.30/06 thoughts

kcm2

WKR
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
410
something in the 270/30-06 class is all you need for elk at reasonable ranges. As in under 500 or so....and most of us should not be shooting over that, if that. Shot placement is still 90% of killing elk. Plenty of folks with 6.5 creedmoors are showing that more power is not as important as more accuracy.
 

RafterH

FNG
Joined
Aug 6, 2019
Messages
23
Gave my OLD Savage 110 in 30-06 to my son. That old gun is lights out with 180 Partitions. True one ragged hole. Replaced it with a 300 WSM. Sometimes I regret that choice. Been toying with getting another 30-06. I"m getting old enough to start paring down the safe. Well, maybe not.
 

Jon Boy

WKR
Joined
May 25, 2012
Messages
1,784
Location
Paradise Valley, MT
Thinking of one for my next rifle that I'm putting together for the timber. I see some guys are getting 3150 with the 151 hammers. Seems like some pretty good elk medicine.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Jul 21, 2019
Messages
521
Location
Texas
In my previous post I shot that bull with hand loaded 150 grain Sierra Gamekings. He was dead after the first shot to the offside lung..I hit him a couple more time though as he showed now sign of going down..think it was my lack of experience though as this was my first bull..
I think you did good. Elk live I some nasty steep country. And you don’t want them to bail off into some steep canyon after the shot. So doesn’t matter if I am convinced my first shot was lethal, I fire again as long as he is standing.
 

Mosby

WKR
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
1,938
Anyone have experience with 130 ttsx? Should be getting about 3100 fps out of a 22" barrel.
I shoot the 130gr TSX through my WSM and it is a tack driver with those bullets. Accuracy was so good, I am going to try them in my 06.
 

Big_wals

WKR
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
405
Location
W Texas
Anyone have experience with 130 ttsx? Should be getting about 3100 fps out of a 22" barrel.
Love the 130. I shoot the tsx, not the ttsx but I'm sure theyd perform the same on a critter. Started using them after I recovered two hornady 165 interlocks out of an elk. Granted, those aren't a premium bullet, but they both weighed around 125. The 130 tsx retains all its weight and has fairly light recoil for an 06. Sub moa most days, and one ragged hole if Im having a good day and do my part! As they say, you can have a good rifle and load but it comes down to the nut behind the bolt in the end
 

excaliber

WKR
Joined
Jun 21, 2013
Messages
494
Location
Southwest Idaho
I'm in the minority here even though my 30-06 has killed Elk and deer. Under 300 yards it's a fine caliber but past that I'd rather be using my 300 Win Mag.
 
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
374
Just picked up a tikka t3, has anyone messed with rl 16 with 165/180. I know a lot of guys like imr/h 4350 too. I know this has been referenced a zillion times. Any advice would be great. I’m thinking the 165 tipped gameking ( bc .53) for deer through elk. Thanks in advance
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2020
Messages
398
Location
Nunya
I own a CZ 550 American in .30-06. Shot 4 elk (and some other stuff) with it. Very happy with my choice of caliber (and, for the most part, with the gun--which probably won't help the OP b/c it's no longer made). I'll probably never buy myself another rifle--it's so versatile and I'd rather spend my $$ on glass.

I'm not a good enough shot for the 30-06's issues with long-range performance to matter.

I shoot 180 gr. Barnes Vortex TTSX factory ammo. Probably overkill. But it works. And that big bullet has hung together through the shoulder/ leg of a couple elk, which makes me feel comfortable shooting quartering to.

The recoil is manageable for me, but after shooting about a box of ammo in one sitting, I start to flinch so I stop before I develop even worse shooting habits.

I thought I would always be able to find factory ammo, but these days it ain't a given.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,828
Location
Western Montana
Just picked up a tikka t3, has anyone messed with rl 16 with 165/180. I know a lot of guys like imr/h 4350 too. I know this has been referenced a zillion times. Any advice would be great. I’m thinking the 165 tipped gameking ( bc .53) for deer through elk. Thanks in advance
IMR4350 or H4350 are excellent in the 30-06. I use IMR4350 in mine with 165 gr. Nosler Accubonds or Partitions. 57.4 grains with either bullet shoots great! Killed lots of deer, antelope, and elk with the 30-06 and 165 gr. bullets.
 

wmd

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 30, 2019
Messages
100
Location
Brookings SD
Have you guys that are handloading tried any accubonds in the .06?
A friend loaded 180 gr Accubond with 54.5 gr WW 760 powder for me after trying numerous loads, this was the most accurate out of my Savage 111. Can find ammo most anywhere in the world.
Shot my bull last fall at 255 yards with this load , went about 60 yards.
wmd
 

DDD

FNG
Joined
Jul 3, 2016
Messages
38
30/06 more than enough for elk. Less about the gun more about shot placement!
 

JakeSCH

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2020
Messages
1,001
Location
San Diego, CA
Like many others have said, it is a great sub 500y gun and will kill elk as long as you put the bullet in the vitals. I load 175 LRX in my dad's tikka 30-06 @ 2750...its money.
 

barrister

WKR
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Messages
369
Location
Ohio
I love my Bergara Premier Stalker in 30-06. It is great with factory loaded Federal Premium Barnes TSX, 180 grains. In addition to a couple mule deer at 200 and 440 yards, I killed a bull elk this past fall at 510 yards. I'm glad the rifle likes the Barnes bullets, because I'm impressed with Barnes. They've all been one shot kills with the deer not moving more than 5-10 yards from the point of impact and the elk moving about 30 yards. I practice out to 600 yards and have full confidence with my setup at that range. I will use this rifle and bullet combination for anything from antelope to moose.
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
Joined
Jul 2, 2016
Messages
11,206
Location
Alaska
The 30-06 is an excellent cartridge and works great for elk. I’m a huge 06 fan. When I first moved to AK all I had was a 30-06. I put moose and caribou in the dirt with it for a few years.

I still like the 06 and will always have a few.
 
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