Calling all .30-06's!

[Wyatt Burp]

This great cartridge has been taken for granted too long. We wouldn't be so great if we didn't strive for bigger and better things. But let's back up a ways and appreciate this most common round. My two are a sporterized 1903-A3, and an arsenal reconditioned four digit serial number 1903. It has the receiver supposedly not safe to shoot, even though it was a favorite long range plinking gun for me for years with a bunch of military ammo I had on hand. Let's see your 30-06's, old or new.

 

[30-30remchester]

My all time favorite round and I am away from my guns, so I cant post. I hope no wives are on this forum as I am about to utter the best kept secret that no wives need to know. A man needs but a few guns. A nice 12 gauge, a 22 rifle, a 38 special and a 30/06. With these a man could survive quite nicely. After decades of hunting big game with varying large calibers, I stumbled upon a transitional model 70 in 30-06. Afterwards I found I need no other big game rifle. For 30 years my 30-06 has taken truck loads of deer, elk and antelope.

 

[427mach1]

Hey Wyatt, nice rifles! What kind of stock did you put on your sporterized rifle? Here's my 1903 that I inherited from my grandfather, who passed away 8 years before I was born. He purchased it as a WWII surplus and I have the magazine article he followed to convert it for hunting purposes. I've thought about replacing the stock but it has Elmer Keith's cartouche so I am a little reluctant...... I've never even shot this rifle but plan to in the near future. My son and I loaded up some minimum charged 125 grain bullets to start with.

 

[NYlakesider]

On and off over the last 50 years I have had a few 30.06s

As of now the only two I have are a late WW2 era Springfield and a 1917 Enfield. Both are not sportirized and are very good shooters and seem to attract people when I show up at a public range!

 

[derek45auto]

Late 1944/early 1945 springfield M1 garand

got this in the 1990's, CMP service rifle.
back then, they were $275 without wood.
bought the walnut from a gunshow local for $50
cleaned it up.

 

[Faulkner]

Of the many rifles I hunt with I am most successful with my Ruger M77 MKII All Weather in .30-06. This one has put meat in the freezer every time I've pulled the trigger on game.

My favorite .30-06's, though, are my three M1 Rifles. The one pictured below is a 1943 Springfield and I've taken several whitetail deer with it.

I'm also fond of my M1903 Springfield rifle. This one is actually a Remington made rifle manufactured in 1942 before Remington transitioned to the M1903A3. I love the clean lines and butter smooth action of the M1903, but I don't shoot this one much.

 

[Calaveras Slim]

Got to admit that I am a total failure. I don't hold up the manly idea that more is better. I have one hunting rifle.

Winchester M70 30-06.

I bought a M70 30-06 in 1959, didn't do much with it and sold when the prices were high. Played with a M700BDL in 270, (great rifle), sold it and then had a string of others that I just didn't like.

Finally found a Win. M70 30-06 from the end of Winchester days in about 2008. A plain Jane, swapped their cheap stock with original, had a friend touch up the checkering and do some enhancements to it, put on a super nice scope, loaded some ammo and I was home free.

Sold all my others cuz I just don't need anything else.

Gotta agree with Wyatt Burp, you just don't need anything else.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Hey Wyatt, nice rifles! What kind of stock did you put on your sporterized rifle? Here's my 1903 that I inherited from my grandfather, who passed away 8 years before I was born. He purchased it as a WWII surplus and I have the magazine article he followed to convert it for hunting purposes. I've thought about replacing the stock but it has Elmer Keith's cartouche so I am a little reluctant...... I've never even shot this rifle but plan to in the near future. My son and I loaded up some minimum charged 125 grain bullets to start with.

I don't know who made the stock. I traded a freind out of it because it was better than the sporter stock it had on it. I once had a Sedgely stock but let it go like a dummy.

 

[BearBio]

Here's a few. All military but I've had a few sporter models over the years.

Restored Springfield:


Winchester 1917:


1943 Garand:


"Artsy-Phartsy" pics:

Boys of 1917:


Faux 1903A4:

 

[Wyo]

One of my all-time favorite cartridges. I've used it on everything from prairie dogs to elk and it's never let me down. Here's a few:

Garands from each manufacturer. From the top: International Harvester, Springfield, H&R, Winchester.

