[fxstchewy]

Is the 30-.06 the general all around best caliber for deer hunting? thats what i have but some of my friends shoot 7mag, 300 win mag and so on, seems to me that the .06 is cheaper to shoot and does the same thing.

[Frozen North]

I think you have a very clear thinking process! :D

"The .30-06 is never a mistake!"..... Townsend Whelen

[DM~]

Anyone that can't kill a deer with a 30-06, shouldn't even be out in the field!

DM

[rcmodel]

It is perfect for deer, or just about anything else in the USA.

Don't let your friends tell you any different.

Truth be known, a lot of hunters would kill more game with a .270 or 30-06 or other standard caliber they can shoot, then with a .300 Whiz-Bang Mangle'm they can't shoot.

Because it kicks so hard they are afraid of it, and flinch like the hounds of hell were being unleashed when they jerk the trigger.

rc

[06]

Been killing deer with '06s for nearly 40 yrs--do not see any reason to change. Currently using a Ruger 77, a 742 carbine length, and a 7400. Like the bolt better. Used a 1903 bolt for about 20 yrs. There is nothing on the continent that a well placed '06 round will not stop. My sons bit the big power sales pitches and bought 300 WM's and a 300 weatherby mag. Their rounds cost 3-4 times as much as mine and do not kill any better. The slight velocity difference is not worth the difference in price. Marksmen have shot 1000 yard competition with the '06s for generations but now all of a sudden they are obsolete--lol.

[exavid]

I've bagged a couple bears, several caribou and at least 10 moose over the years in Alaska with a 30-06. Personally I don't think there's a better overall cartridge for North America or most of the world for that matter. Add to that you can buy ammo just about anywhere for an additional benefit.

[ball3006]

Seeing the cartridge is 105 years old, it may have something going for it....chris3

[Nico Testosteros]

Put it this way, I have a .270 and have no qualms about shooting anything i might come across. BUT the .30-06 is such a versatile caliber in that there are so many different bullet weights you can shoot. Fret up to moose.
Caliber discussions are kinda pointless. Dead is dead and .243 to .348 will get it done.

[morcey2]

Is the 30-.06 the general all around best caliber for deer hunting? thats what i have but some of my friends shoot 7mag, 300 win mag and so on, seems to me that the .06 is cheaper to shoot and does the same thing.
Are they telling you that you need a magnum, or are you just bothered that they're using something else? As Mr. Whelen has said, it's never a mistake. It can do everything from varmints to moose to long-range match. Are there other cartridges that will outperform it in a given area? Sure. I'd probably be more comfortable w/ a .325 WSM for elk and moose, but most of the time the 06 will do just as well.

If I was limited to only one cartridge, it would be the 06. The 7x57 and 8x57 would be close behind though. :)

Matt.

[jmr40]

If anything the 30-06 is overkill for 99% of what most shooters need. As someone above said the 30-06 is still never a bad choice. But if someone wants to use a bigger round, and if they can shoot it well I have no problem with that either.

Shooting and hunting is something we do for fun. I believe in using whatever you enjoy using.

[303tom]

Is the 30-.06 the general all around best caliber for deer hunting? thats what i have but some of my friends shoot 7mag, 300 win mag and so on, seems to me that the .06 is cheaper to shoot and does the same thing.
You just stick with that .30-06 & you won`t go wrong.........

[splithoof]

I think 06 said it best....
Send a PM with your e-mail; I published an article on just this.

[BrocLuno]

Actually, I think you are over-gunned and your friends are WAY over-gunned :evil:

The venerable 30-30 has been putting deer down for a LONG time and it's no where near the energy that a 30-06 is. Even the Gov't decided that the 06 was a bit much. They reduced the case volume to the 308 which I prefer.

Bottom line, you have plenty of rifle to take to the field :)

Don't get into "gun envy" over case capacity (notice that they didn't choose a larger bullet?). You are in the sweet spot for available ammo and price competition :neener:

[LoonWulf]

I agree the .30-06 is a great round, and fills the bill for most hunting. I own a 7mm, 06, and .300 (talk about redundancy). None of them will do anything the others wont from point blank all the way out farther then i should be shooting. I shoot the 7mm more then the others as it offers a bit farther MPBR, and its the round ive done the most plinking at range with.

My loads for all three are within 200fps of each other, the 7mm has a much higher BC then the others tho. 7mm 168 berger at 3100, .30-06 168 CTBT at 2900ish (might actually be almost 100fps faster, my chrono read my 7mm load at 3k the same day and its been checked on other chronos at 3100-3120), and the 300 with its 180grn sst at 3080.

[Mike J]

I hunt with a .30-06 while the guy I've hunted with the last few years uses a 7mm Mag. From what I can tell my deer are just as dead as his. I will concede that his will shoot flatter at longer ranges but his ammunition is twice as expensive & most of the deer I have killed here have been within 100 yards. The biggest drawback I can see to the magnum rounds is they damage more meat.

[skidder]

Mike J-- You nailed a good point about damaging the meat:eek:. Yes, hunting is fun, but I'd rather have meat on the table. I never let my hunting expenses surpass the price of buying the meat. We get these out-of-staters (we call em cabelas) come in with their 300 ultra-shock-deluxe models spending thousands of dollars when they could easily buy the meat for less at the stores?? If I had that much money I would buy more guns and a side of beef.;)

Yes...I shoot a 30-06 model 700LH and it paid for itself the first year out. I have also been accused of seeing things and black and white.:D

[RNB65]

Yes!

