30.06 for Long Range Hunting?

[gelton]

I get it. In today's long range hunting world of high powered magnums the 30.06 might be laughed outta the conversation - especially for elk. 30 years ago though I am sure that it was the choice of many.

My current set up is a Rem 700 30.06 with a Leupold 4-10x35mm. I have a CDS turret system that is matched to my 180 grain Sierra Gameking that goes one revolution to 575 yards. This is my setup for this year. No issues here.

I am considering developing another load to where the CDS turret will go two revolutions out to ~ 1,000 yards. One reason is my local range has 1,000 targets and the other is for long range hunting of elk. What cartridge would you guys recommend from the following:

150 Grains @ 2850 fps
165 Grains @ 2750 fps
180 Grains @ 2765 fps
200 Grains @ 2565 fps

I understand that some will say that the 30.06 isnt a sufficient long range round for elk and remember this is only a consideration but I can assure you over the last 50 years more elk have been taken with the 30.06 past 500yds than any of the newer magnums. Doesn't mean that I dont want one, just dont have one yet, and the .06 is lighter and cheaper to practice with.

 

[pyroducksx3]

Do the elk a favor if you plan on shooting out 1000 yards put the 30-06 away and get at least a 300 win mag. At that range it's just irresponsible with the 30-06. Out 600 sure

 

[pyroducksx3]

And I can assure you more elk have been wounded and not recovered than there have been shot and recovered shooting past 500 yards with the 30-06. It's great for shooting the targets at 1000 yards at your local range though

 

[Beastmode]

The numbers on the 30-06 AI are fairly impressive imo

 

[Shrek]

No way with a 30-06 are you packing enough heat at 1000 yards to consistently kill and recover elk. If you want to hunt long range then build the appropriate rifle. There is no way to pick which ribs to place the bullet between at 1000 yards. You are trying to keep it within minute of elk vitals at that range. You need a big heavy bullet with plenty of energy to make up for the imprecision inherent in 1000 yard field shooting.

 

[Justin Crossley]

1000 yds is too far for a 30-06 IMO.

I would not use a CDS dial at 1000 yds either. Your CDS dial is set for one elevation and won't work at other elevations. At 1000 yds a bullet will drop way less at 8000 ft than 2500 ft for instance.

I prefer calculating for the actual conditions I'll be shooting in and dialing regular turrets.

 

[HellsCanyon]

1000 yds is too far for a 30-06 IMO.

I would not use a CDS dial at 1000 yds either. Your CDS dial is set for one elevation and won't work at other elevations. At 1000 yds a bullet will drop way less at 8000 ft than 2500 ft for instance.

I prefer calculating for the actual conditions I'll be shooting in and dialing regular turrets.

THIS just made my day!!! Finally someone has said what I respond with to all the CDS turret type posts... thanks Justin

I agree a 30-06 just isn't smart at 1,000 yards on elk. Practice with it out there all day long and get good at it and limit yourself to 600-700 yards. That's where your CDS turrets are going to be most effective anyways.

Do yourself a favor and plug in your above bullet weights, FPS, and BC's into a ballistic calculator and see which one will give you the best tradeoff in energy, bullet drop and velocity (still gotta be going fast enough to expand that bullet).

Mike

 

[luke moffat]

I would think the 30-06 would be sufficient. But long range hunter isn't my thing. That said I think you can get a bit better velocity numbers than what you listed with a little trial error from reloading. 2850 fps with a 180 grain bullet is more than doable with a 24" barrel and the right load if it shoots accurately. Better yet possibly the new Nosler ALR 190 grainers at 2800 even would be a great option as well.

Some long range hunters have used the 180 grain accubond as a go to bullet in their 300 win mag. Launching that bullet at 3000 fps will net you 1375 fps and 755 in energy.

Take a 30-06 shooting the new ALR 190 grainer at 2800 fps and at 1000 yards it will be going 1500+ fps and over 955 ft/lbs of energy. So as you can see even if the BCs are 100% correct, velocity is far from everything when it comes to long range shooting. I've played around with these numbers quite a bit back when I thought I wanted to get into long range hunter. Then I realized I'd rather go hiking than spend my days at the range and other such places trying to get proficient at it. Would just rather have to stalk closer and have perhaps have an animal or two get away during my stalk from 700 yards to sub 300 then put in the time, money, and effort to get good at that.

All that said I think the 30-06 is a great cartridge very capable of long range shots. Yep not as flat as a 300 RUM or 338 Lapua but a very capable cartridge none the less.

