Author Topic: How good is the 30-06????? (Read 1504 times)

fknipfer · « **on:** June 08, 2006, 05:29:19 PM »

It seems to me the 30-06 is too good, somebody is always trying to duplicate or beat its statistics. Its been around 100years and shows no sign of giving up its title. 100grs thru 250grs with pointed bullets. Hornady loads it so its comparable to the 300 H&H, although its better than the 300 H&H because you can find ammo anywhere for it.
I own several calibers .243 thru 45-70 and the 30-06 will always remain my favorite because no matter what, I am never undergunned even in grizzly country.
So if you are looking for a caliber you can use for ever. You can get a bolt action, pumps, semi-auto's, lever action this maybe the only caliber you can get all of them if desired.
Nice thing about them is they really shot well, this is a very accurate round if not the most accurate. If you can't stand the recoil of a 30-06 you don't need a big game rifle.

TMHO

fknipfer

rickt300 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2006, 07:23:28 PM »

I have many rifles but have used the 30-06 extensively all over the states. I have to admit I could still use mine as my only rifle and never loose anything over it except variety. The biggest thing wrong with the 06 is that it makes owning a bunch of rifles superfulus (sp?) but I overcame. I feel it is more cartridge than necesary for Texas whitetails and it is not as accurate as my 22-250 or 6MM Remington. The facts are that a guy with two 30-06's , one for backup could easily hunt everything.

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2006, 02:05:15 AM »

fk - the old 06 just happens to be one of those rounds. Mikey.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2006, 05:53:25 AM »

The .30-06 has always been a great cartridge for many reasons - not the least of which is that it gets the job done reliably without excessive recoil. The introduction of better bullets, like the Partition, improved its capability and modern bullets, like the A-Frame, Trophy Bonded, North Fork, TSX, Scirocco, AccuBond and InterBond, coupled with modern powders, have only solidified its position as a 'still capable' cartridge.

The fact of the matter is that the '-06 will suffice for just about every North Amercan hunting need. They say a man who has a .30-06 doesn't need anything else. I think this is as true today as it ever was (and the best argument for not owning one!). No, it woulldn't be my first choice for grizzly, but it would be far from my last - and if I had to stop a charge with one, I would be focused on shot placement rather than worrying about the adequacy of the '-06.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2006, 08:08:20 AM »

How good is the 30-06? I've owned several, have a beautiful one now. But were I to be ofered a choice between the 30-06 and a 308, I'd take the 308.

It uses all the same bullets at just a bit less velocity. But still enough velocity, and then some, to hunt at reasonable ranges. All my 308's have had noticeably less recoil than my 30-06's. The 308 works well in a 20" barrel but 22" is better for the 30-06; kinda mute point huh. But then the 308's have all been a bit more accurate than the 30-06's. All have more than acceptable hunting accuracy. What the 308 doesn't have that the 30-06 does is as big a following.

Actually I think the best things that can be said about the 30-06 are.....25-06, 6.5x06, 280 Rem, 338-06 and 35 Whelen.

james · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2006, 08:20:08 AM »

Theres nothing wrong with the 30-06 but many of us are always looking for an excuse to get another rifle. We'll find one whether there is truth to it or not. Its too big, too small, too slow, too boring, too good. Lets see, what do I want next.
james

marylandeer · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2006, 08:27:56 AM »

Lets see it was good enough for the animals in WW1, WW2 the Korean war and the Vietnam war. I thinks it's good enough for any animals in the good old U.S.A.
It has got to be the most versatile round you can get (maybe in the entire world). I strongly beleive that if it were not for N.A.T.O. we would still be using it as our main battle cartridge. Nato wants everyone using the same stuff. Come on now, what kills quicker the 06 or the .223? I have also heard the reason we use the .223 is because when you hit a man with a .30-06 he's DEAD. You hit him with a M-16 he'll probbably die after (medical expenses) and you can kill his two or three rescuers too.
Now the .308 is a great round and very close to the .30-06. I consider it a .30-06 with a little less kick and cheaper to produce. So technically we do still use the good old 06 in war it's just been refined a little.
You can get ammo from 55 grains to 220 grains, that just about covers anything you would ever want a rifle to do. And you can buy the 165, 180 grainers anywhere that sells ammo.
The .30-06 is what I use mine is a Tikka t3 lite SS with a 3-10x40 grand slam and I shoot 165 grain Sierra gamekings......The deer don't have a chance.

