Where does the .30-06 fit into the LRH Pantheon of cartridges?

[jski]

I've always wondered where this "old work horse" fits in the LRH totem pole? In both WWI & WWII it was the most powerful cartridge for main battle rifles. It's still one of the most popular hunting cartridges in North America. But where does it lie with long range hunters?

 

[HARPERC]

For me terminal velocity is the key to the question, and the answer varies with which bullet is chosen.

I tend to use 1800 fps as my bottom end, with my .30-06 usually this works out to about 600 yards. Which is about my game shooting limit anyways. Magnum cartridges driving the same bullets faster yield, better results with drop, wind, and wound channel throughout that range.

I can tolerate a lighter rifle .30-06, and that's worth something as well.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Most of us know that the old work horses can still be relevant, when coupled with modern powders and bullet technology. They can be just as relevant as any other cartridge. Personally, I have never been a big fan of the heavy-tapered and low shoulder angle cartridges, like the standard .25-06, 270 win, .280 Rem, and .30-06... But if you take Ackley's Improved designs, with the blown-out walls and a 40º shoulder, they are just as modern as anything else, and are 100% as relevant as anything else today, as far as case design goes, and being able to keep up with other more modern cartridges.

 

[sable tireur]

It's still one of the most popular hunting cartridges in North America.

I try to encourage folks making statements such as this to reexamine the circumstances under which this assertion is made.

For 50 years or maybe a tad more, every model hunting rifle sold in the US was chambered for the .30-06 Springfield. So it stands to reason that it's still one of the most popular, there are millions of rifles needing to fed every year. The runner up would probably be the .270 Win.

But where does it lie with long range hunters?

I'm not quite sure where it sits on the list of long range hunting cartridges since I'm not sure there is such a thing. But in my own humble opinion, it is probably an 'also ran' cartridge in the long range hunting venue, not high on the list and closer to the bottom than the top. This doesn't mean that it can't function in the same field as other more notable and popular LR cartridges. When loaded with an aerodynamic, wind cheating bullet design, the .30-06 is perfectly capable of dispatching game at longer distances as long as we pay attention to the basic rules of hunting wild game.

Regards.

 

[gohring3006]

I have a lot of time shooting the 30–06. It was my first cartridge that got me into shooting long range. I used to shove heavy 208s and 215s thru it with RL17 and got impressive results. I recently went back to the 178 class of bullets. Mainly because I have several other rifles capable of shooting high BC bullets "better" by better I mean, they shoot them faster, and are able to utilize the weight and BC more effectively/efficiently. I will always have a 30-06, but I don't shoot it as much anymore. For long range steel out to 1200 yards, I say yes, load it with a 208 and have at it. For long range hunting past 6-700 yards, just buy a win mag. It's usually the same price, in the same platform.
The win mag will be flatter shooting across all ranges the 30-06 would be considered as a choice. Flatter shooting, more energy and less time of flight are very important factors when I have a mammal in the cross hairs, steel plate not so much...

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

It's not sexy like other rounds but as mentioned combine it with modern powders and bullets it's plenty capable.

30-06 pushing a 200gr ELD-X or 200.20 Berger would be a very capable combination.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Just some interesting tests I found on YouTube...

 

[WildRose]

I've always wondered where this "old work horse" fits in the LRH totem pole? In both WWI & WWII it was the most powerful cartridge for main battle rifles. It's still one of the most popular hunting cartridges in North America. But where does it lie with long range hunters?

Pretty far down the list as modern cartridges simply outperform it in every way.

Yes, you can get to 1,000yds with it but it's like launching mortars compared to the .300wm, Rum, or other big case .30's.

It will always have a place with average hunters especially those limited to 400yds or less.

Long story greatly shortened.

In the early seventies my dad drew his first Elk Tag in CO and his best friend talked him into a brand new 700bdl 7RM and a new Bushnell range compensating variable scope.

The hunt went miserably, the first chance he got on an elk the scope had fogged up and the action frozen. This was day one after they'd packed in by horse/foot for two days to the hunting area.

Four days later after a completely miserable hunt on the way out he pulls out "Old Grampa" his thirty year old 760 pump 30-06 equipped with the same old Weaver 4x that came new with the package and killed a monster 5x5 with a single shot at nearly 500yds.

It was the longest shot of his life.

 

[WildRose]

I try to encourage folks making statements such as this to reexamine the circumstances under which this assertion is made.

For 50 years or maybe a tad more, every model hunting rifle sold in the US was chambered for the .30-06 Springfield. So it stands to reason that it's still one of the most popular, there are millions of rifles needing to fed every year. The runner up would probably be the .270 Win.



I'm not quite sure where it sits on the list of long range hunting cartridges since I'm not sure there is such a thing. But in my own humble opinion, it is probably an 'also ran' cartridge in the long range hunting venue, not high on the list and closer to the bottom than the top. This doesn't mean that it can't function in the same field as other more notable and popular LR cartridges. When loaded with an aerodynamic, wind cheating bullet design, the .30-06 is perfectly capable of dispatching game at longer distances as long as we pay attention to the basic rules of hunting wild game.

Regards.

They get lonely and jealous if you leave them in the safe too long. Every good rifle needs a job.

 

[FEENIX]

I have a lot of time shooting the 30–06.

No way, I would not ever guessed that!

 

[WildRose]

No way, I would not ever guessed that!

Is there anyone over 40 that doesn't?

 

[jpfrog]

Is there anyone over 40 that doesn't?

That's actually a pretty good stab at segmentation. I'm 38 and have never shot one, unless you count the Browning M1919 I shot at a 3gun match. My first deer rifle was a .270 Winchester and I pretty much fell in love with that cartridge. For .30 cals, I have a .308 Winchester and a .300 Winchester Magnum, so my bases are covered and I don't really need an '06. That said, I have always wanted one just because, well, it's an '06 and shouldn't everyone have at least one? Also, Lapua makes brass for it...so that means I pretty much have to get one eventually.

 

[sable tireur]

My first deer rifle was a .270 Winchester and I pretty much fell in love with that cartridge.

Same church, different pew. As I stated above, for decades, every model bolt action rifle which got sold in the US was chambered for the .30-06 Springfield and the .270 Win. When the general public went to buy a deer hunting rifle, they could choose between the .30-06 or the .270 Win. The gun rags ran hundreds of article on both cartridges, stores right on down to the local hardware store had ammunition for these two chambers on their shelves. Those daring enough to explore the outer reaches of reloading generated hundreds of loads.

I've been proud to own a couple of original model rifles chambered for the .30-06 but I have a severe illness which drags me kicking and screaming into making wildcats and other non-standard cartridges!

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

For more than 50 years my go to caliber has been the venerable 30-06. I carry 3 different magazines for my Savage rifle of which I bought a long time ago when I still used to get pimples. I carried 150, 165, and 180 grain bullets and depending on the size and distance of the animal I was hunting, I used that specific mag. My other go to 30 caliber rifle the 30-30 Winchester mainly used in heavy brush or forest.

There are other calibers that will outperform other calibers but there is not a single one that is the best for every scenario as every scenario requires a special touch. In my opinion why use a 20 pound sledge hammer when a 16 ounce hammer will get the job done. Oh! One more thing if I was ever going to buy a magnum caliber it would not be a 300 Winchester, it would be a 7mm mag.