Which 30-06 to get?

[SHOOTALL]

I have been happy with Rugers . They come with rings and the base is machined with the reciver. Not a big deal unless the receiver is drilled and tapped off center for the bases, seen this on both Win and Rem rifles Ive owned.

[mitchell]

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

really guys come on stop messin with the guy. he not saying stuff thats not possible , ive got guns that 1/2 moa is a bad day. if all of you continue to believe things cant be done because you havnt done it, your going to end up running off the few men on this site who might know a thing or two about long range shooting .

believe it or not half MOA isnt hard and for most of my guns if it wont shoot half MOA i dont keep it.

[Swampman]

from a couple of weeks ago......This is not a fluke cherry picked target....this rifle will do this all day long.  Your rifle probably will too.  My first M77 Ruger .30-06 shot one hole groups after I fixed it's bedding issues.  That was in the 1970s.

"After reading John Barsness' article some time back I wanted to try 180s in my rifle.  I took my Model 700 .30-06 to the range today to try out some 180 grain Core-Lokts.  This is a 5 shot 100 yard group.  The bottom hole is the last 3 rounds I fired.  My friend gave me a tail bag for those 3.  I didn't even have to adjust the scope.  I had been using 165 grain Core-Lokts."

[Harry Snippe]

Sorry you eyes are going bad.

I just about had enough of your Bull .
That is all about what ever comes out of your bucket .
Nothing built on any Fact Just Bull.

[Swampman]

Sorry about leaving the r out.  It should have said "your eyes."

My eyes ain't that good either.

[scootrd]

I've retired my old mod 70 30-06 above the mantle , in lieu of a Remmy mod seven 7mm-08, and will probably will never purchase a another '06.

However if I ever found the want or need a  -  Rem mod 700 CDL SF  10" twist 24" barrel -  would be extremely high on my list to consider.  I think it is a very elegant rifle.

Also I may be in the minority but I like Remingtons X-mark pro trigger. Very crisp, no creep  -  at least that how it performs on my mod 7.

I also think Browning White Gold Medallions are very nice looking as well.

[teddy12b]

Also I may be in the minority but I like Remingtons X-mark pro trigger.

I think their new triggers are nice.  If nothing else it's far better than the ones they used to have.

[Harry Snippe]

Also I may be in the minority but I like Remingtons X-mark pro trigger.

I think their new triggers are nice.  If nothing else it's far better than the ones they used to have.

I have no experance on the new X pro trigger , but understand Remington did make some adjustment to these since they first came out .
The ruger too is a fine rifle , but here again you need to allow some cash to have a smith tune your trigger .
I have a browning A bolt another fine gun , but again it needs the service of a smith as well as the winchester model 70 one of the last from Newhaven.(trigger)
The tikka T3 was the only rifle I ever had that shot very good and did not need any work once the scope was installed . I did add a Limbsaver pad to help with felt recoil , and the gun did need to fire a few box's of ammo to finally settle in . But then so did a few of the others.
Some times I think it is more of hit and miss At least with the US brands . My 7600 Remington Pump too is one fine rifle as it came,and a lot of people say the triggers on these pull hard.
The Marlin XL7&XS& Bolts ,are reported to be good shooters out of the box .

[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.

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.

300 yards is where 30-06 or 308 start to drop below 1500 foot pounds. 
Yes, a will placed bullet from either will do bad things to a deer or elk out to 1,000 yards or more.
I thought 300 to 400 yards was a good place to start a new hunter.  Give him confidance as to bullet drop and being able to make a clean hit without much effort.  As he gains confidance he can mover further back and hit targets.
Clearly 308 is capible of making hits farther out.  Army Snipers are using it to make hits on terrorists out to 1,200 yards.
And as you said you practice out to 600 yards.  At most  public or private ranges I have been to 200 to 300 yards is about maximum.  sighting in at 200 gives you very little drop out to 300 yards 8-9" and you are still using the cross hairs to aim at the animal.  Trying to figure out a 54" drop with a 180 grain bullet out of an 06 at 500 yards is not something I would want to figure out and I have been shooting a while.
Also until you see elk in the field you think they are larger than they are.  Everyone hangs the heads about eye level on the wall and you some how think they are 5-6 feet at the shoulder rather than the 4 feet they are.

[Swampman]

Also I may be in the minority but I like Remingtons X-mark pro trigger.