Some others:

From the top: 1942 Remington 03, mid-50's Model 70 Target Rifle, 1948 Model 70 Transitional, 1952 Husqvarna built on an FN Supreme Mauser action. The target rifle will hold under 2" at 200 yds. with the loads it likes, and the Husqvarna is a working rifle that has taken a lot of game. I think it's the best all-round cartridge out there!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I've heard it said "you cant go wrong with a 30-06" I agree!

 

[Smith357]

The Aught6 my favorite centerfire rifle cartridge. I have had the privilege to have quite a few pass through my grubby little mitts.

1972 Win M70

Early 80s Rem 742 with M70

1949 Commercial FN Mauser

53 FN action with rocker safety behind the 49

Scope mounted and load developed for the 49 FN

 

[zzzippper]

I love the .30-06 and the .30-06 Short.

I have an '03 Springfield, 1917 Eddystone, a Garand, and a Model 70 Featherweight. The M1A likes hanging out with his big brothers.

 

[Texas Star]

Don't many states limit magazine capacity to five rounds? How do you use these 8-shot M-1's to hunt? Are there special clips that hold just five?

Bear in mind that the .30/06 has taken a lot of big bears and African game, but I'd rather have a bit more punch for some species. African countries sometimes have caliber limits for the really big animals, .375 H&H being the usual minimum. Kenya used to require a .400 or more for elephant, maybe rhino. But unless one can hunt where this applies, the .30/06 will suffice in expert hands.

I can see why some want a .338, a .340 Weatherby, a .375.

On the other end of the scale, if you can afford a .243 and a .30/06, why shoot coyotes with the latter? And some who are sensitive to recoil are better off with a .270 or 7mm.

Still, if you have just one rifle, I agree that the .30/06 is as good a choice as any and better than most.

I know one man who has a M-70 Fwt. Classic and it shoots like a target rifle. Has a Zeiss 3-9X 'scope that gives it all-round potential, too.

 

[Rusty Shacklford]

Hay, There is a 5 round clip , and I think a 3 round, that fit in just as the 8 round normally would. You could also load just 1 round and make sure to carry only loose rounds when u hunt. If it fits too many they can confiscate it. VA has no limit for rifles but a 3 round limit on shotguns.

 

[M1A]

Love my .30-06 milsurps.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Don't many states limit magazine capacity to five rounds? How do you use these 8-shot M-1's to hunt? Are there special clips that hold just five?

Bear in mind that the .30/06 has taken a lot of big bears and African game, but I'd rather have a bit more punch for some species. African countries sometimes have caliber limits for the really big animals, .375 H&H being the usual minimum. Kenya used to require a .400 or more for elephant, maybe rhino. But unless one can hunt where this applies, the .30/06 will suffice in expert hands.

I can see why some want a .338, a .340 Weatherby, a .375.

On the other end of the scale, if you can afford a .243 and a .30/06, why shoot coyotes with the latter? And some who are sensitive to recoil are better off with a .270 or 7mm.

Still, if you have just one rifle, I agree that the .30/06 is as good a choice as any and better than most.

I know one man who has a M-70 Fwt. Classic and it shoots like a target rifle. Has a Zeiss 3-9X 'scope that gives it all-round potential, too.

My freind, not especially sensitive to recoil, shoots and reloads for an old Remington 721 .300 H&H Magnum. He casually mentioned a couple times that is was more powerful than most of his purposes. So I gave him an Ithaca .270 and that was the compromise he need between his .30-30 and the .300. But that classic, and very utilitarian looking .300 is still his favorite.

 

[gregintenn]

Here are the only two I have at the moment. To me, the 30-06 is the perfect all 'round cartridge.

 

[307-Niner]

We have two of them in the household, neither are really picture-worthy.

First one is my father-in-laws old Springfield M1903 that was given to my wife when he passed. Neither of us has taken it out.

