Am I missing something without a 30.06?

[d2wing]

Nobody should own a .300 mag because a .308 is almost as good as a 30-06 which is almost as good as a .300 mag which is almost as good as a.338 mag. Therefor no one has a right to own anything but a .308 as it is almost as good as everything else. Thus says the .clan of the .308.

 

[CoalTrain49]

No. The 308 replaced it many moons ago. Your line of reasoning would suggest that you need a 45-70 also.

 

[46R]

Every red-blooded American man needs at least one 30.06 rifle and a .45 pistol too.

Edit: Dang-it, now I'm going to have to look for a 45-70 too, probably a lever-action.

 

[Eb1]

A .308 winchester will never be a .30-06 no matter how you try to slice the pie. I would own a .30-06, but I have a .25-06, a .303 British, and a .50 caliber muzzleloader. If any of those don't get the job done be it moose to bunny. I m doing something wrong.

Clearly the .30-06 and the .45 ACP is the "All American" combo.

But I am betting the new addition, a Ruger 77/44, becomes my short range deer rifle.

 

[savanahsdad]

Nobody should own a .300 mag because a .308 is almost as good as a 30-06 which is almost as good as a .300 mag which is almost as good as a.338 mag. Therefor no one has a right to own anything but a .308 as it is almost as good as everything else. Thus says the .clan of the .308.

there is a big jump from a 30-06 to a 300win mag , there is almost no jump from a 308win to a 30-06 unless you go to a 200+gr bullet , and it that case you need a bigger gun ,

oh and I'm not in the 308 clan , I'm in the .277 & .284 clan but you almost made a good point , , get a 308win and a 300mag ,

 

[savanahsdad]

Every red-blooded American man needs at least one 30.06 rifle and a .45 pistol too.

Edit: Dang-it, now I'm going to have to look for a 45-70 too, probably a lever-action.

I'd go with a trap door

 

[epoletna]

I only own an '06 because I needed a Garand. Yeah, I know -- you can get a Garand in .308, but that's not a real Garand. So I got a Garand in .30-06 and love to shoot it. Do I need it for game? Nah. For game I can prolly make do with my .22-250, .243, 6.5X55 Swede, 6.5-06, 7mm Rem Mag, .308, or .375 H&H magnum. But reading this thread reminded me I'm shy a .45-70.

I think I'll look for a Winchester '86 in .45-70. I already have one in .50-100-450, and it's a great shooter. 450 grains of lead cast in a half-inch diameter projectile guts and skins a jack rabbit at the same time.

 

[horsemen61]

I got into reloading so I could feed my 30 06. I personally think that yes you should own one

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Based on the usages outlined in the orig post, no I don't think you need one. If you want one, then that's another story. I think you would be better served spending that money on a good class or more ammo practicing with what you have. Or, take the money and buy a 22 LR rifle so you can really shoot and practice more.

 

[Cee Zee]

there is almost no jump from a 308win to a 30-06 unless you go to a 200+gr bullet , and it that case you need a bigger gun

Need a bigger gun? Why? I shoot 220 gr. bullets in my 30.06 whenever I feel like it. They are my go to black bear loads. The bullet speed isn't that much slower and there's plenty of energy downrange for penetration. I would choose a 165 gr. bullet for target shooting or taking a deer at 300 yards but there are other reasons to own a 30.06 and use heavy bullets. Knocking down unfriendly black bears at shorter ranges is a very good example. I've never had to shoot a bear but they have threatened me in my yard many, many times especially when I'm cooking on the grill. It drives them nuts so they try to scare me off. It doesn't work. I'm loaded for bear one way or another.

 

[rondog]

If you've ever worn an American flag patch or lapel pin, then you must buy a .30-06. And a 1911!

It is written!

Somewhere....

So I've heard.....

 

[reddrumtoo]

Back in the 60's I bought a remington 700 ADL w/ checkered aluminum buttplate , everytime I fired it I got remington stamped into my shoulder . I wised up & put a pachmayr recoil pad on it . When I would fire it I got pachmayr stamped into my shoulder . After much load development & glass bedding the action , I got that puppy to shoot 1 1/2 MOA . I got rid of it , got a 243 for my heavy rifle & have killed elk & everything below that w/ one shot kills . I've never lost a game animal . It's bullet placement that is key. If I ever have the chance at a bear I'll put one in his ear & he'll make a nice rug.

 

[1911 guy]

No, you're not missing out. There are many cartridges that do everything a .30-06 will do.

Having said that, the attraction of an "-06 is that it does many things well. Given the right load, you can comfortable take just about anything on the North American continent with it.

If you want one, save your shekels and buy one. If not, so be it. It is a very versatile cartridge, but there is a great possibility that it holds no particular use for you.

 

[Gtscotty]

there is a big jump from a 30-06 to a 300win mag , there is almost no jump from a 308win to a 30-06 unless you go to a 200+gr bullet , and it that case you need a bigger gun

An often repeated fallacy.

