30-06 - The calibre to love or hate?

[Doug375]

It's old. It's common as dirt. It's not a magnum. It doesn't win bench rest competitions. All it does is kill stuff with boring regularity.....and has for for 112 years. I love all sorts of calibers new and old. Why is it that so many people can't appreciate a tried and true round AND the newest innovations?

 

[CTDolan]

Hi All,

I know I suffer from calibre worship from time to time but the 30-06 seems to be one folks either love or hate.

Some love it because of its avaliability of ammo, projectile weights and ballistic similarity to .375H&H.

Other seem to hate is because its American, not a 308, longer than the shorts and old.

Is there anything actually (and really) wrong with the 30-06?

Ado.

Is there anything wrong with the 30-06? Absolutely not. It is arguably the finest cartridge ever devised.

 

[CTDolan]

 

[CTDolan]

 

[CTDolan]

The only cartridge which is, in my opinion, equally (if not more) versatile is the 375 H&H (and I am speaking of use in Africa, alone....should we be speaking of any other game field, the 30-06 wins, hands down).

 

[Red Leg]

The only cartridge which is, in my opinion, equally (if not more) versatile is the 375 H&H (and I am speaking of use in Africa, alone....should we be speaking of any other game field, the 30-06 wins, hands down).

Amen - choir sings hallelujah - and fade to black.

 

[Rob404]

I came across a beautiful old school Mauser 98 sporter in 30-06 a while back but really never took the time to see how it would perform, but with another Safari trip in my future I've decided to get serious working up a winning load.

 

[JakeH]

The .30-06 is to North America what the .375 H&H is to Africa; it just kills everything with boring regularity. Different calibers may be better suited to one particular job, but nothing does everything like the .30-06 does.

And that’s coming from a .270Win fan!

 

[meigsbucks]

My first centerfire rifle was a Mauser Mark X in .30/06. I still have it and is one of the rifles going on my next safari. Is it one of my favorites? No. Those are the .270, the .338 Win mag and the .416 Ruger.
What the '06 does bring to the table is moderate recoil, versatility and reasonable trajectory. How can you not like that?

 

[7x57Joe]

"ain't many troubles that a man can't fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six " From a poem written by Col. Jeff Cooper's daughter, Lindy. I must say I like the round and have never found it lacking for any purpose in which I've put it. I think Phil Shoemaker summed it up nicely.

 

[CTDolan]

“Anyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.“ ~ Phil Shoemaker

 

[Pheroze]

Can't say I dont like it but it certainly bores the crap out of me. On a utilitarian level it is great. But, really, with all of the options out there for cartridges why use plain vanilla? Pass the Spumoni please. Live a little folks

 

[Odinsraven]

7x64 is the 30.06 in 7mm an amazing round the Blonde uses it for everything from springbok to Elk

 

[Ragman]

Can't say I dont like it but it certainly bores the crap out of me. On a utilitarian level it is great. But, really, with all of the options out there for cartridges why use plain vanilla? Pass the Spumoni please. Live a little folks

I guess as I close in on age 50, my taste in cartridges is in line with my taste in ice cream. Vanilla is the standard by which all else are measured. The 30-06 is anything but boring. It is still in my opinion the greatest non-dangerous game round ever. And I don't even own one. Vanilla is delicious!

 

[K-man]

Nothing "wrong" with the .30/06. Over 100 yrs old, great performer, blah, blah.... How many things (except for fine liquor) have been improved in the last 100 yrs? Same with the '06. There are "better" cartridges out there, but would never turn my nose up at a very capable gun.

 

[Doug375]

Nothing "wrong" with the .30/06. Over 100 yrs old, great performer, blah, blah.... How many things (except for fine liquor) have been improved in the last 100 yrs? Same with the '06. There are "better" cartridges out there, but would never turn my nose up at a very capable gun.

Mauser's Model 98. It's 120 years old and nothing has improved upon it. Not any of the variations or hybrids have improved on the 98s design. Browning's 1911 is 107 years old and no better handgun has been designed. The .30-06. The .375 H&H. There are plenty of more modern rifles, pistols and cartridges and I like them all a lot. I remember being one of the first to jump on the WSM wagon. I had a .300 WSM custom action built, and added a nice walnut stock. It shoots great and I've been fortunate enough to take some nice animals with it. As much as I love that rifle, I can't say it's any better than a Win Mag or a .30-06 for that matter. Everyone likes what they like I guess. But "improved" is a over used term IMO.

 

[lwaters]

Never owned a 30-06 but I think my next rifle will be a ruger no.1 chambered in the 30-06.

 

[flat8]

Funny ... having a .300 WinMag built for my elk hunt this fall, but got a Model 70 in .30-06 at an estate sale a few months ago. That 70 feels and shoots so good that the custom may stay home if it’s completed on time!

 

[Clayton]

The venerable .30/06 is the classic example of greatness. You know you're there when so many others start taking pot shots at you. Rifle cartridges are a lot like fishing lures, a new year needs a new selection of baits. Yet the old '06 is still here doing what it's always done.

Confess that I do love it. And never ran across one that wasn't easy to load for. Killed everything I shot at with it and only one poor little Whitetail took two shots. I placed the first one poorly.

No offense toward anyone or their favorite cartridge. If I lived on another continent, I may have a different pet chambering.

 

[Edge]

Two rifles going to Zimbabwe with the wife and I next month, the 30-06 and 375 H&H!