The .30-06 is 100 years old, what remains to be done?

[TheEgg]

40 rounds of our favorite '06 downrange this year.

Piker! I buy the stuff by the case!

 

[Texfire]

Very nice. I'm not given to envy often, but I'm pretty green right now. Is that a Winchester or a clone?

Tex

 

[jobu07]

Just for grins, let's neck down the .30-'06 to accept the 17-grain .17 HMR bullet. How about a 5,000-fps-plus round for squirrels?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Just for grins, let's neck down the .30-'06 to accept the 17-grain .17 HMR bullet. How about a 5,000-fps-plus round for squirrels?

I did that -- I wanted to shoot a 120-grain bullet, so it would hold its velocity. When I got the box with the completed rifle, it was delivered by a tall, skinny silent guy. He just stood there and didn't say anything -- until I fired the rifle. Then he ran down-range, tapping the bullet with a stick to keep it flying point-forward.

When I asked what that was all about, he said, "Yimminy! Anoder yerk what ain't heard about Finn stabilization."

 

[50caliber123]

I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle!

 

[Jeff Timm]

When I asked what that was all about, he said, "Yimminy! Anoder yerk what ain't heard about Finn stabilization."

LOL!

Geoff
Who can't top that one, but the Eargeshplitten Loudenboomers of the late '60s came close.

 

[Jeff Timm]

I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle!

Humm, rechamber an SVD?

Geoff
Who prefers the .308 in a semi auto.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle!

What's "affordable"? You can buy the semi version from Ohio Ordnance Works for less than $3000. Given the size and complication of the thing, that price doesn't really seem that far out of line to me. It's very nicely done.

http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/slr/slr.htm

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I think that a gun company should bring back an affordable version of the BAR or make a version of an assault/battle rifle in .30-06...Think of the pssibilities, an AK or an FAL in .30-06 would be a monster of a rifle!

You can get something better than an AK or a FAL in .30-06 -- the M1 Garand.

 

[BigG]

Probably as long as the current technology holds, i.e., case, powder, primer, bullet, the 30/06 will be right useful. That goes for several older rounds also; the 7mm and 8mm Mauser are almost perfect cartridges given their balance between bore, bullet weight, and velocity. You can't do much better without burning another teaspoonful of powder with any of them. That's efficiency, and all over a century old!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Probably as long as the current technology holds, i.e., case, powder, primer, bullet, the 30/06 will be right useful. That goes for several older rounds also; the 7mm and 8mm Mauser are almost perfect cartridges given their balance between bore, bullet weight, and velocity. You can't do much better without burning another teaspoonful of powder with any of them. That's efficiency, and all over a century old!

I'm not the first guy to say it, but the .30-06 is "too good." Newer cartridges can't kill it off.

When the .300 Win Mag came out, it was a wonder. Nowadays you can get Lite Magnum or Hi Energy loads for the .30-06 that almost duplicate the original .300 WM ballistics. Add premium bullets, and you have a cartridge that's perfect for the 21st Century.

 

[thebigc]

i an definitly going to bring my 1917 and 1903 along with me to my next range trip this thread reminds me maybe i need to get a garrand to keep them company.

 

[El Tejon]

Nothing needs to be done; we just need to learn to shoot it.

 

[danurve]

Nothing needs to be done;

Well said.

 

[Nicky Santoro]

The .30-06 is 100 years old, what remains to be done?

Is it the best round for everything? Of course not. But I'll bet it does more things well than any other round out there.

 

[Manedwolf]

If you ever watch the show "Mythbusters" on Discovery, they sometimes use a Garand for ballistics tests. (Great show, they have a Barrett .50 BMG, too.) One test in particular surprised them.

They were testing ideas about bulletproof glass, Lexan sort, I believe. It did stop just about everything in a lot of calibers...but the Garand's 30-06 punched right through it.

I bet the makers of the glass weren't too happy to have that shown.

 

[No_Brakes23]

In recognition of the centennial of the .30 US, 1906, I believe we are all duty bound to send at least 40 rounds of our favorite '06 downrange this year. This not only improves our skills but helps support domestic ammunition suppliers, reminds us how well this old war dog works, and may put us in touch with others who appreciate the classics.

If we don't happen to own a 30-06 rifle, it should be a perfect opportunity to acquire one or, at the very least, associate with someone who owns one.

Preferred launcher would be M1, 1903 or 1919, but what the heck, dust off those converted Mausers, Mondragons, Madsens, or what have you. Anyone can play!

That's why I am buying a Garand this year.