Is 30-06 still a decent round?

Rman said:
The 30-06 is one of the few cartridges on the face of the planet that just doesn't fit anymore. The .308 does more, for less, in a short action. In a long action, the .300 Win Mag can easily be loaded down the 30-06 levels, but no matter how hard one tries, a 30-06 can't be loaded up to .300 Mag. velocities.
I'm not a big fan of the .308 either, but it makes a great parent case.

The 30-06 is so bad, that you can't even neck the suck out of it.

R.
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If all you shoot in a .30 caliber rifle is 150 gr bullets, you might be right. But load a .308 with some of these and tell me where the more is . . .
DSC08354.jpg


I own a decent selection of rifles from .22 caliber to .45 and each has its own appeal, even the .308, hell, even the .243. But when I want a pleasant day at the range with an accurate rifle, I choose my .30/06. When I want a center fire rifle to teach youngsters how to shoot, I choose my wife's .30/06 with its short LOP. When my wife needed a rifle small enough to manage, but one which would be effective for bear work, I got her a .30/06. I can shoot my .375 and my .458 well enough, but neither would be suitable as a bear gun once it was loaded down to the recoil limits of a .30/06. No North American big game animal and few African big game animals need be passed up by the hunter armed with the .30/06. Many big game cartridges drive their bullets faster and/or hit harder, but they won't get the job done as pleasantly as it would be with the .30/06. At 300 yards, with both rifles loaded with 180 gr Accubonds and zeroed for 200, the difference in drop between the .30/06 and a .300 Winchester is 2". At 500 yards, the difference is 10". If you can shoot a .30/06 and you have worked on long range targets, the difference of 10" at 500 yards won't cause you to miss, but if you have a .300 Winchester and assume you can manage 500 yard targets without actually doing it, that 10" advantage wont score you a hit.
 
^^ His argument is that the 30-06 plays middle child to the .308win and 300win mag

The 300win is better overall simply because it completely replaces the need for 30-06

I argue that .308win is good enough for hunting in North America, but if you must shoot a grizzly then you shouldn't mess around with a "do it all" cartridge. Go get a 375.
 
Boomer, those are sweet slugs. Where did you get 'em and what load are you using? I just gotta try those out! Those would be handy if I guy ever drew that elusive tag for Jurrasic Park.
 
noneck180 said:
30-06 is good, seen a lot of game taken with them. My thought, it's just like driving a 2wd ford truck, it works, lots have them, will I ever have one? not a chance.
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This is the BEST most bang on post on here for the year ...read it ...to the point and correct..good job Bud
 
Ok maybe to answer the OP's question:

"Is the 30-06 still a decent round"

Yes, it's fantastic. I really can't see how anyone could deny how dead it kills stuff, or how available the ammunition is.
 
Boomer said:
If all you shoot in a .30 caliber rifle is 150 gr bullets, you might be right. But load a .308 with some of these and tell me where the more is . . .
DSC08354.jpg
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I wouldn't. But if I loaded a .300 Mag with them, I sure as hell would tell you where the more is.

If you like the 30-06, then giver. I just don't see the point. Everything you mentioned in your post, I could have done, with more options, with a .300 Win Mag.

R.
 
Charlie38 said:
Shot a 300H&H for years, 180 at 3000fps...bought a chrony...same load 2800fps. I was shooting a 30/06 all those years! Ya its a gooder!
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I believe ya ...only cause ur name is Charlie...and that means u do have experience....I respect you
 
saskcop said:
Boomer, those are sweet slugs. Where did you get 'em and what load are you using? I just gotta try those out! Those would be handy if I guy ever drew that elusive tag for Jurrasic Park.
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Like TheTooner said, I got them from Tradex. I was using H-4350 but I don't recall the load off the top of my head. I started with the old Barnes data for the 250 Original, and worked up a hair.
 
Rman said:
I wouldn't. But if I loaded a .300 Mag with them, I sure as hell would tell you where the more is.
R.
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Maybe, maybe not. The .300 Winchester is capable of driving the 240 Woodleigh 200 fps faster than it is designed to impact, so you might get a good kill, or you might have a disaster on your hands; particularly considering the size of game those bullets were originally designed to kill.

The .300 Winchester is a good round, I've shot it a fair bit, and it works. But if the .300 Winchester is better than the .30/06 due to its higher muzzle velocity, then by that logic the .30-378 is better than the .300 Winchester. I would opine that's only true if the guy shooting it has the experience to exploit the advantage; otherwise its just more noise, more recoil, and higher expense without any return. That's sort of how I feel about the .300 Winchester, if I need more than the .30/06, then I need bigger rather than faster, and I have bigger. But for the individual who has need of a powerful rifle, but who isn't up to the recoil and blast of the truly powerful rifles, the .30/06 is the best option.
 
30-06 has killed everything in North America from gophers to grizzlies.

So have a few other calibers. None of the other calibers are as readily available, no matter where you go, nor will they have as many options.

Old cartridge? Yes it is.
Proven Cartridge? Hell Yes!

There's a reason this cartridge is still the same as it was 100+ years ago. When something is right the first time, there is no reason to screw with it.
 
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