The .30-06 is 100 years old, what remains to be done?


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Jeff Timm
January 1, 2006, 10:22 AM
Now that the 30-06 is 100 years old, and it has spawned the .25-06 the .270 and the .35 Whelen, what else can we do based on the .30-06?

The .22-06 comes to mind immediately. Think we could get 4000 fps out of a 77 grain bullet?

I know there have been some experiements in .40 caliber, but a 10mm 06 would sound modern and give a useful cartridge for close range.

Geoff
Who owns a .308 Remington 700 BDL that does everything he needs a bolt rifle to do. :evil:

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R.W.Dale
January 1, 2006, 10:27 AM
You missed a couple

6.5-o6
280 rem
338-06
8mm-06
375-06 jdj
416-06 jdj

mete
January 1, 2006, 10:31 AM
Caliber .30 model 1906 A winner then and still a winner despite all the magnums and flash in the pans.Happy birthday !!

MCgunner
January 1, 2006, 10:52 AM
The .22/250 is in my estimation about the most you can get from .22 caliber. The Swift is a little excessive for capacity. To me, a .22-o6 would be ridiculous. I reckon it's all been done. You can have a .22-06, though, if they still make those .30-06 accelerators with the saboted .22 bullets. The .22-250 is superior, though.

Oh, no one has mentioned some of the Ackley improved 06 versions.

There's not much you can't do with just the plain ol' .30-06. For all around, it's still one of the best. Some calibers do some things a little better, but that don't mean you CAN'T get it done with the 06. I don't own an 06, like 7mm mag ballistics better in big guns and love the short case and efficiency and inherent accuracy of my .308 a very compact short action Remington M7 stainless. If you want ONE do all gun, though, it's hard to argue against an 06. It won't shoot quite as flat as the big 7 and it ain't as handy as the short action guns, but that doesn't mean it can't get it done about as well as anything else, at least in north America on anything short of large Alaskan bears. I, for one, will never see a large Alaskan bear outside of a zoo.

rust collector
January 1, 2006, 10:59 AM
In recognition of the centennial of the .30 US, 1906, I believe we are all duty bound to send at least 40 rounds of our favorite '06 downrange this year. This not only improves our skills but helps support domestic ammunition suppliers, reminds us how well this old war dog works, and may put us in touch with others who appreciate the classics.

If we don't happen to own a 30-06 rifle, it should be a perfect opportunity to acquire one or, at the very least, associate with someone who owns one.

Preferred launcher would be M1, 1903 or 1919, but what the heck, dust off those converted Mausers, Mondragons, Madsens, or what have you. Anyone can play!

vmfrantz
January 1, 2006, 11:44 AM
your right this is the year that i am going to get a 30-06. watching an documentry on ww2 makes me realize how important the 'o6 is and the m1 was

thumper723
January 1, 2006, 11:54 AM
I will be getting a M1 this year (CMP) and possibly a M1903 as well!

itgoesboom
January 1, 2006, 12:04 PM
I jumped the gun a little bit (sorry for the pun) and bought my .30-06 a couple weeks ago. But I haven't gotten a chance to fire it yet, so at least my first shots with it will be in 2006.

I.G.B.

MCgunner
January 1, 2006, 12:18 PM
Is .308 close enough? :D

I'll just borrow one of the club's DCM guns and maybe actually I will get to qualify this year with one. I've been meaning to do that for over 20 years I've been a club member and never get around to it.

Preacherman
January 1, 2006, 12:41 PM
Just for grins, let's neck down the .30-'06 to accept the 17-grain .17 HMR bullet. How about a 5,000-fps-plus round for squirrels? :D

OJ
January 1, 2006, 12:41 PM
Jeff Cooper voiced the opinion the 30-06 (or .308) will do anything you might want done in the lower 48 states and I'm inclined to agree.

Certain 30-06 rifles dress up the gun cabinet, also. My wife got me this one (OK - I admit to "helping" her pick it out) for our 25th anniversary last May - this High Grade Winchester 95 - new in box and unfired.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/kmastf/AWINCHESTER95.jpg

All she got was a little diamond ring and she's convinced she got the best of the deal - women - gotta love'em.;)

There will be at least 40 rounds through it next week!!;)

:) :rolleyes: :D

Deer Hunter
January 1, 2006, 12:59 PM
Just for grins, let's neck down the .30-'06 to accept the 17-grain .17 HMR bullet. How about a 5,000-fps-plus round for squirrels? :D
Now that's a varmit gun!

I've actually thought someone should try doing that. Or maybe a .50 BMG necked down to a .17 or .22...

TexasRifleman
January 1, 2006, 01:06 PM
You missed a couple



And another, the 6mm-06.

