.30-06 to what?

[1911bmw]

I just bought a remington 700 adl in .30-06.  I am looking to build a tactical/ target rifle.  I like the whole sniper rifle look.  I am thinking of going to a .300 win mag but don't know where to start.  Is there a better caliber choice for this length action?  I mostly be punching paper, but I want to be able to punch it a long way off.

[billy_56081]

30 Gibbs, basically a 3006 case maxed out as far as you can go. Or how about a ulramag case shortened to 3006 length action.

[1911bmw]

I would like to stay with a caliber I could get factory ammo for.  I realize the possibilities are much greater when you load your own (case stretching, fire forming, trimming) ammo but I don't have any reloading stuff.

[charles p]

I put a custom 26" Shilen match barrel in 280AI on a 700 receiver that was once a 30-06.  Went the blueprinting route and lapped the bolt, then dropped it all in a McMillian stock.  Topped with a Leupold LPS.  Kind of heavy to hunt with but a very accurate rifle.  Was built to be a beanfield rifle for 300+ yd shots in eastern NC flatlands.  Turned out to be a safe queen.

The secret to long shots is a very solid rest.  Without that ability from the average deer stand, sub MOA capabilities mean nothing.  On the other hand, with the proper rest, a good off the shelf deer rifle can deliver the desired results.  Took me 40 years to learn this.  It ain't just the rifle, it's the shooter.

[Bigeasy]

I know it's not glamorous, but the 30-06 is a proven round, and one you should consider staying with.  Especially considering that you don't reload.  There is a tremendous choice of factory ammo available.  A bigger / harder recoiling round just makes it harder to hit with.  Use a  laser rangefinder, and know the trajectory of the round you are using, and you are good to go.  That's how guys using blackpowder 45/70's hit stuff waaay out there.

If it were mine, I would re-stock in a good quality synthetic stock,  Harris bi-pod, attache a quality  (Leupold / Burris / Nikon)  4X12 or 6X18 scope, and  replace the trigger if needed, then try it out.  Replace the barrel with a good, short and stiff  Hart / Douglas 22 incher if needed.

I would look at 1/2 inch at 100 yards as being acceptable.  Of course for a SERIOUS target / sniper rifle , the sky is the limit.  Accuracy better then about 1/2 inch don't come cheap.   

Larry

[kyelkhunter3006]

What these guys are forgetting to tell you is that to make your 30-06 a .300 Win. Mag, you're either going to have to get a new bolt (around $250) or have the bolt face opened up and and re-work the ejector and extractor, which it really more of a pain in the ass than what it's worth.

I'd stay with the 30-06 (of course, you can put a short round like the .308 or the .260 in it too) and rebarrel the rifle and have it tuned by someone who knows what they are doing. 

Put it in a tactical stock from McMillan or B&C (HS Precision makes a good stock, but I don't care for it's dimensions, it's just an odd feeling stock, IMO). 

Hart, Shilen, Krieger, Douglas, Borden, are all good barrels.  There isn't any flies on an ER Shaw barrel either, I've heard some very good things about them.  I'd go with 22"-23", a heavy barrel contour (if you don't plan on carrying it while hunting, I'd go with a full 1" bull), flute it if you want, and make sure that the crown of the barrel is perfect.

I would go with a fixed power scope, myself.  If you're not going to be hunting with it, then fast target acquisition doesn't matter.  The Weaver T series scopes are great, Bushnell's fixed 10X Elite can't be beat for the money, and the Super Sniper scopes from SWFA are just fabulous too.  These are all generall under $400.  If the money isn't an problems, then you're looking at the Burris Tacitcals, Leupold MKIV, or the cream of the crop, Nightforce or the Schmidt & Bender Tacticals (this the new scope for the Marine Corp).

I'd say that 1/2" with factory match ammo is very possible.  You aren't going to do better than that unless you handload, really.

[iiranger]

#1). Find a catalogue of reloading equipment and look up "shell holders" and ".30/'06" shell holder. Anything that will fit it is a possible option. The other consideration is length. Some long actions fumble shorties like .22/250 or .250...

#2). You want accuracy at distance... ?? You might try the target/benchrest sites for the currently popular that will have factory ammo [benchrest.com?]. Years ago Sports Illustrated did an article on 1,000 yard competition in PA. I think the .30/.378 Weatherby was new then. AND when the wind wasn't blowing they would trot out the .25/'06s to compete with!

#3). If you are willing to "open the bolt face" to magnum rim size, then... .308 Norma has good rep. Slightly smaller and more efficient than .300 WCF Mag, but the .300 WCF will have a greater likely hood of factory ammo available.

#4). No idea about the compatibility of that action and the Weatherbys. Like I said, the long range boys, at one time, wanted the .378 Weatherby case necked down to .30. I believe I read later they were necking to .338... Lots of powder, but the bullet has energy when it gets there. Luck.

