Me and my “ aught 6”
- Thread starter Bottom Fodder
- Start date
First hunting rifle was my father's M1 Garand. The next was a Winchester 70. Still love the .30-06. Getting ready to reload a bunch of rounds for my M1 Garand. Don't hunt any more, but still love the round.
My Dad carried a pre-64 model 70 in 30-06 from about 1962 up until he stopped hunting just a few years ago. My first hunting rifle was a bolt action 30-30 that I carried when I turned 12 and could hunt in Oregon. It was just a couple years later that my Dad and a local gunsmith helped me build a 30-06 of my own from a Sanata Barbara barreled action and a custom stock. Nearly 50 years have gone by since then and I have everything from a 223 to a 300 Weatherby in my gun safes, but that same 30-06 is the gun that hits the mountains of the Northwest with me every year. We've taken mule deer at 500+ yards and elk at 15 yards. Wouldn't leave home without it.
Brians356
Silver $$ Contributor
Think that hurt? Try it with a Pre-64 Featherweight in 30-06, no butt pad. (My dear old dad's bequest. He won it in a raffle, courtesy Lolo Sporting Goods, Lewiston, Idaho.)
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6MMsteve
Gold $$ Contributor
that's a beautiful rifle
Hino895
Gold $$ Contributor
I currently have 3 06s a Sako a Garand and a Savage super sporter.
I’ve had several more over the years but have never hunted with one.
I’m on the fence on which primary rifle I’ll use this year, 6.5PRC or .240 Weatherby.
I’m loading 80gr Barnes tsx for the Weatherby and have never shot a deer with a solid bullet, would like to.
BUT now I’m thinking it might be time to uncase the Sako 30/06 with Accubonds and give it a go.
Choices
I’ve had several more over the years but have never hunted with one.
I’m on the fence on which primary rifle I’ll use this year, 6.5PRC or .240 Weatherby.
I’m loading 80gr Barnes tsx for the Weatherby and have never shot a deer with a solid bullet, would like to.
BUT now I’m thinking it might be time to uncase the Sako 30/06 with Accubonds and give it a go.
Choices
brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
Mid 90s 700 bdl stainless, engraved plate, and wearing chaps sits in my line up.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
Loaded with modern components and to modern pressures the “Ole 06” is big medicine. I have two, a real pretty custom Cooper and a stainless/synthetic Sako. Both are accurate and deadly. It’s in vogue to put down something older that works as good or better than a lot of the “new stuff”. I think if a guy says that he can’t get it done with a well loaded 30-06 then he is just commenting on his shooting/hunting abilities.
Gary
Gary
I own 30-06s and 308s, and I can't understand what you are saying. A 308 is just a shortened 30-06. And its not shortened very much. Your 308 is ballistically inferior to an 06. Do you think a deer ever noticed the difference? I am surprised to hear someone bringing this up at this day and time. i totally expected to have this type of conversation but figured it would be someone telling me that 308s and 30-06s were junk cause a Creedmore was that only thing that would kill todays tougher deer.
brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
Apart from stupidness like we have been dealing with, I can walk into any big box store like Walmart, any big sportsman's store, or any mom and pop and find '06 ammo available all over the country. A '06 150gr soft point of about any kind will put 'em down.
Here's a bold statement based on 50 years+ of hunting and being around hunters, the 30 06 is the greatest big game cartridge ever developed - period!
That's not to say the 270 Win, 308 Win, and similar cartridges are not excellent too, it's just that the 30 06 can do it all for the vast majority of hunters in North America.
Of course, if you're hunting dangerous game such as the western brown bears or going to Africa to hunt the big 5, then you need an appropriate cartridge.
In my humble opinion, there is too much theoretical debates on cartridges and equipment and not enough focus on hunting skills and field marksmanship.
PS: My ex-boss was born and raised in Wyoming. He, his family, and friends hunted Elk extensively throughout the west. Their cartridges of choice - the 30 06 and 270!
That's not to say the 270 Win, 308 Win, and similar cartridges are not excellent too, it's just that the 30 06 can do it all for the vast majority of hunters in North America.
