30-06 springfield

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rkr

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I'm looking to buy my first rifle and was looking for a 30-06. I don't know too much about it but I know I want to hunt moose, elk and deer. I've asked ppl and got different opinions. At Cabelas I was told .223 would be my best choice but still I'm not sure.
I want something that's easily available at a very low cost and good enough for a newbie like me.
thanks :)
 
If you are a first time shooter, the 30-06 would not be a good choice for rifle to learn on due to ammo cost and recoil. The .223 would be a good choice to learn and practice with, as would a .22 or .22WMR. For a hunting rifle for the game you have listed, the 30-06 would be a suitable choice. I would look at getting two rifles if I were you.
 
Joe549 said:
If you are a first time shooter, the 30-06 would not be a good choice for rifle to learn on due to ammo cost and recoil. The .223 would be a good choice to learn and practice with, as would a .22 or .22WMR. For a hunting rifle for the game you have listed, the 30-06 would be a suitable choice. I would look at getting two rifles if I were you.
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I was thinking the same. I'd buy a .22LR but What would you recommend for a newbie like me? I don't want something too expensive
 
A .223 for moose!!?? That sounds like the kind of advice you might get from Cabelas. The .30/06 as it happens is perhaps my favorite cartridge, but in a light rifle it might be a bit more than a new shooter can enjoy, and unless you intend to delve into handloading at the same time as you begin your introduction to marksmanship, which if you can manage it is a good idea. The handloader can choose the power level of his ammo, and his home made ammo is more affordable than factory ammo, in that except fort the initial investment, he can deduct the cost of the brass from his ammunition. But handloading can be started anytime down the road, as can the purchase of a scope, a sling, and so on.

Since cost is a big factor, the advice I pass along to new shooters is to look through the pages of quality used rifles on the TEC Tradex Canada site, whose link appears at the top of the page. Pay more attention to the rifle and less attention for the cartridge it's chambered for. The .30/06 cartridge is a common chambering, but any cartridge from 6.5X55, Cabelas carries ammo for it, to the .30/06 will be fine, and chances are you will really enjoy shooting the mild mannered 6.5. Other cartridges to consider are the .270, 7X57, 8X57, and the .308 Winchester. Avoid magnum rifles for now, they will be more costly to shoot, and will be more difficult to master.
 
Good choice rkr. the 30-06 is probably the most versatile caliber in the world, with more bullet weights available than any other cartridge. You can even get it in 55 gr sabot rounds. Cabelas are right for recommending the 223 for your first rifle, but not for hunting moose or elk. The 223 is inexpensive to shoot and has a light recoil, I have shot deer with mine but I wouldn't recommend it for the new hunter. It is an excellent round however for coyote or varmint hunting. It's great to hear of someone getting into hunting, what ever you choose you will have many years of enjoyment and fond memories, good luck and have fun!
 
Cabela's gun counter folk are fools, if they recommended a .223 for elk and moose... maybe they just meant a .223 to learn with, not hunt with...

As a new shooter, you don't want to unnecessarily burden yourself with heavy recoil while at the same time learning technique... consider a solid bolt action in .308 Win... it will take down all of the game you are considering, generally has lighter recoil than the /06 and is a very common and inexpensive round... I believe that it is your best choice.
 
hoytcanon said:
Cabela's gun counter folk are fools, if they recommended a .223 for elk and moose... maybe they just meant a .223 to learn with, not hunt with...

As a new shooter, you don't want to unnecessarily burden yourself with heavy recoil while at the same time learning technique... consider a solid bolt action in .308 Win... it will take down all of the game you are considering, generally has lighter recoil than the /06 and is a very common and inexpensive round... I believe that it is your best choice.
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one shot one kill is what I want and if .308 will do it for sure, then I'll go for it.
At the same time I want a .22 so I can practice more for less money.
 
30-06 and 308 are both tried and true. The lighter the rifle, the heavier the kick, so beware of that.

30-06 is my favourite though, it's such a cuddly and loveable classic.
 
.30-06 is the one gun for everything type of shooter. The .308 does have similar at best ballistics with lighter bullets, but can't keep up once you hit 180+ grains in bullet weight.
 
Then again 180gr can take down a bison, elk moose what have you. 308 goes to 180gr, you can still take Down a moose with much less than that as well. And less recoil, cheaper ammo, better available match ammo etc etc, not to mention a waaay bigger selection of rifles. For a starter 308 would fit the bill
 
A 30-06 is never a mistake and they do make reduced recoil factory ammo if need be.All my oldest son shoots is a T3 6.5x55 and 140gr Partitions I load.Dead elk /moose/bear and deer no problem........Harold
 
Another vote for the .30-06, but secondary vote for .308 as runner up. The better half and I have both in the safe. My '06 is older and heavier which mutes recoil somewhat, but the recoil in a modern gun should be reasonable in anything over 7-1/2 pounds even up to 180's. As for a .22, my wife bought a Savage Mark I I (yes, it's a Savage . . .) for $260 on sale with a scope and it's a great little gun. Buy a cheap .22 like that and save your nickels for a quality used .30-06 or .308 or newer mid-grade gun (like the Vanguard Deluxe I've been eyeing). Be warned though, once you start hand loading (or even messing with box ammo) you'll only get deeper into the addiction and fascination - you'll want a target load, a coyote load, moose load, etc. And, when you think you've got a good combo some other bullet or powder type catches your eye to try :p I'm hooked and you will be too :)
 
I'd say start with the .308 for all the good reasons stated above. It will kill all the game you mentioned and save you money for more time practicing your shooting. The 308 in your situation seems to be a slightly better choice than the 30-06. I was deciding on a 308 or 30-06 and the only reason I have a 30-06 is that the rifle I wanted came up on the EE at my price point and just so happened to be in 30-06
 
The ol' 30.06 is always a good choice.

One thing to remember, and this is what I would do if I were to pack one again: You definitely do NOT need to load heavy for caliber ammo, not when considering the quality of ammo available these days. For elk and moose, choose either a bonded bullet...like Fusion, Hornady Interbond, Nosler Accubond, etc...or a monolithic...such as Federal Trophy Copper, Hornady GMX, or Vor-TX TTSX...in 150 grain. This is assuredly ample medicine to get the job done, will flatten out trajectory to 300 yds a tad, and significantly reduce recoil, making requisite practice at the range that much less of a matter of endurance.

180 grain bullets certainly work fine, and are a good choice for dangerous game, but there's no need whatsoever for anything else one might hunt in the Canadian woods.
 
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