[KRP]

I strongly suggest you start reloading if you want to punch paper and punch it at long range.  That being said if you don't then I would stay with the '06 or, and I hate to say this, go with a .308 for the availabilty of ammo.  That's if you don't change the bolt face of course, the cost of changing the bolt face would get you a good start on a reloading set-up though. (See where I'm going with this?)

Now if you were a reloader I would suggest a 284 Winchester.  No need to change the bolt, will fit the magazine with the long/heavy bullets, and would make one heck of a long range rifle.  180VLDs at 2800+fps are hard to argue with.

[Swampman]

In a long action with a standard bolt face, I don't think the .30-06 can be improved upon.  I'd drop it in a McMillan stock, and buy the BDL floorplate parts from Brownell's.

[Mikey]

1911bmw:  what did you buy it for if you wanted a tactical style in 300 Win mag???

[PartsMan]

7.62 slim mag would be an easy conversion.

[kyelkhunter3006]

1911bmw:  what did you buy it for if you wanted a tactical style in 300 Win mag???

I thought that I was the only one wondering that?? 

[1911bmw]

I got it for $200 with a redfield 3x9 scope and it helped out a friend.  I thought I couldn't go wrong for that price.  I could always hunt with it the way it is but I have several other rifles.  I just figured since I didn't need it for any reason in particular I would build something cool off of the 700 action.  I would have bought a short action if I could have got it for that price.

[Swampman]

You got a great rifle in the perfect caliber for a real good price.  Check out ebay for tricky parts.

[Mikey]

1911bmw:  I will second Swampman's last post, and add a couple of good credits for your being willing to help out a friend.

You got a great rifle at a great price and this rifle lends itself well to being tricked out.  But, I would still say - go shoot the darn thing and see how well she does and honestly, the last time I looked the 06 still outshot the 308. 

Years ago I picked up a M17 made by Winchester.  The barrel stamp dated it to 3/18 (1918).  It was a well used surplus rifle when I bought it in the mid-sixties but it shot to under 1" at 100m with mil-spec ball.  I found I could hit to 1K fairly easily after I scoped it so you might be surprised by your new rifle.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Dixie Dude]

Keep the 06.  Use Hornady Light Magnum ammo if you don't reload.  This gets you into range of 300 WM ballistics looking at the charts.  Also, if you ever wanted another caliber, with what you paid for it, you could easily trade up without loosing money. 

[Oldtimer]

Put me down for keeping the .30-06.  By the time you get through with the necessary conversion, you could have bought of couple of cases of any flavor of .30-06.  After shooting it up, you would be able to hold your own with most folks who have one of those wonderguns and don't have the money to shoot it much after fixing it up.  The biggest impediment to accuracy in any rifle is the fellow pulling the trigger.

[teddy12b]

I'd have to agree with most people suggesting you keep the 30-06 caliber.  If you want a new heavier fancy barrel and a new stock that'd be great, but I wouldn't switch caliber.  I bought a heavy barreled savage 30-06, made it look and feel like a semi-tactical gun and I use it for hunting and long range shooting out to 1000 yards.  30-06 ammo can be found anywhere, but the match accuracy rounds are hard to find. 

If you want to get into a long range rifle with all the goodies and ammo you'd ever want already sitting on the shelf you may want to consider just buying a 308 of some kind.  I love the 30-06, but hands down there are more accurate hunting & target rounds readily available on the shelf and that's a big consideration for a non reloader.  I reload my own and they shoot just shy of 1/2" at 100, so factory ammo doesn't mean anything to me, but you may want to give it consideration.

[lrs]

My one all purpose, go to rifle is a 30-06.   I would not hesitate to hunt anything on this continent, with the exception of large bears, with a 30-06.
To date, the largest animal I have shot was with this rifle.  It was an elk, the guide said it probably weighed around 700 pounds.  It was a clean, one shot kill, at 165 yards, guestimated by the guide.

[Mikey]

Some of the hunters here have posted taking Moose and Elk with the 06 at better than 400 yds with clean kills.  I would still take the thing out and shoot it to see how it does before I would do anything with it.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[kiddekop]

I just bought a remington 700 adl in .30-06.  I am looking to build a tactical/ target rifle.  I like the whole sniper rifle look.  I am thinking of going to a .300 win mag but don't know where to start.  Is there a better caliber choice for this length action?  I mostly be punching paper, but I want to be able to punch it a long way off.

The 30-06 has taken every species of big game on the north american continent and many species in africa I wouldn't change it but I would have it bedded if it hasn't been done.I have a Sako L61R in 30-06 that has been bedded & scoped by a master GS it's very accurate printing 5 shots under 7/16 inch from 100 yards & I  have a Sako Mod 2700 Finnsport in 300wm that was bedded & scoped by the same GS it's also very accurate.A close friend of mine has a Sako 300wm bedded by the same GS that printed 3 shots from 100 yards in a .308 hole.Our famous GS passed in 1990.

