Should I ditch my 30.06?

[smokey30725]

Hello all. I currently hunt with a synthetic stock Remington 7400 in 30.06. I killed my first deer with it and love the gun. My problem is that I have two kids that are getting near hunting age and the rifle will be a little much for them. Budgetary constraints mean I have to sell or trade the 30.06 in order to get something else. It will primarily be a white tail rifle but will have to pull duty as a varmint rifle as well. I hunt with a guy who shoots the managed recoil 30.06 loads in an identical rifle to mine but they don't reliably cycle the action. What do you guys think? Keep mine or get something different? It will have to be the stereotypical "do all" rifle for my family so I want to use sound judgement whichever way I go. Are there other lighter recoiling 30.06 loads that will reliably cycle in semi auto guns? I am shooting Federal 150 grain loads right now.

 

[T Bran]

Make sure your rifle is clean and well oiled, the reduced recoil loads cycle a friends 742 just fine.

Before making such a decision on a rifle that has sentimental value I would at least try the ammo in my particular rifle, every autoloader is an entity unto itself.

 

[Reloadron]

I have my humble opinion as a new member. You have a Remington 7400 chambered in 30-06. I also have one and it has served me well for many years as a hunting rifle, primarily for whitetail. My take is that you are comfortable with this rifle but question the younger shooter ability because of the recoil. You want the rifle to serve well for hunting deer as well as varmint rifle. There are tradeoffs involved here.

Looking at the Remington 7400 series of rifles:

Overview:
Description: Autoloading centerfire rifle with a gas metered operating system.


Introduction Year: 1981


Year Discontinued: 2004


Total Production: N/A


Designer/Inventor: Remington Arms Research & Development


Caliber/Gauge: 6mm Rem. (1981 – 1995)
243 Win. (1981 – Present)
270 Win. (1981 – Present)
7mm Rem. Express (1981 - 1987)
280 Rem. (1988 – Present)
30-06 Sprg. (1981 – Present)
308 Win. (1981 – Present)
35 Whelen (1993 – 1995)

You may want to consider going with another 7400 but in a different caliber. The .308 Win and .243 Win come to mind and considering the Varmint aspect possibly a .243 Win which should serve well for whitetail as well as varmint. There is no escaping some degree of felt recoil. I only suggest another 7400 as you seem comfortable with the rifle. You may be able to cut a good swap deal at a gun show. If I were to buy my 7400 again I likely would have gone with the .308 Win cartridge.

Just My Take
Ron

 

[Salmoneye]

Hmm...

I started hunting at 9 (legal here then and now) with a Marlin 336RC in .35 Rem with 200 grain round nose...Not a 'mild' cartridge/load combo...'Graduated' to an old 742 in 06 at 12, and have hunted with my 7400 Carbine in 06 off and on since I got it in the late 80's...

Of those three, the 7400 Carbine with 180 grain .30-06 'kicks' the least...

In fact, I ran a few through it just yesterday with open sights at 100 yards offhand...

Love that thing...

I guess my point is, you're underestimating what your kids might be able to handle...

But at the end of the day only you can make that call...

 

[eddielewis]

I would definately let them shoot it before I made a judgement one way or another. Let your kids decide if they can handle it or not.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Be sure that when you take them to try it out, you have them try it sitting and/or standing, not just at a bench. Felt recoil is substantially less when you aren't pressing yourself into a benched rifle, and letting a person see the milder side that they should experience in the field can prevent the mind games from ruining enjoyment of the weapon.

 

[shaggy430]

Let your kids practice with the reduced recoil rounds and hunt with full power loads. They'll never know the difference when shooting at a deer. At 50 to 100 yards there shouldn't be a huge difference in POI. Also, many good aftermarket recoil pads are available that will reduce recoil considerably.

 

[rcmodel]

I killed my first deer with it and love the gun.

Then I would get a second job for a while to buy the kids a rifle.
They will only be too little for the 30-06 for 3-4 years or so.

Once the rifle you love is gone, it is gone.

Once the kids you love are grown in a few short years, they will be gone most of the time too.

But you will still have the rifle you love.

rc

 

[gp911]

Another option you might consider is borrowing a gun to take the kids deer hunting if you have any friends or family with guns to spare, that way you can save up for a year toward getting a second gun. You may want to just add a 12 gauge pump to the arsenal since it can do so much on its own.

 

[Slamfire]

There are lots of other cartridge choices that don't have the recoil of a 30-06 and yet are perfectly adequate for varmits and deer.

Something like a 257 Roberts, the 6.5 X 55 Swiss or 7mm Mauser. Any of these cartridges in a bolt rifle will be more accurate than your 7400 and the recoil will be less.

Maybe you can trade someone your 7400 for one of these?

 

[SimplyChad]

I say keep it. 350 will get you a decent 243 at cabellas or wallyworld. Dont lose that rifle. You only get one first

 

[razorback2003]

Remington auto rifle is a soft shooter just like the Remington 1100. I don't think there will be a big difference in recoil between 30-06 out of a gas operated autoloader and a 7mm 08 or 308 in a bolt. The Remington 30-06 auto should be softer.

