"a 30-06 is all you need"

I forgot to mention he said winchester are crap because they freeze and jam. At this point I argued and said at least mine has the breech on the side and goesn't get snow and water in. Even then, I have never heard of people having their levergun jam.
 
The Kurgan said:
I don't consider a 30-06 a compromise for any heavy game in North America. It just works, welll! And as said, there is a wide selection of ammo to choose from: match grade to heavies to light recoil to everything in between. It's all available. I used think of 30-06 as pretty vanilla and boring, but now all I have left in my collecton are the old stand bys: 7x57, 8x57, 308, 30-06, 12 gauge (pump), 22LR semi and bolt, 9mm, and 7.62x39 (SKSs)... all the boutique calibres are gone. :)
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:)Your name category made my day.Laugh2 I'll have to remember that one. I have a few calibres that are a little off of the beaten path, some of which might fall into your category. Calibres like the 219 Donaldson Wasp, 25-06, 7x57R, 7x61S&H, 308 Norma Magnum, 348 WCF, 358 Norma Magnum, 444 Marlin and the 458WM.

I acquired/inherited a very nice Husqvarna model 4000 LW in 30-06 when my Dad passed away so now I also have an example of the good old standby calibre. Dad never had any problems filling the deep freeze with Moose with the '06 so it isn't a 'boutique' caliber but one that's proven itself with the test of time.

 
Actually, I'd argue that a .30-06 is more than most people need. The typical hunter shooting at typical ranges would get by just fine with a mild-mannered 6.5x55 or something of that recoil level and terminal ballistics. I have a .30-06 and it's dialed in with a max load of RL22 and 180gr partitions for dropping big moose and potentially angry bears such in the thick stuff.
 
Many years ago when I was young and foolish as opposed to old and foolish, I took a shot at a rabbit with a 30 06, I aimed for the tip of his nose, my recollection is the rabbit flinched, there was not enough rabbit left to make a small bowl of soup.
 
Small game loads are easy enough to do for a high powered rifle using pistol powder like Unique. If done right it is nothing worse than shooting a grouse or rabbit with a .22. And yes, I have done it many times. Always try to do up small game loads for the rifles I hunt with most.
 
I have taken the heads off grouse many times with full-power loads in hunting
centerfire rifles.
Remembering that the bullet crosses the line of sight somewhaere between 22 and 35 yards helps.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
Remembering that the bullet crosses the line of sight somewhaere between 22 and 35 yards helps.
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Also , typically with a heavy rifle we are "Potting" grouse at 20-30 feet so if you hold the horizontal cross-hair near the top of the head the bullet will hit about 2" low and part the neck about half-way up.
 
'Boo said:
I have never used an '06 for squirrels but have shot hundreds of grouse over the last 40 years with one. As a squirrel's head is much bigger than a grouse's I imagine it would be relatively easy.
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Well, that's why 99% of all gun owners have a 22LR ! :)
Mind you, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a squirrel with 30-06, becaue I don't eat their meat and just want them gone !
 
crazy_davey said:
Small game loads are easy enough to do for a high powered rifle using pistol powder like Unique. If done right it is nothing worse than shooting a grouse or rabbit with a .22. And yes, I have done it many times. Always try to do up small game loads for the rifles I hunt with most.
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Was thinking of something along similar lines, using cast bullets and Trail Boss. There is another possible solution and one I believe a guy in the machine shop I was involved with had made up. He had a supply of old barrels chambered for 22LR and from the breach end section he made up a dummy cartridge for his hunting rifle. I retired before I found out how his project turned out but it does sound like a workable option or solution.
 
'Boo said:
Also , typically with a heavy rifle we are "Potting" grouse at 20-30 feet so if you hold the horizontal cross-hair near the top of the head the bullet will hit about 2" low and part the neck about half-way up.
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:)That brings back memories. I remember doing the same on Moose hunts in the Bowron area. The last time it was with a Sako full wood carbine in 338WM. Shortly thereafter I was given an inexpensive .410 single shot which now;) takes care of 'ditch chickens'.



Last photo of the use of that 338WM Sako carbine at Bowron befpre:(:redface: I foolishly sold it.
 
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"...Isn't that overkill?..." Yep, but so is a 12 guage. The geezer is right too. Hunting regs aside. A .30-06 is all you need. However, shooting isn't about what you need. It's about what you want.
 
ALBERTA BOY said:
He's correct.

Thankfully, there's a difference between needs and wants. Some people only satisfy their needs. Others choose to satisfy their wants.
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Indeed and it would seem that some want or feel the need for something that they feel others may want or need. ;)
 
Dake21 said:
Anyway, I have to admit I kinda dislike the 30-06 because of the "its's all you need" utilitarian point of view.
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I felt that way too for a long time. Not that I disliked it, but I didn't want one in case my wife realized that I already had the only rifle I needed so why was I buying these other ones. Thankfully, my wife doesn't give a hoot what I buy (though she gets oddly cranky when I sell things, even hunting rifles, even though she doesn't hunt) so I have a thoroughly redundant 30 caliber battery...308, 30-06. 300 H&H and 300 WM. I suppose I could add a 300 Blackout and a 300 RUM to properly cover the spectrum.

A good 30-06 is like a good frying pan. It gets little respect but you'd be sorry if you didn't have it.
 
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