30.06; Anyone still use one?

[Doc Spratley]

Just for discussion sake, I raise this question. A while back, my friend and I were "b.s.ing" about rifles and shotguns. I got to wondering if anyone still shoots a 30.06. The reason I ask is that the postings on this board indicate (in my mind) a preference for 7mm mags, .270s, and .300 win mags. I have a Ruger Model 77R that will shoot 4 leaf clovers at 200 yards off of a rest with just about any factory ammo. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Are there other fans of this caliber out there?

[Dr Strangelove]

Heck Yeah! I own a wood/blue Weatherby 270 Win, a 30/30 Marlin, and a Browning Abolt Stainless Synthetic 30/06 and guess which one gets the play time when I go hunting? That's right. The ABolt 06 that shoots 180 grain bullets @ 2777fps into 1" groups. It will kill deer, cougar, black bear, elk, and Sasquatch easily within 300yds given the right bullet choice and a well placed shot. Ammo is available anywhere; it is the most shot caliber for big game in the US.

Why don't I own a 300 Win Mag? Because I like my shoulder and eardrums. Even a Win Mag gut shot is still a gut shot. You don't get tissue shock wave kills until you get into 338 Lapua to 50BMG range.

Why do I own the pretty Weatherby? Because I oil finished the stock myself and can't part with it, and the Marlin cuz I like the cowboy gun. It also doubles as a great woods rifle or a companion's gun.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I had an 06 but it was a pump and wasn't as accurate as I like,so I gave it back to Dad.

Currently I have

1. Marlin 30/30 (first hunting rifle)
2. Winchester Featherweight,wood and blued .270 (deer)
3. Ruger M77 MarkII stainless,synthetic .338 (elk)

Used to have

1. Remington model 760 Gamemaster 30/06
2. Remington model 700 BDL 7mm Rem. mag.

Always on the lookout for another rifle. They just have to be above average in the accuracy dept.Nothing I hate worse than a rifle with poor accuracy.

[Flatfish]

It is still the standard that all others are compared.

I have had 3 '06s. My wife shoots one. everything she points it at dies. I wish my .338 was as easy to shoot. Maybe I will buy one for myself.

Mark and the dog.

[hntngirl]

I have an old Interarms 30-06 that used to belong to my grandpa. It's my elk-hunting gun. I love it and can't imagine ever using anything else! :smile:

[Scar Face]

I love my '06. I have two Remington 700's and a Mossberg. I've killed 3 bull elk, a couple dozen deer, a beer,and an antelope. I just stepped up to a 300 win mag for elk. Wanted the extra yardage. This last years spike elk dropped like a rock, it might of been the bullet placement in the neck that did that though.

I think it is an excellent deer gun. Bullets are easy to find or borrow from your buddies since they all carry them too. You can't go wrong with an '06. It doesn't kick hard enough to make you flinch so you can keep your eye on the game while you slowly squeeze.

[MarlinMark]

Yes I do. The first firearm I ever purchased. Browning Bolt Action Rifle in 30-06. Great gun. Shot my first few deer with it. Shoots like a dream. I have since purchased a .300 Rem Ultra Mag and love it's performance. But, if I don't need the extra distance (with the ft/lbs.) I will shoot the "old .06". :grin:

Mark

[Leatherneck]

Bought my Remington 30-06 bdl in 1978 for 160.00 at k-mart and still have it. Can't imagine hunting deer and elk with any thing else.

[fishuntr2]

Model 70 "06" bought used in 71. Still my favorite caliber out of the 4 hunting rifles I own. Shoots straight and consistent.

[RvW]

I do... Woodsmaster model 742 with an middle of the road bushnell 3x9. Gun is good for 150 yards.

Grandfather got it in the 70s used it a lot too, wore the blueing off the reciever by carrying it with a leather mitten hunting for deer. Gramma said he would come back with a big ole buck every year shot in the eye!

['ZZZZzzzzzz']

I still shoot my Remington 760 and I don't have any plans to change. It's easy to find a wide variety of ammunition and I know its ballistics and drop real well. It has done all of the jobs that I've asked it to. :grin:

Z's-

[MasterCaster]

I use my .06 for both deer and elk. Very nice all around rifle.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[Trophy]

I think the 30-06 caliber is a great all-around choice, and so is the .270. I prefer the .270 for its flatter trajectory and slightly less recoil. The choice of a caliber depends more on the purpose--what you want to kill with it. If you are after a variety of animals and want a wide selection of ammo at reasonable prices, then it's hard to beat the 30-06. But if you are after small to midsize game, I'd take the .270.

[MountainLion84]

I shoot a Ruger M77 30.06. It has done the job on Deer,Elk,Antelope and Bear. I think it is the perfect caliber.

[SeanD]

I sold my 300 win mag and kept my old 30-06. The only advantage the 300 win mag offers is better trajectory, but its not as much as most people think, and especially when you consider most hunters (including myself) dont have the skill to ethicly take 350+ yards shots at big game. A 180 grain partition out of a 30-06 will kill any elk or deer just as dead as a 30 cal 180 grain from anything else, so why put up with the added recoil? The 30-06 is the most common rifle at my elk camp, and it makes sense....