Second one is a Winchester model 70 with a lightweight synthetic stock and a 3-9x40. I picked it up used last fall for cheap. My first rifle with a synthetic stock. It's light weight, and I won't care much if it gets dinged up hunting, but it packs a wallup. Don't know if I'll keep it or not. Hopefully it's a tack driver.

 

[Drm50]

30/06
The old 30/06 is my favorite deer cartridge. I have a pre 64 model 70 that
I bought new when I was a kid. My favorite deer rifle is a M-1895 win. It's
a little on heavy side but seems to float in my hands in deer woods.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[DGT]

Center is a Kimber of Oregon BGR in 30.06. Great shooting rifle.

 

[LTC]

I'll play.


03-a3
03
1922 Springfield .22lr
Model of 1917

LTC

 

[Frank46]

Excellent tread. And my most favorite cartridge. Have owned a bunch of them during the years.
Post 64 match rifle
sportered 1943 springfield
Sportered 1917 enfield with 22" bbl
1943 springfield armory garand
sako 75 hunter
The sako and the garand have a love affair with Lake City 67 match ammo. You can never have enough 30-06's Frank

 

[Fat Frank]

I've owned a lot of rifles in many different calibers and models, but now that I think about it, I've only ever owned one rifle chambered in .30-06. It was a Winchester Model 54 with original iron sights. Only shot it a few times at the range. It was a nice rifle, but I've always found myself carrying something a little out of the ordinary when going shooting.

I guess I always considered it a little too mainstream for my tastes. Kinda like a 350 Chevy. Good engine, but everybody and their brother has one. Nothing really special about it.

Call me different. I guess that's my point.

 

[williamlayton]

All I can say is that anybody that shoots that ol steel butt plate 06 Springfield without a little padding is not somebody I want to fight.
That silly ol bill just flat made a boy out of me when I was younger .
Blessings

 

[Farmer17]

I've owned over a hundred guns and never a 30-06. I have mostly handguns, but during this last Black Friday we were driving by a Walmart and my wife said she needed something. So we pulled in and I walked by the sporting goods and they had a Remington 700 BDL 30-06 with beautiful walnut marked down to $377 so I had to snag it. I actually prefer Winchesters but they don't come with iron sights and I like the Remington safety better. I put a Redfield 2-7X on it but its been so cold I haven't tried it out yet. Best part about the 06', while I was at Walmart they had several boxes of Federal ammo for under 15 bucks a box. It has got to be the best bang for the buck in rifle cartridges.

 

[vonn]

You just can not find a more versatile caliber . Even if you don't reload you can find a load for almost anything you might want to use a rifle for. I have a Garand,03A3,and the first new rifle I ever bought an early 70's Ruger Model 77 that has taken at least 100 deer over many years

 

[BearBio]

Last week I fell off a ladder and injured my left elbow (ruptured the bursa), separated my collarbone and sprained my neck. Fortunately, I am right handed but I expect, at age 65 next month, I won't be healing as fast as I used to. I may have to give up my 300 mag and 338 mag and opt for a 30-06, for something lighter to carry.

I agree, for a one rifle hunter, you can't beat a 30-06!.

Regarding using a Garand for hunting, military ammo has a different power curve than commercial ammo (except for some loaded specially for M-1s). This can result in bent operating rods as they will slam back more forcefully. You can get an adjustable gas trap (nut), a heavy duty operating rod (but then you can't use military ammo), or buy premium ammo loaded just for the M-1.

There is also a single-load clip (used for target shooting)

 

[RonJ]

I have only owned one '06. It was a Weatherby Vanguard. It was a good shooter @ around 1.5 moa. Handsome lines and nicely figured wood but the wood had a greenish tint which I just couldn't stand. Now in retrospect I guess I could have had in stained. Oh well!

 

[raljr1]

I have a Remington 760 bicentennial edition that I hunt with most of the time. An M1 Garand, 2-1903 Springfields, one from 1918 and the other 1930, 2-1903 A3 Springfields, one a sporter, and dad's old Remington 721. All in 30-06. There is arguable no caliber more versatile.