Is a 30-06 Magnum Possible? 3 Simple Suggestions

[147 Grain]

If you're hunting elk or moose near the end of a rifle's limit, you can turn the same gun into a 30-06 Magnum by doing three simple things:

1. Using Premium Bullets with much higher BC's can easily turn a 30-06 into a 300 Win Mag with standard / less Ballistically Efficient ammo.

Example:

Winchester's 2005 Ammo Catalog says that at 300 yards, a 30-06 Supreme 180-gr. AccuBond has 102 more ft. lbs of energy (2,004, p. 11) than their 300 Win Mag pushing standard 180-gr. Super X Power Points (1,902 ft. lbs energy at 300 yards - p. 13).

The above figures are astonishing! especially when you consider the 300 Win Mag's 210 fps MV advantage over the '06. The Magnum's faster moving Power Point bullets only had a BC of .349 - compared to the slower AccuBonds with a high BC of .509. A .160 BC can make a big difference in downrange energy.

2. Consider Federal's High Energy 180-gr. Partitions at 2,890 fps that have a slightly higher MV than a standard 300 Win Mag's Power Point at 2,960 fps. In this case, 30-06 Supreme ammo beats the 300 Win Mag Super X line.

3. A 24" barrel provides around 100 fps +/- higher velocity over the standard 22 inchers; further upgrading a 30-06 into a magnum type round.

 

[JD338]

DON'T TELL MY WIFE ABOUT THIS LOGIC!

I convinced her 20 yrs ago that guns is just like golf. You can't play the game with just one club.

Regards,

JD338

 

[Anonymous]

DON'T TELL MY WIFE ABOUT THIS LOGIC!

I convinced her 20 yrs ago that guns is just like golf. You can't play the game with just one club.

Regards,

JD338

LOL! Very nice logic, I'll remember that.

 

[martinbns]

The underlying fact here is a 30-06 is already a more than adequate Elk/Moose rifle. Probably more Moose shot with a 303 british with tradional cup and core bullets than any other calibre in Canada.

 

[rick smith]

When comparing rifles as you are doing, you need to compare both with the same bullet. High energy loads do increase performance but would do so in both calibers. You are not likely to get 100fps with two inches of barrel, more like 20-30 fps per inch. I have loaded the same bullet in 30/06 22" bbl, 300 WSM 22" bbl, 300 Win Mag 24" bbl and 300 RUM 28" bbl. The velocities 30/06-2830fps, 300 WSM-3000fps, 300 Win Mag-3250 fps, 300 RUM-3500fps. The 30/06 is one of my favorites and I hunt with it more than the others and can tell you it is quite capable of taking whitetails out to 300 yds, having done so with it. Think bullet placement and bullet performance before worrying about velocity.
I load more for accuracy but have friends that load more for velocity, I tell them they will just miss faster.Rick.

 

[147 Grain]

Rick:

You're exactly right!

Experts who frequent this good Forum would understand that one must compare the same weight / size of bullet between calibers to equal the playing field.

I believe I made a mistake in the wording of whom the post was directed towards, especially since my intention was to inform the average (once or twice a year) hunter (who buys standard Winchester or Remington ammo) that they can upgrade the performance of their rifle by switching to Premium Ammo or bullets, like Nosler specializes in.

Obviously, those who can benefit from this info don't frequent shooting forums too much. I should have clarified who the intended target audiance was, even if they would be mostly absent. ...But then, I'd be preaching to the choir, with you (Rick) as one of the directors. :lol:

 

[Greg Nolan]

It's always a dilemma for us hot rodders who squeeze every last grain into that compressed load to power the most expensive, high tech bullet available. We of course try to cover every possible aspect of b.c. and concentric balance. So why does the $10 dollars a box Sierra Match King boat tail have more energy at 400 yards than my wanna be magnum load? There's a lot of compromise built into our custom, designer loads and you know what? Sometimes the game jumps up close and that extra velocity works against the intrinsec qualities of the better b.c. bullet. Sometimes it comes apart too quick and sometimes the 4 petals shear and create a solid, without naming names of course.
The kind of bullet we use is a constant. To make that particular bullet more powerfull we have to have a bigger case or superior powder or play Russion Roulette with higher pressure loads than are safe.
I gave up and just went bigger in calibre and case size about the same time I gave up trying to sneak 10mph over the speed limit.
I agree superior bullets are worth the money and the more energy out there the better, it's just a matter of how you do it. Signed
a recovering velociholic. :wink: