More weight on a .30-06 rifle

[ZG47]

The M17 makes a good target rifle but is too heavy for a hunting rifle chambered to .30-06. The original rifle (P13) was designed to shoot a .280 magnum cartridge and survive military service for decades!
I abhor the use of ridiculously light actions to build inherently unbalanced rifles that become top heavy with anything more than a 12 oz scope BUT the M17 action is a bit too much of a good thing weight-wise when you have to carry a .30-06 rifle more than a few hundred metres in a day.

 

[shootist~]

@Nevada Mike

Agree. Or as someone once said about recoil - There is no free brunch, Buffy.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

it;s very difficult to defeat physics. The heavier and faster the bullet, the more the recoil you will experience. I think an 8 lb. 30-'06 is about right. If you want it lighter you will pay in additional recoil. Everyone's recoil tolerance is different, but even if you THINK you can deal with recoil, note how many trap shooters end up with a flinch. I had it happen to me when I shot clay targets competitively. One day you find out that you have a serious flinch problem. Then you have to recondition yourself, go to a release trigger, or a smaller payload, or recoil reducers.

There are no free lunches.

How true. I had a Russian Baikal 12g field gun that was built like the proverbial Russian brick outhouse and it was a honey to shoot all day

 

[Cervus elaphus]

The M17 makes a good target rifle but is too heavy for a hunting rifle chambered to .30-06. The original rifle (P13) was designed to shoot a .280 magnum cartridge and survive military service for decades!
I abhor the use of ridiculously light actions to build inherently unbalanced rifles that become top heavy with anything more than a 12 oz scope BUT the M17 action is a bit too much of a good thing weight-wise when you have to carry a .30-06 rifle more than a few hundred metres in a day.

That's the tradeoff isn't it. With a rifle of 6lbs bare one can scamper up the hills like a bear with a burr in his askew but pay a penalty once at the top. Always liked the 7mm-08 and wished I'd got that one in a BSA Hunter model. My hunting mate had a .308 Hunter and it was a sweetie to shoot. cheers

 

[Cervus elaphus]

The M17 makes a good target rifle but is too heavy for a hunting rifle chambered to .30-06. The original rifle (P13) was designed to shoot a .280 magnum cartridge and survive military service for decades!
I abhor the use of ridiculously light actions to build inherently unbalanced rifles that become top heavy with anything more than a 12 oz scope BUT the M17 action is a bit too much of a good thing weight-wise when you have to carry a .30-06 rifle more than a few hundred metres in a day.

I still haven't given up the option of having a 30-06 made from a model 17 action (my BIL aka gunbearer is younger than me). I once borrowed an ex Swedish military 6.5x55 on a hunt and that was no huckleberry.
There are a lot of places I know that don't require a scope where the average shooting distance is 20 paces

 

[sestoppelman]

Too bad you are not stateside, here is just the ticket at 8.2# and the action you like. I have had a hard time not snagging this one but really have zero use for it, but I sure like it.

British BSA Sporting Rifle 30/06 on 1917 Action, Neat!

British BSA Sporting Rifle 30/06 on 1917 Action, Neat! for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[Cervus elaphus]

Too bad you are not stateside, here is just the ticket at 8.2# and the action you like. I have had a hard time not snagging this one but really have zero use for it, but I sure like it.

British BSA Sporting Rifle 30/06 on 1917 Action, Neat!

British BSA Sporting Rifle 30/06 on 1917 Action, Neat! for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

Thanks for that ( I think )
Nice example and shows there are still a few around.
In the meantime I'll frame one of the photos. Cheers

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I still haven't given up the option of having a 30-06 made from a model 17 action (my BIL aka gunbearer is younger than me). I once borrowed an ex Swedish military 6.5x55 on a hunt and that was no huckleberry.
There are a lot of places I know that don't require a scope where the average shooting distance is 20 paces

@Cervus elaphas
You don't have to have a M17 made into a 30 ought six as that was the original clambering.
Bob

 

[Cervus elaphus]

@Cervus elaphas
You don't have to have a M17 made into a 30 ought six as that was the original clambering.
Bob

Absolutely correct. I do mix up .303's and 30-06's on a regular basis. Are we there yet ?

 

[spike.t]

If not a custom build , but to buy look at the mauser M12 extreme in 30-06....not heavy and doesn't boot much at all...

 

[James Adamson]

I have a tikka t3x hunter with warne steel mounts and a schmidt and bender 8x56 and it weighs in at 8lb 6oz. I dont care for recoil but it really is not bad to shoot. The schmidt and bender scope is a heavy scope, I reckon with a leupold 2-7x33 or similar you wont be much more than 7 1/2 lb.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

If not a custom build , but to buy look at the mauser M12 extreme in 30-06....not heavy and doesn't boot much at all...

Hi Spike, I had a look at the youtube review of this rifle and there is some good things to like about it ie all non-reflective surfaces, a safety that I really like, it's a push-feed mauser action of course, and the trigger surprised me at a crisp 2lbs. A bit pricey maybe but there are cheaper slightly older ones around for 1200 GBP. Quite a good looking functional rifle. Cheers

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have a kimber SS syn 3006 with 2x7 leupold scope and , with weaver lite bases-rings and it shoots very well, i think its just under 7 lbs and its my favorite climing rifle.

 

[BeeMaa]

@Cervus elaphus, IMO you don't need a 30-06 with more weight. 7.5-8# (3.4-3.6 Kg) is more than enough to mitigate the recoil on this caliber with proper practice and a proper fitting rifle.

