Ah Ok the 30-06 with a 175- 180 gr at 2850-2900 and has lots of ft lbs will get it done 
RJ
RJ
One rifle, one cartridge, one load for everything
- Thread starter savagelh
- Start date
At one time Col Townsend Whelan felt the 22rf and 30-30 were as much firepower as most people would ever need, until the 30-06 came along.
He even once said he if he had to make a choice and ammo were available the 22rf would be it, but of course, he quickly admitted he wanted more.
RJ's loads are easily doable with handloads and safe in good rifles. I wouldn't feel the least bit undergunned if the only firearm I could own were chambered in 30-06, buy like Mr Whelan, I want more choices.
He even once said he if he had to make a choice and ammo were available the 22rf would be it, but of course, he quickly admitted he wanted more.
RJ's loads are easily doable with handloads and safe in good rifles. I wouldn't feel the least bit undergunned if the only firearm I could own were chambered in 30-06, buy like Mr Whelan, I want more choices.
westcoaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central BC
Having started with one rifle, now have a number of rifles and realizing I only a couple this makes sense. I think it was John Barsnes or Phil Shoemaker referred to all the study of this cartridge or that cartridge as "ballistic gack".
I think it would be my 1959 FN Belgian Browning in 3006. For a variety of reasons I love this rifle and in 3006 shooting 180 grain Swift AFrames at about 2800fps is just about perfect.
There was a time, during the early cold war era, when it was common to read "PREPPER" type articles in most firearms magazines.
Some very famous people went to great lengths to prove the continuous viability of certain cartridges and the reasons for stockpiling them at the time.
This wasn't anything new at the time, nor presently as many here have seen.
I was looking at a 1950s Guns magazine a week ago and the same subject was being written about, by Ken Wooters.
It was called "The perfect FOUR GUN COMBINATION FOR EVERYONE"
Its recipe included a bolt action centerfire rife, a bolt action rimfire rifle, a shotgun, and a military style firearm of personal choice.
It was a lengthy article for the day and reasonably well thought out for the equipment available at the time.
It wasn't a "Prepper" type article.
It was based on times of critical supply shortages, which could last for up to a decade.
Remember, these authors had come through WWI, then the Great Depression, WWII, and Korea at that time, all of which created shortages for ammunition, firearms, hand loading, which wasn't nearly as widespread as today.
Today, if an author writes about such shortages and how to prepare yourself for them, that author comes under all sorts of verbal abuse and criticism. They tread very carefully on such things these days.
Maybe because the people in charge of those magazine companies have zero idea of what's really going on?
It seems to be the norm in our present corporate and even governmental evolution where the people "in charge" have zero idea of what it takes to make things happen, but they get the title, credit, and pay for getting the top positon.
SNAFU.
Some very famous people went to great lengths to prove the continuous viability of certain cartridges and the reasons for stockpiling them at the time.
This wasn't anything new at the time, nor presently as many here have seen.
I was looking at a 1950s Guns magazine a week ago and the same subject was being written about, by Ken Wooters.
It was called "The perfect FOUR GUN COMBINATION FOR EVERYONE"
Its recipe included a bolt action centerfire rife, a bolt action rimfire rifle, a shotgun, and a military style firearm of personal choice.
It was a lengthy article for the day and reasonably well thought out for the equipment available at the time.
It wasn't a "Prepper" type article.
It was based on times of critical supply shortages, which could last for up to a decade.
Remember, these authors had come through WWI, then the Great Depression, WWII, and Korea at that time, all of which created shortages for ammunition, firearms, hand loading, which wasn't nearly as widespread as today.
Today, if an author writes about such shortages and how to prepare yourself for them, that author comes under all sorts of verbal abuse and criticism. They tread very carefully on such things these days.
Maybe because the people in charge of those magazine companies have zero idea of what's really going on?
It seems to be the norm in our present corporate and even governmental evolution where the people "in charge" have zero idea of what it takes to make things happen, but they get the title, credit, and pay for getting the top positon.
SNAFU.
- Location
- Port Edward BC
6.5x55 Swede with 156gr Mega.
I have / owned a bunch of rifles in all kinds of calibers. Most of them are that classic European hunting rifle like Sauer 202, Mauser 77, and even CZ 550 Safari and many Husqvarna in some neat calibers like 8x64, 257 Roberts, 300H&H, .280 Ackley. However, I always just grab my Tikka T3X Blued/Synthetic .308win for hunting all medium to big game. So, I think its an easy decision for me. The Tikka in .308win, the most boring rifle I've got, would be the one.
It would only be any BETTER if it were a 30-06 
JMO RJ
JMO RJ
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
I don't think you could do much better than a 30-06. So many rifle's chambered in it, lots of factory ammo and components. It's enough cartridge for anything on this continent. I agree RJ, it's a gooder.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I chatted with Phil back when I was in the business. He mused that for all the debating around proverbial campfires, it’s very hard to find something more effective on even the biggest bears than the .30-06. He doesn’t even care much which bullet it’s shooting, just that the shooter can put it in the right place. Time afield will bear that out, pun intended.
