30-06

[FOTIS]

I had dozens of 30-06's. I can never bring myself to keep one. Too common!

 

[truck driver]

I had dozens of 30-06's. I can never bring myself to keep one. Too common!

Fotis my friend some times common is a good thing. I've been married to my childhood sweet heart for 44 years and in todays culture that would be considered uncommon and I've had a 30-06 longer than that. Sweeeeeet! :grin:

 

[PJGunner]

Although at this point in my life I'm playing the he .35 Whelen in a serious manner, I have to agree with the Col. Whelen when he said, "The 30-06 is never a mistake." Most of the time I may be hunting with something else but 99 percent of the time, my back up rifle has been a 30-06. That cartridge has never failed me.
Paul B.

 

[Enough Gun]

Great thing about the .30-06 is that it's "enough" for pretty much anything except the BIG dangerous game in Africa and other places, but it's rather easy on the hunter's shoulder.

Long live the .30-06!

Guy

Well stated, and true!

Lets also not forget all those "other" calibers we like that are based off of the 30-06

 

[Guy Miner]

Is the range report pending ? :roll:

After I get more than the short 10-shot range session I managed yesterday. You bet!

I've got at least four loads I want to try, mostly for groups, since I already know how the bullets do on game and/or water jugs.

The rifle itself is like most CDL's, very nice handling, but I need to adjust the trigger. Initial groups yesterday were pretty decent, but I was being mighty casual about my shooting, just getting to know the rifle rather than trying to wring out the best accuracy. Sadly, had but twenty minutes or so at the range to mess with the new rifle. Did get it sighted-in and did get a few shots over the chronograph:

60 gr RE-22, 180 gr Sierra SPBT Gameking = 2730 fps with what appears to be good accuracy. That load is a couple of grains under book "max" too. Was just some ammo I'd loaded up in 2005, for my ancient .30-06 Model of 1917 rifle.

Regards, Guy

 

[SJB358]

Is the range report pending ? :roll:

After I get more than the short 10-shot range session I managed yesterday. You bet!

I've got at least four loads I want to try, mostly for groups, since I already know how the bullets do on game and/or water jugs.

The rifle itself is like most CDL's, very nice handling, but I need to adjust the trigger. Initial groups yesterday were pretty decent, but I was being mighty casual about my shooting, just getting to know the rifle rather than trying to wring out the best accuracy. Sadly, had but twenty minutes or so at the range to mess with the new rifle. Did get it sighted-in and did get a few shots over the chronograph:

60 gr RE-22, 180 gr Sierra SPBT Gameking = 2730 fps with what appears to be good accuracy. That load is a couple of grains under book "max" too. Was just some ammo I'd loaded up in 2005, for my ancient .30-06 Model of 1917 rifle.

Regards, Guy

Sounds like your off to a great start Guy, seems like any 180 at around 2700 should be meat in your cooler anyhow.

Are you going to keep the trigger and tune it or upgrade to a Timney or something similar?

 

[Guy Miner]

Scotty - I'm going to try to adjust it a bit. Have done pretty well with the old Rem 700 triggers. This is a newer 700 CDL with the X-Mark trigger or whatever they call it.

If I can get it to 3#, crisp, I'll be happy for a general purpose hunting rifle.

They don't get much more GP than a .30-06 either.

Guy

 

[11 Charlie]

Got my first 30.06,a "project gun" sporterized 1917 Enfield a guy got when his dad died in the 80's. He never shot it and his dad hadn't since the 60's or early 70's. It's kinda beat up. He sold it to me for $35.00. I floated the barrel, bedded the recoil lug and the rest of the action. I got a couple of Weaver bases for $10.00, drilled and tapped it myself and made pop can shims for the rear base. I had Weaver style rings and a 3x9 cheapie Simmons I was given 20 years ago. I got a NIB old Timney for it for $41.00.(It has a"Let Go, Let God" story card in it. That really impressed me) I did 1 overnight soaking and 20+ patches with Hoppes Benchrest then I got some Boretech Eliminator and it took 3 overnight soakings, 100 patches and scrubbing with a nylon brush to get it clean. I'm pretty beat up myself and only range shoot anymore so #1 concern for loads was accuracy. I headed to the range, zeroed/fouled with 3 factory rounds and fired 3, 3 shot groups of 55, 56, and 57 grains RL19 under a 180 grain Sierra boat tail spitzer at 100 yards. To my amazement they were all sub-moa, the best being .676. I went home and made 5, 3 shot loads of 55grains RL19 dropping the COAL .010 as I went along. Next time to the range and the 3.265 COAL was the winner with a .452" group. Not bad for a rifle born in August 1918. I had read/heard many times the 30.06 is easy to load for as it isn't fussy about what you feed it, now I'm a believer! It's also cheaper to feed than my .300 Weatherby so it can take a break at times. Good shooting and God Bless! Bob

 

[Oldtrader3]

My first .30-06 was a "sporterized", Sear's special, Springfield 1903-A3, 2-groove with a Fajen stock on it. Still Parkerized finish with Battle sights, drilled and tapped for a scope. This would have been about 1965. Since then, I have always owned at least one .30.06 at any given time.

I probably have owned 8 different .30-06's, ranging from the Springfield to Remington 725, to my present Winchester Model 70, bought new in 1995. Notable ones have been a 1936 Model 70 Carbine and a 1970 vintage Mannlicher full stocked carbine.

It seems that I have hunted more with other calibers for reasons that now that I can't put my finger on but have killed several deer and one elk with the .30-06. I always have at least one .30-06 in my gun cabinet.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I don't mean to be a topic thief here but what loads do you guys all prefer in your 30-06's? I have shot a few different 180 grain loads which all shot well but as I own a 300 Magnum and other bigger guns I ten to lean towards the 165s or even 150s at times. I mostly use mine for deer with the occasional elk hunt thrown in. And no matter what the gun, I don't shoot at elk once theyre out there past 350 or 400 yards, depending on the conditions, I may not even shoot that far. The older I get the more the idea of wounding one sickens me. The only bullets I ever had fail me in the 30-06 were the old Barnes X-bullets. After I started shooting the Nosler, Hornady, and Sierra bullets I have had nary a problem. And that gun will always shoot straight as long as the nut behind the trigger doesnt wiggle loose

Its my favorite gun, without a doubt.

 

[DrMike]

I shoot 150/165/168 grain bullets in my '06. I save the 180/200 grain bullets for my 300WSM.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I also shoot the 165/168 gr bullets in my .30-06. I have other guns for more power.

 

[big rifle man]

Right on the money Doc, charlie. The 06 shines with that particular bullet weight. I've been using 165's on deer for as long as I can remember and it seems as though the 165 is not fussy when it comes to powder selection.

 

[Oldtrader3]

BRM, boy, the 165 gr bullets sure aren't sensitive about killing deer and they do it well.

 

[Jager1]

I've been stopping by my local reloading supplier for weeks now to pickup a box or or two of the 150gr ABs non are to be had! Anyone having better luck finding them in their neck of the woods?

Jager1

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

None to be had in Idaho Falls as of today.

 

[Wincheringen]

Here are a couple of mine.

 

[JohnB]

I have been using the 165 AccuBond and the 168 Ballistic tips and have been very happy with them, but lately, I have been thinking a lot about the 190 AccuBond Long Range. I think I am going to have to try them when they come out.

JohnB