Don't get a 30-06

[TaperPin]

A lot of anti 30-06 chatter seems to be based on the often false assumption that the shooter doesn’t have other rifles and they are beating themselves up trying to use it as a trainer or that any skills developed with smaller cartridges aren’t transferable to shooting rifles with more recoil. Granted larger calibers require all the shooting skills that smaller cartridges do in addition to learning recoil management.

I don’t think I’m all that different from many rural guys who have a number of guns to choose from, in varmint calibers on up. Not a single moment have I ever thought it’s too bad all this trigger time shooting prairie dogs doesn’t transfer to anything else. Just the opposite, good long range varmint shooter make the best big game shooters even if their larger caliber guns aren’t shot at all except to check zero and go hunting. A new shooter doesn’t have to wonder if skills transfer, it’s in plain sight for anyone to see.

I can appreciate the challenge for shooters that don’t grow up around friends and family that shoot a wide variety of cartridges well since it’s a lot to digest, and so much of what is said convinces new shooters to not own any more rifles than absolutely necessary and it misses the perspective someone gets trying out a wider variety. Even worse is telling a new shooter to not learn how to shoot a wide variety of cartridges and only trust what they are being told is correct and to not question it.

 

[FlyD10]

A lot of anti 30-06 chatter seems to be based on the often false assumption that the shooter doesn’t have other rifles and they are beating themselves up trying to use it as a trainer or that any skills developed with smaller cartridges aren’t transferable to shooting rifles with more recoil. Granted larger calibers require all the shooting skills that smaller cartridges do in addition to learning recoil management.

Great point. Not sure about the assumptions, but you sure can't beat practicing with a 22 or 223 for 95% of your shooting skills.

Not helping me justify a new gun tho! Guess I really don't need one.

 

[betelgeuse]

Same, the 30-06 is incredibly common here in AK, people use it for everything. I think I know like 5 rokslide here in AK but probably ~30 people who use the 30-06 and are not on rokslide.

I am sure ammo is everywhere for .30-06 there. It's a great utility cartridge which can go up to .220 grain bullets. You can probably buy ammo at the hardware store.

 

[MuleyFever]

I was just looking at some other site yesterday and saw 2 posts from people asking about an '06 for their first rifle. Outside of this bubble, people still like the cartridge.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I am sure ammo is everywhere for .30-06 there. It's a great utility cartridge which can go up to .220 grain bullets. You can probably buy ammo at the hardware store.

Yup, they have ammo at the hardware store. And the grocery store. I always go to garage sales because often there’s boxes of ammo for sale as well. When we moved into our house there was a case of 30-06 core loct 220g bullets out in the shop the previous owner had left behin.

 

[natedock1]

Says the guy who only hunts deer in Northern Minnesota from a stand... do some research on who you're talking to before spouting nonsense.

I spot and stalk and track big deer in heavy timber and swamps you have never seen the likes of…but thanks

 

[pa52855]

I own bolt guns in 30-06, 243, 300wm, and 223. They all shoot great.

It's a major #firstworldproblems issue. Every time I think about buying a new rifle / caliber I talk myself out of it because from a practical standpoint pretty much all of my big game rifle hunting needs are more than adequately met by that lineup.

In fact, i could probably get rid of everything but the '06 and still be in the same boat. Not to mention 80% of the time I'm bow hunting anyway.

Owning a 30-06 is super boring - it's a total joy thief. It already does exactly what you're hoping that shiny new rifle will do from a hunting standpoint. And just like that, you can't logically justify that new rifle purchase.

I'm only 40 years old. Am I already turning into a fudd? Please help!

we are always searching for the new all encompassing caliber but they already exist.

 

[wind gypsy]

I’d walk away with a boat load of money if I bet everyone with a 3006 that they could cold bore a 500 yd 2moa circle before season every year.

Just an observation, that maybe isn’t totally the cartridge but the people who are still shooting them.

Fwiw I’d have zero issue cold bore hitting a 10” target at 500 in decent conditions with my 3006, but mine isn’t like most. And I shoot a boat load of smaller stuff.

Guarantee a random cross section of hunters with 30-06 (or really any Cartridge) - more would miss a 2 MOA circle at 100 yds than hit it on first shot and it wouldn't be close.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Guarantee a random cross section of hunters with 30-06 (or really any Cartridge) - more would miss a 2 MOA circle at 100 yds than hit it on first shot and it wouldn't be close.

I spot and stalk and track big deer in heavy timber and swamps you have never seen the likes of…but thanks

you sound like an extremely hardcore hunter. I’m really impressed. You should tell us more.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

If you dont have an M1 already nows the time to get one. The CMP option with the brand new barrel and stock is really a bargain for what you get.

Yup. I got one as my graduation present when I finished college. They represent a phenomenal value that I think people will really only appreciate once they're gone. A practically mint condition M1 that shoots great, but that you don't have to feel bad getting scratched up in the field.

In 15 years guys are gonna be kicking themselves for not having bought one when they had the chance. I think if I get a CWD tag next year, I'll try to shoot a doe with mine.