I think their new triggers are nice.  If nothing else it's far better than the ones they used to have.

My new .375 H&H has a first generation X-Mark Pro trigger that's about 2.5 lbs with zero creep and crisp as an icicle.

[mitchell]

i hate to tell you this but you still use the cross hairs to aim at a animal at 500 yards too. and 54 inches of drop is only 44 clicks on my scope, but the 30-06 only drops 38 inches when zeroed at 250 yards (about the best point blank range for the load ) and 38 inches at 500 yards is only 29 clicks up or about 3/4 a mil high if i remember right ( been a long time since i played with the 30-06) and i think i could figure that one out in about a ses or two and i havent been shooting that long. (guess i just learn fast)

BTW my 30-06 doesnt drop below the 1500 foot pounds mark til about 510 yards.. maybe i just have one of those super duper 30-06's idk

now i agree nobody should shoot farther then they know, but can we stop acting like it a 120 tank round to kill a deer past 100 yards. deer never got any tuffer and they have been falling to the 30-06 and the like , at long range, for over 100 years.

to the first poster: dude just go out and get you a gun that feels good in your hands and one that makes you smile because that all that really matters damn near every gun out there will kill deer farther then most people know how to shoot.


BTW for a cheap gun the steven's 200 and the savage egde really make me smile , you may want to try one..

[Swampman]

The US military qualified with the .30-06 at 600 yards (no scope) for many years.

[mcwoodduck]

The US military qualified with the .30-06 at 600 yards (no scope) for many years.

Yes but someone did the math and stuck graduations, based on the standard issue load, on a ladder or tangent sight that had the bullet drop built into the rifle.  Or the elevation on the M1 Garand had graduations but it was just based on X clicks up for that yardage after you zeroed out and came up 12 for battle sights and sighted in.
And they work well.
Had sights on my Broom handle pistol that had me making hits on the pump house on the farm at 300 yards
but if you shoot other than what the sights are set up for it doesn't work.
My No4 Enfield with 150 grain bullets was shooting great when set to 225 yards at 100 yards for the military B-31 targets.

[Swampman]

I wouldn't shoot at that distance without a range finder.  Most folks have no business shooting past the ranges you suggested.

[nomosendero]

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

Well yea!!

really guys why must you alway talk $*!T about a guy who just might be a little better then you

Because Mitchell it will never end & it comes up once per month or so!!

[mitchell]

ill tell you man i've been here a long time and really love this site but all the people shooting their mouth off about stuff they don't know really gets old. i learned a long time ago that its ok to say "i don't know", you can never bash a man for never being tought and should respect those who say "i dont know" and in turn teach them. but for those that dont know jack carp about what they talk about but willing to fight their wrong answers to the end , BUG THE CRAP OUT OF ME.

armchair QB's

[nomosendero]

Agreed!

[SHOOTALL]

I wouldn't shoot at that distance without a range finder.  Most folks have no business shooting past the ranges you suggested.

I would suggest that range work at known distance is much different than field work. That said there are some who shoot enough to judge distance very well and also know their rifle and load. A golfer goes out and is expected to know what yardage each club he carries will do . His shot is effected by the same influnces a rifle shot is . The pros do it all the time with great accy. If a shooter does his homework and pratice he can also.
 Most here should realize that before scopes and smokeless powder there were men shooting competition at 1000 yards and pressed the same rifles into service in the War of northen aggresion. Billy dixon made a documented long shot back in the old west days. I find it funny that with equipment that out classes the old stuff so far it would be hard to decribe a good well trained / praticed shooter is expected to not do as well as the old guys . Did they have range finders in that war ? There are some that shoot 1000 yard comp. with M-1's no scope .

[DJWright]

I sell firearms, so I get to look at, handle, and shoot quite a few different guns.
If I were in the mood to get another .30-06, my choice would hands down be a Kimber 84 L, with French Walnut. We sell them for $1,100.
I'd put a Leupold 1.5-5 matte scope set in Leupold rings and 2 piece base.
I'd say stay way from any of the cheaper Brands & models under about $600, as they are all junk. Meaning: If you are into shooting at all, you will soon be looking to replace them for something that actually consistantly works.

The bargin in the rifle world is the Tikka T3, for about $640. Though they are not my thing, they are great rifles at a reasonable price.
But, then again, who said I was reasonable?

