Old Work Horse. Been around forever. Can,t go wrong. Tommy Mc
30-06 fans sell me on it
- Thread starter Hammer101st
- Start date
Some years ago, I bought a very nice Remington 721 in 30.06 off Gunbroker with the same vintage as me (1950). I had always heard that the caliber was a bit out of date and was thinking of rebarreling it in another caliber. In doing some research on the rifle, I came on an article by one of my personal heroes in professional hunting Harry Selby. This story, which is a very good read BTW, really changed my mind about this venerable cartridge! Anyone interested in the capabilities of the cartridge should take the time to read the article:
www.americanrifleman.org
An Official Journal Of The NRA | No Ordinary Rifle
For a half-century, a Remington Model 721 in .30-’06 Sprg. proved accurate and rugged, and became one of the most trusted rifles for professional hunter Harry Selby.
180gr to 220gr bullets especially old time tested proven game stoppers like Nosler Partitions, Remington Cor-Lokt, Speer Grand Slams and the like will drop everything from Deer to Elk to Caribou with ease!
Stay away from 150gr. bullets that is 1940's technology and thinking and a waste of powder if you have a choice.
My two favorite hunting chamberings for all of North American big game are 30-06 and 300 Win Mag. they will both get the job done with out much waste of powder and with manageable recoil at actual ranges 99.999% of hunting for food and trophies actual happens.
If you decided you needed 20% to 30% more performance you could easily have a competent gunsmith rechamber the barrel, open the bolt and feed rails to make it a 300 Win Mag.
I own 2 300 Win Mag's and 1 30-06. Someone that might not be able to handle the recoil of a 300 Win Mag and often handle a 30-06! You get a lot life out of 30-06!
Everyone and there mother makes after market parts and stocks for Remington 700 and everyone can do basic blue printing to one. Everyone sells Remage-Prefit barrels! If you stick with cases based on of 30-06 like 25-06 Rem and 270 Win a rebarrel alone with no bolt work or feed ramp work is doable at home!
Stay away from 150gr. bullets that is 1940's technology and thinking and a waste of powder if you have a choice.
My two favorite hunting chamberings for all of North American big game are 30-06 and 300 Win Mag. they will both get the job done with out much waste of powder and with manageable recoil at actual ranges 99.999% of hunting for food and trophies actual happens.
If you decided you needed 20% to 30% more performance you could easily have a competent gunsmith rechamber the barrel, open the bolt and feed rails to make it a 300 Win Mag.
I own 2 300 Win Mag's and 1 30-06. Someone that might not be able to handle the recoil of a 300 Win Mag and often handle a 30-06! You get a lot life out of 30-06!
Everyone and there mother makes after market parts and stocks for Remington 700 and everyone can do basic blue printing to one. Everyone sells Remage-Prefit barrels! If you stick with cases based on of 30-06 like 25-06 Rem and 270 Win a rebarrel alone with no bolt work or feed ramp work is doable at home!
FNSafari
Gold $$ Contributor
Very good reading thanks for posting the link. I have a 721 30 Government and my wife a 722 257 Roberts. Both are drop dead basic rifles that shoot and handle just great. I think I paid just $250 a few years ago for the 30, and am not sure what they are going for today. Prolly not less!Some years ago, I bought a very nice Remington 721 in 30.06 off Gunbroker with the same vintage as me (1950). I had always heard that the caliber was a bit out of date and was thinking of rebarreling it in another caliber. In doing some research on the rifle, I came on an article by one of my personal heroes in professional hunting Harry Selby. This story, which is a very good read BTW, really changed my mind about this venerable cartridge! Anyone interested in the capabilities of the cartridge should take the time to read the article:
An Official Journal Of The NRA | No Ordinary Rifle
For a half-century, a Remington Model 721 in .30-’06 Sprg. proved accurate and rugged, and became one of the most trusted rifles for professional hunter Harry Selby.