[ 06-18-2003, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: SeanD ]

[Snapset]

I have a 7 mag and an -06 BAR. I have used them both on elk and deer. Surprisingly, the 06 has given me much better performance on elk, and they both work great for deer.

[Lovestafish]

Like a lot of others, I just love my Remongton 700 BDL (bolt action); it looks good, feels good, shoots good, even after I've rolled down a hill or two with it (don't try that at home!) & even slipped on a log & the impact broke a scope in half (don't try that either!)

[tramp]

.06 savage works for me

[Baskett-o-fish]

Remington 06 is my weapon of choice. Over the last 7 years I have not missed a deer and have taken 3 elk. I hunt Colorado every year and with the wide open shooting in the area we hunt this gun has out performed everything else in our camp. Dad has a 338 that is a cannon for him, several guys have 7mm's. One shot is all it takes. Many of the guys have unloaded clips to hit animals. I chalk that up to not sighting in properly and knowing your weapon.

[LIMIT LANDER]

People were killing big game with the trusty 'ole' 0-6 longer than anyother cartrige i can think of. I dont own one but i hold them up to very high respect. I have two friends that have custom built 0-6 and both use 165 gr hand loads for Elk. they have done very well. we are in a different era now. instead of getting a 4x4 with a medium powered V-8. we must have the biggest 4x4 with the biggest Deisel made. so enstead of using a 0-6 or 7mm mag for Elk. we must have a 300 win mag or 338. or maby the 340 Weatherby. I use a 243 for blacktail, 270 for Mule or whitetail, and i use my trusty ole 7mm mag with 165 gr for Elk. if your going after a annimal, that will eat you if you miss, I use the 340 Weatherby. my two friends, deer or Elk, they use their custom 0-6. The game they shoot die just as dead. plus they can place their bullet in a kill zone.

[Old Coot]

Mod 70 "30 GOV'T 06." Been in the family for more than 50 years. If I shoot at something and it doesn't fall down, it's not the rifle's fault! Little heavy, though. Over 12 lbs. My dad bought it and then restocked it in anticipation of being recalled to the Korean war as a sniper; wanted a heavy & stable shooter. (He told me that WWII officers could choose assignments if recalled to Korea, and that snipers could provide their own rifles as long as they conformed to the Convention.)

[BonkBonkBonk]

i had a savage 110 that would shoot ~1" groups with a 30 dollar tasco 4x scope and the cheapest ammo i could find
however, when i get another gun ill probably get a .308/7.62 nato..does pretty much the same

[BassAckwards]

i like the .06 but ill have to go with my .27o savage. both got lots of power

[Bendman]

I love 30.06's If I didn't have to shoot so far so often that's all I would use.

[sliverpicker]

I just bought a used Savage Model 110 in 30.06 for my 14 year old son. The guy has been out of work for awhile and needed some money, so I got it for $220 with two boxes of new Rem. core-lokt 165gr ammo.

It hasn't been shot much at all, still looks like new. Maybe pick him up a 4x scope when Sportsman's Warehouse opens up, if they have anything priced right.

[nerta]

Last elk season 6 hunters in camp 5 were using 06's. Two custom 98's one old win 70 and two remingtons the other guy had a 300 win short mag. yes we still use the 06 and i'm sure every camp would average at least one if you did a study.

[Wreckless]

Pre '64 model 70 30-06 featherweight.........The ultimate hunting machine!!!

I have a .300 Wetherbaby and .300 H & H (which shoots WAY better than I can) but that .06 has put down some game!

[gottafish]

bACK WHEN i USE TO HUNT WITH A RIFLE I USED A 45/70 FOR ELK BUT I ONLY HUNTED THE COAST RANGE. I USED A 30.06 FOR MICHIGAN WHITETAILS BUT I BOUGHT A 7MM FOR DEER HERE AND I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH IT THE 30.06 IN MY MIND WAS A BETTER RIFLE. CHEERS RICH

[SniperDan]

Great all around gun. Currently using Ruger M77 MII and Magnum Research .06 handgun for dear.
(saving the .378 W. for sasquatch !) The .06 handgun shoots a 1" group @ 100 yds with rest and 150gr Light Magnum loads...can't complain.

[Salmon Loser]

Heck ya th 06 was my first and will be my last rifle. Oh wait a minute maybe that new wildcat the 270 reding that my father built might have to fall in there some where. :grin:

[C-lice]

The .30-06 is an excellent calliber. I have one passed down to me from my dad and it works as well for deer and elk as it did 35 years ago. The only thing I don't use it for is antelope, and I'd use it on them without hesitation if I didn't have a 7mm-08.

I used to have a .338 when I was in my mid 20s and thoght I needed the biggest and baddest. It just makes more noise, kicks a lot harder, and costs more to shoot. The magnum craze is overrated!!

If it lives in the lower 48, you can kill it with an '06 and 165 to 180 grain bullets.

[Bait Bucket]

When I was 14 years old I hitched a ride into town and paid 95 dollars for a Win pre-64 featherweight Mod 70 in 30-06 cal. That was almost 50 years ago. I have since shot everything from groundhogs to elk with that gun and it's still stays in front of all the other rifles I own.

[keermit]

the old 06 if only the 8 elk 22 deer 2bear could talk this modle 1917 enfield has had and performs great. just a little on the heavy side.