[Swampman]

If the Kimbers were consistantly accurate they would be very interesting.

[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?

If you read the original post, the guy is asking for a good rifle for the money.  And your answer is a $1,100 Kimber?  or the "bargain rifle" Tikka T3 for $640?  and anything under $600 is junk...

Don't get me wrong, you've recommended some nice hardware... but telling a newbie that anything under $600 is junk is a bit harsh, don't ya think?

[SHOOTALL]

In the long run the shooter will realize its about as hard for another shooter to tell ya what gun to buy as it is to tell him which wife to marry . We all have our favorite , our first and some trade alot. Best we can do is tell our experinces .With rifles !

[dks7895]

SHOOTALL... I completely agree with you.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  But calling a rifle that cost less than $600 junk is like saying a woman over 150lbs is a pig.  In my neck of the woods... them's fightin' words!!!   

[nomosendero]

In the long run the shooter will realize its about as hard for another shooter to tell ya what gun to buy as it is to tell him which wife to marry . We all have our favorite , our first and some trade alot. Best we can do is tell our experinces .With rifles !

Good one

[SHOOTALL]

SHOOTALL... I completely agree with you.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  But calling a rifle that cost less than $600 junk is like saying a woman over 150lbs is a pig.  In my neck of the woods... them's fightin' words!!!   

I guess some would rather have a high dollar flusie over a true bargain  but when its time to cook , I mean shoot sometimes money don't buy love !

[Coyote Hunter]

I sell firearms, so I get to look at, handle, and shoot quite a few different guns.
If I were in the mood to get another .30-06, my choice would hands down be a Kimber 84 L, with French Walnut. We sell them for $1,100.
I'd put a Leupold 1.5-5 matte scope set in Leupold rings and 2 piece base.
I'd say stay way from any of the cheaper Brands & models under about $600, as they are all junk. Meaning: If you are into shooting at all, you will soon be looking to replace them for something that actually consistantly works.

The bargin in the rifle world is the Tikka T3, for about $640. Though they are not my thing, they are great rifles at a reasonable price.
But, then again, who said I was reasonable?

Much as I like my Kimber 1911 pistol, a Kimber 84 rifle wouldn’t make anywhere near the top of my list for a new rifle for a newbie to high power rifles looking for “a good rifle for the money”.

The first thing I would do is suggest a used rifle, as it is possible to get far more rifle for the money.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to judge used rifles until you get them to the range, so caution and a right-to-return is suggested.   That said, purchasing a used rifle of fairly recent manufacture and good exterior condition has worked 100% for me.

In new rifles, a Kimber still wouldn’t make the short list.  A Weatherby Vanguard at $439 list would probably top my list for best value, Ruger for most rugged.

Any new Ruger, Remington M700, Howa, Weatherby, Marlin, and most Savage (excluding the ‘Axis’ aka ‘Edge’) will do wonderfully for a new high power rifle shooter.  And all can be had new for under $600.

[dks7895]

+1 on Coyote Hunter's post...

Very sound advice my friend.

[possume]

the cheapest gun i own is the best i ever had its a old savage 110 with the flat reciever and they have the best saftey as far as silent and easy to use my problem with all the (name brand guns) is they all have lustery blue barrels and bright shiney stocks wich are pretty and look good if they dont get used and i think their for show not go i personally like a dull finsh but just find you a gun that feels good to you and fits your budget and forget what everyone says a $200 gun will shoot almost as good as a $1100 to a point unless your match shooting

[Ethan]

I am a HUGE Tikka T3 fan but you cant go wrong with a Remington 700 30-06 I got one of each in a 30-06 and both shoot lights out at 200 yards. But thats  just my  2 cents.

[Sourdough]

I have seven 30-06s.  My go to gun is a H&R Handi, but if I had to have only one of them I would probably go with the Savage.  I really like that accutrigger, and the Savage will shoot good out farther than most people can shoot.  I have mine zeroed at 300 Yards, yes that is way beyond the Point Blank range for zeroing, but I know it will be high at 200 and 250 yards so I don't have a problem with that.  That gives me a higher trajectory on out at 500 and 600 yards.  I have no problem hitting a wolf anywhere out to 700 yards.  I have knocked down many Whitetail at 500 yards, using a 165gr bullet.  It's 500 yards from my Grandma's front porch to the far side of the hay field at the fence row.