 

[jmez]

My son is 13. Upper right was first shot at 100 yards. Dialed scope, 5 shots in the lower group. 2 MOA isn't that tough with a decent gun and optics.

Sent from my moto g power - 2025 using Tapatalk

 

[thinhorn_AK]

My son is 13. Upper right was first shot at 100 yards. Dialed scope, 5 shots in the lower group. 2 MOA isn't that tough with a decent gun and optics.

Sent from my moto g power - 2025 using Tapatalk

It’s crazy that people get so wrapped up in this small cartridge thing that they honestly believe people can’t even hit targets with 30 caliber rifles.

 

[North of 60]

It’s crazy that people get so wrapped up in this small cartridge thing that they honestly believe people can’t even hit targets with 30 caliber rifles.

I think most can agree anyone new to shooting is definitely better off with a light recoiling weapon to better learn good form.

And it seems "large cartridge" is relative to what one is accustomed to - for me a large cartridge is .300 win mag and larger, or a hot-loaded .45-70. There are larger charge/heavier bullet weight cartridges than those...

And the wonderful news is that it seems suppressors pretty much take recoil down to around the next lower class of cartridges...whatever one shoots.

 

[hereinaz]

It’s crazy that people get so wrapped up in this small cartridge thing that they honestly believe people can’t even hit targets with 30 caliber rifles.

That’s a strawman argument. Make your argument and hold whatever opinion you want, but there is no need to misrepresent.

No one is saying people can’t hit because it is a 30 caliber… yeesh

What we ARE saying is the smaller calibers do everything to animals the big ones do WITHOUT the recoil, and make shooting easier.

 

[Zebadiahetter]

I own bolt guns in 30-06, 243, 300wm, and 223. They all shoot great.

It's a major #firstworldproblems issue. Every time I think about buying a new rifle / caliber I talk myself out of it because from a practical standpoint pretty much all of my big game rifle hunting needs are more than adequately met by that lineup.

In fact, i could probably get rid of everything but the '06 and still be in the same boat. Not to mention 80% of the time I'm bow hunting anyway.

Owning a 30-06 is super boring - it's a total joy thief. It already does exactly what you're hoping that shiny new rifle will do from a hunting standpoint. And just like that, you can't logically justify that new rifle purchase.

I'm only 40 years old. Am I already turning into a fudd? Please help!

I think you ought to add the .270 for a complete line up haha taken all my deer, elk, and antelope with the old girl!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

That’s a strawman argument. Make your argument and hold whatever opinion you want, but there is no need to misrepresent.

No one is saying people can’t hit because it is a 30 caliber… yeesh

What we ARE saying is the smaller calibers do everything to animals the big ones do WITHOUT the recoil, and make shooting easier.

There was literally a guy saying he’d be rich if he bet money that somebody couldn’t hit a target with a 30-06 while implying that it was possible with a smaller cartridge.

Don’t take this personally. You’re better than that.

To your point, I agree, smaller cartridges are capable for hunting uses, as i stated a few times already, I like and use both. It’s funny when people think this is new and ground breaking information when it was literally proven the us government and foreign militaries shortly after World War One.

Yes, smaller cartridges are easier to shoot, I’m not convinced that 308 and 30-06 at least in my experience are difficult to shoot well, especially when we have silencers and well designed rifle stocks. I do think those big RUMS and stuff like that are hard to shoot though.

 

[rickyw]

What we ARE saying is the smaller calibers do everything to animals the big ones do WITHOUT the recoil, and make shooting easier.

Not everything. Bigger match bullets can make bigger wound channels. See forms 30 cal wound channel pictures, they’re on here somewhere. Heck, the 165 grain sst superperformance load out of a 30-06 makes a massive wound channel. Whether that is needed is up for debate.

 

[hereinaz]

Not everything. Bigger match bullets can make bigger wound channels. See forms 30 cal wound channel pictures, they’re on here somewhere. Heck, the 165 grain sst superperformance load out of a 30-06 makes a massive wound channel. Whether that is needed is up for debate.

Doesn’t kill them any deader…

 

[hereinaz]

There was literally a guy saying he’d be rich if he bet money that somebody couldn’t hit a target with a 30-06 while implying that it was possible with a smaller cartridge.

Don’t take this personally. You’re better than that.

Read it again— he is talking about the general lack of skill. And, he is right about a huge proportion of the shooters at the range I see are any like the rest of the country.

He said:

section of hunters with 30-06 (or really any Cartridge)

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Read it again— he is talking about the general lack of skill. And, he is right about a huge proportion of the shooters at the range I see are any like the rest of the country.

He said:

section of hunters with 30-06 (or really any Cartridge)

Yes he’s heavily implying that it wouldn’t be an issue with a smaller cartridge. People think this is new in for when it’s was proven almost 100 years ago that people shoot smaller cartridges better (higher hit rates).

Again you are taking this personally when I’ve clearly stated I like smaller cartridges too. That’s literally what this whole thread has been, saying that people who like 30-06 are inferior marksmen, I was even accused having no knowledge and buying a 30-06 by some guy.

I’ve been under the impression that you are highly successful and highly educated, so why misrepresent what this thread is really all about???

Read through it again.