Whats after 30-06?
- Thread starter bobcat93
- Start date
While I do not see myself doing this, If I were looking to step up from 30-06 a 7mm Rem magnum comes to mind. Though why not just jump to a 7mm PRC? I think the PRC throat was thought out better than most other options. While the 30-06 with the right bullet is more than enough for anything I have in mind, you may have bigger dreams.
Perhaps you were thinking more along the lines of a 338 Lapua?
Perhaps you were thinking more along the lines of a 338 Lapua?
Steve Donlon
Gold $$ Contributor
I think it depends on where you live. In the western states shooting a mile or more from one mountain side to another, you need more power and heavy bullets. 300 PRC is a good start. It's pretty hard to loose interest when there are so many variables when shooting like this. I hope you get the chance to try it some day.
Last edited:
Ironically i booked a project today that's a LRBR build chambered in...
Wait for it....
30-06ai !!
Old school, new school, you seriously can't argue with the ought6.
Time tested and combat proven on every continent.
Now let's kick another log on the fire.
I got sippin to do!
Orr89rocz
Silver $$ Contributor
With good brass available by peterson and lapua, im sure it can perform. I Just dont hear many using it in long range competition. The wsm has that reputation and some other variants based on saum etc. i grew up hating the 06 cuz everyone had one for hunting and i wanted to be different lol now i kinda want an improved buildIronically i booked a project today that's a LRBR build chambered in...
Wait for it....
30-06ai !!
Old school, new school, you seriously can't argue with the ought6.
Time tested and combat proven on every continent.
Now let's kick another log on the fire.
I got sippin to do!
Steve Donlon
Gold $$ Contributor
Look what Charles Greer did with a 300 WSM back in 2021 83 years old I don't see why a 300 saum couldn't do the same. Or a 300 PRC in the right hand. https://bulletin.accurateshooter.co...ay-300-wsm-pending-1k-world-record-heavy-gun/
Last edited:
The 30-06 has been doing lots of things, for a long time @ 2700 fps..
my grandpa has been around doing the same thing for years also
Hahaha..
Some folks might think its nuts to build something and just get rid of it..
How is it any different then your books from college..you paid for those..did ya toss them yet..or still think you need then for an out dated reference.
Same thing to me..i built a gun so i could learn a bullets flight characteristics. I had to see and feel that stuff in order to fully comprehend what is happening. You can sit and read till your eye dry up and fall out.
At some point a man need to test the knowledge he has gained. That is what i did..it cost me alot of money to learn what i have learned..im not proud of it, and im not embarrassed by it either.
Same with college education..boy that was way more expensive then some custom rifle.. i learned alot..then i moved on.
Its how i function.
my grandpa has been around doing the same thing for years also
Hahaha..
Some folks might think its nuts to build something and just get rid of it..
How is it any different then your books from college..you paid for those..did ya toss them yet..or still think you need then for an out dated reference.
Same thing to me..i built a gun so i could learn a bullets flight characteristics. I had to see and feel that stuff in order to fully comprehend what is happening. You can sit and read till your eye dry up and fall out.
At some point a man need to test the knowledge he has gained. That is what i did..it cost me alot of money to learn what i have learned..im not proud of it, and im not embarrassed by it either.
Same with college education..boy that was way more expensive then some custom rifle.. i learned alot..then i moved on.
Its how i function.
Steve Donlon
Gold $$ Contributor
why did you ask the question with the 30-06 as a point of reference? Sounds like your Grandpa knew what he was doing. You have plenty of input. Any ideas? I still have rifles I built because they perform a function that suits my needs best. Just like a tool. Do you throw it away after you have used it because you understand how it works? If you only have a rifle to shoot, then so be it.
Last edited:
wildcatter
Silver $$ Contributor
The 30-06 cartridge is a great case, it just needs optimized. For hunting killing is the goal, for most going to a 300 mag of any kind is simply penetrating it quicker. My thinking is, anytime you don't stop a cartridge in the game animal your using it on, your simply throwing energy away, that should have been transferred to that animal.
NOW, make no mistake, I no better than to confuse target shooting from Hunting, neither one has anything to do with the other, unless you don't want the most efficient for that job. but one is not well suited to the other!!
I am building what I have thought long and hard about. trying to build one gun to be the most efficient for anything from Antelope to the largest most dangerous game on this continent. I want to be able to shoot flat enough for antelope and deer size game out to 600 yards, But I want to be able to use it with a heavy enough bullet to stop the largest and most dangerous animals at reasonable ranges they are hunted at, and still be able to stop any dangerous threat inside 50 yards if my life depends on it.
I Narrowed it to one cartridge, the original 30-06 cartridge. It has been necked up and down, blown out and shortened in about every caliber we can think of. I chose between to calibers,, 338, and 358. I feel both would do what I was trying to do. One more suited to longer range and smaller game, while still quite capable on the larger game. the 338. Yes a 280 AI would be better for long range and smaller to medium game, but in my opinion, not a good choice for the largest most dangerous game even at close range.
I chose it over the 35 Wheelan that I feel is not quite as good for smaller game and longer range, but better at the largest game. I feel both of these calibers in this case are the most versatile of any caliber it has been chambered to. There are better choices in maybe 375 or 400 caliber for the most dangerous game at close range, but not at all a reasonable choice for smaller game especially at long range.
So in my long winded way of saying it, I chose the 338 knowing that at my age it would see more use on antelope and deer sized game. But if the opportunity to ever hunt moose or Brown Bear, it would be adequate. I also wanted to be able to build a rifle light enough that at my age I still would want to carry it all day, while keeping it light enough, yet still not beat me to badly when I do need it for either task.
