Old f-class .30-06 conversion to ?

[BronzeArcher]

The trade-offs between cartridge choices are between barrel life, recoil management, and wind drift. Recoil management goes beyond not flinching and includes a consistent hold to reduce different rifle movements as the bullet goes down the bore. For most shooters I've trained, .260 Rem (in a long action and throated long) is close to the sweet spot. The 7mms resist the wind better, but require a higher level of shooting discipline and better precision in rifle machine work to have the same accuracy in the absence of wind. Conversely, the 6mms give up a bit in wind drift, but are more forgiving of errors in recoil management.

Of course, Long Range (800-1000 yards) favor the cartridges that handle wind drift better, where MidRange (300-600 yards) favor those where inherent accuracy is easier to achieve.

In just about any case, maxing out the rifle weight for the discipline with the fattest 30" barrel you can make weight with is probably the best choice. Barrel life favors smaller capacity cartridges with the longer barrel, recoil management favors the heavier rifles, and inherent accuracy favors the fatter barrels.

 

[Kurz]

Did you know the 50 Caliber BMG is a scaled-up 30-06?

Yes, 44%.

Believe what ever fantasy lets you sleep at night. I stick with reality and what ballistic design dictates.

 

[mauser284]

I am thinking about building a 1st Elk rifle for a family member in 30-06.

There is no reason why you could not shoot 30-06 at the club level in F-Open and win with a 30-06. So if the gun shoots straight and has a nice bore I would order a barrel of your choice and shoot the existing barrel until it is shot out.

If something is not working I do not just get a bug up my rear and take off a perfectly good barrel still shooting great for something else.

Now at the national level and international level I would agree that 30-06 might not be the ideal compared to other choices that said T/R is shot with far worse cartridge in the form of the 7.62 NATO/ 308 Win.

All things said and done if you look at my username that should tell you what I think is the ultimate cartridge for the Mauser action for competitive shooting!

The Elk rifle I am considering building will use existing parts on hand including a pencil barrel 28 inches long, SS, 1:8 twist and a custom 30-06 reamer designed specifically throated for cartridges heavier than 180gr. like 190gr-220gr. ELD's. Bergara barrel by the way. In this way heavy long solid copper bullets and heavy ELD/VLD hunting bullets will also fit no problem! It will go in a nice but not exhibition grade Walnut blank. Not sure what action I will use yet. Might use a Mauser might use a modern action that I have on hand.

The 30-06 has a long history as a cartridge for war, for hunting the world over and winning every famous shooting sport in history prior to BR as we know it today. It is not my favorite cartridge by far but it still has plenty of life left in it! It is not the handicap so many today think that it is.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

The 284 is a good choice - but don't discount the 280AI for a few more fps, and even the 7-08 and 7-08 AI can also be competitive. I would leave the PRC's to the pages of gun magazines and YouTube.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Even with all the tackticool calibers about I still love me some 30.06, fill that case with some N550 or N560 and stick a 215gr Hybrid op top of it and you have some serous LR capabilities

 

[KenOath]

284 Win, 180hyb jumped 10-15thou or VLD jammed 5-10thou, 2740-2785, .320” no turn, any good 1.9tw, 30-32”, easy button….

 

[3Sigma]

I am thinking about building a 1st Elk rifle for a family member in 30-06.

There is no reason why you could not shoot 30-06 at the club level in F-Open and win with a 30-06. So if the gun shoots straight and has a nice bore I would order a barrel of your choice and shoot the existing barrel until it is shot out.

If something is not working I do not just get a bug up my rear and take off a perfectly good barrel still shooting great for something else.

Now at the national level and international level I would agree that 30-06 might not be the ideal compared to other choices that said T/R is shot with far worse cartridge in the form of the 7.62 NATO/ 308 Win.

All things said and done if you look at my username that should tell you what I think is the ultimate cartridge for the Mauser action for competitive shooting!

The Elk rifle I am considering building will use existing parts on hand including a pencil barrel 28 inches long, SS, 1:8 twist and a custom 30-06 reamer designed specifically throated for cartridges heavier than 180gr. like 190gr-220gr. ELD's. Bergara barrel by the way. In this way heavy long solid copper bullets and heavy ELD/VLD hunting bullets will also fit no problem! It will go in a nice but not exhibition grade Walnut blank. Not sure what action I will use yet. Might use a Mauser might use a modern action that I have on hand.

The 30-06 has a long history as a cartridge for war, for hunting the world over and winning every famous shooting sport in history prior to BR as we know it today. It is not my favorite cartridge by far but it still has plenty of life left in it! It is not the handicap so many today think that it is.

I just had my Winchester Model 70 push feed rebarreled in 30-06 with a 5R Bartlein 3b 10 twist finished at 26". Hunting rifle.

I had it throated for 190 VLDs in lapua brass seated 3.450" OAL to fit in the magazine without modification.

With H4350, it should hit the 2850 to 2900 node (just got broken in, 56.7 grains is running 2855 fps). That's factory ammo speeds for 300 WSM. And, it still shoots green and yellow box remington 180 core locked at 2700 fps in .75" or smaller, so as a traveling hunting rifle it just works.

If you have the mag length, I definitely recommend the Ole '06 with a long throat.

 

[INTJ]

Man, Id just shoot it as is...if you want to spend money on something more modern, upgrade the whole package and don't throw money at that action...it's probably about as good as it's gonna get as is. Just my two centavos.

That's actually a good point. A Whitworth Mauser is a mediocre competition action, but outstanding as a hunting rifle action.

 

[INTJ]

Even with all the tackticool calibers about I still love me some 30.06, fill that case with some N550 or N560 and stick a 215gr Hybrid op top of it and you have some serous LR capabilities

I have been threatening to do just that. Chamber a 26" #4 contour barrel in 30-06, put it on a SS CRF M-70, throat it long, and have a lighter weight 1000 yd elk cartridge that doesn't need a brake or a target action.

 

[Bc'z]

I have been threatening to do just that. Chamber a 26" #4 contour barrel in 30-06, put it on a SS CRF M-70, throat it long, and have a lighter weight 1000 yd elk cartridge that doesn't need a brake or a target action.

Now your talkin!
I used a #5 Krieger 26" throated long to accommodate 200gr bullets and still be above neck shoulder junction.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I have been threatening to do just that. Chamber a 26" #4 contour barrel in 30-06, put it on a SS CRF M-70, throat it long, and have a lighter weight 1000 yd elk cartridge that doesn't need a brake or a target action.

I have a 25" barrel on mine and With N560 I can get those 215s to 2700fps without much trouble. There is not much in Africa I wont use that on and that rifle/bullet combo is a laser. As long as I can find (and afford) N560 and those 215s that's what it will shoot