First experience 30-06

[Dan_Eastvale]

Love my Interarms Mark X 30-06 commercial mauser rifle. I also put a cheaper Tasco World Class scope on it 20 years ago. I have a limbsaver on my Mossberg 590A1 which helps alot but that gets alot more rounds through it than the rifle.

[Flouncer]

Sounds like you did pretty well there.

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

This guy is wise.

[Corsair415]

Pick up my first rifle(bolt as well) Sunday. Hopefully it goes as smoothly as your experience.

[SansSouci]

Timmeh,

Congratulations. While I know nothing of Ruger rifles, hunters that use 'em don't complain & dead big game can't complain.

Nothing needs sayin' 'bout the '06. It will kill everything in North America just as dead as any .300 mega magnum. It's all about where bullets go. Put an '06 bullet in the boiler room of any big game animal and hope your guttin' knife is plenty sharp.

Here's what I know about scopes. The most expensive rifle in the world is worthless if its scope won't hold zero or fogs. One of my friends went budget on his scope. He had to sit out a Rocky Mountain morning hunt because his budget scope was fogged.

If your rifle is a shooter, put the best quality scope you can afford on it. The '06 is the quintessential hunting cartridge. My recommendation is to go with a 2x7 or a 2.5x8. You'll probably do most of your hunting with it set on its lowest power. I have a 4x12 on my 7MM Rem Mag. I think I might have used 12 power only once. Last Sept I killed a huge bull elk with my 7MM Rem Mag. I had my scope set on 4 power.

Hunting adventures are expensive. Please don't risk a trip of a lifetime or a chance at a trophy of a lifetime with a scope that does its best work in a display case.

If you're going to use it for only targets, I can't give you any scope advice because I'm not a target shooter.

This is just me: I'd rather have one good quality rifle with one good quality scope than a half-dozen lesser quality rifles & scopes. If you trust what you're using, you'll have confidence to kill what you're aimin' to tag.

[cannon]

Hey Timmeh, Congrats on your new Ruger. Great rifle in a fantastic caliber. You can go long and hard in 30-06.

Had to laugh on the above posters comment on an 03 A3 recoil. Soo true. Nothing says I love you like a heavy round 30-06 coming out of a rifle with a steel butt plate.

I shoot 30-06 out of 03's and Garands. Just picked up a weatherby bolt in 30-06 too. It'll get to the range on Weds. Really looking forward to it. I was reminded that these light bolt action hunting 30-06's can be bothered by barrel heat. So remember to let it cool a bit to preserve accuracy.

Don't worry abut your scope. No offense, but that rifle and scope are already more accurate than you. Once you are dancing around the X in the middle of the ten ring you can worry about upgrading the scope. At this point your trigger pull will matter more than the scope.

Have much fun with that baby!

[23 Blast]

Timmeh,

Congratulations. While I know nothing of Ruger rifles, hunters that use 'em don't complain & dead big game can't complain.

Nothing needs sayin' 'bout the '06. It will kill everything in North America just as dead as any .300 mega magnum. It's all about where bullets go. Put an '06 bullet in the boiler room of any big game animal and hope your guttin' knife is plenty sharp.

Here's what I know about scopes. The most expensive rifle in the world is worthless if its scope won't hold zero or fogs. One of my friends went budget on his scope. He had to sit out a Rocky Mountain morning hunt because his budget scope was fogged.

If your rifle is a shooter, put the best quality scope you can afford on it. The '06 is the quintessential hunting cartridge. My recommendation is to go with a 2x7 or a 2.5x8. You'll probably do most of your hunting with it set on its lowest power. I have a 4x12 on my 7MM Rem Mag. I think I might have used 12 power only once. Last Sept I killed a huge bull elk with my 7MM Rem Mag. I had my scope set on 4 power.

Hunting adventures are expensive. Please don't risk a trip of a lifetime or a chance at a trophy of a lifetime with a scope that does its best work in a display case.

If you're going to use it for only targets, I can't give you any scope advice because I'm not a target shooter.

This is just me: I'd rather have one good quality rifle with one good quality scope than a half-dozen lesser quality rifles & scopes. If you trust what you're using, you'll have confidence to kill what you're aimin' to tag.