Good reading on the 06 for the fan club.
www.safaripress.com
One Man, One Rifle, One Land - Safari Press Publications - Books
<p>ONE MAN, ONE RIFLE, ONE LAND <br />Hunting All Species of Big Game in North America <br />by J. Y. Jones</p> <p>2001 Long Beach, 558pp, 300 color photos, large format, 8.5x11, hardcover, dj <br />ISBN: 978-1-57157-169-4</p> <p>Over 40 years ago, J. Y
www.safaripress.com
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
If they renamed it the ”30 Creedmore” and changed nothing else, it would outsell anything on the Planet.
I spent a lot of time fishing with my late Dad. One evening while night fishing on a boat dock, our conversation turned into the M1 Garand. He was a trooper with the 26th Cavalry; little known fact the 26th horse cavalry had M1 Garands when the Japanese landed in the Philippines.
He just casually mentioned, he said during last days in Bataan before the surrender and the eventual Death March, the battles got real nasty in some areas, and if you hit a Japanese up close in the chest with a 30-06, all you hear is the death gurgle and/or a faint moan, and sometimes nothing.
He carried another M1 Garand in Korea till he came home in 51, I was born in 52.
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I like the 30-06. Haven't killed much with it myself (a couple caribou) as I mostly carry a 338 WM for all around use here in Alaska.
My general purpose 30-06 load for everything in Alaska from Sitka Blacktails to Moose is a 168 grain Barnes TTSX fueled by H4350. Were I to specifically hunt Grizz or brownies with one of my 06s. I would likely load some 200 or 220 grainers and be comfortable with the choice. The old 06 is really versatile.
My general purpose 30-06 load for everything in Alaska from Sitka Blacktails to Moose is a 168 grain Barnes TTSX fueled by H4350. Were I to specifically hunt Grizz or brownies with one of my 06s. I would likely load some 200 or 220 grainers and be comfortable with the choice. The old 06 is really versatile.
RL-17 w/ 165 gr. Speer or Sierra. RL-16 with the 165 Hornady in standard chambers.
RL-17 w/ 190 Sierra in the Serengeti chamber (3.370”)
RL-17 w/ 190 Sierra in the Serengeti chamber (3.370”)
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dave@aDave
Gold $$ Contributor
Why a 3-06?
Because...........................
It just is
Because...........................
It just is
I really did not need an -06, but I inherited a left-hand Savage 110CL from my FIL. The rifle handles and shoots great. I load 150-grain Interlocks, over 4451, for just over 3000 fps. It is very accurate and smucks deer very well.
It will not do anything that my .308 RA won't do at 70fps slower, but it is a great rifle/cartridge. The -06 does handle the heavy bullets better, due to case capacity.
It will not do anything that my .308 RA won't do at 70fps slower, but it is a great rifle/cartridge. The -06 does handle the heavy bullets better, due to case capacity.
I'm not a fan of anything but functionality. The 30 06 is that in spades for THE HUNTER of medium to large game, moose, large brown bear, hippo, elephant should cause you to think in another direction.
The 06 is better today then ever and with a 26" tube you may get 1990, 300 magnum capabilities on the high end and 30 30+ on light recoil loads.
Still a great choice for a family man with a wife and kids to feed.
FNSafari
Gold $$ Contributor
Sell you on it....100 or 110 grain bullets for varmints or 200/220 grain bullets for moose, caribou, elk.
The 30-06's range of applications is so very broad, the bullet selections are huge and the performance is superb. Have used it on a few moose, with 200 grain Nosler Partition semi-roundnose bullets and its simply outstanding with well placed shots, broadside or raking. Having said that, a .308 Norma Magnum is even better
The 30-06's range of applications is so very broad, the bullet selections are huge and the performance is superb. Have used it on a few moose, with 200 grain Nosler Partition semi-roundnose bullets and its simply outstanding with well placed shots, broadside or raking. Having said that, a .308 Norma Magnum is even better
As some prob said by now, your 4350’s will work great with 150 to 165 gr boolits. I get 0.3 moa at 300 yds with 150 Nosler AB pushed by RL16 lit by WLRM primer. MV = 2911. Will kill anything on this continent with appropriate shot placement.
Forgot to mention, recoil is meh…with the above load.
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