ScoutMan · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2006, 10:04:28 AM »

"There ain't a thing that you can't fix with $ 700 dollars and a
30-06"-Lindy Cooper Wisdom.

Sourdough · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2006, 10:40:21 AM »

I,ve been using an 06 exclusivelly for shooting Caribou and wolves for the last 15 years. I own several multiple barrel rifles, and I have a 30-06 barrel for each one of them. It is the only caliber I carry in the winter. If I were to have only one gun it would be the 30-06. It remains the standard others are judged by. 100 to 250 grain bullets, gives you lots of choices for any game. And it's knockoffs based on the same cartridge aren't bad either, just not as flexiable.

Cement Man · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2006, 10:26:57 AM »

How good is the 30.06? I have 5 them. I own rifles in 10 other centerfire cartridges from .223 to .45/70. If I had to choose only one cartridge to have, it would be the '06. LIke Coyote Hunter said, it may be the best reason not to own one, but it sure is a good one. It may not be the absolute best for everything, but it sure does about everything, and very well. I have really liked the 165's for deer and elk.

rockbilly · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2006, 05:39:55 AM »

I have four of them and a ton of ammo from 90 to 240 gr. At one point my old Winchester model 70 was the "do everything" gun. I have used it on everything from prairie dogs to elk. If you hand load, it can be loaded up or down for whatever your needs are. In my opinion, if I could have only one rifle, it would be a 30-06.

Due to brusing from the medication I take I don't shoot the old 30-06 much, they rattle my old bone and I bruise so bad I look like I have been run over by a team of mules. About the biggest I go today for hunting is a 6.5x55, but usuall stay with the .243, .244 or 22-250 :cry:

Val · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2006, 07:35:30 AM »

The 30-06 is such a boring calliber. I shoot something with it and it
drops dead. Seriously, if you're only going to have one gun for hunting, it should be a 30-06. I don't know why I bought the 300 RUM, 280 Remington, 25-06, 243, 22-250, 243, 223 and my Milsurps. I don't need them even though I use them.

marylandeer · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2006, 04:29:44 PM »

Amen Val, I just hope my wife dosen't read this thread. I wouldn't want to wake up and find just my good old 06 in the safe.
I could hear her now "we really could use the money and that one rifle will take care of all of your hunting needs".

Todd1700 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:26:43 AM »

If I had to pick one caliber to hunt all of North America with I'd pick the 30.06. I know some would opt for a magnum but there is nothing between the Pacific and the Atlantic that you can't kill with a 30-06 and a good 180 gr premium bullet. And to be really shocking I'll go further and say that there isn't a lot of animals walking around on the African continent that the same combo won't kill effectively as well. Despite the magnum craze in this country the 30.06 will also kill large game out to and beyond the range that most people should dare a shot anyway. All of the people I know who own a 300 mag or bigger have never killed anything with it, of a size, or at a range, that a 30.06 wouldn't have done just as well.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:29:16 AM »

The "06" is one of the most versatile calibers ever devised, IMO.

g8r · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2006, 01:59:53 PM »

It's Baby Bear's porage !

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2006, 05:10:40 PM »

It's almost too good!

BUSTER51 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2006, 09:42:01 AM »

How good is cold beer,oral sex,single malt scotch,new Corvette's,seats behind home plate,being in love,freshly caught trout cooking on the camp fire,a freezer full of Elk,a large tax refund,a Smith &Wesson model 19,a Browning model 5 shotgun,lots of grand children,good friends,and so on. :-D :-D

454Puma · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2006, 05:53:36 PM »

Just say '06 and everyone nods in agreement!

If it was good enough to get my Dad through WWII it's good enough for me!!