First experience 30-06

[Timmeh]

Finally got the opportunity, to get to the range, to try out my new Ruger American 30-06.
First off, this is my first bolt action rifle, and never shot one before either...so it was/is a total learning experience.
I did skimp on the scope (another discussion for another time), and found a cheap FFP 3-12x 50mm. As things went, I have no complaints, and it performed very well.
Once we got it dialed in @25 yrds by manually bore sighting (yeah, well...first 2-3 = crazy flyers), the 100 yard steel was the target. First 2 @ center mass of the steel. Next few tried to dial in/ figure out 300 yrds gong. Ended up consistently hitting that after about 2-3 rounds.
Had my buddy try it out next. Dead on @ 100 and 300.
Impressions...WOW...that was fun. We found that it definitely kicked a lot to the right, and recoil was a bit heavy (to be expected), but not unbearable.
Next time I will have more defined targets to get a better idea of MOA, but all in all I am happy, "right out of the box".

Chris

[LynnJr]

Chris
For a round that is over a century old the venerable 30-06 is still hard to beat.
Put a clamp on muzzlebrake on it and your all set.
It does everything a 308 does only at a higher velocity.

[1859sharps]

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/

poke around there for an fresh perspective on the 30-06.

The obsolescence (aka death) of the 30-06 is greatly exaggerated by some.

[elSquid]

...but all in all I am happy, "right out of the box".
Chris

Congrats on the new rifle!

-- Michael

[idntwn2]

My favorite rifle round by a mile. Good call.

When you (assuming you don't already that is) start hand loading the round, the world becomes your oyster.

[lewdogg21]

Try a limbsaver pad. Congrats.

[Cowboy T]

Sounds like you did pretty well there. Tried out a friend's M1903A3 Springfield. Ouch, that kinda stung, but it was still cool to shoot.

Not sure about a .30-06's recoil, but the Ruger American's buttpad seems to soak up full-tilt .308 rounds pretty well. I like these rifles. Ruger seems to have done quite a good job making an affordable, good bolt-action hunting rifle.

Re: your scope, don't worry about it as long as it's working.

[Mangy Coyote]

Try a limbsaver pad. Congrats.

+1 takes the edge off of a 30.06 on a light rifle

[1859sharps]

on recoil...felt recoil can sometimes be due to lack of experience in how you "mount/hold" the rifle.

having said that....the Ruger American is a light rifle.

[Sinister_Rounds]

I just picked up my first bolt action as well, go a Savage 111 in 30-06. I have not had a chance to take it out but hopefully soon.

[CGT80]

The bolt gun I shoot most is a Winchester Model 54 30-06 from 1926. It is a short gun that has a matching saddle holster (scabbard???) which my grandfather used to hunt from horse back.

Full power loads have some kick in that old rifle, but I hand load and learned to make up lighter loads. I don't do long range shooting, but I like to shoot steel to 200 yards.

Reloading may allow you to make more accurate ammo but you can also load less expensive lower recoil rounds. 30 grains of IMR 4895 and a 150 jword is a nice reduced rifle load and a 180 grain cast boolit over some shotgun/pistol powder makes a very soft load. With casting my own, it is less expensive to load 30-06 ammo than to buy 22lr, and you would get tired from the weight of the gun before the recoil. The cast boolit load worked just fine for hitting steel at 160 yards but I didn't try for groups.

You can't have a well rounded collection without at least one bolt action gun and the 30-06 seems quite versatile and has served a purpose for many, many years.

[Timmeh]

Thanks all. I think I will look at Limbsaver...maybe a brake.
The pad that comes stock, isn't all that bad. I think a lot of it on my part was the anticipation recoil. More rounds down range, future reloading, and time on the gun and we will see.

Chris

[ElvenSoul]

I believe if you sight that in at 28yds you should be very close for all ranges out to 400yds.

http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/2/4/the-26-yard-hunting-zero/

[LRShooter]

Lighter weight bullets have less recoil than the heavier ones. 150gr won't recoil as bad as 180gr.

Remington makes (or they did 10 years ago or so) a 125gr. reduced recoil round as well.

[ElvenSoul]

Get a slip on pax for the recoil