[earplug]

You might consider the slightly more modern design .308 Winchester.
Shorter more compact action and bolt. Lighter weight rifle and many options.
Your deer won't know the differance.

[Gordon]

Here is a beautiful, but USED 1957 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. Warne QD Maxima mounts with Burris Signiture Safari 1.5-6x in G-d's own caliber; 30-06. It shoots 1.25" from the bench (ouch!) with 220 grain Federal with Sierra game kings. My moose and elk rifle that makes me feel good even if big bears are around. Great giant hog gun too! If I could only have one centerfire rifle this would be it.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/gordonhulme/023.jpg

[StrawHat]

A lot depends on where and how you hunt. If in swamps or thickets where the shots are close, the 30 WCF is a good choice. If across fields or from a stand where long shots are the norm, the 30-06. Deer have been killed with pretty much any cartridge from 22 on up but the 30-06 has always been at the head of the leader board, at least since 1903. There are other cartridges just as good, depending on how you choose to hunt. I am content using a 50-70 when I carry a rifle or a 45 long Colt for when I use a revoler. The suggestion of the 308 is a good alternative.

[1goodshot]

I think the perfect deer gun would be a 7mm-08, but the 30-06 will take just about anything.

[d2wing]

If you are in the middle of a 1/4 section of land and have a 30-06, you can kill any deer by hitting the vitals at any shooting angle. I have also shot a few deer with a 7MM mag and can't really see a need for the slightly extra power at any useful hunting range. If your shots are inside of 350 yards or so you will not gain anything and save money and recoil over a magnum. Proper placing of the shot is far more important than the caliber used IMHO.

[Maverick223]

Personally I believe a smaller cartridge is a better choice for deer sized game. Particularly the .260Rem., 6.5mmCreedmoor, and 7mm-08Rem. That's not to say that it won't work...not in the least!...but for a dedicated deer rifle something a bit smaller (and therefore lighter, and with less recoil) is my choice.

OTOH, if you want something that is suitable for deer and a variety of other game, all the way up to Elk and even Moose (with proper projectile selection), whilst maintaining a moderate degree of recoil and reasonable weight, look no further than the venerable .30-06Spd. In other words, it comes pretty close to meeting the requirements for a cartridge that can hunt anything found in NA (the one exception being large bear which, IMO, deserves something with a bit more authority).

:)

[Frozen North]

In short, the 30-06 is the choice of hunters who do not over think things. :D

[kfgk14]

The only thing on this continent I wouldn't go after with a .30-06 with is a Grizzly, and then I'd prefer a .45-70 or a 12 gauge slug gun. Aside from that, it can do anything you need to. You can load it with real light loads for varmints and new shooters, real heavy stuff for moose, and standard M2 ball in your M1 Garand for a somewhat obsolete (oh I just opened Pandora's box, yes my AR is lighter and yes I recognize the M1 is a better baseball bat, and yes it does hit harder, calm down) BUT STILL VERY GOOD, LET DOWN YE PITCH FORK AND DOWSE YE TORCH combat rifle. There are somewhat more optimized rounds for some tasks out there (it just isn't an extreme-range precision cartridge, and it isn't as good varmint or small-game round as some others out there) but it'll put people, deer, hogs, black bears and similarly sized adversaries down more efficiently than any other non-wildcat cartridge out there (though .308 Winchester is right there with the .30-06).

[RhinoDefense]

The .30-06 is not the best all around, not perfect, and not always the right answer. It is not the talisman many hold it to be.

[nathan]

And they were battle tested from two world wars to Korea and lastly in Vietnam as issued to ARVN .

[LoonWulf]

Rhino, i get the feeling you dont particularly care for the 06 :D

Honestly i think the real draw to the 06s (and .308 for that mater), is that its the largest round that can honestly be considered "general purpose" for NA. While not perfect for light game, and IMHO under gunned for stuff that will kill you, it will serve. You go much larger in either case capacity or bullet size, and you lose some versatility.

[303tom]

The .30-06 is not the best all around, not perfect, and not always the right answer. It is not the talisman many hold it to be.
AH, Yes it is ...........

[highlander 5]

I am not a hunter,but this is my opinion. If you look in the various reloading manuals you'll find the biggest reloading section is for the 30'06. Jacketed bullets,lead bullets using rifle powders and pistol powders in every combination you can imagine. The various BELTED magnums gnerally burn 20% more powder to gain maybe 10% more velocity more recoil and a lot more muzzle blast. The '06 may not always be the best choice but under normal field use you can't go wrong.

[mdauben]

The .30-06 is not the best all around, not perfect, and not always the right answer. It is not the talisman many hold it to be.
Then, what in your opinion is the best all around choice? You can't just say it's not if you don't have an alternative that you can show is better.

I think most people would admit there are arguably better choice for varmints or for deer or for bear or for moose, but I really don't know a truly better choice for varmints and deer and bear and moose.

[RhinoDefense]

There is no best, there is no perfect, there is never always the right answer, and no cartridge is a talisman.

And they were battle tested from two world wars to Korea and lastly in Vietnam as issued to ARVN .
The 5.56 is going on almost 60 or so years in combat.

The .308, .30-30, 6.5x55, .270, 257 Roberts, .243, 7mm-08, 7mm Mauser, 8mm Mauser, and a host of others can fill the same roles just as good or better than the .30-06. When you pick one cartridge for several roles, such as varmints to moose, your cartridge will not be optimal at the extremes in most cases.