Overthinking Part 2: The Plot Thickened

[Gomer]

Well, the 7x57 is gonna have to wait. My Dad gave me Grandpa’s Pre-64 M70 (30-06). It’s been in the family since the mid/late 50s. The serial number dates to 1954. He told me he wanted me to take it to Africa and have some adventures.

This rifle hasn’t hunted much since my Dad got it after his second tour in Vietnam. Dad brought it on a few hunts, but it never really got a chance. Seems like every time Dad brought it, I tagged out on opening day and we just hung out for the rest of our time. I don’t think Dad ever fired it an animal.

I just mounted a fixed 6x and will switch the traditional claw sling for a Trader Keith sling. I can’t wait to shoot it.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Great choice. Dad sporterized my 30-06 Springfield 03A3 in '62 and I started hunting with it two years later. It's been doing it for me every year since. Of course I had to take it to Africa. Kinda made sense.

If you're changing slings, consider changing to detachable swivels. Not Uncle Mike's junk. They will scratch the stock finish. I've been very pleased with these Titan swivels.

 

[BeeMaa]

30-06 is well respected in Africa and is half of the traditional two-rifle battery taken there for over 100 years. The other half is the 375H&H.

Again, premium bullets like the Barnes TSX and Swift A-Frame will sort you out for any PG coupled with proper shot placement. Shot placement guides are available online and if you can’t find anything, send me a DM.

Get up on sticks and do your practice. Highly recommend doing 10-20 dry fire shots for each live shot to create proper muscle memory and keep the cost of ammo down.

Good luck with your safari and let us know how it goes.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Last safari I used 165 gr Hornady Interlock bullets because it's all I could lay my hands on during the shortage. They worked okay but I only shot four animals: springbuck, gemsbuck, impala, and blue wildebeest. For kudu and blue wildebeest a better bullet in that weight or 180 gr would be better. If you don't load, I'd advise Federal's top shelf "Premium" ammo which comes in three bullet varieties: Partition, TSX, and their own Terminal Ascent. Partitions worked very well for me on my first safari. They can be messy close range but wasting meat is not a big concern over there. Eland would require a heavier bullet for sure.

 

[rookhawk]

A 180gr NorthFork or A-Frame coming out of a 30-06 is wholly satisfactory for every plains game animal in Africa except Eland and Giraffe, where it would be marginal but probably would get the job done anyway.

 

[steve white]

You're done. The 30'06 is a cartridge you don't HAVE to overthink!

 

[Mark458]

I agree, find you a good quality 180 bullet that your gun likes and you have all the bases covered.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Detachable slings can be nice for short stalks. Slings can be a bit of a bother sometimes getting on the sticks so handy to leave it in the truck or hand it to the tracker. He will have a daypack with water. Last time I only took one sling for two rifles. Two different times I forgot and left the sling on the other rifle at the lodge. It was a long day lugging around my 10 lb 404 Jeffery but I'm kinda used to it hunting uplands with an old A5 Browning 12 gauge magnum so not a real big deal. Also, even the best quality slings and swivels can sometimes be noisy. Get rid of the sling on final stalk if you can.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Ordinarily over here I historically hunted with 180 gr but165 gr will give you more range and plains game can stretch a 30-06 limits. Better quality bullets at that weight can keep you in the game (pun intended). Buy some cheap blue box stuff for range work and then check a few of the Premium rounds at targets before leaving. At $80/box they are not for range practice ... unless you're income is Rockefeller tax bracket.

 

[AZDAVE]

30/06 with a 180gr premium bullet and go make some memories.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

My first safari was in Namibia in 2007 and I used the PH’s rifle, which was a 30-06. The PH always called it, “The Springfield.”

 

[Firebird]

I inherited grandpas pre 64 .30-06 and still use it occasionally. I took it with me in 2022 as a way to take him with me. I shot factory tbbc ammo and had a wonderful trip. Kudu down to steinbok. You will enjoy the metal buttplate Best luck with yours!

 

[ARHinAK]

A pre 64 model 70 with a fixed 6x scope slinging 168 grain TTSXs is almost never not a good choice for plains game!

 

[Gomer]

A pre 64 model 70 with a fixed 6x scope slinging 168 grain TTSXs is almost never not a good choice for plains game!

I have some of those. I have 150, 165, and 168 TTSXs on hand. 180 and 200gr Partitions and Accubonds. I also have 180gr Hornady Interlocks. I’ve used them all in 30-06 and 300 Win Mag on deer and elk. I have 16lb of RL26 and I’m contemplating developing a load with 200gr Accubonds. I’m gonna use a Remington 700 to experiment a bit because of a lack of load data for RL26 and 30-06. But, given its performance with heavy bullets in other cartridges, I think it could work well. I also have lots of H4831sc, H4350, Big Game, and Hunter. Something will work.

 

[Gomer]

I inherited grandpas pre 64 .30-06 and still use it occasionally. I took it with me in 2022 as a way to take him with me. I shot factory tbbc ammo and had a wonderful trip. Kudu down to steinbok. You will enjoy the metal buttplate Best luck with yours!View attachment 772563

I have a Pre-64 in 300 Win Mag with the hard red pad. It wakes you up! Probably in my top 3 of most felt recoil for me.

 

[ARHinAK]

The 168s are averaging 2805 fps with 55 grains of H414 in my 30-06. Pleasant to shoot, good trajectory and pass troughs on everything I’ve shot. I quit looking after that.

 

[Jhsmith]

If I collected anything, it would be 30/06s.
I have five rifles right now.
Hmm, maybe I have a problem?

 

[Gomer]

If I collected anything, it would be 30/06s.
I have five rifles right now.
Hmm, maybe I have a problem?

Not at all! 30-06s are great and easily configured to do all sorts of stuff well.

I have Remington 700 using a load using 150gr Ballistic Tips at 3000 FPS and it’s great for open country pronghorn and deer hunting (for the average set/forget shooter). I’ve hit rockchucks at nearly 500 yards with it.

I had a Ruger No. 1S in 30-06 with iron sights that I foolishly let go.

 

[pilar]

I have a Pre-64 in 300 Win Mag with the hard red pad. It wakes you up! Probably in my top 3 of most felt recoil for me.

That’s my grail gun

 

[Gomer]

That’s my grail gun

I paid $450 for it a couple years ago. Guy got it from a will and it wasn’t worth anything to him. I told him it was only available for one year before 1964 and it was worth quite a bit more. He didn’t care.