Should I ditch my 30.06?

[TenDriver]

I'm just curious, but where are you located?

Also, as other have said, try out a recoil pad. I ran across a dad at the shooting range who had the same exact concern, but with a bolt action 270. I was shooting mine at the time and offered to let his son fire a few through it. His kid popped off 3-5 rounds with my rifle and set it down with a smile on his face. My XL-7 has a thick recoil pad on it, so with adding one to the dad's rifle, the problem was solved.

Your .06 does kick a little harder, but with a good recoil pad I think your kids will be able to handle it.

 

[Geckgo]

mmm, managed recoil

You know. I bought a couple boxes of these last year and took them down to the range and my group sizes jumped from 1.5-2MOA to 4-6" groups at 100 yards. (2MOA groups were rem corelokt). My rifle doesn't care for them accuracywise, not sure if this will be a concern for you or not but I thought I might at least mention it. The Rem red. recoil bullets are set very deep in the case and the powder is not very "poofy" and doesn't fill the case well. Shake one and you will notice how little powder is inside vs. the case size.

If they are going to use them I would keep the deer within 100 yrds till they graduate to more powerful rounds.

On the plus, though, they are kinda powder puff loads and do their job of managing recoil very well.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Then I would get a second job for a while to buy the kids a rifle..

Heck, put them kids to work.. it's summertime!

 

[Salmoneye]

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.

Never seen a 742 or 7400 'jam', except when trying to work up a handload for them...I have shot factory ammo from all the big manufacturers, and have had no issues with 165gr or 180gr loads...

The only 'factory' ammo I have had issues with was mil-surp .30-Cal all dated before Korea...Would eject fine, but the bolt would not pick up the next round...

I do know of 742's that had issues with the internal rails getting battered, but they were never designed as high-round target rifles...They serve well as hunting guns...If you can live with that, they will last a lifetime...If you are looking for a gun to fire hundreds-thousands of rounds a year, I agree that they will eventually wear out the receiver, and 'jam'...

 

[Maverick223]

I would hang onto it and see if I could squeak out the funds for a used Marlin 336 .30-30WCF or a Marlin XS-7 in 7mm-08Rem. or .243Win. (the new models are X7s, but I would stick to the ones made in Conn. as they are still available and generally exhibit better workmanship).

 

[Sam1911]

Here's my personal opinion on this question:

You have an heirloom rifle which isn't made anymore. You obviously like it and don't want to see it go.

Your kids are young and probably won't be comfortable with the recoil, and may or may not be comfortable with the "managed recoil" loading either.

I see two options:

1) One option here is to use the Managed Recoil ammo anyway, tell them to make every shot count, and fire the weapon as a straight-pull bolt gun. If it doesn't cycle on its own, who cares? Just manually cycle it for the next shot.

2) These days a new rifle in a smaller size, and shooting a mild cartridge can be had for very little money. A Rossi or NEF break-action in .223 (with proper HUNTING ammo, if legal for hunting in your state) or .243 should be available for well less than $200. (What's that? 4-5 boxes of managed recoil ammo?) That way you have a gun that fits your youngsters better, doesn't produce so much recoil, and you can BOTH hunt!

 

[BADUNAME37]

KEEP.....

My vote is also TO KEEP YOUR RIFLE!

If you do keep it, you will be amazed down the road how everything worked out for you and you ended up being able to save it!

Too many times in the past, I would trade guns.
For many reasons, quite a few of the ones I got rid of meant a lot to me -- whether it shot my first deer, shot my first black bear, won me awards in NRA 50' indoor target shooting, etc.

Once the gun is sold-traded, you probably won't ever see it again (unless you happen to sell it to someone you know with the option to buy it back at any time you may feel the desire down the road).

Here, I did a search for 7400 reduced action spring:
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Reming...+7400+reduced+action+spring&sc=1-23&sp=-1&sk=

KEEP IT!
Get something else for the younger ones.

Or, thoroughly-clean and lube your '06 and you just might find that it WILL cycle with a calmer load, heck, find and order a lighter spring for the lighter loads!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Sam hit it on the head. I would hold on to it and see what you can find for under 200 bucks.

I see NEF single shots all the time used and new for under 200 in my LGS.

 

[Sam1911]

Another good suggestion: buy used.

