Your suggestions for a semi 30-06

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TCB in TN

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I decided to do a little Calibur consolidation and sold a couple of odd cal rifles and bought a couple of savage bolt 30-06s for my boys to use to hunt. I have had it in mind to go ahead and get myself another 30-06 as well (would go along with my old 1903). I was looking for another deal on a good bolt rifle when I ran across a good deal on a Rem 7400, I started to buy it but got to thinking, the 7400 is a great gun, they shoot good, easy to handle etc, but unless I am missing something they only accept a 4 round mag. (I know that is all you are allowed for hunting, but jic TSHTF it might not be bad to have a little more). So I guess my question is, are there any better semi 30-06s out there that accept hi cap mags, are accurate enough for some good distance shooting, and don't cost a complete fortune? Any ideas will be appreciated.
 
Garand
Affordable
High Cap for its day (8 cartridges vs 5, close enough)
Perfect companion to your '03
Plenty accurate for "good distance" shooting
 
Remington and Browning both make a 30-06 auto, in a hunting rifle. 10 rounders are available for the Remington.
 
Sorry I like the Garand but by Hi-Cap I mean 15+ rounds.
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Think you're out of luck... unless you're willing to shell out $3000+ to Ohio Ordnance Works for their semi-auto-only copy of the BAR.
Don't know of any reasonably-priced 15+ round .30-06 rifles.
 
It's not what I'd call affordable or easy to tote, but the 1918 BAR is the only one that comes to mind with a standard magazine capacity over 10 rounds. I think somebody was making a semi-auto version for awhile.

jm
 
Kinda what I thought, but hoped I was missing something. Local I can always find very good used 7400s in the 350-400 range a new one for about $500, and I wouldn't mind spending maybe $1000-1200 for something, but $3000 is just a bit much for what I plan to do. Guess I will go ahead and buy it, and just invest in a load of mags, and extra ammo.
 
The quick answer to your question I believe is NO .

I can't think of anything that would neet the criteria of 15 rounds or more in the 30-06 cartridge. If you want to consider the .308 then you have a couple good options .

I am not a big fan of the Renington 7400 but like everything else it is my opinion, which doesn't count any more than many others. In the 30-06 catridge the 7400 is prone to pre-mature receiver wear . It is also necessary to keep them cleaner than many other auto guns to prevent functioning problems and I have seen more than a couple that did not shoot well.

I suppose most of them work just fine under good care and normal usage, it just is not the best of whats available. I much prefer the Brownings .

With a want for higher magazine capacity the .308 is a better choice in guns such as the FAL , M1A .
 
Semiauto 30-06's

Check out this month's issue of GunTest Magazine. They compare three (a Remington and two others), pick a winner (sorry, don't know the details, haven't read the article yet), and give lotsa info on all three.


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that new Benelli SAuto looks like an unstoppable machine, can you get bigger mags? I just ordered 2x10 round mags for my Remington Police Patrol pump gun (same mag as the auto, but mine are 308s, I'm sure they have 006s available), they will be used on culls and pigs, but mostly the four round mag will be used for hunting. If you want 15+ mags (I can't imagine why other than plinking/shooting up targets and feel good blasting fun, etc go 308 and get an M1A or a FN Fal or similar. There are 30 round mags around for the FN. :D

Actually, thinking about it, in a semi auto, a 308 makes more sense, that's why the military converted, I love my 3006s, in fact my license plates on my landrover are SP3006, but for repeater work the 308 has an edge (mind you, not one you or I are likely to notice in operation). My first decent hunting rifle was an FN 3006 sporter, I have liked the cartridge ever since, but I carried a 7.62 in the army and have been using it on and off in target and hunting rifles ever since and am equally fond of it.
 
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So I guess my question is, are there any better semi 30-06s out there that accept hi cap mags, are accurate enough for some good distance shooting, and don't cost a complete fortune?
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Pick two of those three requirements, and something fits---otherwise, the clear answer is "no".
 
Let me dig through one of my older issues of American Rifleman. There was a brief ad for a funky AR looking rifle in '06 that took BAR mags.
 
TCB in TN

I know what you mean. I love 30-06! One of my dream custom guns used to be a Garand modified to use 20 round BAR mags. I think It's been tried, just not succesfully. If the Cobb MCR could be had for around $1500 I would be lining one up for sure.
 
The Remington 74:7400 series rifles will work ok for hunting but I just cannot recommend it for Serous Social Work. It just can’t take the abuse of combat. On the subject of 10 round magazines they just don’t work well enough for to bet your life on them. I know I own one and have tried both the plastic and metal 10 rounder magazines. The plastic have problems with GI spec FMJ (too long to fit with out jamming) and the metal ones have the round fall out before they are inserted in to the rifle.

The best option is to buy a good quality NATO 7.62mmX51 rifle with spare mags.

However, there are numerous used Remington semi-auto rifles on the market, which might fill the gap as a spare or back up rifle for you.
 
The new Remington 750 has just gotten rave reviews in Gun Tests and replaces the old 7400.

I'd give that one a hard look if I was in the buying mode.

--Doc
 
I love the old '06 too, but for your requirements, it would be FAR cheaper to get a good DPMS or Aramalite .308, and have your 1903 rebarrelled, or set back and rechambered to .308.

I know that isn't what you want to hear, but that's the most practical solution, IMHO.
 
I know what you mean. I love 30-06! One of my dream custom guns used to be a Garand modified to use 20 round BAR mags.
Click to expand...

My neighbour had one of these converted to full automatic I fired a few times. Kicked like a mule but it was fun. Unfortantly he died a number of years ago and it was sold on.
 
I recently bought a Browning BLR 81 in 308 (after shooting it I decided its a keeper) and so I am not oppsed to a having another 308 but with the boys hunting with 30-06 it would just have been easier to hunt with an 06 of my own. But the more I think about it, I think I will get the Rem. 7400 and then save up a little and get another 308 also. :D Looking at those Saiga 308s on one of the other threads looks like a good idea to me. :D
 
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