The Most Versatile Rifle Cartridge For Anywhere (Everywhere) In North America Is...

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jmr40 said:
...I used the 30-06 for everything up until a few years ago when I figured out a 308 rifle could do the same thing, but in a smaller, more convient rifle.

BTW, you are overthinking the bullet weight thing. 150's, and 180's are all you will ever need in any 30 cal hunting rifle. Maybe compromise even more and use 165's for everything depending on which bullet your individual rifle shoots more accurately. It is not the bullet weight as much as the construction. Good quality 180 gr bullets will shoot all the way through anything in NA. The Barnes TTSX bullets will do it with 150's.
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Good points on bullet weights and construction.

Are 30-06 surplus ammo cheaper than 7.62x51 ammo? I do not reload (yet).

I'd rather not stock a 3rd type of ammo (my 1st two are 7.62x51 and 8mm Mauser, we really like both) if I don't need to, but I am a fan of the M1 and the 1903 bolt-action...
 
That brown bear is gonna be really mad when he eats you!
I like the '06 but a 9mm will not cut it in my woods.
This is a rifle forum, but when looking for versitility the 12 guage comes to mind. Even a 20 guage with slugs is a respectable bear stopper.
 
The .30-06/.308/7.62x54 is the biggest class of rifle I want to shoot. It will take care of just about anything in the US.

I havent tried any of those "accelerator" sabot rounds in my rifles (except a few in my Marlin .30/30...not so good in MY gun) so I'm not sure how well those work.
 
RE: Shotguns... I concede that, in some ways, the 12ga is more versatile than the '06 rifle. But this thread is about rifles. :D

RE: .308 Win... Yes, I "nearly" concede that it's as versatile as the '06 but I can't quite fully agree because most .308 Win rifles have 1:12 twist which won't stabilize bullets heavier (longer) than 180gr RN and that's really pushing the limits. The '06, most of which have 1:10 twist, will stabilize a 220gr RN. :)
 
No other round can be loaded or comes factory loaded in as many different configurations as does the .30-06 Springfield......
 
Googleplex : "Who was the guy who shot over 1,000 elephant with .275 flanged magnum/7x57?"

W.D.M. Bell killed scads of elephants with a 7mm Mauser. They say he preferred the 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer, but had a harder time getting ammunition.

I'd pick one of those two, myself. ;-)
 
I'd have to say the lowly 22LR overall.

The 30-06 is an excellent centerfire choice. I suspect the most versatile cartridge is actually a 375 H&H but I don't own one.
 
Okay one last try ---- The .308 is out-gunned by the 30-06, but, when considering most versatile you have to allow some allowances for the overall performance of the round. To that end, the .308 is a better varmit round and performs much better under lower velocity and powder reductions. The 308 is adequate for all N. American game it is only the distance that might be in questions here. Okay, end of my side of the story. By the way, I do appreciate the most iconic cartridge in the great U.S. of A. the 30-06.
 
All others are compared to...

What tells us of the popularity of the Thirty aught six, is that whenever someone talk up their personal favorite round, they almost always use the old 06 as the standard to which to compare from. Nuff said.
 
Does anybody actually use the 30-06 for all things? I mean yes, it’s a valid argument that it is more versatile than any other center fire cartridge but does anybody actually use it for all things from varmints to dangerous game? If you don’t have other options then I see the value but if you can have other choices why would you want to use the 30-06 for everything?

At the low end there are certainly suitable calibers with less recoil and muzzle blast and at the high end better choices for the dangerous stuff. I get multi-purpose guns but an everything gun sounds like a pipe dream in which we give up things or tolerate negatives just to say we have a do-all tool.

That’s a serious question by the way. Who uses their 30-06 for everything? Not targets of opportunity but as a conscious choice or by necessity.
 
Another vote for the 30-06. By far the best penetration and stopper of any non magnum.
 
I'll go .308. A fella can do most anything with it that the -06 can, It can be had in damn near any firearm the -06 is in yet the -06 can't be fired from many of the .308 guns. Surplus ammo is plentiful as is quality US brass. The short throw of a .308 specific receiver is - at least for me - a significant advantage.

Varmint, plink, tactical, competition...

But I do loves me some -06 it is after all the father of my favorite round.
 
Googleplex : "Who was the guy who shot over 1,000 elephant with .275 flanged magnum/7x57?"

W.D.M. Bell killed scads of elephants with a 7mm Mauser. They say he preferred the 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer, but had a harder time getting ammunition.

I'd pick one of those two, myself. ;-)
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The 7x57 would be a very good choice. I'd put right behind the .30-06 and .358, I think. Not everyone has the aptitude to wipe out a herd of elephant with a 7x57, much less one elephant.lol



^^^ There are no wild elephants in NA... at least I hope not!!
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So far none that I know of, but I do know of a ranch down in south Texas that has black rhinocerous. Yes, black.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike1234567
^^^ There are no wild elephants in NA... at least I hope not!!

Is Rosie O'Donnell out of the country?
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HAH!:D
 
Robert101 said:
Okay one last try ---- The .308 is out-gunned by the 30-06, but, when considering most versatile you have to allow some allowances for the overall performance of the round. To that end, the .308 is a better varmit round and performs much better under lower velocity and powder reductions. The 308 is adequate for all N. American game it is only the distance that might be in questions here. Okay, end of my side of the story. By the way, I do appreciate the most iconic cartridge in the great U.S. of A. the 30-06.
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What makes the .308 Win a better varmint round? Lower velocity? I'm sorry to say no, that's not the case. Ultra-high velocity, especially with HP or BT bullets often means LESS penetration so the .30-06 still wins on small game. :D

GRIZZLIES: Okay... the .30-06 is marginal on those. I already admitted that but it can still take down grizzlies. And .308 Win against grizzlies?? :eek: "Barely enough" is FAR better than "not quite enough" any day!! :)
 
30-06, 303 British or 8mm Mauser. All about equal. Shot a ground squirrel with a 8mm at about 50 yds. Critter simply dissentigrated in a poof of red.
 
Ok. The 06 might be the most versatile.
But I think my 7 Mag is more perseverant.
 
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^^^ When the 7 Mag is still around after 106 years and after the '06 is long dead then you may have a point about "perseverence". :D
 
And when the 7mm mag surpasses the vast versatility of the .30-06 round, as far as varmint to bear...You let me know, eh? Love the 7mm, but its a beast of a cartridge and is still a magnum round. No need for magnum rounds when ya got a hot loaded 180-200 grain 06 round. I will agree to the .375 H&H being the world beater cartridge, but ya still ain't taking squirrels or rabbits with it like you can the .30-06.
 
(Notes Gus does not HAVE a .375 H&H :p) But he's right for 'just about everything everywhere' the .375 H&H can 'get 'er done.

I think at one time the .303 was so widespread that it was the jack of all trades. However NEW guns in the venerable old caliber have been few and far between.

You can't say that about .30-06 and 8mm. Seems like EVERY manufacturer of rifles capable of handling the long action needed for an 06 will be delivered in 06 and likely one of the other parent cartridges like 270. If a rifle is destined for market outside the US it will be available in 8mm.
 
I wholeheartedly disagree. Sure, it's fine on deer, but when I go squirrel hunting I just end up with rodent paste.
 
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