Beloved 30-06 Anyone?

[DM~]

12 ga./30-06,

I shot three nice bulls with it that day. It's very accurate,

Over the years, it's put a lot of meat in my freezer.

DM

 

[Rodfac]

Very few questions can't be answered by the '06.

Couldn't resist a rehash of the old bard, " There are few things in this dark world, that can't be fixed....with $700 or a .30-06!" Rod

 

[Rodfac]

Gotta' admit, I've never owned a .30-06 hunting rifle...and that's an astounding admission on my part as it may be my favorite caliber/candidate for a do-it-all for North American rifle. My personal favorite rifle is my wife's wedding present to me, a Sako Forester in .308....on Christmas morning back then, 1972, she apologized the she couldn't find one in .30-06.....even then, she knew me better than I knew myself.

But......I have three Garands down in the safe: a Springfield, a Harvester, and a Winchester; plus four Springfield '03's, a cpl of Remington '03's and '03-A3's.....and one Smith Corona '03-A3.

All are shooters, and I've taken several deer with the Smith Corona. Those that pooh poop the '03-A3's sights on a hunting gun, haven't shot one much. The gun balances well, is virtually indestructible and a dab of type-writer correction fluid on the front sight makes it a great open sight gun out to about 200 yds. Nuff said....I'll try to get some pics and edit this manana. Best regards to all, Rod

 

[doubleh]

My first deer hunt was made with a second hand bolt action Savage in 30-30 and I never got a shot. I was doing good to afford that at the time. My brother in law went too with a Winchester 94 carbine and got a deer. On the 6th shot he walked up to deer that was sitting down and finished him off. Holes all in him and he says still able to sit up like a dog does. Kind of soured me on the 30-30 for a time until I realized the BIL was just a poor shot.

I was a big fan of Jack O'Conner at the time and was determined to trade for a 270. Instead I ran into a light weight Mannlicher style 30-06 sold by Montgomery Ward, butter knife bolt handle, European walnut stock and skip line checker which was a big thing at the time. it was built on a commercial Mauser 98 action and Heym was stamped on the action's bottom. Sorry, Jack, but I have to switch to 30-06 caliber. I did install a Timney trigger and glass bed it. No regrets ever and I had no trouble selling that 30-30 even if it was about a 5 MOA gun. I have only had to shoot one deer twice to put it down. It decided to leave just as I shot and I hit it in the butt. Down but not finished so one more shot was required. Not much meat produced on that trip as the rear quarters were pretty well ruined. The pain killers I was taking for just having two wisdom teeth pulled and one dry socket may have been a contributing factor. No way was I going to miss that year's hunt though.

The 30-06 is plenty for anything that roams North America. That said I have never considered a grizzly hunt.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

That is a beautiful rifle friend, one that you should be proud to own.

The .30-06 is by far my favorite caliber. The only rifle I own is a Weatherby Vanguard, and I've taken many deer with it.
The rifle is nothing special, but it's responsible for every buck on my wall and I'll likely never get rid of it because of the memorable hunts I've had it with me on.

An '06 McMillan-stocked Vanguard was the first centerfire rifle I bought once I started to recover from the Recession. It wasn't in perfect condition and someone had ground down a penny to replace the broken bolt-stop, but I got it for under $200 and Weatherby sent me the part for $11. Then I scored an awesome Burris Black Diamond NIB, shortly after they were discontinued, at a local pawn shop for another two bills (MSRP was $11-1200). I did a kitchen-table trigger job on it and it shoots like a laser now-

I've debated selling off all my other .30-06s and replacing them with .308s, but I would have a real hard time letting go of this one.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it outshoots my $3000 POF/Nightforce combo. Lol.

 

[Show Me]

I've always felt cursed using the 06, only 2 animals I could never recover where when using the 3006. It's not the 06 fault the animals could not be recovered by that's a long story, but it put me off the 06 for a few years.

Here's the only 3006 I have that I'm putting together right now, still needs a reblue and some camo on the stock. It may not see it but this is a 1954 winchester model 70 supergrade that was destroyed by a old man with dementia and a hammer. Used a 1990s classic stock that was a bit of a job fitting to the pre 64, floorplate and follower where DLC coated by pre64win.com. talley mounts with a leupold vx-3hd 3.5-10x40 firedot.

View attachment 1204149View attachment 1204150View attachment 1204151

Ya that's the epoxy fill job. What camo pattern. Old school like M1A or Vietnam woodland.

