is like the hot older woman. Been through the wars, can handle any situation, nothing she hasn't done, or cannot do.






6.5 Creed and other startups, are the fresh face young gals. Easy to look at, but full of drama, never really done anything, probably be gone soon.

Seven is a good number to have! I hunted over 20 years without one and in 1988 I started craving one so I got a M70 XTR Featherweight barreled action. Fiberglass stocks was being highly promoted so I dropped it into a Bell & Carlson. That fall I killed my first and best bull elk and best w/t buck along with coyotes and such. I guess some would think that was boring but, I think it's dependable. How does it go: "There's not much a man can't fix with 700 dollars and a .30'06".

It was my opinion as well until I came across a NULA M24 in 30-06? Now I have 2 of them and absolutely love it! I used to believe the line why bother when you have the .308 Win does everything in a short action etc etc. A .308 feeds ok but a 30-06 feeds slicker than snot! Especially in a CRF action its just so fine!

Other than a 12 gauge and 22 Lr, I’ve shot more game with the ‘06 than any other, maybe more than all other center fires combined. I’ve only had one failure with the ‘06 and that was with a bullet that just came out and evidently hadn’t been tested by the manufacturer yet. So yeh, it’s boring.

USPS finally got a new take off SS never fired 24 inch 06 barrel for my 700 here this past week. Rifle had a 22 incher on er originally..I don`t like 22 inchers. Bought the barrel from a "Fire" member. Should have it screwed on next week..can`t wait to play with it and Berger Bullets. Might even take it out hunting..

Amen.. Sure got that right.

That's some funny, and true stuff Vic!

I like the little 6.5 Creed but I joked with Dober and a few others the 30-06 with the 212 ELD at 2700 was kinda like a 6.5 CM with some nuts...

My load pretty much mimics the 143 ELD at 2700’ish with some more bullet weigh and pretty much identical flight characteristics...

Just because people may be bored with the continual and reliable competence of the .30/06 does not mean the cartridge itself is boring.

It continues to do everything asked of it. I have owned rifles 10-20 times the value of my .30/06 but it will never leave my rack and if I have a dollar in the hunt, will be called upon again specifically, because of that utterly boring and repetitive reliability.

i have 6 30-06. Currently

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/wolf-caliber-and-round.242611/page-7 ............. i don't know how to post a pic . ..... there is a wolf shot by a sako mannlicher 30-06 on here a few threads down. A big white wolf running full speed across a white lake. -37. i was not bored.

I think they (not me)call it boring because its so easy to work up an accurate load for. Every 3006 Ive ever had was easy to work up 1 inch or better loads for. On the other hand I have numerous 308s because everyone on the campfire says they are easy to get to shoot. I have spent countless hours trying to get them to shoot one inch or better . Only two would do that, a reminton 700 that loves 180s but hates 150s and a lee enfield 303 converted to 308. It shoots one inch with winchester factory 150 gr power points. I would love to get the 308s to shoot because of all the reasons stated above. I have bought lapua brass, match dies etc but no luck. I have a 6.5x55, 7mm08, 280 and 35 whelen in addition to 3006. all were relatively easy to get on inch or better with .

Good one.

DF

Because it does everything well but nothing great.

I’ve had numerous Springfields and still have three. The only “problem” I’ve had with load development with the ‘06 is changing bullet weights/loads with the Springfields - changed POI more than most. One of the most accurate rifle I’ve ever owned was a Springfield with a barrel that was cut back to 22” - my cousin uses it in cast bullet matches now.
Any more, I shoot mostly cast bullets in the Springfields 03’s and 03-A3’s. The ‘06 that is my favorite is a re-barreled, re-stocked 721 with a M8 4x.
When I started shooting jacketed bullets in my first Springfield I used 165 grain bullets, but later changed to 180 grain CL’s then Interlocks.
The ‘06 can be described as boring because load development is/was so easy and using 180 grain CL’s or Interlocks is effective on any game that I’ve used that combo on.

Only read so far in the thread and I felt the need to respond. The 30-06 is a round from the cavalry era of the military, and was designed from it's inception as a cavalry troopers round capable of efficiently destroying a horse.
And as such it was designed in a 9 lb rifle which was deemed at the time the minimum weight rifle that the average cavalry trooper could effectively handle the cartridge in. No problem there, as it was the horse that would primarily carry the burden of the rifle.

And the 30-06 rifle can be had in trimmer form these days, but there is a price to be paid in recoil. This recoil can be viewed from 2 perspectives. First perspective is that the 30-06 is the most effective rifle in it's class with acceptable recoil. Second perspective is that the average deer hunter doesn't need a horse killing rifle, or the weight and recoil of such.

The 30-06's rep as a deer killer came about due to it's numerical prevalence in the hands of American deer hunters. Which of course came about due to it's military use. It's a short jump to imagining and designing a lighter and easier to use deer rifle. Which to many, if not most, equals less boring...

The horse is beaten!

I own and reload for many different cartridges around 60 -65 not sure ? I don`t worry how many dies or guns anymore i own or use. but this year 2021 i am considering using a 30-06 Pre-64 that I inherited a couple of years ago since my rebuilt shoulder is now healed well and can now handle the steel buttplate on this old Pre-64 . besides with everyone using all the new cartridges and the 30-06 being a ancient old relic cartridge i guess i will dust the old Winchester bolt off , reload some cartridges ,site the the old relic in, and maybe even kill a nice buck with it ? > heck this old - old ancient cartridge is so old maybe now this old 30-06 cartridge will be legal in the muzzle loader season now ?

114 Years old and just getting better.........

Yeah, maybe, but not dead....

DF