is the 3006 dead?

Both my hunting rifles are in .30-06; a Tikka T3X and a Browning BAR Mark II Safari. I got rid of my Sako 85 in .300WM because it was just sitting unused in my safe for years.
 
I have been thinking of busting out the old 30-06. New powders.

My dad has used a 6mm rem for 45yrs. But when he goes on a real hunt he brings the 06 in a No1.
 
The 30-06 is "ol Reliable" that can always be counted on. I don't use it as much because I want to try out some different cartridges in some nicer rifles, but when it comes down to it, I've never felt let down or undergunned with 30-06, and still recommend it when new hunters ask for a "do-all" cartridge. It certainly has done it all for me without fail.
 
I have a 70's BDL in 30-06 that has downed deer and moose. Last year I took my 7mm-08 moose hunting as well because I wanted to get a moose with it. Opening day I went out with the 7mm and a pocket full of '06 ammo. Fortunately I didn't get too far before I tried to load up and realized my problem. I guess it was just habit to reach for that ammo when moose hunting. I won't say which rifle I left the camp with though. The '06 isn't going anywhere!
 
bearhunter said:
That's likely because there are so many out there in the hands of seniors, who are now passing them onto friends, heirs or selling them online.

Selling a 30-06 isn't a problem. When I take them to gun shows, they usually don't last past the first day, unless they're real beaters.

I will admit the rifles with wood stocks aren't as popular as those with "good" synthetic stocks.

The trend today is for "black plastic" with stainless preferred. If it's chambered for the 30-06, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

The 30-06, with todays powders and components will tag right on the heels of the factory assembled 300 Win Mag, with select hand loads.
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It's because most people don't hand load and the .308 and 6.5 Creed have taken over much of the non magnum all around rifle sales from the 30-06. People have recognized that anything they can do with a 3006 they can do with a 308. As well as the popularity of other styles of shooting sports where the 30-06 doesn't really have a place.

The 30-06 hasn't been a standard military round in a very long time, it is primarily a hunting cartridge these days. Whereas the 308 and 6.5 Creed are used in hunting, military, PRS and tactical shooting sports. You can buy a rifle suitable for all these activities right off the shelf chambered in 6.5 Creed or .308. Not so with the 30-06.

So it's much less popular than it once was but when you are already near the top of the list of popularity, it doesn't matter much.
 
Nah. It lost its glamour decades ago but it can still chuck 180gr .30-cal projectiles at 2800+ depending on loads and barrel. My loading notes have a load clocking in at 2820 average, nearly 3200 ft/lbs out of a 22" Model 70. It was book max with no pressure signs.

And it was a sledgehammer on game. But it kicks a wee bit more than most people can handle, light gun with thin barrel, and probably has a lot more horsepower than most people need to shoot their yearly deer.

So for people buying factory ammo and shooting light weight plastic fantastics, they can probably down-gun a fair bit to something they can shoot well. And I'd usually recommend that anyways, 6.5CM, .270 Win, 7mm-08, .308 all great cartridges for hunting with less kick and plenty accurate.
 
It's far from dead. If i'm going to buy another new rifle any time soon it'll be a 30-06. Ammunition and reloading components can be bought pretty much anywhere in the country at fair prices and it can handle all your North American hunting needs with out any problems.

Here's some interesting loads in the heavyweight department. Pretty impressive for the old 30-06.

nQkumPO.jpg
 
dgradinaru said:
It's far from dead. If i'm going to buy another new rifle any time soon it'll be a 30-06. Ammunition and reloading components can be bought pretty much anywhere in the country at fair prices and it can handle all your North American hunting needs with out any problems.

Here's some interesting loads in the heavyweight department. Pretty impressive for the old 30-06.

nQkumPO.jpg
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Those are mighty impressive statistics.
 
Gatehouse said:
In new rifle sales the 30-06 is nowhere near as popular as it once was, no question about that. But is it dying? No way, not a chance.
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I think this is the real key to a reasonable discussion. I don't think anyone doubts that the 30-06 cartridge is here to stay for a loooooooong time. That said, I can definitely see a time in the not too distant future where major manufacturers start dropping that chambering from certain hunting rifles in their line ups and eventually drop it altogether.
 
krausb said:
I think this is the real key to a reasonable discussion. I don't think anyone doubts that the 30-06 cartridge is here to stay for a loooooooong time. That said, I can definitely see a time in the not too distant future where major manufacturers start dropping that chambering from certain hunting rifles in their line ups and eventually drop it altogether.
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Not in our lifetimes
 
kc34 said:
Since it's progeny, the 35 Whelen, was released the ol' .30-06 has become redundant............:stirthepot2:
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I have yet to see a 35 Whelen anywhere up close and I have been at it for 45 + years.. so no..if a caliber is on death row, if not already buried, the Whelen is one..
 
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Janeau said:
I have yet to see a 35 Whelen anywhere up close and I have been at it for 45 + years.. so no..if a caliber is on death row, the Whelen is one..
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You & me both and I'm not knocking the Whelen. To the contrary as it seems to be a pretty interesting decent cartridge. I don't have one,;) yet, but that's because I already do have a couple of its 'family' members that:redface: aren't getting enough field exposure, a pair of 358 Norma's.
 
45-70 Govt is still alive so there’s no was for 30-06 to be dead.
More seriously, 280 AI and 270 WSM are better choice in Eastern Canada but are they really that much better than 30-06?
 
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