Is a 30.06 a Big Bore Rifle?

[jeffrefrig]

A bore is only the diameter of the bullet, right? Not the thump of what it is capable of. At 50 yards, though, I would rather be shot by a .380 pistol than a 30-06 rifle. I mean, don't confuse bore with the 1/2" diameter brass shell full of explosives that push that .3" piece of lead & copper down the range. (And, for the record, I don't want to be shot by a BB gun let alone a real bullet!) Merry Christmas.

 

[Narragansett]

Well, for me, the 30-06 is a big bore. Why? It is the most powerful rifle that I can fire comfortably and with comfort comes accuracy. When you flinch with the thought of the oncoming recoil, who knows where the bullet is going. Personally I cannot take the punishment of the larger calibers and the belted magnums

 

[500SNW]

Next define a "High Powered Rifle"

I'd also like to know the definition of "high caliber." I've heard the mainstream media clowns refer to 5.56 AR type rifles as a "high caliber" weapon. Is there a "low caliber.?"

 

[crstrode]

30-06 will kill anything in the states I want to shoot
SWCA 892

A rock or a pointy stick will also kill most anything - if you keep at it long enough.

My next door neighbor has a mounted Grizzly over 9 feet tall in his playroom. It took 5 solid hits from a .375 H&H to drop it.

And don't dare to suggest that the hits were not all kill-shots. He'll show you the bullet holes in the hide. The last shot was so close that Dave had ursine saliva and blood splattered on his face from the impact.

He no longer considers anything shy of a 415 Rigby to be "big bore".

I guess "big" animals down in Texas must be puny little critters.

 

[italiansport]

I agree with the poster who said a .30-06 will kill anything he cares to shoot.

Funny thing, I always said a .30-06 will kill anything I could drag out of the woods. After that deer I shot in 2015, it was apparent it would kill things considerably larger than I could drag out. I killed the deer, then it darn near killed ME getting it out.

The 30-06 has killed any and all of the big game on this planet at one time or another. Is it a good choice for large dangerous game? IMO it's not but in the right hands with someone who can control shot placement, it will drop anything. Please remember there was a great white hunter named Bell that killed hundreds of Elephants with a 7x57 Mauser rifle which is hardly in the powerhouse category.
Jim

 

[britbike1]

What would the Brits call it.

I guess if what your hunting doesn't run away if you wound it but starts looking at you like its really pissed then maybe you might think the rifle your shooting should be bigger. Fortunately in the Americas there are only a few critters that fall in that category. The Brits however with their empire found a lot of them. I believe that's why they consider 400 and up to be big bore. Playing tag your dead with Cape Buffalo at 20 paces will give you a new perspective.

 

[Kurusu]

These are definitely big bore. I have no doubt about it.

Ol' BB-61 (USS Iowa) firing the main battery.

 

[srsmyth]

I've heard the mainstream media clowns refer to 5.56 AR type rifles as "high caliber. Is there a "low caliber.?"

Yes. That is where the "Mainstream Media" is grouped.

 

[500SNW]

Yes. That is where the "Mainstream Media" is grouped.

LOL good one.

 

[REM 3200]

One other use... to keep gun magazine writers employed.

 

[Richard Simmons]

The 30-06 has killed any and all of the big game on this planet at one time or another. Is it a good choice for large dangerous game? IMO it's not but in the right hands with someone who can control shot placement, it will drop anything. Please remember there was a great white hunter named Bell that killed hundreds of Elephants with a 7x57 Mauser rifle which is hardly in the powerhouse category.
Jim

Jack O'Connor's wife Eleanor actually took an Elephant while on safari in Africa with her 30.06.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

At the LGS, I spotted what I thought was a shotgun in the rifle rack. My little finger went in the muzzle up to the second joint. When I went to pick it up, it took both hands. It was a CZ550 Safari Model in .585 Nyati. THAT is a "big bore."

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[Jerry M]

To a Millennial who is experienced only with 5.56/.223 a .30-06 looks like a big bore...

But in reality it is not considered in most hunting circles.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[grice]

I have two model 70s both in 06 and two 45-70 rifles , I think one could call a 45-70 a big bore , I also shoot 220 grain bullets in my two 06 rifles at about 2500 fps. Know what? I’ll bet most guys shooting my 06 rifles would swear it was a big bore.

 

[ruger 22]

Way back when I was a rifle nut, we considered small bore to be up to 30 cal; medium bore was .33 to .375 and large bore was anything over 40 cal.
The smallest of a bigbore rifle cartridge readily available then, (1950-1960) was then the British .416 Rigby. Not sure what you are seeking in a rifle---bore size is only one factor to consider depending on what your application is.

 

[kraynky]

Aw heck, I gotta add my two cents; . Being mostly a lever gun guy when it comes to rifles, I consider my .41 magnum as a big bore. Same for those above, like the 44 mag, 444 and 45-70. It's hard for me to consider a .357 magnum as a "big bore", but I sure do love shooting it. The .308, 30-30's and even the 35 Remington are medium bore, to me at least. Then there's a 32-20 (312") that I consider a light rifle, but it's still a medium bore size.

I don't think I've really ever thought of my 40's (handguns) big bore, but I think I would when it comes to my 10mm. Weird when you really try to define what "big" is. This has got me to thinking I might ought to have me a 10mm lever gun.......

 

[sniperb33]

What’s above .50 BMG?

14.5MM,20MM,30MM,40MM!

 

[Nevada Ed]

If you and your shoulder, have to think twice

about pulling the trigger AGAIN................

it's a BIG Bore.

 

[rockquarry]

Hair-splitting triviality of the highest order; like something from a 1963 gun magazine...

 

[wood714]

14.5MM,20MM,30MM,40MM!