30-06 How many is too many?

I don't think it would bother me all that much if the only centerfire rifle caliber in existence was the 30-06. With all the different bullet weights and bullet designs available, and all the different types of rifles (the 30-06 is available in everything from single shots to doubles, drillings, levers, turn bolts, straight pulls and semi-autos), I imagine I could be kept busy for a long time before I ever noticed a need for another caliber.

I have pretty much the opposite attitude compared to that of my old friend Tom Norris of Vancouver (now sadly deceased). I recall showing Tom a big bear that I killed with a 30-06 and Tom told me the bear should have felt insulted to be harvested by something as ordinary as a 30-06. Tom was an Anglophile and never much cared for anything that originated south of the border.

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I usually have a couple of 30-06’s on hand because it seems someone is always looking to buy one.
Easy to feed and easy to sell when it’s time to move them along.
Just about every commercial bolt gun ever built has been chambered in 06 at one point.
Pump,auto,lever or bolt. Name your poison.
 
Picked up another on Sunday, so I think I have seven...not sure of the count though.
 
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I've one...1954 Mexican Mauser. Beautiful rifle...average sights ( typical Mauser right there). They would have been great with a rear peep sight. I've shot it about 10 times...like 10 rds total.
It's a decent cartridge I guess.
 
Recently sold a couple, so I think I'm now down to three or four...not counting the .270s (aka "30-06 Improved")
 
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You have likely heard this before, but it bears repeating...

"Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship." -Phil Shoemaker
 
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Rob said:
You have likely heard this before, but it bears repeating...

"Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship." -Phil Shoemaker

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I don't think anyone is claiming that the '06 is ineffective.

Hammers, mini-vans, long johns, toothpicks, shovels, septic tanks...the list of things that are effective is endless. That doesn't mean they are interesting or exciting.

For the steely-eyed grim-faced guns-are-just-tools crowd, the '06 is perfect. For others, a handed-down favourite hunting '06 has vast but intangible sentimental value. For still others, guns are useful toys that need to entertain as much as to function...and for a lot of people in that group, the '06 is just "meh...."
 
Seriously?...you are comparing a 30-06 rifle to a "septic tank"?

I am sorry that the romance of the 30-06 has eluded you.
 
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Rob said:
Seriously?...you are comparing a 30-06 rifle to a "septic tank"?

I feel sorry that the romance of the 30-06 has eluded you.
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Lol, I suppose that I was; perhaps a bit too far?

I too was thinking it was a shame that the "romance" of this lauded cartridge has eluded me...but I have fallen victim to the charms of so many others...like the .375H&H, .45-70Govt, 9.3x74r, 7x65r, .222Rem, .22lr, among others...that I should probably be thankful. You can only squeeze so many long-term love affairs into one lifetime, especially when they are running concurrently! :)
 
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