Your kids don't need an expensive new rifle to hunt with. The gun shops and (more likely) the classifieds are filled with older rifles that still have tens of thousands of rounds of life left in them. You could probably find a break-action single-shot like those NEF or Rossis that someone's kids have outgrown, for under $100.

 

[midnattsolen]

Since it sounds like you like this rifle I would keep it. You mentioned that you also used the gun for varmints. A .243 bolt gun would make a nice varmint/deer rifle. You should be able to find a decent used Savage or Remington for a reasonable price.

 

[bbuddtec]

I was going to say just keep it 'cuz you don't sound like that would be a good idea, then this guy just made me say... "...wow..."

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

rc strikes again, thanks man.

 

[GlockNation]

6.5 x 55

6.5 x 55, 6.5 x 55, 6.5 x 55.............................................

 

[Salty1]

Spend about $30 and put a limbsaver recoil pad on it, should make a huge difference in the felt recoil, have them practice with lower recoil loads at closer distances, 100 yards or so, then if hunting put in the normal bullets, I seriously doubt they will even notice the difference with all the adrenaline pumping...........

 

[smokey30725]

Thanks for the advice guys. I am going to try to squirrel away a little here and there and in the meantime put a quality recoil pad on my 7400. Really like the thoughts of the 243 for my kids as they are ages 5 and 7 right now. I have an uncle who hunts with a 243 exclusively and I couldn't count the number of large deer he has dropped with it.

 

[Hizzie]

2 words. Handi Rifle.

 

[jrdolall]

5 and 7 is definitely a bit young for MOST kids to be shooting hi powered rifles. I didn't let my kids actually shoot at a deer until they were 11 though they sat in the stand with me from about 5-6 if the weather was right. 13 was the age I let them hunt in a stand alone though it was always within a short distance from me. My daughter routinely sits by herself in a stand with a Kindle and binoculars since she is not ready to shoot anything yet. The boys shot 22s until they were around 10 and then moved to the 30-30 and the .243. The daughter can shoot the .243 without problems from a rest but is just not ready yet to hunt. At 22 my oldest still prefers the .243 bolt. A good friend's son was shooting a 300 at 10 yrs old so all kids are different.

 

[Certaindeaf]

.they are ages 5 and 7 right now..

If they are old enough to shoot a deer with a high powered rifle, they are old enough to work.. perhaps. For generations around these parts, the kids (I was around six or so I think.. I forget) were (are?) bussed off to pick berries in the summertime. anyway

 

[IlikeSA]

My Dad had a 742 Woodsmaster, and I wish he had kept it, if just for the fact that it was his rifle.

Keep your rifle and save up for another one. They will have time to grow into shooting, even if it takes you saving a few months or years.

 

[Maverick223]

I know this is probably no more an option (at least in the short term) than a new rifle, but it still deserves mention (if someone hasn't brought it up already)...what about reloading? It would give you the opportunity to save a bit on ammo (or in most cases, shoot more) as well as handload your own powder-puff loads at about .30-40Krag. or even .30-30WCF for the kids. You can get started with a Lee Challenger kit for a little more than $100.00 + dies and consumables.

 

[joe 1951]

I started out shooting a 8x57 sportised 98 at 8 with my dad,.The same year i got my own a 7x57,still have a 7x57 in the gun room,but mosly shoot .22's and.45's now,altho i do have a .303 single shot and others on occasions.

 

[threefortyduster]

Don't get rid of it. My main hunting rifle for almost 10 years was my 1970s something vintage Marlin 336 in .30-30. My Dad bought it for $150 and I am deadly with it. You can't get a better deal for something that is light-recoiling but hits hard enough than a lever gun.

 

[lloveless]

I laugh at people who say get the .243. Those things give me whiplash because of the short, sharp recoil. I shot two rifles side by side with the same scope etc. one .243 and the other a 30.06. My friend gave me 5 rounds each. I gave back both guns, but with 3 .243 cartridges. I agree a Handi rifle is great. Get one in .223 for varmints and keep the 7400 for big game. By the way I bought a Rem 788 in .308. Wish I'd have bought a 30.06 now. Good luck.
ll

 

[41magsnub]

Good call. A buddy of mine with shoulder trouble gets his deer every year with his M70 .30-06 and the managed recoil stuff from Remington. The recoil is .243'ish and has no trouble dropping a MT muley.