30-06 limitations or does it not have the “cool factor”

[6mm Remington]

I have some 180 ABs, haven't had much luck finding 165s.

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[Cotay]

Now that I live in a part of the country where dangerous critters show up regularly, having a 30-06, .300 Win Mag, or 7mm Rem Mag is comforting when the kids are out playing.

Moose, cougar, black bear and grizzly are not uncommon around my property near Ruby Ridge. Fish and Game had to put several Grizzly down this past year: https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/large-...ary-county-after-repeated-attacks-livestock-0.

I used to hate on the 30-06, but I'm coming around to considering one just because of ammo availability. I reload a baker's dozen cartridges and would just want to shoot OTS ammo for an aught-six. That "shelf-ability" and effectiveness combo is rather compelling for my purposes.

 

[KenLee]

Whatever closely replaced Hornady Custom BTSP 165 gr should be the "do all" 30-06 round. Those were some getter done accurate bullets.

 

[Ratamahatta]

You're looking at this from a realistic and practical perspective, using new innovation in products to enhance a proven cartridge. Good for you! You look at the 30-06 like I do the 308 WIN. You aren't going to wow the new crowd saying you shoot a 30-06 or .308 WIN and neither should you care, but they will deliver!

To be even more realistic, vast majority of hunting kills are under 300yds. With only a variance of +/- .2" most cartridges can follow this zero pattern:

100 200 300
1.5" 0 -8"

Straight on hold to 200 and horizontal crosshair level with the animal's back at 300 for Kentucky drop. Past 300 use the fancy dials or BDC reticle hash marks.

30-06 is a sexy cartridge and I too like the long neck cartridges. Load a 30-06 with a 151-166 Hammer bullet for 3200-3300fps and you can point it at anything!

What powder and grain are you using?

 

[Vern400]

30-06 and 270 are both fine cartridges. With modern propellants, and the few grains of extra case capacity they can both give a little more performance hand loaded then what you get from factory loads. For example, a 270 with a slow burning powder can push 150 grain bullet 3000 fps. And guess what... That remains supersonic past a thousand yards and a bit more punch when it gets there compared to a 6.5 CM.

When we start splitting hairs and arguing about minor differences, we forget it usually ain't about the cartridge. It's about the shooter.

 

[Jon Boy]

Did some load development with 200 eldx, superformance and Lapua brass loaded to Tikka mag length. Excellent accuracy and around 2725 fps. 22 in barrel.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[doc holiday13]

Over 6 pages everything has been discussed so I have nothing new to declare. There is a lot you can do with a 6mm bullet. Efficiency of powders, bullets, and case design have pushed limits significantly. To get a good BC 30 cal bullet, you need to be in the 180g+ weights, but hitting the magical 2900 fps is difficult in short action

There is also a whole thread about 223/5.56 being very effective. Rifle caliber choice is a relative and pocketbook dependent. Sure a 3006 will lay down a deer, but you do it with a 223 also... The man buying the rifle needs to make that decision.

If we're throwing out opinions.... For hunting.. I'm a 6 creed guy till I'm going after animals that are 250+ # . At 250# I become a 7mm PRC guy

 

[CAV1/8]

Is there a factory 06 rifle that would allow you to load bigger bullets without causing feeding issues?

 

[Lou270]

30-06 and 270 are both fine cartridges. With modern propellants, and the few grains of extra case capacity they can both give a little more performance hand loaded then what you get from factory loads. For example, a 270 with a slow burning powder can push 150 grain bullet 3000 fps. And guess what... That remains supersonic past a thousand yards and a bit more punch when it gets there compared to a 6.5 CM.

When we start splitting hairs and arguing about minor differences, we forget it usually ain't about the cartridge. It's about the shooter.