 

[303tom]

Not no but,Hell No..............

 

[tahoe2]

7400

I also have a 7400, but in .280 Rem, that thing shoots awesome and will put 3 in 3/4" from a bench. KEEP IT !!
You said budget constraints, does that mean a single shot, break action (handi rifle) is not doable.
They are cheap and available in kid friendly cartridges 243, 30-30, 7mm-08 etc...
Just saw one on GB for $200 with iron sights and a camo synth stock.

 

[nbkky71]

As a cost saving measure, I was going to suggest a single shot rifle too. See if you can find a used H&R Handi-rifle in .243WIN

 

[jrdolall]

I am pretty bad about not selling guns so I am not the best to comment on this one. My 14 year old can easily handle the Remington semi in 30-06 as well as a bolt 30-06. I would definitely look at a single shot, maybe .243, as well or a pawn shop for a used Marlin 30-30. My 11 yr old daughter can shoot both of these guns though she is not interested in hunting yet. My oldest killed his first deer at 10 yrs old with a 243 bolt. If there is no option available other than making the trade then you just have to do it. I have been in the situation where $200 extra just was not going to happen myself so I understand. You will be sorry in a few years but that is better than not being able to let your kids shoot if the 30-06 is too much. Try the reduced recoil loads first though. I have not used them so I can't speak to how much they actually reduce recoil.

 

[Kachok]

Never sell off a rifle that you love, you will be kicking yourself for years to come. Save a few bucks and try to find a good 257 Roberts, 6.5x55 or 243 cheap somewhere. They are true sissy kickers and will drop a deer with a quickness. There are deals to be had if you are not looking for a high end rifle, I have found many many NEW rilfes for under $250, Heck Academy is selling the new 100 ATR rifles for $300 scoped, not my first choice in rifles but alot better then the Rem 770 or H&R single shot for sure.

 

[Bobson]

I say keep it. 350 will get you a decent 243 at cabellas or wallyworld.

I absolutely agree. When I got married a few years ago, I had a minimum wage job and I was still in college. Bad time to get married, right? Well we did it anyway and made it work. Point is, I know how hard it can be to stretch the budget to buy something that isn't a complete necessity. Find a way, and grab a Savage Axis in .243. Bud's is selling them for $286 shipped (click to view it), and it might be even less expensive at WalMart. Add a Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 for under $200, and you're golden. If that is too much, Bud's has a Savage Axis in .243, already with the scope, for $313. Could always replace the scope later.

My brother in law is 16, and shoots a Savage Axis in .270 with a random $100 scope. The guy shoots 1-inch groups all day long at 100 yards. The rifle is a superb value. You could pick up a part-time, minimum wage job; stay one month, and have the rifle+scope and some ammo paid for completely.

If I were in your shoes, that's what I'd do.

 

[SimplyChad]

Adding to what bobson says.

I picked my wife up a mossburg ATR 243 at academy with the premounted scope. I cant remember the exact cost but i know it was under 325 with a few different boxes of ammo. It was under MOA out of the box and the wife was shooting around 1.75. Plenty for bambi and can be light loaded for varmints. ( Ill let you find that fun on your own).

 

[BoilerUP]

I used to hunt with a 742 30-06...recoil was less shooting a given load than the same ammo in a bolt gun.

A slip-on Limbsaver recoil pad will do wonders for taming the recoil down even further.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Then I would get a second job for a while to buy the kids a rifle.
They will only be too little for the 30-06 for 3-4 years or so.

Once the rifle you love is gone, it is gone.

Once the kids you love are grown in a few short years, they will be gone most of the time too.

But you will still have the rifle you love.

rc

Agreed. I have my first rifle and it's not leaving me. Scrimp and save for a budget rifle and decent optics before parting with your first love. You don't want sellers remorse.

 

[Geckgo]

Two things that you should never ever get rid of. A good gun and a good guitar. You will regret it for the rest of your life.

30-06 really isn't too recoil heavy, and I believe that your kid will grow into it before you know it. I just got a few questions for you.

How much do you expect to get for your 7400?

How much do you plan on spending for a 243 or 260 that is more "small shooter" friendly?

Is it really going to be the deal breaker to not have access to the money you might get for the 7400? You are still going to have to front some money methinks. I would check the local pawnshops and LGS and get a "quote" for the two questions above and then come back here and let us know what you find. Might be a better deal in the long run to just pick up another rifle. It'll make a nice gift to them someday too

 

[dos0711]

Never sell a gun...buy another one!

 

[Abel]

I would ditch it myself. I never have been a rem. auto loader fan. I have seen a bunch of them jam over the years. Dump it for $300 while it still works properly.

 

[smokey30725]

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to get a box of the managed recoil to run through it and look into a quality recoil pad for it. If it won't eat the managed recoil rounds I guess I will have a choice to make.