Which 30-06 to get?

[Forestclimber]

I'm thinking about getting a 30-06.  I don't own any high power rifles.  What is a good rifle for the money?  I'm not loyal to any particular brand.  Should I get stainless?

[Swampman]

I prefer the Remingtom Model 700 CDL......mine will shoot sub 1/2" groups with factory ammo @ 100 yards.  The Stainless Model 700 ADLs are available for $399.00 right now.

[mcwoodduck]

Your budget and your type of shooting or hunting are going to limit your choices.
If you are planning on hunting in rainy, cold, or swampy areas of the country you may want to get a stainless steel and plastic stocked version.
The wood is pretty but it does warp with rain or cold.
If you are looking for a high power rifle to shoot at targets - I would get a 308 win.
I would go to your local gun shop and ask to see Used rifles in 308, 30-06 and even 7mm mag.
all three are more than enough for deer and pigs and will be good for other big game like antelope, elk and moose should you get the chance to go.
most rifles on the used rack already have a scope mounted on them and have not been abused and very rarely used.
I would not turn down a Ruger 77, Remington 700, Winchester 70 / Sears Ranger, Sako, or a Savage sitting on the shelf with a good price that will allow you to buy the rifle, a good case (If you get a hard case also get a soft case) and some ammo.   i wouold look for a name you know in scope on the rifle.
Weavers are my first choice, but Leupold, Nikon, bushnell, redfield are all quality stuff.
I have seen too many guys with a budget blow the whole budget for the rifle on the rifle and try to borrow a scope and not have $ for ammo so they can get good with the rifle.

[victorcharlie]

You can spend a lot of money, but IMO, it would be hard to find a more accurate rifle than a Savage.

Granted, there are a lot of things a Savage ain't, but accurate they are.

[Forestclimber]

I'm thinking someday I may get to go elk hunting.  I like walnut, but stainless/synthetic is probably the smart thing.  I'm pretty set on 30-06 since there is a lot of different ammo available.

[shot1]

If you can get a new Rem. 700 SS for $399.00 you better get you four or five or them. One to keep and the others to sale for $75 more and still make someone a good deal. I myself would prefer the Rem 700 but a Savage with the accu-trigger or the T/C Venture are real deals and good shooters. The T/C Venture is one heck of a rifle for $448.00 at Dick's Sporting goods and a lot of other places. They come with 24" barrels and an adjustable trigger and a 1 MOA accuracy guarantee and the bolt is as slick as butter. I sighted in one in 270 Win and it would shoot under 1" at 100 yards and my hunting buddy that sights in rifles for a gun shop has shot quite a few of them in many different calibers and he says they all shot 1" or under with factory ammo.   

[mcwoodduck]

Like I said of the three (or More) calibers any will work as a one gun for all North american Big game.
The 308 and 30-06 will limit your shots to 300 or less yards the 7mm mag will go 50 yards farther.
300 yards is where I draw the line in knowing I can hit something.
This past season I was running with a heard of elk 30 yards away.  (with no gun or tag, trying to turn the heard back to my buddy) so shots are not always long but can be.
The only think I can tell you is the fewer bells and whistles the lighter the gun.
Detachable mags sound great till you leave it in the truck, on the bed, or at home.
A standard rifle in the 7 to 8 pound range is about right.
the bull barrels are great for long range multiple shot hunting like varmints but get heavy when going over hill and dale.
Optics too can add lots of weight too.  At one point I wanted to sell my M70 Super grade with a huge scope on it after running to the top of a hill trying to get ahead of some pigs.  It came with a huge weaver scope that 4.5-14 X40 AO that I have not replaced with something more practical yet.
2-7 or 3-9 should be more than enough magnification for hunting.

One thing I learned is you want to stay with a 40MM objective or smaller.
Most scabords for horse back are for rifles 40mm or smaller.
If you really want a 50mm or one of the melted looking 56MM then go buy a scabbord.
If you are elk hunting at some point you may end up on a horse and if the rifle does not go into the scabbord, you may be borrowing a rifle, or trying to ride, duck under trees and other things the horses think funny to walk you into and hold a rifle.
The fall I took off a horse in Idaho four years ago would have broken my rifle.  All it did was bang up my binocs and tossed a button on my filson coat.

[Swampman]

I'd feel pretty comfortable at 600 yards with my .30-06.

[hillbill]

a older rem 700 is what i have in 06. i really like it. marlin has a nice rifle out now that lots of guys like. it has a bit of plastic on the triggergaurd which is a deal breaker for me. but i hear lots of good things about them.i believe marlin made another bolt gun a few years past that was all metal and a nice gun. my bil had one i really liked but i never really inspected it real close.it had nicely figured wood and was a great looking checkered rifle.i was seriously in the market for a marlin bolt gun a while back but ended up tradeing for the 700.

