30-06

If you look back at it the good old .30-06 has killed every animal on the earth over the years.

It was my first rifle caliber. A uncle gave it to me when I was 5 years old and I shot it shortly thereafter. I don't remember if I hit what I was aiming at but I shot it. It killed everything that I shot at from gophers to elk and it still sits in my gun safe to this day and has been used by quite a few new hunters that needed a rifle for a hunt.

And while I have retired it from general hunting because of a burnt out barrel, it still holds very found memories for me.

I love the 30-06, and it has never let me down.

I agree if you spend time in Africa the 375 H&H takes first prize.

Ado

A lot of old Mausers were re-barreled to 30-06, the long action suited the 06 to a Tee and made great sporters I own one built on a post war action and it's hands down my Favorite, next trip to Africa it will be in my travel case next to my 375HH

If I could own only one rifle, it would be a M70 in 3006 or .308. Not sure which.

Completely agree with all the positive comments on the '06.

Funny though, in 45 years of being a firearm owning gun nut, I have never owned an '06!!

TEX84 said:

Great caliber. Honestly, for the average hunter that does some deer hunting, might go on a big game hunt out west, and may take a trip to Africa, there is absolutely no reason to buy any other caliber.

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Unless it is 275Rigby.
Witold

JimP said:

If you look back at it the good old .30-06 has killed every animal on the earth over the years.

It was my first rifle caliber. A uncle gave it to me when I was 5 years old and I shot it shortly thereafter. I don't remember if I hit what I was aiming at but I shot it. It killed everything that I shot at from gophers to elk and it still sits in my gun safe to this day and has been used by quite a few new hunters that needed a rifle for a hunt.

And while I have retired it from general hunting because of a burnt out barrel, it still holds very found memories for me.

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I like it JimP.
Witold

bluey said:

me and my 06 have been friends for a long time , and I cant see anything changing in the near or long term future........
been playing with other calibres for a while now , but but the extension to my left arm is the first firearm l grab , when going for a walk in the bush around home ............
she has pole position in the safe , although shes getting a dinged up these days, she still looks as good through my eyes , since the day we met
she loves spitting out any ammo l put through her ,
and the cause of much debate, around the fire when I have time to go away hound hunting , every so often ........
like it , love it or hate it
theres a reason why most everybody owns one , or at least has in their past.........

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Don't forget for easy to obtain ammo even in the smallest back woods village and ammo is really inexpensive compared to the more exotic calibers

Greatest cartridge ever developed? If as both a hunting and military cartridge, it's hard to beat. Purely one or the other? That's hard to say. Overall when considering hunting the world, I'd give the nod to the .375H&H as the most versatile.

But then I've never owned a rifle in .30-06, however the check's in the mail as of this morning......

Now I have to admit that if I was told I could only own one rifle and had to use it to hunt the world I would choose a .375 H&H.

BUT

I love my .30/06. I got it for Christmas when I was 14 and it has served me well. I've shot a few animals with other rifles, but not many. I'm comfortable with it in pretty much every shooting position and it gets back on target quickly. I'm also comfortable with it at longer ranges and have rung bells out to 600 yards with her. Further than I would ever shoot at an animal personally.

I will be semi-retiring her soon. Not because she can't get the job done, but because I want to get a light rifle with a left hand bolt. You know, so the bolt os on the right side. Originally I was thinking/stressing over what kind of .300 mag to get and I understand the argument that I would have more options with one of those as I get into hand loading.

But the more I've thought about it I really think I will end up with another .30/06.

Nothing wrong with dirty 06, had a few in my life.
As for one rifle for Africa I will go against the norm and opt for the 9,3x62 in factory Oberndorf Mauser, golden oldie.

You also have to consider just how many other cartridges that were developed based on the .30-06 case. It has been necked up and necked down more times than just about any other one out there.

It is available in every action available and has been used in machine guns.

For bullet selection you can find ammo from the Remington Accelerator a .22 caliber projectile encased in a sabot and loaded into the .30-06 case (no longer manufactured but can be found at times or reloaded) to a 220 grain bullet, from armor piercing rounds to lead bullets they are out there.

I don't know of another round cartridge out there that is as versatile as the old 06 which is nearing it's 110th birthday or 113th if you figure in the development of its parent round the .30-03.

JimP said:

For bullet selection you can find ammo from the Remington Accelerator a .22 caliber projectile encased in a sabot and loaded into the .30-06 case (no longer manufactured but can be found at times or reloaded)

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I think I still have part of a box of these in the closet!

30-06 is to North America what the 375 is to Africa. What's that old saying, "ain't much a man can't fix with $700 and a 30-06!"

I like this when you see all the other med (375) and small bore (30/06 and 7x57) mentioned in the thread they are all over a 100 years young and the standard that all the new stuff is trying to meet. You could throw in the 9.3x 62 and 404 Jeff in rimless bolt guns and the 9.3x74R and any of the 450NE and up in rimmed and you could have fun any where

Redruff said:

Yep. Good'ol faithful '06. I own a a nice little side by side in her. Perfect for the bush for a quick second shot on bear, deer. And it does a heck of a job on raccoons as well. R.

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Redruff

What exactly are you feeding your raccoons?

lead , by the sounds of it ...........

The .30 US Gov't was what I learned both how to shoot a rifle with and also how to reload with.

It is at the moment about at #3 or #4 from the top, among my favorite rifle calibers.

I actually owned an unaltered 1903 Springfield, made by Smith-Corrona Typewriter Company for a couple years before I ever owned a .22 or any other caliber rifle for that matter (my father was neither a hunter or a firearms enthusiast either one).

Since those times (late 1960's) I have owned several .30-06 rifles and have hunted many species from California ground squirrels (mostly Sierra brand 150 gr spitzers, but I tried multiple weights and brands over the years) to African so called "plains game" (220 gr Hornady brand round nose softs).

My former love affair with the .270 Winchester / 130 grain spitzer ended suddenly when I finally got it through my thick skull that anything I could hit with my .270 / 130 gr spitzer, I could also hit just as easily with my .30-06 / 150 gr spitzer.

Being a dreaded rifle enthusiast and all and in regards to African antelopes / oinkers, I prefer other calibers but, I have used a .30-06 with the old 220 gr Hornady round nose bullets there, and put many animals in the salt with one shot each.

If I had to be stuck with only three center fire repeaters for hunting any species and anywhere on earth, I recon I'd want a scoped .300 H&H, a scoped .375 H&H and an express sighted .458 Lott.

However, truth be told, I would be about as happy with a .30-06, .375 H&H and .458 Lott instead.

You can't go wrong with a .30-06.
Jesus Saves.
And, the IRS wants YOU.

bluey said:

lead , by the sounds of it ...........

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ZG47 said:

Redruff

What exactly are you feeding your raccoons?

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bluey said:

lead , by the sounds of it ...........

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Well the fat bastards around here managed to scarf down some pheasants and chukars I had. They ate them all except the beaks and feet. My dogs ran them up the tree while I went to the gun safe. Just so happened it was whitetail season so the ol'06 was closer than the .22.

Royal27 said:

I think I still have part of a box of these in the closet!

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I have a partial box as well (Remington), bought them when I purchased the gun. I was 18 years old and thought they were cool! Shot them at the range once and put them back up. The new M77 was 217 USD, funny how we remember crap like that and forget what the PIN number is on the debit card.