Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Any love for the 30/06

That is indeed a great use for the 30-06 brass! Instead of necking it up to 35, I like the scrunched down version in 25...

Guy

I have 2, both Model 70s. A 1949 Standard with a Balvar scope. All original and not a safe queen but I won't take it back in the mountains and risk tearing it up. The other is a 1955 Featherweight, I put a Burris Fullfield II on it. I've got it sighted in with 150 grain Winchester power points. Killed a buck with it in November 2022, my first with an '06. I'm a late bloomer when it comes to accumulating firearms.

Have a 700 classic, 70 Classic FW in a McM stock and a 7600.

I used the 7600 to take my buck last year.

165 gr Hornady, can’t remember what powder.

I’m more of a rifle guy than a cartridge guy anymore. If I find a rifle I like or decide I want to use the chambering doesn’t matter a whole lot. With the 06 being probably the most common cartridge in bolt action rifles for the last century it stands to reason that I have a fleet of them in neat old rifles. And everything I have gets hunted at least occasionally.

I took a renewed interest in my old 1955 Featherweight last fall and used it for both of my rifle deer hunts and one elk season. Didn’t kill an elk but I did shoot a couple nice bucks. One Sierra 165 over some 4895 was enough for each buck.

Damn nice animals Kid!!!!

Ruger tang safety M77, 165 Nosler BT over 56 gr IMR4350. Ruger No. 1 and Tikka T3 as well. Working on loads with Barnes 168 TTSX and Enduron 4451.

I got my best buck with my 760 30-06.

Thanks KW! It’s good to live in paradise. Seems like you and me both been on a roll with pretty nice bucks the last few years.

I have a couple Aught Sixes. They're a lot of what I use for hunting

I forgot to add I like a 150 Interlock over 50 grains of IMR 4895

Best cartridge ever!

In 2002, I borrowed my best friends Ruger M77 MkII .30-06 loaded with Remington 165 grain Core-lokts and killed a coyote on the run at several football fields away. Sure it was a lucky shot but I was inspired to buy my own .30-06 as a result.

My Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless has been my favorite rifle ever since. With it I have killed coyotes, a bobcat, whitetail and mule deer, an aoudad, and rocky mountain elk.

My favorite load is the 165 grain Nosler Accubond on top of 56 grains of IMR4350.

I've personally never owned one...
I currently have a 700 .30-06 Ackley and a Belgium Browning .30-06. I've killed somewhere around 20 whitetails with the two versions of the cartridge plus five antelope and one elk. I'll always have at least one so I don't have to change my user name. Ha!

Heck yea! Get some 4350 and 165 interlock. Possible the greatest big game cartridge of all time!

I’ve owned at least 1 30-06 since 1976. My favorite cartridge for elk since 1996. It’s America’s cartridge, and has been since the end of WW2. I’d guess it’s going to be around for another 100 years.

My grandfather has only ever owned one centerfire rifle, a 721 in 30/06 he bought at the base pawn shop when he was in the army in the 50’s. No telling how many deer and elk he killed with it.

First year I got to go to elk camp he was sitting in his usual saddle hunting elk when some young guy came walking up on him. “Hey old man what are you doing sitting here?” “There won’t be any elk down this low.” “What kind of rifle is that? A 30/06, an elk will run a mile if you shoot him with that little old thing.”

Approximately 10 minutes after the young dude with the 300 magnum wandered off a 5x5 bull crossed the saddle. Grandad stuck a 165 Nosler about 2” behind his ear which of course folded him up. When the young guy came trotting back to the saddle he was wanting to know if he was trying to signal him because he was in trouble. When Grandad pointed to the dead bull the guy was flabbergasted, absolutely couldn’t believe only one shot from a 30/06 killed him.

Of course that guy was a full on dumbass but there are many like him.

i owned quite a few '06 and i killed alot of deer with them. i have only one '06, it is an Arisaka Type 99 in '06 with a Redfield aperture sight. i don't know how many '06 factory ammo is made, but it is sure alot.

i have a bunch of '06 cases that i reform to 7x57, 8x57, 9.3x57, 7.65x53, 6.5x55 and some others.

I probably killed my first 10-15 deer with my first rifle, a Remington 700 BDL SS in .30-06. My dad killed every deer he ever shot with his 700 BDL, also in .30-06. Can’t go wrong with this cartridge and I think it’s around to stay.

i don't know if the cartridge is dying. I do notice it is not automatically included in all chamber lists on a few newer rifles.

I do still love and hunt with it as do my sons and nephews that hunt. I have taken blacktail, whitetail and mule deer. Elk,antelope and one bighorn sheep as well.

I started with lever guns in .300 Savage and.308. When I was 27 or so I went to a bolt actionin .30-06 for most hunting. I do have rifles in lots of other chamberings and use them occasionlly.

For 90%+- of my big gamehunting I use a .30-06. Most commonly loaded with a 180 grain Hornady I/L or NPT. I use 57gr H-4350 to power both bullets.

At the moment, I have only four'06s left. They all have iron sights and wear 2.5-8x36 Leupolds.

1. M70 SS All Terrain Classic FW.

2.Kimber 84L Montana.

3. M70 Ranger in a FW synthetic takeoff stock.

4. M70 Pre-War .30 Govt '06 in a Pacific Reaearch Stock.

I've been using a 30-06 since I started hunting deer back in Regan's 1st term. Back then, I was using it for everything, even groundhog.

Last year was the first year in . . . dang! (I don't remember the last time) I left my 30-06 home. The reason why was the Cancer got me backed up on projects, and I needed to try out so many new rifles and loads.

Normally, I take a Ruger Hawkeye All-Weather in 30-06 to deer camp. I use it in my longer venues, shooting up to 200 yards. For over 20 years I used 165 grain Hornady SPs, but switched to 150 grainers after getting a free lifetime supply a few years ago. I shoot them over H4895.

At our deer camp, 30-06 predominates.

I don’t think the 06 is going anywhere, probably more of them hunted for deer and like size game than any other caliber in the US.