As someone who has bought (and later sold/traded) many mediocre items, I'm slowly but surely coming around to this viewpoint. Quality is more important than quantity, and with scopes, this is even more so. Mediocre guns can be quickly and easily sold (everyone likes a beater heater), but even my former self, easily distracted with bling and latest/greatest, would hesitate strongly to buy a used budget scope unless the owner was practically giving it away.

[SheepDog78]

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

I agree. It always makes me when I hear things like some round becoming obsolete. Like really? Ask them a few questions, like can you still drop somebody with it? Yes. Can you still hunt with it? Yes. Is it equally deadly if you get hit with one now as compared to 50 years ago? Probably. So... obsolete how? LOL, bullets can't become obsolete as far as I'm concerned. It's not like people develop immunity to certain types of ammunition through the years. If that was the case, 9mm bullets would just bounce off.

[FishnHunt]

Ruger American is good entry gun and 06, well you just can't go wrong.
Better scope and rings a must when time comes. You'll wonder how you could look through cheap glass for so long.
I held an American side by side with tikka when shopping for my daughters 223.
The ruger felt like it had sand on the action.
But if you're happy, I'm happy for you

[BillyGoatCrawler]

Great entry gun, OP. Words from my experience of bolt guns over the years; don't buy cheap ammo if you want to get serious precision. If you're just plinking, cheaper ammo is ok. But, if you want to get precise, you have to spend on the ammo. I remember thinking my first bolt .30-06 was a POS for years because I had cheap scope rings and cheap ammo. Two huge weak links in precision.

I agree. It always makes me when I hear things like some round becoming obsolete. Like really? Ask them a few questions, like can you still drop somebody with it? Yes. Can you still hunt with it? Yes. Is it equally deadly if you get hit with one now as compared to 50 years ago? Probably. So... obsolete how? LOL, bullets can't become obsolete as far as I'm concerned. It's not like people develop immunity to certain types of ammunition through the years. If that was the case, 9mm bullets would just bounce off.

While I don't think the .30-06 is obsolete, I do not agree with your argument.

Can you still word process on DOS based computers? Can you still write a book with a typewriter? Of course you can. But, they are obsolete. You need to look up the definition of the word.

[SheepDog78]

While I don't think the .30-06 is obsolete, I do not agree with your argument.

Can you still word process on DOS based computers? Can you still write a book with a typewriter? Of course you can. But, they are obsolete. You need to look up the definition of the word.

I'm very well aware of what the definition of obsolete is. English is one of my best subjects, always has been. That said, let's consider the definition:

Obsolete

Adjective:
1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse: an obsolete expression.
(30-06 is still widely used today)
2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date: an obsolete battleship.
(again, still very much in use today)
3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, especially, out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
(linguistics doesn't apply here)
4. effaced by wearing down or away.
(doesn't apply)
5. Biology. imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of the opposite sex or of a related species.
(doesn't apply)

Verb (used with object), obsoleted, obsoleting.
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate:
(one could possibly make an argument here with another round which is ballistically superior to 30-06, i.e. 300 Winchester Magnum)

Based on the definition, I don't see how 30-06 can be considered obsolete. Sure there may be rounds which offer better ballistic performance, but that's comparing apples to oranges. They're different rounds designed differently, for different purposes.

Your analogy to computers and typewriters doesn't really work here. For example, if ALL you're doing is word processing, you'll get the exact same result whether you use DOS or Windows Server 2012 R2 on a Dell VRTX dual-blade chassis. The end result will be the same, words on a screen, and eventually printed on paper. The mechanics of how you get there will be different, whether you're in a CLI or a GUI (case in point, bolt action VS semi-auto), but the end result is the same.

Also, unlike technology, the 30-06 round, and bullets in general, aren't superseded every year by updated bullet technology increasing performance 20-25%. Bullets don't continuously get faster and faster (and smaller as in the case of technology) year after year. Decreasing the size of bullets is not a desirable outcome.

Lastly, older computers don't fetch a higher price tag due to their age and having been made of higher quality materials, and/or scale of rarity, as do some firearms. i.e. Colt Python revolvers. They are simply obsolete because they cannot do what their modern day counterparts can (high resolution 3D graphics, for example) and they're much much slower. In contrast, 30-06 rounds were just as fast 50 years ago as they are today, and just as effective, and just as capable of eliminating the enemy. So, I stand by my comment.

Peace.

