Beloved 30-06 Anyone?

I got my first deer rifle when I was 12. A 1903 A3 and I've been hooked on 30-06's ever since. I bought a 98 Mauser around 89. I had a deer rifle built off of it in 30-06 in the 90's. It's not the prettiest but it makes one hole groups at 100 yards. It doesn't look much like it but I spent a lot of money on it. It's had a lot of custom work done on it. I need to get a better pic of it.

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I have several. The only one I've hunted with, so far, is my trusty old Savage 110CL, which has accounted for some deer. It has a plain birch stock which I don't worry too much about dinging as I haul it up into a tree stand, at the end of a rope.

I also have a Mauser 3000L, which is the same gun as the German-made Weatherby. It's a dandy.

The only '06 of mine for which I have a picture handy, is this Remington 760:

Rem-760-1-14-2024.jpg


The scope is a recent addition, and I haven't gotten around to sighting it in yet. If I can get it sighted in, in time for deer season in November, I might hunt with it this year.
 
bigpower491 said:
All 3 still are, and always will be. Us Plymouth guys call em 6 barrel tho.....
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Absolutely here to! My eldest brother, whom I listened to everything said, graduated HS in 1966. He's a GTO Man! So, he must be right! Then few years, he proved it, The Judge came out. My Car, he's right! But then, in own eyes now, the 70-71 Challenger? Ain't never been another car like it, before or since! And my brother was a Browning Sweet 16 man, and yes, a 357 man entire life, the S&W Mod 19 I still have in 357, my favorite pistol by far! I graduated in 1977, forever faithful, but why I don't have a Pre64 Mod 70 in 30-06, I'll never know!
A good friend and coworker, bought a new Marlin 336 30-30 in 77, I bought it from him in 81. Still got it, killed more deer with it than any my other rifles, plus coyotes and few other critters.
 
Reading this thread, I realized the only 06 I currently possess is a model of 1917 of my dads. It was sporterized(quite well actually) but, It’s actually pretty shot out; and after being stored (improperly I’m guessing) for a long time, the rather pretty piece of walnut the stock was made from has cracked through the wrist. I may try pinning it with glue and a screw. But it doesn’t shoot but about minute of pie plate.
I have hunted quite a bit with the “little” 06; the quarter bore variety. Took my first buck with one. That particular model 70 of my grandpa’s is one I’d love to have.
 
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I inherited a box of 03A3 parts from my dad that was an unfinished project of his from the late 50’s.

It really didn’t need much more than a trigger, stock, rings and a scope to make it into a rifle.

I endeavor to hunt with it a couple times a year and have developed 4-5 accurate loads for it.

I’ll eventually pass it on to my son.

IMG_0006.jpeg
 
ECVMatt said:
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.

View attachment 1204195

View attachment 1204196
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Looks to be around McGee Mtn Cyn. Damn nice terrain up there. And the fishing at Crowley ain't bad either.
 
Honestly, should not have bought my .30 06 bolt rig. But I wanted a general use bad weather tough rifle and M Retting had the Steyr Pro hunters on closeout.

Like it. But wish it was a 7mm Rem Mag.

A 7mm mag, 308 win, 35 rem and 243 covers most of my needs/ wants.

HOWEVER i do have a soft spot for a carbine Remington pumo or auto. And if a clean 7600 came along at reasonable price LOL....

id snag it, even if it was in .30 06.

Blasty n nasty, but they are cool 😎
 
Choctaw said:
Whenever I think of a hunting rifle what comes to my mind is a bolt action 30-06 stocked in walnut wearing both a scope AND irons. Throw in a cabin set in the autumn woods along with some flannel and you're good to go.
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Well I kinda started laughing when i read this cause really, this fall, hopefully I'll fulfill this pretty much, substitute my 06 to the 30-30 in the pic?
I put up the pic of that great book my boy got me, cause, he said really, the title & subject described me? My cabin is my home, edge woods in every direction and all my hunting for past 5-6 years, I go out door, climb on my 4w, and to my areas in minutes! "One Man, One Land"!
And I'm planning to devote most of rest my days to my "One Rifle" my 06!
Well? It'll be an 06 or 30-30/06 😆 for sure!
MY 06 is the ultimate hunting rifle, irons or scope, my eyes are getting old!
I've got loads worked up, mostly for fun, but Useful none the less, for my 06, that I'm shooting a regular Sierra 150gr 30-30 bullet, 130gr varmint bullet, 180 RN Brush Busters, and 150-180 High BC long range loads, but working on a load with 165gr Speer HC's for an all around. The 150gr Speer HC & 4064 powder is the sweet load in it, 1/2" groups, but the 165 almost as good!
But always a flannel shirt! 20231111_091146.jpg
Oh the versatility of the 06!
 
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Have a red n black wool coat (bought new) to go with my old 760 in .35 rem.
Snow piled on my head n shoulders, sitting on hill by creek on the gun opener couple yrs ago.
Had a 6 pt come within 20 yards.

Was toasty warm in my wool, the woods looked pretty with new fluffy blanket, and yup, saw a deer (only one I saw).