 

[Condor]

This used to be mine…my first bolt action centerfire. A Savage Axis (all Incould afford). It is very accurate.

I loaned it to my son and he got his first deer with it while hinting with his grandfather.

It didn’t seem right that I keep it, so I gave it to him.

On the lookout for one for me now…

 

[cfullgraf]

The only 30-06 rifles I have are Garands and 03 Springfields. I like the cartridge.

If I ever hunt game requiring a cartridge in range of 30-06, I’d probably get a bolt 30-06. I already have the reloading eqipment for 30-06.

I do have a Remington 788 chambered in 308 Win. A nice, handy carbine.

 

[troy fairweather]

Ya that's the epoxy fill job. What camo pattern. Old school like M1A or Vietnam woodland.

I'm thinking a sponge pattern like on a lot of new aftermarket stocks, I was thinking of doing the treestand pattern these stocks came in the 90s, that's pretty much bottom land with some tree limbs on it. I don't really feel like buying a vinyl patten kit tho, had a idea of doing some of carbon fiber pattern and camo over total most of it kinda as a joke.

 

[Show Me]

30 06 talk is never a waste of time. How many cartridges make you say ooooh 30 06. Ooooh 308. Ooooh 6.5 what's its name. How many cartridges have such classic or historic rifles to talk about. Repeat alert. When I was little ,six pack carbs , .357 and 30-06 were so cool.

 

[Show Me]

I'm thinking a sponge pattern like on a lot of new aftermarket stocks, I was thinking of doing the treestand pattern these stocks came in the 90s, that's pretty much bottom land with some tree limbs on it. I don't really feel like buying a vinyl patten kit tho, had a idea of doing some of carbon fiber pattern and camo over total most of it kinda as a joke.

Is carbon fiber with moss here and there possible

 

[Shodan]

Started with 30-06 Remington 721 and have hunted with my Remington 700 Mountain Rifle for the last 20 years or so. Very happy with the long action 30-06 in a fairly light and compact rifle.

 

[Show Me]

The only 30-06 rifles I have are Garands and 03 Springfields. I like the cartridge.

If I ever hunt game requiring a cartridge in range if 30-06, I’d probably get a bolt 30-06. I already have the reloading eqipment for 30-06.

I do have a Remington 788 chambered in 308 Win. A nice, handy carbine.

Only ? That's the best. I have a 1944 receiver kit gun I assembled around 2004 and a recent expert cmp. But I bought an axis wood stock to test Garand loads. And it's a shooter. Probably my awesome hand loadsl

 

[troy fairweather]

Is carbon fiber with moss here and there possible

Maybe, I'd have to make a fo carbon pattern. I've seen this done with stretching pantyhose over black base and misting silver paint over top, it looks similar but not quite like woven carbon. I don't have a spray setup but could be rattle canned I guess. I thought maybe some carbon stickers or vinyl and camo over that but not sure how it would hold up and you will see the step from the sticker. The sponge patterns can look pretty good and there easy to do.

Here's what the factory classic stocks look like, hard finding pictures I wonder maybe they didn't sell many.

 

[sage5907]

I've been hunting with a 30-06 for more years than most of the High Road members are old. At one point in time I owned 6 of them but sad to say I'm down to only two. My favorite I call my "Hammer Gun" because it really hammers anything I shoot at. I have a good supply of Sierra and Nosler bullets that will keep me shooting for a long time.

 

[cfullgraf]

Only ? That's the best. I have a 1944 receiver kit gun I assembled around 2004 and a recent expert cmp. But I bought an axis wood stock to test Garand loads. And it's a shooter. Probably my awesome hand loadsl

Cool that you attended a expert camp.

Besides at least one example of each manufacturer’s Garand, I have an example from at least one manufacturer from each year of production.

I have receivers, NOS barrels, and parts to build two Garands from between WWII and Korea. Some day, I’ll assemble them.

I have a 308 Win Garand that I put a laminated stock on so I can easily see it is the 308 Win Garand.

Yes, I like my Garands.

The 30-06 goes with most of them.

 

[marksman13]

I’ve got a few.

My Ruger No. 1 International is my favorite.


I’ve also got a CZ 550 FS that I’ve yet to put blood on.

Not pictured is my dad’s old 742 Woodsmaster Deluxe. I probably need to drag it out of the safe next year in his memory.

