30-06 vs 30-06AI

[Ed]

Hi,

I am planning my first target rifle build. It will be a 30-06, possibly improved. It will be for informal shooting, and likely some 600 yard matches. I have read pretty much all available information on the internet about the 30-06AI, and much of it is in conflict. Do you all feel that it is worth it for the ~5% increase in case volume? I understand the brass will be more stable, and perhaps headspace more accurately. What are you your experiences with the 30-06AI?

thanks,
Ed

 

[Austin]

well no experience on the AI side of things but a standard 06' is able to run with the bigdogs if done right.its a great round on the bench if your gun is a heavier 1.with 160/170gr class through 240grs its got the power to push it to 1000.if its AIed its even better.

 

[Ed]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually leaning towards setting it up for 150 grain bullets. I was thinking that booting the 150gr Berger flat base with some authority would work pretty well at the intermediate ranges. I would also like to try the Lapua Lock Base and various Palma Bullets.

 

[Austin]

sounds good to me.naked or molys?it will sling them both fast if your gun likes them.I like any of the 06 family.

 

[Austin]

I just looked at some notes i forgot about.if the bergers hold up you should shoot them at 1925-1950+ with ramshot hunter and biggame powders.i dont know how the accuracy will be tho.what will that do to a buck this season hmmmm.

 

[Asscott4]

Just a question. Why wouldnt you want to go with a .308 if youre not going to shoot really heavy bullets? I was just wondering because i was under the impression that the 06 and the .308 are almost the same with lighter grain bullets. just my .02

 

[Ed]

There are a lot of more fashionable calibers, but It is for sentimental reasons. My dad is in pretty bad shape and he is a big fan of the 30-06. He even bought me my first 30-06 a month after I was born, so we would have a matching pair. He blessed off a rebuild of a 25-06 he bought me years ago that never really shot too well and I thought a tack-driving 30-06 would be a nice homage.
I would prefer the lighter bullets so that if I sit on a bean field or chop with it occasionally it will shoot pretty flat for as far as I would take a deer. I would also like to try the 125 Ballistic Tips out, as our Florida deer fall easily and these have a good reputation. I think I may be able to get 3400+ fps with them and a long barrel.

 

[Austin]

2925-2950 fps.sorry big missprint.

 

[hopefullbencher]

Hello,
From what I have read, no real experience with it, but the AI version only has real appreciable gains in the heavier bullet range. Like I said this is what I have read in the Nosler manual.
Mike

 

[Rem06]

ed,
my first rifle was a rem700bdl .30-06.i had it "improved" to .30-06AI.i too wanted to keep it a .30-06.make a long story short,keep it a .30-06.especially if you are going to shoot lighter bullets.i currently shoot 200SMK in mine,the only way i could get good accuracy out of my lighter bullets was to slow them down? a .308 is good for that.