[dks7895]

Everybody has their opinion, so here's mine.

Last year I bought a Marlin XS7 in .308 Win.  It wears a 3-9x40 Tasco World Class (japanese) and will shoot sub-MOA with ease.  I paid $279 for the rifle and feed it cheap Federal Power-Shok 150gr rounds.  The trigger is awesome and the stock with recoil pad is very comfortable.  I would recommend the Marlin XS7/XL7 to anyone.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/CenterfireBoltAction/default.asp

[whsk]

the Marlin is a great buy-best bang for the buck i have found-i ended up with TWO XL7C (270 & 30-06)-check it out for yourself-whsk

[Swampman]

I didn't realize we were talking about discount rifles too.  The Stevens 200 is $250.00.

[woodyed]

I go along with the Marlin XL's as they are a multi-featured rifle that are reasonably priced. They are accurate, have a very smooth action, a superb trigger that is adjustable but will usally never have to be ever adjusted, and you can get them in stainless or blued versions. I might add that their recoil pads are very good too, especially appreciated when your bench shooting the 270's and 30-06's. A lot of people complain because this model doesn't have a box magazine or a bottom shell drop floorplate to empty the gun, and they have to work the action to empty the gun, but all semi-auto and pump shotguns have to be emptied with the same procedure and I never hear any complaints in this regard. Providing a box magazine or bottom shellplate would only add to increased cost and weight anyway. The Marlin XL7 rifles can be picked up in the $300 to $450 range in most places and are well worth it. I highly suggest that you check out Marlin XL7's and I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Seabee hunter]

Affordable _ and shoots great ( Savage FX110) with optics for about $300 at Dicks Sporting goods

[PowPow]

Look at a Ruger No 1.
Not the cheapest; more investment grade.
You will either love it or hate it.

[Harry Snippe]

I'd feel pretty comfortable at 600 yards with my .30-06.

Same here !!
The Rem as well as myself . It would need to be one of those big sliding barn doors for me to see it and with the gun grouping just over and inch and a half on a very good day @ 100 yards - every deer is safe !!

[Swampman]

Sorry you eyes are going bad.

[DDZ]

Affordable _ and shoots great ( Savage FX110) with optics for about $300 at Dicks Sporting goods

Was thinking the same thing. A savage will give you the most bang for your buck. A number of years ago I bought my son a savage 22-250, and its a tack driver. What you get with a savage, for what you pay can't be beat. 

[Swampman]

The Savage cost as much or more than a name brand rifle.

[STRANGE1]

The Savage cost as much or more than a name brand rifle.

Savage IS a name brand rifle.  they may not be as pretty as some, but they are as accurate as anything else on the market.  IMO, a savage with the accutrigger is the best rifle on the market for under $1000.  I do not have any experience with remingtons new adjustable trigger, but the reviews i have seen do not rank it as high as the accutrigger.

[bobg]

  I agree with that STRANGE1. Can't believe anyone would say they are not a name brand. .  My Savage in 204 Ruger will out shoot any Remington i have ever owned. Well maybe not my old 788 in 243.

[mcwoodduck]

I'd feel pretty comfortable at 600 yards with my .30-06.

Same here !!
The Rem as well as myself . It would need to be one of those big sliding barn doors for me to see it and with the gun grouping just over and inch and a half on a very good day @ 100 yards - every deer is safe !!

600 yards is about .3 of a mile. 
With a rifle shooting a 1 inch group at 100 yards you are now shooting a 6" group, Still minute of deer.  But add to that the differnces in variation with ammo (you know that standard diviation you get on the speed trap) and that 6" group now opens up to 8 to 10".
Add to that wind, thermals, air density, bullet drop, and not having the best shooting position and you may not be even aiming at the aminal to take the shot depending on the power of the scope.
Add to that, ANIMALS move and that killing shot, is now a gut shot and you are chasing a wounded animal all over the mountain.
Sighting in a rifle at 200 yards and shooting at 300 yards the 6 to 8" of bullet drop is going to have you aiming at the animal.  A 100 yard shot or less you will be 2" high
If there were a Royal Elk at 500 to 600 yards and walking would I take a poke at it...Probably not.  Not with out shooting at those ranges long before hunting.  I did Pass on a nice buck in ID because he was too far for me to be sure I could cleanly take him.

[tangob5]

I have a tang safety M77 Ruger in 30.06 and if I replaced it I would have to look at a Sako A7 Stainless, Tikka T3 Stainless or Savage 116 Stainless.  I really like the actions and triggers and light weight of the Sako's and Tikka's and lean more towards them.  Out of the box all three brands are great shooters.