I was about to finish by saying I don’t even own a .30-06, but it didn’t take long to remember that’s a lie- I have a lone example. I prefer the .308 for its ubiquity, short actions, generally lighter rifles and would skip right past the .30-06 for the .300 if I wanted more. But… .30-06 is likely the best all rounder for this continent in rifles under 7 1/2lbs. And .375 H&H for the world.
westcoaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central BC
Meeting Phil must have been interesting. That would be on my bucket list, to do a hunt with him. Not because I need help but because I think he would be very good company.
Ardent, you are 308 and 375; I'm 3006 and 338wm - there is nothing to debate here because Bambi, Bullwinkle and Elmo would never know the difference.
I agree with those who feel that all of these calibers are more the same than they are different.
As for rifles, I’d go for any reliable bolt action that cycles smoothly, with good ergonomics, and doesn’t have any weird quirks. I’d expend an effort to make sure that it fits me well and that it mounts and sights with the ease of a good shotgun. I’d make sure that it balances such that it just barely settles down well enough for long shots vs being lively for quick handling and easy carry in the woods.
I’d pick a caliber and load that doesn’t kick too hard so that I can practice often with confidence.
While being a reasonably flat shooter, this caliber wouldn’t be so hot that I have to worry too much about expensive bullets and barrel wear.
While I’d prefer a partition or scirocco or similar, for one load only I’d stick with something inexpensive like a hot-cor or interlock so that I can practice more. It would be on the slightly heavier side for penetration and integrity.
Something like this could look like an M70 in a custom stock like a bansner or echols, with a lighter contoured barrel no longer than 22” if not shorter. Caliber roughly centred on the 30-06, whether that’s a heavy load in a .270 or a starting charge in a .300WSM it wouldn’t matter as much as getting the right-fitting rifle while fulfilling local legalities. But the one load developed would probably make it behave a lot like a .30-06.
I haven’t had the opportunity or motivation to hunt gophers or coyotes or in Africa, which helps to narrow the choices down. It would be powerful enough for elk and moose and greater, have enough range for open country, not blow up on a close-range deer, and be pleasant at the range. And would obviously have a shotgun as a companion.
As for rifles, I’d go for any reliable bolt action that cycles smoothly, with good ergonomics, and doesn’t have any weird quirks. I’d expend an effort to make sure that it fits me well and that it mounts and sights with the ease of a good shotgun. I’d make sure that it balances such that it just barely settles down well enough for long shots vs being lively for quick handling and easy carry in the woods.
I’d pick a caliber and load that doesn’t kick too hard so that I can practice often with confidence.
While being a reasonably flat shooter, this caliber wouldn’t be so hot that I have to worry too much about expensive bullets and barrel wear.
While I’d prefer a partition or scirocco or similar, for one load only I’d stick with something inexpensive like a hot-cor or interlock so that I can practice more. It would be on the slightly heavier side for penetration and integrity.
Something like this could look like an M70 in a custom stock like a bansner or echols, with a lighter contoured barrel no longer than 22” if not shorter. Caliber roughly centred on the 30-06, whether that’s a heavy load in a .270 or a starting charge in a .300WSM it wouldn’t matter as much as getting the right-fitting rifle while fulfilling local legalities. But the one load developed would probably make it behave a lot like a .30-06.
I haven’t had the opportunity or motivation to hunt gophers or coyotes or in Africa, which helps to narrow the choices down. It would be powerful enough for elk and moose and greater, have enough range for open country, not blow up on a close-range deer, and be pleasant at the range. And would obviously have a shotgun as a companion.
Here in South Central Ontario , my 6.5 CM manbun (I’m Asian , so top knot will do) 
Further North up on Hwy 17, then it’s .308 for the win!
Buy what works for you and your: budget, game, reloading habits, recoil tolerance, local GS, and finally….LCV, Looks Cool Value!
Peace Be The Journey!
Further North up on Hwy 17, then it’s .308 for the win!
Buy what works for you and your: budget, game, reloading habits, recoil tolerance, local GS, and finally….LCV, Looks Cool Value!
Peace Be The Journey!
Well, at my age, and what I would probably need it for, my choice would be my 1957 Winchester 94, 32 special, 150 grain factory or equivalent load of Higginson’s 44 powder. I have lots of factory ammo, and lots of 44 powder, and enough bullets and primers to last me.
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
That would be like using a nuclear bomb on rabbits.
Unless the demands are that I can only have ammunition from the local WalMart in that dystopian world, I'll go with my Mannlicher stocked 35 Whelan built on a 1963 Husqvarna action - originally one of their lightweight "Husky" rifles in 30/06.
If you want flexibility with everything from shooting swaged pistol bullets at subsonic velocities to launching heavy 250 grain bullets because street gangs of maurading grizzly bears are also in that dystopian world, for the reloader that's about as flexible as it gets.
If you want flexibility with everything from shooting swaged pistol bullets at subsonic velocities to launching heavy 250 grain bullets because street gangs of maurading grizzly bears are also in that dystopian world, for the reloader that's about as flexible as it gets.