Classic hunt ! :)

Let him walk.

Enjoyed that morning quite a bit.
 
I might as well join the thread since you all are posting hunting rifles. Argentine mauser, 30-06. I bought it for a handful of 100s a few months ago. I went in, asked if they had a sporterized 1903 but they did, but it was too much. They then pulled this one for a few hundred dollars cheaper, and I bought it right there. Truth is I shouldn't have bought it but it's a solid rifle.
431909105_7157146894412887_9201706697116289592_n.jpg
That's a handmade stock the man before me made for it. I took the sling off and attempted to make sling swivels to accept a 1907 style sling, but the sling swivels are quite improper. Probably going to take them off and put the old sling back on.
 
I do! All 6 of them!
Just 15yrs ago I was down to a single .338/06.
Now, it’s back to 6.
My original is an Interarms (Zastava) MkX “Classic”. I rebarreled it to .338/06 in ‘04. In ‘22, I had the original barrel replaced.
I’ve also acquired 2 M1 Garands. (One I inherited from my older brother, the other I purchased from the CMP fo shooting CMP JCGarand matches. Also a magnificently accurate 03-A3 Springfield, and a beautiful P17 Eddystone Enfield both purchases from the CMP.
Lastly is my favorite, a Colt Lt Rifle (think a budget Ultra Light Arms). 6.8lbs with a Leupold 3-9x VXI scope. 3/4MOA accuracy!
Every one is different, unique, and special. Even if they shoot (more or less) the same ammunition.
 
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Heir Kommt Die Sonne said:
I might as well join the thread since you all are posting hunting rifles. Argentine mauser, 30-06. I bought it for a handful of 100s a few months ago. I went in, asked if they had a sporterized 1903 but they did, but it was too much. They then pulled this one for a few hundred dollars cheaper, and I bought it right there. Truth is I shouldn't have bought it but it's a solid rifle.
View attachment 1204279
That's a handmade stock the man before me made for it. I took the sling off and attempted to make sling swivels to accept a 1907 style sling, but the sling swivels are quite improper. Probably going to take them off and put the old sling back on.
Click to expand...

I'd put a Boyd's stock on it.
 
silicosys4 said:
Jc higgins M50.
First rifle, first deer, and the "kill notch" from said deer.
Still have the rifle and I still laugh about the notch.
View attachment 1204101
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I was lucky enough to buy a JC Higgins Model 50 as my first centerfire rifle. It's well made, with an FN commercial action and a chrome lined High Standard barrel. They are very accurate. I used to wonder what all the fuss was about sub 1" groups because the Model 50 shot well under an inch with Winchester 150 grain Power Points. It wasn't until I had a few more rifles that I realized how special the Model 50 was.

I was once at the range next to a guy who had the complete benchrest setup; a rifle and scope combo that cost more than my car, wind flags, a reloading press at the range, the works. At the break, he looked at my targets, complimented the sub-one inch groups and asked "What are you shooting?". You should have seen the look on his face when I answered: "Winchester Power Points from my Sears 30-06." ;)
 
Replying to follow. My son's thinking of his first bolt action. I suggested a 30-06 for versatility, or maybe a 308 since I already load for one. 110 to 220 grain pills all fly from the 30-06. That's a range that's tough to beat. Squirrel to moose, the 30-06 should be sufficient. I load subsonic rounds (900ish fps) for my 308 and 30-30, so I assume the 30-06 would allow for that as well. If it weren't tax season, there was a 1903A3 floating around in one of the LGS that might have come home, but their price tag matched the model number.
 
A couple Pre-WarII 06's: top is seldom seen Remington M-720. Made only in 1942, it was to become their answer to Winchester's increasingly popular M-70 but production was halted at outbreak of war and never made again, replaced by M-721 after war, an entirely different concept. Beautifully made and finished, it is interesting to speculate on its head to head competition with M-70 had production continued. Bottom is Winchester's 1930's Super
Grade M-70. Both rifles are in unfired condition. IMG_6848.jpg IMG_6850.jpg IMG_6856.jpg IMG_6851.jpg
 
I'm not a hunter but do have 2 favorite 30-06s.

First is my VAR barreled Garand. Shoots under 3" @ 100 with any M2 ball.

Second is my sporterized 1903A3.right. Got it cheap as the original barrel was cut and receiver was drilled for scope mount. No resurrecting this to an original. Whoever did it did it right. Fajen glass.bedded stock. Nice matte blue finish. Shoots 2" or less with M2 ball.
 
Litetrigger said:
A couple Pre-WarII 06's: top is seldom seen Remington M-720. Made only in 1942, it was to become their answer to Winchester's increasingly popular M-70 but production was halted at outbreak of war and never made again, replaced by M-721 after war, an entirely different concept. Beautifully made and finished, it is interesting to speculate on its head to head competition with M-70 had production continued. Bottom is Winchester's 1930's Super
Grade M-70. Both rifles are in unfired condition.View attachment 1204382View attachment 1204383View attachment 1204384View attachment 1204385
Click to expand...
LGS had a 720 trophy rifle a couple yrs back.
 
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