Top loads from Hogdon's load data (sticking with standard construction bullets):

165gr bullets

.308: 2839 fps
30-06: 2972 fps
300 WM: 3144 fps

Velocity gain going from .308 to 30-06: 133 fps (4.7%)
Velocity gain going from 30-06 to 300 WM: 172 fps (5.8%)

180 gr bullets

.308: 2683 fps
30-06: 2840 fps
300 WM: 3042 fps

Velocity gain going from .308 to 30-06: 157 fps (5.9%)
Velocity gain going from 30-06 to 300 WM: 202 fps (7.1%)

The difference between .308 and 30-06 is only slightly less than the difference between 30-06 and 300 WM, hardly what one could call "almost no jump" versus "a big jump".

For a bolt action hunting rifle, the only compelling reason I've ever seen to choose the .308 over the 30-06 is lower recoil, which is to be expected in a less powerful round. Rifle weight? Both cartridges can be had in rifles that are light enough to be uncomfortable to shoot. Bolt throw? I've never felt particularly strained by the extra .5" of bolt throw on a long action. If you don't reload, i guess cost could be a minor factor, but if you do, or if you practice with the load you plan to hunt with, it's a wash.

If you don't think you need the extra power between a .308 and a 30-06, that is fine, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.

To the OP, if you want a 30-06, go ahead and get one, it's certainly one of the most versatile calibers out there.

 

[USSR]

I'm somewhat surprised to find the .308 brought into this thread about whether to get a .30-06 or not. As previously stated, once the bullet weight becomes 180 grains or more, the similarities between the two cartridges disappear. I have done extensive load development for LR shooting with both cartridges using the 190SMK, and have found an honest 200fps difference with the two.

.308: 190SMK, 47.0gr N550 - 2700fps
.30-06: 190SMK, 60.7gr RL22 - 2900fps
.300WM Fed. Gold Medal Match: 190SMK - 2900fps

26" barrels were used in both cases.

Don

 

[d2wing]

Yes but how can you argue that the .308 is better unless you make stuff up. After all it is the tradition of gun writers and lots of posters. Why fight mythology with facts? Don't start with the 45-70 easily surpassed in listed factory loads by 12 gauge sabot slugs.

 

[Skyshot]

It's an American icon.

 

[Mike1234567]

I'm not an expert but I chose .30-06 over .308 Win due to greater flexibility. In my geographic area I could easily get by with just four long-arms: .30-06, .223 Rem, a "good" .22 cal pellet gun and a 12ga. I could replace the '06 with a .308 but why other than being able to shoot NATO ammo? There's a fairly large gap between a .22 pellet gun and .223 Rem but, again, in my area there's nothing in the middle that needs anything else. Frankly, (SHOCK) I don't need a .22LR.

 

[Temp430]

Unless you're under 12 and/or 100 lbs. a 243 Win seems a little light for those big Maine whitetail.

 

[torqem]

You pick the right tool by knowing what the job requires. If you need to drive nails, you don't want a saw, correct? If you need to cut a piece off of a board, you'd not want a hammer, correct? There's little jeweler's hammers, and then there's sledehammers, right? There's jeweler's saws and theres sawmills that can handle CA redwood logs. Do you see the analogy? Guns are just tools. What's the job?

 

[Tirod]

Shot placement is critical with any bullet. Soldiers have been hit with .50 cal and fought on.

Owing a gun in .30-06 means you can still buy ammo off the shelf during a panic, when .308 has dried up in 24 hours. I've seen that twice now.

The next panic is predicted for the fall of 2016, just in time for deer season. Either load up now or not, but having an alternate caliber for bad times is nice. While some shooters might consider it a bit Elmer F. to own, the game doesn't care, and you get to shoot.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Shot placement is critical with any bullet. Soldiers have been hit with .50 cal and fought on.

Owing a gun in .30-06 means you can still buy ammo off the shelf during a panic, when .308 has dried up in 24 hours. I've seen that twice now.

The next panic is predicted for the fall of 2016, just in time for deer season. Either load up now or not, but having an alternate caliber for bad times is nice. While some shooters might consider it a bit Elmer F. to own, the game doesn't care, and you get to shoot.

Let me figure this out. Isn't that about the same time as the next pres. election?
One 30 cal. is enough. Spend your money on ammo. Forget about more guns.

 

[back40]

Let me figure this out. Isn't that about the same time as the next pres. election?
One 30 cal. is enough. Spend your money on ammo. Forget about more guns.

The op doesn't yet have a .30 cal, and the '06 gives you options that the .308 doesn't.

 

[eastbank]

50 miles off a paved road in botswana S.A.,i saw 30-06 with 180gr SP. shells for sale they also had 303 british fmj ammo. i don,t know if it was illeagle to sale them or not and as we had a .375H&H and a 7mm mag we didn,t need them. eastbank.

 

[Takem406]

I have a 22-250, 243 and a 308.
The first two are varmint and deer rifles and the 308 is my elk, windy day deer rifle.
I prefer the 308 over the 06 for the short action and the accuracy. Not much different between the two.
But a 30 caliber is nice to have for the better BOC for shooting in the wind and for longer shots. But really the 243 is amazing. Especially if your only deer hunting. And if your shots are under 300 you don't "need" a bigger gun. But boy that 308 smashes deer!