30-06 Complement ? 9.3x62@Post 67

9.3mauser said:
.375 H&H. The .30/06 covers too much of the middle ground. 7mm mag is too similar, just a slightly smaller, slightly faster, '06.
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I've shot an average mule deer with a 180gr pill right thru it's boiler room. While this was seriously overkill for the mule, zero meat was lost.
I feel fairly confident going after bigger stuff (if I ever get a tag) with the 06 and 180grainers.

I actually think I need a loaner rifle for family/friends that I could use for longer range deer if needed.

gwes2003 said:
To compliment a 30-06, I'd go 35 Whelan or 338 winmag.
Down it would be 25-06 or 257 Robert's
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I've been thinking about the 25-06 at first, they are however tough to find.
A .270 might just be the ticket.
 
25/06 has more class than the common 270 lol
70-125 gr bullets makes it a better dual purpose gun than the 270 in my opinion
Some may argue the 270 throws a heavier bullet and while true if I were to hunt game that was larger than I thought a 2506 could handle I would definitely step up well above a 270

A 270 is great for the one rifle guy that hunts varmint and deer with no or little interest in hunting bigger game especially where there are caliber restrictions such as SW Ontario
 
.375 (H&H, naturally...) is the way to go. It's a true step up from the '06.

Most of these other suggestions (.300WM, 7Mag, .270, etc.) are virtually identical in real world utility to your current gun. Do you want to take an actual step forward...or just move your toe an inch forward or backward, and call that a change? :)

The other possibility, although not the greatest choice for long range, would be the classic .45-70.
 
300 Win Mag with a 215 Berger. I disagree that the 300WM is virtually identical in real world utility as you put it. My custom 300 Win Mag drives a 215 berger right at 3000 fps. Show me a 30-06 that will come close to running with that. The OP said he does shoot some closer to medium shots which the 215 will work good. Then if he ever wants to stretch it out he's good on deer/elk out to 1000 yds if he's capable. Only part of his post I don't like is the grizzly reference. Then the combo I suggested would not be best. But with deer being the main target I would go this route. It is a hard combo to beat. But truly for just deer from 200 to 400 yds you could use whatever turns your cranck. Personally I would take my 6.5X47 for deer at those ranges.
 
beeman2 said:
300 Win Mag with a 215 Berger. I disagree that the 300WM is virtually identical in real world utility as you put it. My custom 300 Win Mag drives a 215 berger right at 3000 fps. Show me a 30-06 that will come close to running with that.
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Well, if this gun is truly going to be used for deer only, then there really isn't much difference, as you mentioned. Any of these choices will drop a deer interchangeably...so there is no real reason not to use the '06 he has already. Within the .30-caliber world, your magnum is much closer to the top of the performance heap than the '06, but so what? They're both shooting bullets of the same caliber, and while there may be a difference of a few grains of bullet weight and a couple hundred feet per second, they're still .30-cal cartridges suited for similar purposes.

All I meant was that if you are going to buy a gun just for the sake of getting something different...then get something really different.
 
Megaclocker said:
Hi there,

I currently own a 30-06 Browning X-Bolt topped with a 4-12 Nikon Monarch and a 6.5x55 Mauser 96 topped with a 4x Fixed scope. While the 6.5x55 is alright and shoots 1.5moa, I always seem to reach out for the 30-06 since I often hike out in bear country and because it's more accurate.

I live in an area where I could draw a Grizzly/Bison tag. I am however more of a deer person and longish shots are common here. (200-400yards)

I've been toying with the idea of getting a second browning X-Bolt as a second rifle. I'm just not sure what caliber would complement the 30-06 well.
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You have two great cartridges, however don't under estimate any 6.5/260 caliber. Conduct a personal deep penetration test with both your rifles. I'll bet that the 6.5 will penetrate much deeper. To complement the 30-06, well, you can purchase another 30-06.............;)
 
There's not much in the way of practical shooting that cannot be accomplished with a .30/06, although it doesn't shine as bright as a high velocity small bore if you want it to shoot flatter, nor as bright as a medium or big bore if you need to hit harder. You sort of alluded to grizzly and bison, only to discount that any real interest lay in that direction. Before you buy, clearly define what it is you want the rifle to do, but shooting deer out to a quarter mile doesn't require much in the way of specialization, and most modern cartridges are capable.
 
Just got a Monarch 3 1-4x20mm.

Went hiking (looking for a black bear) out alone north of Mt.Crum in Northern BC and stumbled upon a monster Grizzly who was feeding on a slope to my right up a hill. Sure made me feel silly having a 4-16x scope on my 30-06.
The thing ran away crossing a 300meters cutblock full of 3feet high bush in like 3 seconds. (slight exageration)

Still thinking about what kind of thumper to buy.
 
I was in the same boat and chose a .375 H&H, never looked back.

Also got a 7MM RM that I have absolutely no practical use for ... Too similar to the .30-06...
 
I think that the .375 - whether that is H&H or Ruger is up to you - is a good compliment to the .30-06. Not much that can't be taken with those two rifles.
 
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