A proper fitting rifle is one of the things I've found most overlooked when buying a long gun. Rifles and shotguns are made to be general standard to fit an average sized male (whatever that means). I know it's not common or inexpensive, but having a rifle properly fitted to YOUR body makes a huge difference in felt recoil. It's worth the time, effort and money to have this done.

Second is practice. Consistent practice, including much more dry fire practice than range time. Range time is to confirm what you are doing in dry fire drills. This also saves on money and considering the current ammo situation, this is a good idea.

Last is technique. As caliber goes up, flaws in technique become more apparent. Poor technique shooting a 22lr, you simply can not do with a 30-06 without paying a price. Add to that, reduced rifle weight or larger caliber and the problems can compound quickly to a negative shooting experience. This can lead to flinching and the problems only get worse from there. The point it to make shooting fun and still test the limits without going over them. Proper positive shooting experience with a rifle builds confidence to be able to move up in caliber or down in weight for a given caliber.

It was not that long ago that I thought I needed a rifle to weigh over 10# in 375H&H. Through consistent practice and with a proper fitting rifle, I can easily shoot a 7.75# (3.5 Kg) rifle with ease. Here is a picture of the rifle and short clip of me shooting it. I'm 70" and 160#, by all accounts not a big guy and this was no problem for me. Did I shoot this all day? Of course not, that would exceed my limits. But only through practice have I learned this. You can do it too.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SAxSN5Lah4dytQM56

 

[Bert the Turtle]

@Cervus elaphus, IMO you don't need a 30-06 with more weight. 7.5-8# (3.4-3.6 Kg) is more than enough to mitigate the recoil on this caliber with proper practice and a proper fitting rifle.

A proper fitting rifle is one of the things I've found most overlooked when buying a long gun. Rifles and shotguns are made to be general standard to fit an average sized male (whatever that means). I know it's not common or inexpensive, but having a rifle properly fitted to YOUR body makes a huge difference in felt recoil. It's worth the time, effort and money to have this done.

Second is practice. Consistent practice, including much more dry fire practice than range time. Range time is to confirm what you are doing in dry fire drills. This also saves on money and considering the current ammo situation, this is a good idea.

Last is technique. As caliber goes up, flaws in technique become more apparent. Poor technique shooting a 22lr, you simply can not do with a 30-06 without paying a price. Add to that, reduced rifle weight or larger caliber and the problems can compound quickly to a negative shooting experience. This can lead to flinching and the problems only get worse from there. The point it to make shooting fun and still test the limits without going over them. Proper positive shooting experience with a rifle builds confidence to be able to move up in caliber or down in weight for a given caliber.

It was not that long ago that I thought I needed a rifle to weigh over 10# in 375H&H. Through consistent practice and with a proper fitting rifle, I can easily shoot a 7.75# (3.5 Kg) rifle with ease. Here is a picture of the rifle and short clip of me shooting it. I'm 70" and 160#, by all accounts not a big guy and this was no problem for me. Did I shoot this all day? Of course not, that would exceed my limits. But only through practice have I learned this. You can do it too.

View attachment 395921
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SAxSN5Lah4dytQM56

I’m the same height and weight as you and was just thinking the same thing. I’ve also got a Blaser 375 and shoot it without a scope a couple of magazines worth no problem. I’ve taken several animals with it scoped no problem. I was nervous about it the first time but honestly it was nothing for the one shot it takes. I’m wondering if us scrawny guys have an easier time with recoil. Maybe with so little to push against we just roll with it whereas a solid fellow gets hit harder, like if you were sitting against a tree recoil would be fierce.
One thing for sure is I carry the thing a whole lot more than I shoot it.
I haven’t shot anything since I hurt my shoulder a few weeks ago. I may have a different opinion soon!

 

[Firebird]

I like the idea of a recoil reducer in the rear and fiberglass bedding up front and a good sissy pad as well. You get some weight and the benefits of recoil reduction-I’m a big guy so recoil is rarely a major concern to me-nor is weight honestly, but my guns do get loaned out regularly to smaller shooters.
My favorite -06 is my pre 64 model 70 Winchester with a heavy hardwood stock and a metal plate on that stock. It’s a real beast without any add ons!

 

[TOBY458]

A 30/06 has recoil?

 

[BeeMaa]

I like the idea of a recoil reducer in the rear and fiberglass bedding up front and a good sissy pad as well. You get some weight and the benefits of recoil reduction-I’m a big guy so recoil is rarely a major concern to me-nor is weight honestly, but my guns do get loaned out regularly to smaller shooters.
My favorite -06 is my pre 64 model 70 Winchester with a heavy hardwood stock and a metal plate on that stock. It’s a real beast without any add ons!

Keep in mind that when looking at a recoil reducer that using a mercury tube may not be the way to go considering it's not legal for airline transport. That's not to say it can't be done. As a matter of fact, my wife and I each had mercury recoil reducers in our rifles on our last safari and flew without a problem. At the time I didn't know it was illegal, but ignorance of the law is not a defense. Just be aware.

A 30/06 has recoil?

Not after shooting a 416RM.

 

[Alistair]

A 30/06 has recoil?

Hold the butt pad an inch in front of your nose and pull the trigger. I expect you'll find out!

 

[leslie hetrick]

that must be the way libers hold their rifles when fireing them. non of shooting my friends hold their firearms that way to shot them.