But I would build a 30-06 today, before I built a 300 mag in any case. In fact if nothing but the largest most dangerous game was all I cared about, I'd have built a 45/70 #1 Ruger, over any magnum as well. I just don't see anything they do any better. But make more noise, and beat you up more. JMO
NOW, make no mistake, I no better than to confuse target shooting from Hunting, neither one has anything to do with the other, unless you don't want the most efficient for that job. but one is not well suited to the other!!
I am building what I have thought long and hard about. trying to build one gun to be the most efficient for anything from Antelope to the largest most dangerous game on this continent. I want to be able to shoot flat enough for antelope and deer size game out to 600 yards, But I want to be able to use it with a heavy enough bullet to stop the largest and most dangerous animals at reasonable ranges they are hunted at, and still be able to stop any dangerous threat inside 50 yards if my life depends on it.
I Narrowed it to one cartridge, the original 30-06 cartridge. It has been necked up and down, blown out and shortened in about every caliber we can think of. I chose between to calibers,, 338, and 358. I feel both would do what I was trying to do. One more suited to longer range and smaller game, while still quite capable on the larger game. the 338. Yes a 280 AI would be better for long range and smaller to medium game, but in my opinion, not a good choice for the largest most dangerous game even at close range.
I chose it over the 35 Wheelan that I feel is not quite as good for smaller game and longer range, but better at the largest game. I feel both of these calibers in this case are the most versatile of any caliber it has been chambered to. There are better choices in maybe 375 or 400 caliber for the most dangerous game at close range, but not at all a reasonable choice for smaller game especially at long range.
So in my long winded way of saying it, I chose the 338 knowing that at my age it would see more use on antelope and deer sized game. But if the opportunity to ever hunt moose or Brown Bear, it would be adequate. I also wanted to be able to build a rifle light enough that at my age I still would want to carry it all day, while keeping it light enough, yet still not beat me to badly when I do need it for either task.
But I would build a 30-06 today, before I built a 300 mag in any case. In fact if nothing but the largest most dangerous game was all I cared about, I'd have built a 45/70 #1 Ruger, over any magnum as well. I just don't see anything they do any better. But make more noise, and beat you up more. JMO
I'm thinking 300WSM.
Loudenboomer
Silver $$ Contributor
Biggest buck I ever shot was with a 30-06 mod 70 Fwt. and a 165 Sierra BTSP over 4350 powder. At that time and place the end result could not be improved upon.
Yesterday I slowly worked up to Max. with a new load in my 7 PRC. With a 20" barrel and virgin ADG brass I was able to work up to 2900 FPS (2892) with 71 gr of WC860 and a 180 gr VLD. I stopped at .002 case head expansion with no other pressure signs. More testing will be required when Minnesota warms to see if this load holds but it is a click above the 30-06 even with the suppressor friendly 20" barrel.
Yesterday I slowly worked up to Max. with a new load in my 7 PRC. With a 20" barrel and virgin ADG brass I was able to work up to 2900 FPS (2892) with 71 gr of WC860 and a 180 gr VLD. I stopped at .002 case head expansion with no other pressure signs. More testing will be required when Minnesota warms to see if this load holds but it is a click above the 30-06 even with the suppressor friendly 20" barrel.
wildcatter
Silver $$ Contributor
If it were only that simple. If it was just capacity, we would not have ever benefitted from different cases, like the PPC or the BR, even the 6.5x47 Lapua case. We have other cases that give us the same capacities and pretty much the same speeds these do. But these have proven to do it better.
So many variables for folks to decide what they like, shoulder angles, neck length, body tapers,,,,
One thing is for sure, we can make it as difficult as we want today. But for hunting, I'll take it back to basics, for killing paper, that's a different story.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
3100+ FPS with a 150 grain bullet??!! …minute 3:28 on.
Last edited:
FNSafari
Gold $$ Contributor
I've shot 2 moose, both males with my FN (not Browning) heavy barrel '06 both using the old semi-round nose Nosler 200 grain Partition. Very effective.
I acquired a Browning FN made 308 Norma mag rifle a few years ago. It is more accurate than the 06 using the Nosler 220 grain semi round nose (they call it a semi-spritzer). That must be a marketing decision?
Unfortunately on my last moose hunt with it, we saw no bulls, only cows. I decided to use it for a couple of reasons...I'm older and I would prefer, with proper shot placement, that the moose go down with minimal running off. I guess it was just a hedge in that direction. That bullet with RL-19 chrono'ed a bit over 2600 at the muzzle, which is NOT the end of the velocity line with that bullet/powder.
Added...there is nothing wrong with being somewhat or even heavily over-gun'ed when hunting 600/900 pound animals imo. If you can handle the heightened recoil its a win for you and hopefully a more humane, quick kill.
I acquired a Browning FN made 308 Norma mag rifle a few years ago. It is more accurate than the 06 using the Nosler 220 grain semi round nose (they call it a semi-spritzer). That must be a marketing decision?
Unfortunately on my last moose hunt with it, we saw no bulls, only cows. I decided to use it for a couple of reasons...I'm older and I would prefer, with proper shot placement, that the moose go down with minimal running off. I guess it was just a hedge in that direction. That bullet with RL-19 chrono'ed a bit over 2600 at the muzzle, which is NOT the end of the velocity line with that bullet/powder.
Added...there is nothing wrong with being somewhat or even heavily over-gun'ed when hunting 600/900 pound animals imo. If you can handle the heightened recoil its a win for you and hopefully a more humane, quick kill.
Last edited:
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.