30-06 for Long Range

[Laguna Freak]

That combo with proper handloads will allow him to approach factory 300WM vels and energy.

I think far too many people have basically discarded or ignored calibers and rifles they never really learned to use at extended ranges. We've seen this trend for many years, and with the magnum and new type mania among the shooting world, old calibers/cartridges are considered, well, old. Not modern, flashy, latest n greatest, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love the magnums I own and use them well, but sometimes, there is not a lot of real world difference in a few of these than a well developed handload in the older cartridges. Modern powders and bullets have definitely improved the old friends performance over my loads from 40 years ago, but even then, we used those loads well.

When I think of all the game, varmints and targets we olders have shot at MR/LR through the decades without all the latest n greatest, I have to wonder.

I love my 23.6" barrel 06 which shoots 180's sub-moa but at 2885 fps. That is 200+ fps slower than 300 WM or WSM with </= 24" barrel. My 06 shoots 0.5 moa with 150 Accubonds at 3100 fps.

I'm a huge 06 fan, but I can not say it approaches 300 WM performance with 180+ gr bullets. Just my $0.02

 

[del2les]

I love my 23.6" barrel 06 which shoots 180's sub-moa but at 2885 fps. That is 200+ fps slower than 300 WM or WSM with </= 24" barrel. My 06 shoots 0.5 moa with 150 Accubonds at 3100 fps.

I'm a huge 06 fan, but I can not say it approaches 300 WM performance with 180+ gr bullets. Just my $0.02

Recheck his post's barrel length and long throated "06 AI" not standard 06. I've seen longer barreled and throated 06AI's break 3100fps with 180's

 

[bdyal1972]

Recheck his post's barrel length and long throated "06 AI" not standard 06. I've seen longer barreled and throated 06AI's break 3100fps with 180's

06 AI really really responds well to 26" and 28" barrels

One of Our family 06s came with a heavy Palma 30" barrel in the early 50s....

It absolutely is a 300mag with 165s and slow powders...

Albeit a little heavy

And I have thought the 03a3 looked weird as a child...

Muck preferred the Arisaka bring back sporterized in MYRTLEWOOD!!!

26" barrel, 06, peep and swing over bases
Proper jack o conner looking "Biesen" myrtle wood stock made out of bright yellow myrtle with BLACK pre 64 looking checkering....

Earth first jackals burnt it up in a 50s egg trailer on a logging site in mid 80s.....

Waterboarding for 48 straight hours would be their intro to PAIN if i ever found them.....

Blowtorch and pliers....

Earth first, antifa, blm....

Same jackals just different family trees...
Been fighting these cowardly jackals since 1984...

I was 12
Had a head and antlers on my pack
been hiking uphill in 40deg temps in inch an hour rain
found 2 hippies milling around dads new f150

I had about 3 ounces on the 760 rem pump in 06 with 220 rem soft points...

took the bull on my shoulders at over 250 yards, buck over 300, first bear at 125 in the head off hand...

dad shouted....

Saved their lives...

As my brother says "I can shoot faster than they die!!!"

typical scenario

Just find a nice blow down 4' diameter, 200' plus.....

Throw them in the hole...

5 minutes on the stihl to release the stump....

Let the stump go back to where it was.

PROPER COOS COUNTY BURIAL FOR SCUM!!!!!!!!!!

 

[del2les]

06 AI really really responds well to 26" and 28" barrels

One of Our family 06s came with a heavy Palma 30" barrel in the early 50s....

It absolutely is a 300mag with 165s and slow powders...

Albeit a little heavy

And I have thought the 03a3 looked weird as a child...
<snip>

As an early 20 something, I acquired a very modified 1917 Enfield 27" 4 groove in 30-06, and while the bore was in good shape, the throat was so long, I could not touch the lands with a 165 SGK and keep enough neck tension on the bullet. I could load that 165GK atop 61gr of IMR4350 and break 3,100fps without flattening the primers! Incredibly, it would hold about MOA with that load, but I never became a fan of that rifle and after a couple of seasons, traded it.

