rifle: 30-06

kenny · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: rifle: 30-06

I am looking at getting a .30-06 but I am not sure that is the right gun for me. I want to go out and plink , hunt and get good groups.
There is a lot of mixed thoughts on this.

1895ss · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: rifle

Although the 30-06 is a great cartridge, lots of calibers fit that category.

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: rifle

Kenny,

Are you asking a question or making a statement?

Plinking and a .30-06 do not usually go hand in hand, but if that's what you want....

Good groups, hunting, and a .30-06, now you might be talking...

I guess it's really up to you to decide what you want....

kenny · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: rifle

well, I had a 30-06 and gave it to my bro Sad

now I want to get back to shooting.
In the day I would go out on the range and looes stress, it was nice. Now I need to buy a new rifle.

Pitt55 · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: rifle

I've got a 30/06 as well as several other calibers. I love my 06. I think it will do it all.
Don

woods · Member Joined: Oct 15, 2005 Posts: 89

I would certainly consider a 30-06 a little heavy for fun shooting and target practice. It is however an excellent hunting caliber.

For fun shooting and accuracy the 308 might be the best choice. The 308 becomes marginal or at least not optimal for Elk hunting but is entirely adequate for deer.

Others like the 270, 7-08 or 260 are easy kickers and still plenty adequate for deer.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:17 am Post subject: Re: rifle

Let's back up a bit.

What action type do you think you'd like? What do you want to hunt?

PaulS · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:51 am Post subject: Re: rifle

Anybody with an '06 that hasn't plinked with it a time or two?
I have - I even have a pet "plinking" load! I used it for hunting for a while but didn't like what the 130gr HP did to the head and neck of those deer. It shot groups that were about 3/4" on the average at 100 yards and it was agreat plinking round.
Seriously, when you plink with a rifle you get real comfortable with it and that was the best thing that happened. I like hunting with my 165 grain SP but I don't plink with them. I still have a few of those 130 grainers loaded for shooting the clays, gongs and stray coke can.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:53 am Post subject: Re: rifle

Rifle action type is narrow - either a bolt or single shot or a bolt single shot.
I like the break-open actions for rimmed cases and bolt for rimless and belted.

Deleted_User_2665 · Super Member Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 380

kenny wrote:

I am looking at getting a .30-06 but I am not sure that is the right gun for me. I want to go out and plink , hunt and get good groups.
There is a lot of mixed thoughts on this.

Lot's of options for the '06, subtle and subdued, mean and nasty, and much in between, and it IS one of the greatest chamberings known....

Lot's of other good choices as well.

The 7-08 would be, and is known by many, as not only a fun chambering to shoot, but it is wicked accurate, and kills easily......

Source a 700 SPS/Loopy VX1 combo as a starter rig...............

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

PaulS: "Rifle action type is narrow - either a bolt or single shot or a bolt single shot.
I like the break-open actions for rimmed cases and bolt for rimless and belted".

Have you considered a Remington in a 760 (pump) or in a 740 (semi-auto)?
I have the 280 in a 7400 and with a 100 gr HP is is not only extremely accurate, but fun to shoot. Mild recoil. Seems that their are alot of 30-06 742, 74.0 and 7400's for sale really reasonable on Gun Broker Auction site, I bought my 280 off that site for $300 plus $25 to ship. Check them out it is a good site. Unlike those Communists at Ebay.

PaulS · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:17 am Post subject: Re: rifle

WildHorse,
First - I don't like chasing ammo so the auto-loaders are out. Pumps and auto-loaders are also infamous for needing full length sizing and I would have to learn to reload all over. I haven't used a full length die in so long it would probably frustrate me to have to again. I own and shoot four bolt guns and they are by far accurate enough and fun to shoot. (well the 358 isn't as much fun as the rest but I like the results) and I own two break open guns that shoot better than I do any more. All the loads that I use have just a touch of "crush" on closure but never present a problem chambering.
I like the single shots - it encourages "one shot, one kill" accuracy. I am all about accuracy.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:07 am Post subject: Re: rifle

Browning makes a Lever Action in .30-06...

PaulS · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:58 am Post subject: Re: rifle

Are there any target records that stand today that were fired with anything but a bolt action rifle?
Do the older rifle actions (rolling block, dropping block, and lever actions) have record keeping for their own types? If so, how do they compare with the bolt action records?

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:01 am Post subject: Re: rifle

PaulS: That's a very interesting question. I'm not personally aware of any record keeping by action type but would be very interested in looking them over if they do exist.

On a personal level, any of my Ruger #1s (falling-block actions) will shoot right alongside of any of my bolt guns in comparable calibers. That is not to say that they are better, but the difference is more statistical than definite...with maybe a slight edge to the bolts. I have to admit, however, that all of my #1s are highly accurized with a lot of work and load development going into each. As a general rule, I would have to say that a decent bolt-action is far easier to make shoot well than any other action type.