[kiddekop]

I just bought a remington 700 adl in .30-06.  I am looking to build a tactical/ target rifle.  I like the whole sniper rifle look.  I am thinking of going to a .300 win mag but don't know where to start.  Is there a better caliber choice for this length action?  I mostly be punching paper, but I want to be able to punch it a long way off.

Have it rechambered to 30-06 Ackley Improved you'll get an 06 that's just a tad under a 300 wm w/o using nearly as much powder,a friend hunted with a schultz larsen for years in calif and elsewhere,it knocks down elk easily.Also you can use  06 ammo which will fire form the brass to ackley improved.

[Coyote Hunter]

1911bmw -

What do you consider a "long way off"?  I shoot clay pigeons at 400 and steel gongs at 500 with my .30-06, and am sure I could hit further out with a different scope setup.

[oldelkhunter]

What these guys are forgetting to tell you is that to make your 30-06 a .300 Win. Mag, you're either going to have to get a new bolt (around $250) or have the bolt face opened up and and re-work the ejector and extractor, which it really more of a pain in the ass than what it's worth.

I'd stay with the 30-06 (of course, you can put a short round like the .308 or the .260 in it too) and rebarrel the rifle and have it tuned by someone who knows what they are doing. 

Put it in a tactical stock from McMillan or B&C (HS Precision makes a good stock, but I don't care for it's dimensions, it's just an odd feeling stock, IMO). 

Hart, Shilen, Krieger, Douglas, Borden, are all good barrels.  There isn't any flies on an ER Shaw barrel either, I've heard some very good things about them.  I'd go with 22"-23", a heavy barrel contour (if you don't plan on carrying it while hunting, I'd go with a full 1" bull), flute it if you want, and make sure that the crown of the barrel is perfect.

I would go with a fixed power scope, myself.  If you're not going to be hunting with it, then fast target acquisition doesn't matter.  The Weaver T series scopes are great, Bushnell's fixed 10X Elite can't be beat for the money, and the Super Sniper scopes from SWFA are just fabulous too.  These are all generall under $400.  If the money isn't an problems, then you're looking at the Burris Tacitcals, Leupold MKIV, or the cream of the crop, Nightforce or the Schmidt & Bender Tacticals (this the new scope for the Marine Corp).

I'd say that 1/2" with factory match ammo is very possible.  You aren't going to do better than that unless you handload, really.

+1 some good advice.  If you have to open up a bolt face and screw with the extractor you might as well just trade that for a magnum.I wou7ld think a 6.5-06 would be an interesting round.

[Coyote Hunter]

+1 some good advice.  If you have to open up a bolt face and screw with the extractor you might as well just trade that for a magnum.I wou7ld think a 6.5-06 would be an interesting round.

6.5mm-06 AI is where I'm going with a new Interarms Mark X action I picked up.  Bolt face is .473" so I could go .30-06 but already have 3 of them.  The 6.5mm will be a long range target/hunting rifle so its going to get a bigger scope than I normally use.  Over 1100fpe at 800 yards, flat shooting and non-mag recoil.  Hope it will be a 600 yard clay pigeon rifle. 

Its not a cartridge for non-handloaders, though.

[roper]

I would like to stay with a caliber I could get factory ammo for.  I realize the possibilities are much greater when you load your own (case stretching, fire forming, trimming) ammo but I don't have any reloading stuff.

Since your not into reloading yet don't see any point in talking about calibers that require that or cases that need to be formed.  I think Fed and Black Hills make Match (target)ammo for the 30-06 using 168gr bullets.  I would think shooting a 300mag and the recoil may be alittle harder to handle in a day's shooting.  I'm building a 30-06 sort of like you want on a 700 action it's going to be for the 168gr bullets.  Well good luck

[Coyote Hunter]

...
I mostly be punching paper, but I want to be able to punch it a long way off.

You never did say what you consider to be "a long way off", but you do know the .30-06 and .308 Win get used at 1,000 yards, don't you?  Neither one is short on legs.  Paper dies easily.

[brasskeeper]

If you must use factory ammo 280 remington would be good choice. If you dont mind changing the blot head I would prefer 6.5x284 Norma. I hear its winning long range matches

[billy_56081]

If you must use factory ammo 280 remington would be good choice. If you dont mind changing the blot head I would prefer 6.5x284 Norma. I hear its winning long range matches

The 6.5X284 uses the same bolt head as 30-06.

[diggler1833]

The 6.5x284 is a good choice, but I'd personally look into a 280AI just to be different I guess (along with just a bit better barrel life and those heavy .284 bullets are flat out awesome).