 

[hps1]

Have owned at least 10 30-06 rifles over the years including a couple of M1's several 03's and A3's the rest Pre-64 Mod. 70's, but this one has to be my favorite. It is on it's 4th barrel (w/around 4000 rounds through it). The first three barrels averaged aroung 7500 rounds when they started to throw unexplained fliers. The action has never had a part replaced w/over 26000 rounds through it and many more "rounds" dry fired through. Yes, that includes the firing pin. You wouldn't believe how slick the action is after all that cycling. Edit to add the 2 (26,000)

 

[Riomouse911]

I have never owned a .30/06 hunting rifle. I have a couple of M1 Garands, and I owned for a brief period a bubbaed 1917 that I wanted to turn into a hunting rifle, but it went away for sale on consignment to fund something else.

The round is perfect for hunting and can pretty much do it all, but I have so much overlap that buying an ‘06 isn’t in the cards for me.

Love seeing those nice specimens, you guys have some real beauties!

Stay safe.

 

[Lennyjoe]

My tried and true old Savage 110 30-06 has served me well over the years. Filled the freezer with Elk and Deer over the years. Stock is beat up from field wear so she got a new one this off season.

 

[ECVMatt]

I truly love my 30/06. I have been shooting it seriously for 30 years. Every time I try to convince myself I need a new rifle, I go to the safe, pull out my most trusted Winchester, and move on to other ideas. The only thing have done to this rifle in the last 30 years is upgrade the stock and scope. It shoots great, drops things, and does not kick too much.

Currently I am using a handload with Varget and a 165 GMX BT. I think they discontinued them, but I have a pretty good supply for the time being. Most of my buddies hunt with an 06 as well, so I do all the loading for the bunch.

Here is a couple of pictures from my deer hunt two years ago. We hiked up into the mountains above Crowley lake, CA and I was able to take a nice buck on the first morning. The first picture is the rifle and pack on the way up and the second I took right after I shot my deer. He was across the canyon and just on the inside edge of the shadow line.

 

[Show Me]

Cool that you attended a expert camp.

Besides at least one example of each manufacturer’s Garand, I have an example from at least manufacturer from each year of production.

I have receivers, NOS barrels, and parts to build two Garands from between WWII and Korea. Some day, I’ll assemble them.

I have a 308 Win Garand that I put a laminated stock on so I can easily see it is the 308 Win Garand.

Yes, I like my Garands.

The 30-06 goes with most of them.

Expert grade purchased. I came so close to a 308 but can you imagine an emergency, like a big fat coon digging its way into the chicken pen. Woman grab my rifle and ammo. 308 and 30 06 don't mix.
Your lucky to have those receivers.
Really like the laminated stock idea for identification

 

[LoonWulf]

I started hunting with a 30-06, i used one for the first time in 20 years when we were home last. It claimed a spike and a buck.
It felt good, oddly cathartic.
It also started me wanting to own another one.....havent owned one in 10 years.
The search came up lacking, not for want of options. I realized that the 06 isnt about performance or function for me, its more emotional.....thus Im better off continuing to look till i find the RIGHT rifle.

 

[M65Man]

Cup of coffee and admiring all these 06'y Beauties, it's a good day!
I figure most like a good read, so I gotta mention this book my son got me this winter?
It's a great read, and to my surprise and enjoyment, the author is not a famous writer, guide, or known hunter. But like me growed up in Southern Appalachian's, primarily a squirrel hunter and small game (only thing here really to hunt back then), who just when he could, determined to hunt big game everywhere, and wound up taking all the Big Game Species in North America, and then writing about it. And all with the same Rem 700ADL 30-06 he bought new in 1974. I think all (haven't completed book yet) with 165-200gr Nosler Partitions. If you're not familiar with this book, I'm sure most will enjoy it, 550 pages.

 

[Bartojc]

The first rifle I bought on my own was a WInchester M70 Featherweight XTR in 30-06. I had been invited to go to WY to hunt deer and had borrowed a rifle the previous year. Borrowing a rifle did not seem like a long tern solution. I bought what I considered at the time a one rifle solution to hunting north america. I was in my early/mid 20's and am well past 50 now so I've owned it 30+ years. I hunted WY with it a half dozen times, and MI over 20 years. I've gotten dozens of deer with it , but these days it only gets part time duty. I almost feel guilty not carring in the field on every hunt like I used to.

-Jeff