 

[bdyal1972]

As an early 20 something, I acquired a very modified 1917 Enfield 27" 4 groove in 30-06, and while the bore was in good shape, the throat was so long, I could not touch the lands with a 165 SGK and keep enough neck tension on the bullet. I could load that 165GK atop 61gr of IMR4350 and break 3,100fps without flattening the primers! Incredibly, it would hold about MOA with that load, but I never bacame a fan of that rifle and after a couple of seasons, traded it.

Love it!!!!

Chambered for old 218? Fmj?

 

[del2les]

Love it!!!!

Chambered for old 218? Fmj?

Could have been. Unsure

 

[bdyal1972]

Could have been. Unsure

ACKLEY LOVED 1917S AND ARISAKAS

 

[yobuck]

I used to feel like I needed more fun if I didn't have a 300wm or 7 mag in my hands. Now days I wish I would have just stuck with an 06 and shot it more. I still like my mags but for hunting my 06 does everything I need it to without pounding my shoulder or the need for a brake, not to mention less powder and cheaper brass. I have a couple more targets to bio to finish my 1000 yard range. I am looking forward to banging steel with the trusty 06 at 1000. I am running 165 s at 2950ish and 180s at 2825ish out of a 22 inch barrel.

Well what you say is true, but sometime try a 210 gr bullet at 3000 fps at those same targets, then tell us what you think.

 

[bdyal1972]

Well what you say is true, but sometime try a 210 gr bullet at 3000 fps at those same targets, then tell us what you think.

Or a 225 mono at 2950....

Or a 270 barnes at 2850!

 

[del2les]

Well what you say is true, but sometime try a 210 gr bullet at 3000 fps at those same targets, then tell us what you think.

I think you are missing the point. No one is claiming there are not faster and flatter shooting cartridges and loads than a 30-06 or AI, and my 300 RUMs and 338's send 210-215's faster than 3000fps. What is being discussed is the viability and decades of proven performance of a properly loaded and used 30-06 round for hunting game under the 1,000 yd mark. MOST people, and many on this LRH forum, will never shoot at game or targets past 6-800 yards, so they will never fully realize their cartridge/rifle's true potential. Same for many of the non-magnum cartridges that are fully capable.

Learning to truly shoot many of the older calibers, especially with today's bullets and powders, affords better barrel life, in some cases less recoil, less costs, more practice (fun), etc. It is the reason we start many hopeful LR shooters with fast twist 223's or a heavy barreled 308 for 600-1,000yds. Lots of comfortable wind reading, mirage, follow thru and other practice.

From your earlier post, it sounds as if you have never tried the 30-06 to or past 600? Many of us have and do, so we speak from much experience.

 

[Mustang72]

Well what you say is true, but sometime try a 210 gr bullet at 3000 fps at those same targets, then tell us what you think.

It was 200 grain @ 3000-- back before long range was a thing and the new wonder powders were available. Yes got the job done quite impressive.-- Still like them fast,just don't need it. 30/06 gets it done at 700 and under with a shorter barrel. I don't like brakes,long barrels, or heavy guns for most hunting, so an 06 just works for me---then again so does my 7mag but with 2 inches more barrel.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I gave my 30-06 to my son in law this year for Christmas. Great all around cartridge for anyone. Light and fast for 90% of your hunts. Heavy and slow for longer range.

That AI with the right twist barrel would be impressive with the long heavies.

 

[yobuck]

Well again i agree that most will never have the need for a shot beyond about 500 yds or so.
Fact is that even for most who might, its a fact that most kills are not.
But depending on where and how you hunt, thats not saying it couldnt.
And then it becomes coulda, shoulda, woulda.

 

[jpfrog]

I gave my 30-06 to my son in law this year for Christmas. Great all around cartridge for anyone. Light and fast for 90% of your hunts. Heavy and slow for longer range.

That AI with the right twist barrel would be impressive with the long heavies.

I just had an 06AI built earlier this year with a 9 twist and plan to shoot 180hammers with it.