Old but still lethal 30-06 on Elk.

[Adam0321/0306]

Granted this was a cow and only a 277 yard shot. But I debated time and again what weapon I was going to bring for my first elk hunt. I was going to splurge and get a 7mm REM mag or a 300 WM, but I had this old girl in my safe and she once again did not let me down. One single double lung shot and she dropped in her tracks. Now that I have taken my first elk, she will always have a home.

The bullet was Hornady precision 178 ELD-X.

 

[Doug Beach]

“The .30-06 is never a mistake.”
Townsend Whelen.

 

[jds holler]

Folks been pounding elks with 30-06's for over a hundred years now, and it's still hard to beat. Good job, and congrats. jd

 

[David Milisock]

If it's not broken, don't fix it!

 

[Doug Casner]

The only elk I ever killed was with a .308 . Its just a 3006 short. Doug

 

[MTPaul]

Congrats on the elk. It looks to be a high shoulder shot. No wonder she dropped in her tracks. By taking a high shoulder shot you preserved one of the best organs - the heart! Bon Appetit!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Good job there Adam! Nuthin' wrong with the old '06, just talk to any WWII combat vet. My M70 '06 with 200gr Partitions accounted for a number of bulls for me too over the years.

Now the old girl (1951 M70) wears a different barrel in .338-06 Improved. Five bulls so far have fallen to this rifle, all one shot kills with the Nosler 210gr Partition. So if you ever decide to give yours a facelift, you may want to consider the 338-06 Improved or standard, as it really thumps those big boys.



That rifle now will always have a special meaning for you.

 

[dantiff2]

Congrats on the elk. It looks to be a high shoulder shot. No wonder she dropped in her tracks. By taking a high shoulder shot you preserved one of the best organs - the heart! Bon Appetit!

Emm, pickled heart

 

[Hoekight]

“The .30-06 is never a mistake.”
Townsend Whelen.

This. Right. Here.

 

[K22]

I never hunted Elk, but my ex-boss was born, raised and hunted Elk along with his extended family throughout the West for many years. Their rifles of choice, 30 06 and 270 Win. Results - numerous tags filled. They were old school, skilled, experienced hunters and outdoorsmen, not "paper-desk bound theory" experts.

A few years back my best friend embarked on his first Elk hunt out West. He took a 5x4 Bull Elk with a Model 88 Winchester, 308 Win using 165 grain Nosler Accubond factory ammo. One shot kill at about 175 yards. My friend is of the same mold as the aforementioned hunters; old school, experienced, and a highly skilled field shot.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

Granted this was a cow and only a 277 yard shot. But I debated time and again what weapon I was going to bring for my first elk hunt. I was going to splurge and get a 7mm REM mag or a 300 WM, but I had this old girl in my safe and she once again did not let me down. One single double lung shot and she dropped in her tracks. Now that I have taken my first elk, she will always have a home.

The bullet was Hornady precision 178 ELD-X.

My dad only hunted with 1 rifle a Remington 760 pump in 30-06 all his life iron sights only he shot a lot of deer with it. And a new fellow moved here to town from back home in Pa. about 6 years ago. I meet him and he asked me to tell him an elk and deer rifle for out here in Montana. I asked what he had used and his reply a Remington 760 30-06 and shot a lot of deer with it. My reply was just keep using it it's all the gun you need. Last I saw him in the gas station in about 6 years now he has tagged many elk and deer here with it. So if your old pump gun did well back east and you come here to hunt it should do just fine under most hunting conditions you'll do as good as anyone else.

 

[Doug Casner]

Ive seen alot of old deer and elk hunters packin 760s and 742s in 3006. Doug

 

[jds holler]

I've never shot a bull, but I've shot seven cows -- all with my 270 Ruger 77. I don't like the way that rifle groups, but it's plenty good to shoot an elk at 2 or 3 hundred yards.

A couple of those cows dropped where they stood, most of em ran at least a few hundred yards. I usually find my bullet under the hide on the far side.

I would never hesitate to shoot a big bull at that reasonable range. Bulls can often be a third bigger, but a bullet through the lungs is what it is.

Any of those cartridges in that power level and bullet weights are as good as ever for a responsible shooter. They have NEVER been good enough for lobbing bullets at elks that are 500+ yards away. jd

 

[nakneker]

Everyone needs a 30-06 or three. I have my Dad’s old number one 30-06, his Winchester pre 64 30-06 and my posterity will get them after I’ve had my turn with them. They've filled their share of tags.

 

[WesG260]

Neighbor around the corner, old Swede from Minnesota. First and only deer I ever shot was on a trek with him.

After he passed, his daughter offered me whatever I wanted ... I picked the 'thirty oh 6' 721 Remington he carried. Along with a couple of my Dad's guns, it's a cherished possession.

Need to take it out and exercise it one of these days.

Only other '06 I have is a NM Garand. Good cartridge, but I'm mainly a target shooter, not a hunter.

FWIW, the NM '06 outshoots the 308 I had built...

 

[Adam0321/0306]

Folks been pounding elks with 30-06's for over a hundred years now, and it's still hard to beat. Good job, and congrats. jd

Thank you.

 

[Adam0321/0306]

Congrats on the elk. It looks to be a high shoulder shot. No wonder she dropped in her tracks. By taking a high shoulder shot you preserved one of the best organs - the heart! Bon Appetit!

That’s exactly where I was holding. Hoping to anchor her. Which it did.

 

[Adam0321/0306]

Good job there Adam! Nuthin' wrong with the old '06, just talk to any WWII combat vet. My M70 '06 with 200gr Partitions accounted for a number of bulls for me too over the years.

Now the old girl (1951 M70) wears a different barrel in .338-06 Improved. Five bulls so far have fallen to this rifle, all one shot kills with the Nosler 210gr Partition. So if you ever decide to give yours a facelift, you may want to consider the 338-06 Improved or standard, as it really thumps those big boys.



That rifle now will always have a special meaning for you.

It certainly will. Had a guy on the trip try to buy it from me. Told him not a chance.