I have a heavy barrelled varmint rifle built by a gunsmith friend of mine in West Texas. He had a dozen or so sets of dies and chamber reamers made by Redding. It's a 6mm-06 with a sharp 52 degree shoulder. He built up 12 of these with Kreiger barrel blanks and Interarms Mk X actions for a group of friends in high school.

Using Nosler Ballistic Tips and H414 powder that little 70gr bullet just screams out the end of the barrel.

The sharp shoulder means I have to fire form the brass so the first loading is usually lighter. I have used 30-06 brass but I generally start with 25-06 since it's already closer to where I need to be. Easier to shove that lubed case into the die than the 30, but I've done it.

It's killed more coyotes than I can remember.

http://homepage.mac.com/jayc67/6mm06.jpg

TexasRifleman
January 1, 2006, 01:12 PM
A more traditional use for the good old '06......

http://homepage.mac.com/jayc67/BAR1.jpg

Art Eatman
January 1, 2006, 04:01 PM
Gosh! Come to think of it, I've been shooting the '06 for more than half its lifetime!

Started with an Enfield 1917 back in 1950. Still using the load my uncle taught me, for 150-grain bullets.

:), Art

The Real Hawkeye
January 1, 2006, 04:27 PM
How about a 9.3mm-06? Basically identical to the 9.3mm Mauser, but it would be easier to shape the cases from .30-06 brass.

USSR
January 1, 2006, 04:32 PM
Build a rifle where you can load it to it's potential! Build either a Target or Tactical Rifle on a Winchester or Remington action where you can take advantage of the .30-06's large case capacity. With a quality barrel using Lapua brass, 60.0-61.0gr of RL22, and the 190SMK, 2900fps is easily and safely doable. Using this load as I do for 1,000 yard shooting, leaves the .308 in the dust and approaches .300WM factory loads. There's a lot of life yet in the 'ol girl if you have the right stick and know how to load for her.

Don
http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/ussr/Win06t1.jpg

Brian Williams
January 1, 2006, 04:48 PM
I want to get a 1903 this year to celebrate the 30-06 birthday

Dienekes
January 1, 2006, 11:34 PM
Like Frank Sinatra sang, "It was a very good year".

Which reminds me--I need to order another 1000 once fired GI cases. I may be getting older but the '06 is evergreen.

AnthonyRSS
January 3, 2006, 07:59 PM
Dad bought me a model 70 in '06 for Christmas and I just bought the dies/bullets/powder today. What a great cartridge.

ArmedBear
January 3, 2006, 08:09 PM
I bought a .30-'06 in 2005. The Gummint accidentally made what's still arguably the best all-purpose big game round (though some definitely favor the 6.5 Swede).

A more powerful round starts to get unpleasant in a hunting rifle. A less powerful round starts to fall short of the "all-purpose" moniker, even if it's superior for some kinds of hunting. And there's a lot to be said for short-action cartridges, of course. But the '06 is still the baseline for comparison.

JohnMc
January 3, 2006, 09:44 PM
What remains to be done?

1) Buy something that will utilize that cartridge, or buy another something to do it, in addition to those already in the safe.

2) Celebrate by utilizing said centagenarian to punch holes in paper or game animals of choice.

3) Repeat as needed...

:cool:

Seriously, it's a pretty sweet anniversary, IMHO.

powderbrass
January 3, 2006, 11:01 PM
In recognition of the centennial of the .30 US, 1906, I believe we are all duty bound to send at least 40 rounds of our favorite '06 downrange this year. This not only improves our skills but helps support domestic ammunition suppliers, reminds us how well this old war dog works, and may put us in touch with others who appreciate the classics.

If we don't happen to own a 30-06 rifle, it should be a perfect opportunity to acquire one or, at the very least, associate with someone who owns one.

Preferred launcher would be M1, 1903 or 1919, but what the heck, dust off those converted Mausers, Mondragons, Madsens, or what have you. Anyone can play!


AMEN

Nathanael_Greene
January 4, 2006, 12:28 AM
I would like to commend ammunition manufacturers for coming up with lower-powered .30-06 cartridges; I can now use my (very accurate) Savage 110 to take some "dog deer" that I'm afraid would be smithereenified by a full-powered .30-06. (And I'm going on a doe hunt this weekend, so the topic is not academic.)

Now we can talk versatility, from military loads to very-high-powered to not-quite-so-high-powered choices.

(While in the meantime, the 30-30 gets a new lease on life with Hornady Leverevolution...but that's a different thread.)

Here's to another century of the .30-06, and I hope I live to see it!

el44vaquero
January 4, 2006, 01:51 PM
In the famous words of Howell Forgy, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition."

TheEgg
January 4, 2006, 03:04 PM
40 rounds of our favorite '06 downrange this year.

Piker! I buy the stuff by the case!

:D

Texfire
January 4, 2006, 03:41 PM
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/kmastf/AWINCHESTER95.jpg

Very nice. I'm not given to envy often, but I'm pretty green right now. Is that a Winchester or a clone?