One thing people miss is that standard saami velocity specs for legacy rounds like the .270 and .30-06 were set with single base “legacy” powders. Starting with the RUMs and particularly, the WSMs, new rounds have specs set with “modern” double base powders. Look at loading manuals - only best combos match the published velocity but for a 270 for ex a bunch of powders will match factory and some will beat significantly. This is why, for ex, the the 300 WSM factory velocities match 300 Win velocities despite a smaller case. Handloads with equiv powder and “superformance” factory loads employ these new powders and get significantly higher velocity (3k+ with 150s in 270, 3100+ with 180s in 300 Win) in legacy cartridges. This is why you don’t see superformance wsm, prc loads for ex. Most already use the “best” powders in their default loads, particularly the magnums where performance is important for marketing. For ex, look what happened with the 7prc when Hornady could not get RL26. Everybody on the internet crapping their pants that the PRC is getting 2800 fps instead of the advertised 3k

Lou

 

[SDHNTR]

Is there a factory 06 rifle that would allow you to load bigger bullets without causing feeding issues?

How big?

 

[Speaks]

The 06 is plenty capable to ranges much further than I can shoot, as is the 270. So are other cartridges with half the recoil.

 

[CAV1/8]

How big?

Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve never reloaded. I would like to get into reloading and that is why I’m in search for a caliber that I could use anywhere.

The 06 seems to be the one. With new powders and the high BC bullets I figured the 06 would have a competitive edge with all the new sexy cartridges is available.

I’m trying to gather as much data as I can before I make a selection because my finances will only allow me to buy one rifle to do it all.

 

[SDHNTR]

Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve never reloaded. I would like to get into reloading and that is why I’m in search for a caliber that I could use anywhere.

The 06 seems to be the one. With new powders and the high BC bullets I figured the 06 would have a competitive edge with all the new sexy cartridges is available.

I’m trying to gather as much data as I can before I make a selection because my finances will only allow me to buy one rifle to do it all.

The 30-06 could definitely do it all, but if you want to shoot the long heavies, you’re gonna need a faster twist barrel than what’s commonly available on factory guns.

 

[Pacific27]

Last year I bought a Franchi Momentum in .308. for my first hunting rifle.

Work life, side hustle and pressure from my manager to get my professional licensure consumed all my free time and I barely had any time to get any fishing in let alone hunting so the Franchi is still brand new.

This winter found a Savage 110 Trail Hunter Lite in 30-06 for a good price, so purchased it.

Now I have to decide, which one to keep. The correct answer is probably both, but need to let one go.

On the fence as to which one is best for first hunting rifle .... Decisions, decisions

 

[CAV1/8]

The 30-06 could definitely do it all, but if you want to shoot the long heavies, you’re gonna need a faster twist barrel than what’s commonly available on factory guns.

So would you suggest buying a factory and upgrading the barrel?

 

[Lawnboi]

So would you suggest buying a factory and upgrading the barrel?

For what hunters are doing, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze imo in the 3006. I’m really not gaining much from going to a 185berger to say a 215 Berger, atleast not at the range those bullets provide the terminal effects I want.

That said a 3006 with a 180-200 grain bullet is no ballistic slouch

 

[SDHNTR]

So would you suggest buying a factory and upgrading the barrel?

Not likely necessary. Again, it depends on how heavy you’re talking about. You could easily shoot something like a 185 or 190 Berger no problem, which should cover any and all bases easily!

 

[3325]

Everything has limitations. Within reason, most shooters are limited more by their ability and the circumstances of the shot than they are by the capability of what they are shooting; few shooters will be able to shoot up to the capabilities of their rifle in a hunting situation.

When I say “within reason” I don’t mean that many shooters can’t get more done with a .30-06 than a .30-30. But few of those same shooters can get more done with a .300 Win Mag than they could get done with a .30-06.

Cool factor is fluid. Many of today’s shooter’s, preoccupied with inconsequential increments and the latest gee wiz choices, will be tomorrow’s ”Fudds.”

The late, great Jeff Cooper loved the .30-06. Jim Zumbo kills elk with an ‘06. Hemingway killed lions in Africa with an ‘06. Many of the biggest bears in Alaska have been cleanly killed with an ‘06. To me, this is cool. Not quite as cool as Jack O’Connor and a .270, but pretty close.