[dks7895]

I'm thinking about getting a 30-06.  I don't own any high power rifles.  What is a good rifle for the money?  I'm not loyal to any particular brand.  Should I get stainless?

I think most of you are forgetting the original post...

Question - what is a good rifle for the money?

Answer - Marlin XL7 in .30-06

[mitchell]

I'd feel pretty comfortable at 600 yards with my .30-06.

AS DO I!!!!!!

really guys why must you alway talk $*!T about a guy who just might be a little better then you? we all know the 30-06 is more the able to make a clean kill at 600 yards . now the shooter being able to might be a differant story but if you dont know the guy you have no right to tell him what he can and can not do.


by the way the 30-06 is faster then the 308 right? then tell me how i dropped a deer at 740+ with a 308??


back on topic go with a stevens 200 their cheap their good and you can do a lot of aftermarket stuff to them if you ever want to upgrade

[Swampman]

Mine will shoot one hole 3 shot groups @ 100 yards.  1/2" 5 shot groups are easy.

[Coyote Hunter]

Like I said of the three (or More) calibers any will work as a one gun for all North american Big game.
The 308 and 30-06 will limit your shots to 300 or less yards the 7mm mag will go 50 yards farther.

Huh?

I run a .308 Win, three .30-06’s, a 7mm RM and a .300 WM, among others, and have hunted elk every year since 1982 with only one or two exceptions.  Any elk at 450-500 yards is in deep schittt if the .308 Win is in my hands.  The .30-06’s I’ll take to 500-600 yards.  The  7mm and .300WM are limited to 600 only because that is as far as I practice.  For deer I’d stretch the ranges and go as far as 500 yards with my .308 Win.

A .30-06 is a very good first time, do everything choice, particularly with a 3-9 scope.  I prefer the Buris Fullfield –II scopes with Balistic Plex reticle, which can be purchased on ebay for $150 at “buy it now” prices.  (I know because I have bought several from a1bargains at that price, including one for my son-in-law for this year’s Christmas present.)

I agree with the rest of your statements.  Light is good for elk hunting, nuts to the detachable mags, 40-42mm objective lens. 

Someone mentioned stainless/synthetic – that combo is good in that you don’t have to worry as much about the wood swelling and changing your Point of Impact.  This is true due to swelling or warping caused by excessive moisture, humidity changes or temperature changes, some or all of which are likely to be encountered.  I free-float the barrels in my wooden stocks and don’t worry about such things.  (I also seal the barrel channel with polyurethane and wax things with hardwood floor wax.)

Practically any rifle will work, although there are some I would stay away from including, primarily,  the Remington M710 and M770 and Mossberg ATR.  Don’t care for Browning bolt guns, either.  Rifles I would recommend include the Ruger MKII and Hawkeye, Remington M700, Weatherby Vanguard, Howa M1500, and both Savage and Marlin bolt rifles.   Sako and Tikka and the new FN-manufactured Winchesters are also on the good list.

Blind magazines are OK but I prefer floor plates for unloading the magazine.

New rifles can be expensive and are often no better than a good used rifle.  At least half my rifles were purchased used, look and shoot as well as the ones I purchased new (better in some cases), and cost significantly less. 

For what it is worth, I think the Ruger rifles are very hard to beat for rugged quality.  They are, IMHO, the best commercial instantiation of the Mauser design.  I wouldn’t like them if they didn’t shoot, but all of mine shoot great. 

[Seabee hunter]

 Like I said. Savage doesnt have all the bells and whisles but they have accuracy to spare. Never had a bad one. This is one time when the quote " You get what you pay for" doesnt apply. They shoot great right out the box. I like'em all but this is an affordable bolt action rifle that performs.

[fatercat]

my 30-06 will shoot a 1/3" group at 7 1/2 miles. mines better than swamp's. maybe not bigger but better.

[teddy12b]

Every man should have a 30-06, or two so good for you for taking the right step.

My first one was a H&R/NEF single shot.  I really liked it but ended up selling it.  Nice light rifle for hunting where you don't really need more than one shot.

Second was an encore.  Nice rifle and I took my first deer with it.  Bought it to replace the H&R/NEF and it's a good rifle.

Third was a Savage 110FP I got myself for graduating from college.  It's a heavy beast, but I bought it for long range target shooting and hunting.  Shoots less than 1/2" at 100 and the 30-06 will make hits out to 1000 yards if everything is done right.

Last one was a Remington 750.  Great rifle, light in weight and really tamed the recoil of the 30-06, but that barrel will heat up quick with multiple shots.  Only gripe was you really had to watch any water on it as a drop here or there would bring out that fine surface rust.  Ended up selling it.

Just about any rifle in 30-06 is a keeper.