Tex

jobu07
January 4, 2006, 05:17 PM
Just for grins, let's neck down the .30-'06 to accept the 17-grain .17 HMR bullet. How about a 5,000-fps-plus round for squirrels? :D

:D

Vern Humphrey
January 4, 2006, 06:32 PM
Just for grins, let's neck down the .30-'06 to accept the 17-grain .17 HMR bullet. How about a 5,000-fps-plus round for squirrels?

I did that -- I wanted to shoot a 120-grain bullet, so it would hold its velocity. When I got the box with the completed rifle, it was delivered by a tall, skinny silent guy. He just stood there and didn't say anything -- until I fired the rifle. Then he ran down-range, tapping the bullet with a stick to keep it flying point-forward.

When I asked what that was all about, he said, "Yimminy! Anoder yerk what ain't heard about Finn stabilization.":p

50caliber123
January 5, 2006, 08:09 AM
I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle! :rolleyes:

Jeff Timm
January 5, 2006, 08:19 AM
When I asked what that was all about, he said, "Yimminy! Anoder yerk what ain't heard about Finn stabilization.":p

LOL!

Geoff
Who can't top that one, but the Eargeshplitten Loudenboomers of the late '60s came close. :D

Jeff Timm
January 5, 2006, 08:22 AM
I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle! :rolleyes:

Humm, rechamber an SVD?

Geoff
Who prefers the .308 in a semi auto. :cool:

TexasRifleman
January 5, 2006, 11:08 AM
I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle! :rolleyes:


What's "affordable"? You can buy the semi version from Ohio Ordnance Works for less than $3000. Given the size and complication of the thing, that price doesn't really seem that far out of line to me. It's very nicely done.

http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/slr/slr.htm

Vern Humphrey
January 5, 2006, 12:14 PM
I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle! :rolleyes:

You can get something better than an AK or a FAL in .30-06 -- the M1 Garand. :D

BigG
January 5, 2006, 12:39 PM
Probably as long as the current technology holds, i.e., case, powder, primer, bullet, the 30/06 will be right useful. That goes for several older rounds also; the 7mm and 8mm Mauser are almost perfect cartridges given their balance between bore, bullet weight, and velocity. You can't do much better without burning another teaspoonful of powder with any of them. That's efficiency, and all over a century old! :D

Vern Humphrey
January 5, 2006, 01:03 PM
Probably as long as the current technology holds, i.e., case, powder, primer, bullet, the 30/06 will be right useful. That goes for several older rounds also; the 7mm and 8mm Mauser are almost perfect cartridges given their balance between bore, bullet weight, and velocity. You can't do much better without burning another teaspoonful of powder with any of them. That's efficiency, and all over a century old! :D

I'm not the first guy to say it, but the .30-06 is "too good." Newer cartridges can't kill it off.

When the .300 Win Mag came out, it was a wonder. Nowadays you can get Lite Magnum or Hi Energy loads for the .30-06 that almost duplicate the original .300 WM ballistics. Add premium bullets, and you have a cartridge that's perfect for the 21st Century.

thebigc
January 5, 2006, 01:11 PM
i an definitly going to bring my 1917 and 1903 along with me to my next range trip this thread reminds me maybe i need to get a garrand to keep them company.

El Tejon
January 5, 2006, 01:53 PM
Nothing needs to be done; we just need to learn to shoot it.:)

danurve
January 5, 2006, 02:20 PM
Nothing needs to be done; :)
Well said.

Nicky Santoro
January 5, 2006, 05:27 PM
The .30-06 is 100 years old, what remains to be done?

Is it the best round for everything? Of course not. But I'll bet it does more things well than any other round out there.

Manedwolf
January 5, 2006, 06:16 PM
If you ever watch the show "Mythbusters" on Discovery, they sometimes use a Garand for ballistics tests. (Great show, they have a Barrett .50 BMG, too.) One test in particular surprised them.

They were testing ideas about bulletproof glass, Lexan sort, I believe. It did stop just about everything in a lot of calibers...but the Garand's 30-06 punched right through it.

I bet the makers of the glass weren't too happy to have that shown. :D

No_Brakes23
January 6, 2006, 02:31 AM
In recognition of the centennial of the .30 US, 1906, I believe we are all duty bound to send at least 40 rounds of our favorite '06 downrange this year. This not only improves our skills but helps support domestic ammunition suppliers, reminds us how well this old war dog works, and may put us in touch with others who appreciate the classics.

If we don't happen to own a 30-06 rifle, it should be a perfect opportunity to acquire one or, at the very least, associate with someone who owns one.

Preferred launcher would be M1, 1903 or 1919, but what the heck, dust off those converted Mausers, Mondragons, Madsens, or what have you. Anyone can play!

That's why I am buying a Garand this year.

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