 

[Matt Cashell]

With a 185 Berger running a MV of 2700, you could get to 1000 with OK impact velocity, but energy is gonna be pretty low. Still, I agree with Justin and Mike that there are much better cartridge options for long range hunting, and anybody seriously considering long range hunting should invest the time and money into proper equipment and practice.

Extending the range of your current 30-06 though is a good idea, and gets you into practicing at ranges past MPBR. I think the 30-06 running hot velocities w/ a slick 180-185 is a great option for 600 yards and in, where as Mike mentioned, the custom dial and BDC reticle systems are sufficiently precise and at their best under a fairly wide range of field conditions at those ranges.

 

[Daniel_M]

Not to discount your abilities as I have no idea what they are, but, why would you want to hunt @ 1000yards?

 

[Matt Cashell]

Sorry to double up on some of Luke's points, he posted while I was typing. I will mention that I have loaded for a number of 30-06s, and getting to 2800-2850 with 180-plus pills is tough out of a sporter, IME.

 

[HellsCanyon]

The numbers on the 30-06 AI are fairly impressive imo

They are indeed but at that point you're basically a 300 Win Mag.

Mike

 

[luke moffat]

Sorry to double up on some of Luke's points, he posted while I was typing. I will mention that I have loaded for a number of 30-06s, and getting to 2800-2850 with 180-plus pills is tough out of a sporter, IME.

Try RL-17 BB....a buddy is getting 2900+ with NABs and no pressure signs or anything.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Not to discount your abilities as I have no idea what they are, but, why would you want to hunt @ 1000yards?

Because we can! It's just as addicting to me as killing an elk at 3 feet with a stick bow...

I would say an 06 could do it, but not my first choice. Try to get a 180 or bigger going as fast and accurate as possible. Not a fan of that scope for long range.

 

[luke moffat]

Not a fan of that scope for long range.

What about a 2-7X28 cranked up to 7?

 

[Daniel_M]

Because we can! It's just as addicting to me as killing an elk at 3 feet with a stick bow...

I would say an 06 could do it, but not my first choice. Try to get a 180 or bigger going as fast and accurate as possible. Not a fan of that scope for long range.

Nahh I get it, not knockin it.

Perhaps it's time to step to a 388 Lapua.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Try RL-17 BB....a buddy is getting 2900+ with NABs and no pressure signs or anything.

Wow! Those are great velocities Luke. RL-17 seems to be a good burn rate for the 06. I never tried it though, as I had the best luck with the 4350s and RL19. All of the 30-06s I loaded for were 22" factory barrels.

I have seen some awesome numbers with the WSMs and RL17 also. Kind of hard to find that powder right now. It has been a while since I loaded for the 06, but I will try to find some RL17 the next time. Thanks.

 

[luke moffat]

Wow! Those are great velocities Luke. RL-17 seems to be a good burn rate for the 06. I never tried it though, as I had the best luck with the 4350s and RL19. All of the 30-06s I loaded for were 22" factory barrels.

I have seen some awesome numbers with the WSMs and RL17 also. Kind of hard to find that powder right now. It has been a while since I loaded for the 06, but I will try to find some RL17 the next time. Thanks.

Yeah RL-17 in a WSM is pretty impressive...able to get 2800+ fps out of my 18" WSM shooting 200 grainers...which would close to 3000 fps had I not bobbed the barrel like I did.

 

[gelton]

I am looking to grab some RL 17 myself. Keep in mind, in the original post I stated that this was just a consideration. Personally, my feelings are that if you cant get within 500 yds of an elk then you have hunting issues not shooting or terminal ballistics issues. My only thought was that I would like a long range set up for the .06 to use at the range but that could also be brought into the field. (I have problems developing a load just to shoot at targets) Any shot over 500 yds would be stretching it in an elk situation but how many here have "pushed the envelope" when it was the only choice.

I think the best explanation I can give is one that was given on another forum so I apologize in advance if the delivery is choppy but it goes something like this - there isnt a rifle in the world that hasnt been compared to the .06 - positively or negatively. Therefore it is the standard yardstick by which all other calibers are judged. It didnt get there by accident.

As most of you know Roosevelt took one along on an africa and used it on over 50 different species including water buffalo. Many a Grizz have fallen to an .06 as well.

 

[Ryan Avery]

So over 500 yards we have hunting issues? Hmm interesting, you did say Elk out to 1000 yards in your post right?