[BajaJames83]

The reason 30-06 is still so popular is that it is at the threshold of recoil for most people anything more most people can't shoot comfortably and may flinch

[BillyGoatCrawler]

I'm very well aware of what the definition of obsolete is. English is one of my best subjects, always has been. That said, let's consider the definition:

Obsolete

Adjective:
1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse: an obsolete expression.
(30-06 is still widely used today)
2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date: an obsolete battleship.
(again, still very much in use today)
3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, especially, out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
(linguistics doesn't apply here)
4. effaced by wearing down or away.
(doesn't apply)
5. Biology. imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of the opposite sex or of a related species.
(doesn't apply)

Verb (used with object), obsoleted, obsoleting.
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate:
(one could possibly make an argument here with another round which is ballistically superior to 30-06, i.e. 300 Winchester Magnum)

Based on the definition, I don't see how 30-06 can be considered obsolete. Sure there may be rounds which offer better ballistic performance, but that's comparing apples to oranges. They're different rounds designed differently, for different purposes.

Your analogy to computers and typewriters doesn't really work here. For example, if ALL you're doing is word processing, you'll get the exact same result whether you use DOS or Windows Server 2012 R2 on a Dell VRTX dual-blade chassis. The end result will be the same, words on a screen, and eventually printed on paper. The mechanics of how you get there will be different, whether you're in a CLI or a GUI (case in point, bolt action VS semi-auto), but the end result is the same.

Also, unlike technology, the 30-06 round, and bullets in general, aren't superseded every year by updated bullet technology increasing performance 20-25%. Bullets don't continuously get faster and faster (and smaller as in the case of technology) year after year. Decreasing the size of bullets is not a desirable outcome.

Lastly, older computers don't fetch a higher price tag due to their age and having been made of higher quality materials, and/or scale of rarity, as do some firearms. i.e. Colt Python revolvers. They are simply obsolete because they cannot do what their modern day counterparts can (high resolution 3D graphics, for example) and they're much much slower. In contrast, 30-06 rounds were just as fast 50 years ago as they are today, and just as effective, and just as capable of eliminating the enemy. So, I stand by my comment.

Peace.

Reread my post. Reading comprehension

Great entry gun, OP. Words from my experience of bolt guns over the years; don't buy cheap ammo if you want to get serious precision. If you're just plinking, cheaper ammo is ok. But, if you want to get precise, you have to spend on the ammo. I remember thinking my first bolt .30-06 was a POS for years because I had cheap scope rings and cheap ammo. Two huge weak links in precision.

I agree. It always makes me when I hear things like some round becoming obsolete. Like really? Ask them a few questions, like can you still drop somebody with it? Yes. Can you still hunt with it? Yes. Is it equally deadly if you get hit with one now as compared to 50 years ago? Probably. So... obsolete how? LOL, bullets can't become obsolete as far as I'm concerned. It's not like people develop immunity to certain types of ammunition through the years. If that was the case, 9mm bullets would just bounce off.

While I don't think the .30-06 is obsolete, I do not agree with your argument.

Can you still word process on DOS based computers? Can you still write a book with a typewriter? Of course you can. But, they are obsolete. You need to look up the definition of the word.

I never said the 30-06 is obsolete. But your generalization that bullets do not become obsolete is wrong IMO. Based off your critera.

Obsolete

Adjective:
1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse: an obsolete expression.
(Many cartidges are no longer widely used. IE many blackpowder cartidges)
2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date: an obsolete battleship.
(many rounds have been modified from a parent cartidge to make a better version.)
3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, especially, out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
(IE Blackpowder cartidges)
4. effaced by wearing down or away.
(doesn't apply)
5. Biology. imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of the opposite sex or of a related species.
(doesn't apply)

Verb (used with object), obsoleted, obsoleting.
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate:
(Your answer - "one could possibly make an argument here with another round which is ballistically superior to 30-06, i.e. 300 Winchester Magnum")

[FishnHunt]

06 is around because it works and works wel. It will take down any N. American animal. Good bullet and proper shot placement is the key.

[freonr22]

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.

I haven't heard anybody else mention a model 54

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=252203

Mine shoots like butter with cmp 30-06

[1911whore]

The 30-06 is a wonderful cartridge that has, and will continue to take game on every continent. Good choice. Fired from a bench in a light rifle it will let you know it is there but in the field with a little adrenaline pumping you wont notice it much.
Have fun with it and as previously stated, do not go cheap on the scope, if it works, holds zero, and does not fog then hold what you got.