Of course, if you're hunting dangerous game such as the western brown bears or going to Africa to hunt the big 5, then you need an appropriate cartridge.
In my humble opinion, there is too much theoretical debates on cartridges and equipment and not enough focus on hunting skills and field marksmanship.
PS: My ex-boss was born and raised in Wyoming. He, his family, and friends hunted Elk extensively throughout the west. Their cartridges of choice - the 30 06 and 270!
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
I built my Grandson a 30Br when he was 10yrs old. He shoots all my cannons to 458 Lott, but will still use nothing but the 30Br. 125gr. at 3000fps. Many deer and many many hogs and the only animal that needed 2 rounds was a coyote. He is 30 yrs old now. My first hunting kill was a mod70 in 30-06. My 250-3000 has been deadly on Axis deer, but at this time my 308 is my go to.
30-06 is still a great cartridge. Kills deer just fine. The problem is people have figured out that you don't have to take heavy recoil to kill deer. Thus why mid-range cartridges have taken over. Through the years 30-30's have taken gobs of deer. The thing is you don't need a ton of power. Thus why a lot of hunters have gone to midrange cartridges. ....That still have a lot more power than the .30-30.
That said, the .30-06 isn't going away. It's something like the 4th or 5th best selling cartridge still. Can't say if that's rifles and cartridges or just rifles. But, still a big seller.
People make comparisons all the time of 'new vs. old'. And, for the most part, they are meaningless. Any rifle that can put 1000 ft. lbs. of energy on target @ 100 yds. will kill a deer. Out to well beyond that. The differences are when you put new high bc bullets through a rifle, that is capable of handling them, at maximum deer killing ranges. Most people are wanting to go hunting, not just shooting. And most places where you 'hunt', the 30-06 is perfectly capable still. You don't need new 'whiz bang' cartridges for that.
When people just want to go shoot. It's a lot easier handling a rifle with less recoil than the 30-06.
That said, the .30-06 isn't going away. It's something like the 4th or 5th best selling cartridge still. Can't say if that's rifles and cartridges or just rifles. But, still a big seller.
People make comparisons all the time of 'new vs. old'. And, for the most part, they are meaningless. Any rifle that can put 1000 ft. lbs. of energy on target @ 100 yds. will kill a deer. Out to well beyond that. The differences are when you put new high bc bullets through a rifle, that is capable of handling them, at maximum deer killing ranges. Most people are wanting to go hunting, not just shooting. And most places where you 'hunt', the 30-06 is perfectly capable still. You don't need new 'whiz bang' cartridges for that.
When people just want to go shoot. It's a lot easier handling a rifle with less recoil than the 30-06.
Bottom Fodder
Silver $$ Contributor
Glad I woke some aught 6 guys up. I will agree it is a great hunting round!
it’s sad that like others because it’s not “ the latest greatest“ that people don’t talk about it much anymore. at one time I bet the Remington 742 06 was one the most own gun for hunting in my area but I think it was discontinued in the early 80’s partly because the new norm was bolt action chamber in the lastest and greatest
kinda like the 222 fell by the side after the military started using the 223
it’s sad that like others because it’s not “ the latest greatest“ that people don’t talk about it much anymore. at one time I bet the Remington 742 06 was one the most own gun for hunting in my area but I think it was discontinued in the early 80’s partly because the new norm was bolt action chamber in the lastest and greatest
kinda like the 222 fell by the side after the military started using the 223
SEM
Gold $$ Contributor
Me and my aught six's have taken plenty of game and some amazing long shots every thing died with one shot, Then I got cartridge fever wow what a big useless investment that has been..... Now I look to the 30-30 AI LOL age sucks... Thinking an 06 pistol barrel for the Encore is on the horizon though, There I go again
brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
Latest greatest lol. I still use a marlin 30-30 too.
I cant remember the guys name but I got my dad a book that this guy wrote. Killed everything on the north american continent with the 06. He even shot the big bears in alaska with it. Probably had a guy with a .375 h and h backing him up but he did it. Ive heard the old .270, 3006 debate since I was a kid. If you do your part either one is deadly on deer and elk. Doug
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