Happy 7/6 Day!

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Nature Boy

Nature Boy

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I got the idea from @horsemen61 's "Happy 6/5 day" thread

Coming on the heals of celebrating our independence, it seems like a perfect time to recognize the virtues of the .30 caliber in all it's forms, with special emphasis on those that have kept this country, and the world, safe from the enemies of freedom. They include:

.30-40 Krag
.30-06
.30 Carbine
7.62 NATO
.300 Win Mag

And when it comes to sportsmen, is there a caliber that's killed more game than the .30 cal? I don't think so. Over the last 100 years, how many times have freezers been filled using the following cartridges:

.308
.30-06
.30-30
.300 Win Mag
.300 WSM
.300 Savage
.300 Weatherby Mag
.300 H&H
.308 Norma Mag

I'll just go ahead and make the argument that the .30 cal has been and continues to be the most significant projectile ever devised since the advent of firearms. It's not even debatable.

So happy 7/6 day. If you don't own one you're wrong. ;)
 
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Nature Boy said:
I got the idea from @horsemen61 's "Happy 6/5 day" thread

Coming on the heals of celebrating our independence, it seems like a perfect time to recognize the virtues of the .30 caliber in all it's forms, with special emphasis on those that have kept this country, and the world, safe from the enemies of freedom. They include:

.30-40 Krag
.30-06
.30 Carbine
7.62 NATO
.300 Win Mag

And when it comes to sportsmen, is there a caliber that's killed more game than the .30 cal? I don't think so. Over the last 100 years, how many times have freezers been filled using the following cartridges:

.308
.30-06
.300 Win Mag
.300 WSM
.300 Savage
.300 Weatherby Mag
.300 H&H

I'll just go ahead and make the argument that the .30 cal has been and continues to be the most significant projectile ever devised since the advent of firearms. It's not even debatable.

So happy 7/6 day. If you don't own one you're wrong. ;)
Click to expand...
Shame on you sir! Where's the .30-30!?!?!?
 
Only 2 7.62 rifles in the house, both levers, both Marlins... models 336 and 62. 30-30 gets to claim the most deer killed ever (I would argue 22lr) and the 30 carbine gets to claim some military prestige. Now, if we add 7.65 I’m adding my mauser 1914, and all of my 32sw and 32 revolvers, but that sound too much like cheating.
 
Yay ... 7.62 day!! I bought another .30 cal rifle this past Saturday. I've owned many .30 cal rifles over the years and it's still my favorite caliber ... by far.

Currently have ...
Accuracy International AW 7.62x51mm
Accuracy International AWM .300 Win Mag
POF P308 7.62x51mm
Tikka T3 TAC .300 Win Mag
Kimber 84M Open Range Carbon Pro .308 Win
Kimber 84M Montana .308 Win
Kimber 8400 WSM .300 WSM
Remington 700 Ti Alaskan .300 WSM
Kimber 8400 Montana .300 Win Mag
Vz.58 7.62x39mm Russian
Daniel Defense DDM4300S .300 Blackout
Lee-Enfield No4 Mk2 .303 British (sort of .30 cal)


Previously owned ...
Remington 700 VSSF .308 Win
Remington 700 Police .300 Win Mag
DSA FAL PARA 7.62x51mm
Springfield M1A .308 Win
 
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I've been stuck on 30 calibers my entire hunting/shooting career. Dad wasn't much of a hunter and when I saved up enough to buy my own hunting rifle I went to my scout masters home to pick his brains and get advice. He said follow me, and we went to a storage building behind his home where he opened a military footlocker full of 30-06 ammo still in belts for machine gun use. He pulled off about 10' worth and told me to come back for more when I shot that up. That made my decision a lot easier and 30-06 it was.

Looking at things pragmatically the 7mm's are better, but I got started with 30 caliber and just never felt the 7's were enough better to change. Like everybody I acquired a 30-30 or 3 over the years and have drifted more toward 308 than 30-06. I've tried 300WM and 300 WSM. I really like the 300 WSM, but just didn't need it. But I see the 30's slipping with younger generations. And that is OK.
 
Nature Boy said:
I'll just go ahead and make the argument that the .30 cal has been and continues to be the most significant projectile ever devised since the advent of firearms. It's not even debatable.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% with you. If I could only pick one caliber it would without doubt be the .30 cal. I know that the .308 Win and .300 Win Mag cartridges have fallen out of favor with many, but certainly not with me. There isn't a single rifle on my "currently have" list above that I intend to sell. Oh wait ... the Remington will be gone at some point but only because that 700 doesn't have a locking bolt handle.

I've never owned a rifle chambered for .30-06 Sprg. I went the .308 Win/.300 Win Mag route which brackets the .30-06 Sprg but I would certainly like to own one. Maybe a Tikka?
 
5 of mine had to celebrate a day early on 7/5 (The silly Americans didn't like a straight pull, but were fond of the bore diameter in the early 1890s). The M1, M1917 sporter, wife's .308 and Grandpa's M99 probably had a wild party today while I was at work though. They'll probably multiply now. What is the gestation period on .30 cals during "overtime season"?

Even the decidedly non-american 7.620 X 54Rs put down their hammers and sickles for a bit to shoot some Vodka while the M39 took a victory sauna despite the 90 degree temps and high humidity outside..
 
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I'm celebrating my 7X64mm Brenneke rifles and ammunition for this day - the original from 1917 before anyone probably even thought about a 7mm-06, or .280 Remington.
 
I'm still a firm believer in the 30-06, Garands, 03A3s, Howa 1500s, Rem 700s, Rem 783, Rem742, Savage 111, I feel like they will do anything I need. For fun plinking, I load some 125gr bullets that are fairly accurate.
I've also picked up a couple of Winchester 94s in 30-30, a few Mosins in 7.62x54R, a no.1mk3 and some SKSs in 7.62x39.
I missed the last celebration for 45-70 and I don't believe I'll still be around in 50yrs to celebrate the next one.
We have a shoot every year and only 100yr old rifles are shot, I really enjoy those and look forward to each year.
 
jmr40 said:
I've been stuck on 30 calibers my entire hunting/shooting career. Dad wasn't much of a hunter and when I saved up enough to buy my own hunting rifle I went to my scout masters home to pick his brains and get advice. He said follow me, and we went to a storage building behind his home where he opened a military footlocker full of 30-06 ammo still in belts for machine gun use. He pulled off about 10' worth and told me to come back for more when I shot that up. That made my decision a lot easier and 30-06 it was.

Looking at things pragmatically the 7mm's are better, but I got started with 30 caliber and just never felt the 7's were enough better to change. Like everybody I acquired a 30-30 or 3 over the years and have drifted more toward 308 than 30-06. I've tried 300WM and 300 WSM. I really like the 300 WSM, but just didn't need it. But I see the 30's slipping with younger generations. And that is OK.
Click to expand...
They are skipping because modern bullet design makes it unnecessary for most game that we hunt.
If you started today. You would probably do the same.
I do have a handful of thirty calibers. 30-06 is still on my bucket list.
 
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