Best weight for an all around .30-06?
- Thread starter philthygeezer
- Start date
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
The key is a nice recoil pad. I have a Remington mountain rifle that weighs 7.4lbs [on my digital fish scale] with scope, but unloaded. It is more pleasant to shoot at the range than my 7.8lb husky. Both are 30-06. The husky has a hard plastic butt-plate, whereas the Remington has a nice, soft reciol pad.
Maximum total weight including sling, scope, etc around 9.5 pounds, that's the weight of a M1 Garand and 7 millions of them were carried around the world without problems.
If you want a lighter rifle, you might need to get a 270 Win or 7mm-08 Rem to keep recoil at a reasonable level.
Alex
If you want a lighter rifle, you might need to get a 270 Win or 7mm-08 Rem to keep recoil at a reasonable level.
Alex
So nine pounds all in and loaded should be a pretty pleasant .30-06 to shoot off the bench. I really wanted a pleasant shooting rifle that I could get to know well and the 8.4 pound Win 70 Super Grade seems like that rifle.
Given the Garand example I'd be lighter than that at about 9 pounds overall.
Would a McMillan Edge stocked featherweight in .30-06 be a brutal mistress?
Given the Garand example I'd be lighter than that at about 9 pounds overall.
Would a McMillan Edge stocked featherweight in .30-06 be a brutal mistress?
My titanium is 6.75 with scope and rings shooting 168 tsx at 2850fps and will wake you up in the morning.For comfort i would say 8 to 8.5lbs would be nice to shoot and not to heavy to carry.The light guns are sure nice in the mountains but not as nice to shoot at the range.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The best weight for a .30/06 rifle depends on who you are and the type of shooting and hunting you will be engaged in. While a long barreled 8 pound '06 is less punishing to shoot than a 6 pound rifle with a 21" light contour barrel, at high elevation in rugged terrain, you might have a tough time with it Then again if you have a 100 round day at the range, a 6 pound '06 could leave you punchy unless you are particularly recoil toughened. That said, if you are a handloader, it is a simple matter to tailor your ammo to your comfort level with any particular rifle. If you load your 6 pound '06 closer to a .303 level than to a .300 magnum, the moose will never know the difference. My wife's .30/06 weighs about 6 pounds, and while she appreciates the light weight, she isn't particularly recoil sensitive. Her practice ammo is a 180 gr bulk bullet loaded to 2500 or so, and her serious ammo is a 180 gr TSX loaded to a measured 2700 fps; 180 gr Federal Factory clocks at 2600 on that chronograph. Funny thing is, while I'm the guy that likes shooting the hard kickers like .375s, .416s, .458s and .500s but my .30/06 has a long barrel and weighs 8 pounds.
My grandson at 13 shooting the 6 pound .30/06 Husqvarna with 130 gr bullets loaded to 2600.
Me shooting my full sized Brno ZG-47 .30/06
My grandson at 13 shooting the 6 pound .30/06 Husqvarna with 130 gr bullets loaded to 2600.
Me shooting my full sized Brno ZG-47 .30/06
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
I don't think so. Get a good recoil pad, and maybe even wear a past recoil pad when practicing. Also, Noise bothers people a lot more than they realize, and causes some of the flinch. Double protect your ears with muffs over plugs. Then concentrate on hitting the target. The gun won't hurt your shoulder, and the bang won't make you blink. Then, when you're out all day, you won't have tired arms and shoulders from carrying a 9 lb gun.
A lot depends on the stock design,I had a 7mm rem mag that in the original stock was a real pain to shoot If I remember right I could only fire about 5 rounds and that was all I could take, I got a deal on a Bell&Carson stock tried that and it was a joy to shoot,
so try before you buy. Stock design is a big factor.
so try before you buy. Stock design is a big factor.
I have a Remington 700 CDL SF which I use in 2 configuration:
Config 1 - 8.25lbs
The 8.25lbs configuration with 175gr gives a 1yards muzzle jump/flip at 100 yards, I start loosing 0.5-0.75 MOA accuracy after 5-10 rounds because of recoil/blast fatigue.
Config 2 - 12lbs
The 12lbs configuration with 175gr gives a 1-1.5' muzzle jump/flip at 100 yards, I can fire 150-200 rounds in a afternoon and can keep it shooting in the 0.5-0.75 MOA accuracy for string of 10-20 rounds until recoil/blast fatigue hits me and I start "losing" some shots (flyers).
My conclusions are:
Alex
- Factory stock, Leopold 2-7x32mm scope, total weight 8.25lbs
- AI AICS stage 2.0 stock, Bushnell 6-24x50, total weight 12lbs
Config 1 - 8.25lbs
The 8.25lbs configuration with 175gr gives a 1yards muzzle jump/flip at 100 yards, I start loosing 0.5-0.75 MOA accuracy after 5-10 rounds because of recoil/blast fatigue.
Config 2 - 12lbs
The 12lbs configuration with 175gr gives a 1-1.5' muzzle jump/flip at 100 yards, I can fire 150-200 rounds in a afternoon and can keep it shooting in the 0.5-0.75 MOA accuracy for string of 10-20 rounds until recoil/blast fatigue hits me and I start "losing" some shots (flyers).
My conclusions are:
- 8lbs works great choice for a hunting rifle!
- 12lbs is still too light for a 30-06 175g recoil level target rifle (1/2 MOA)
Alex
I don't find mine to be and I'm not normally real fond of hard recoil. Still, 35-40 rounds per range session and I start really having to concentrate near the end...
