2 Rifles for everything

[bobcat]

I really never understood all the love the 30-06 gets? Sure people can say how long it has been around and how many people have used it to take animals, but with that logic the 30-30 should be considered one of the best of the best? The old 06 is such a dog looking at the numbers compared to so many of the even mainstream options available today.

 

A "dog"?  If you really look at the numbers, you'll see there's virtually no difference between the 270, 280, and 30/06. The 7mm Rem Mag and the 300 Win Mag really don't do any better than the "old '06" until you get out well beyond 300 yards.

The 30/06 is popular because it's GOOD! You really just can't beat it for what the vast majority of hunters need in a big game cartridge.

[Taco280AI]

Sure you can compare the 06 to the newest magnum craze out there and it isn't impressive. But most people hunt under 300 yards,  many well below that.  Doesn't matter what you hunt in the lower 48, the 06 will get the job done easily with the proper bullet and placement.  Is a boring,  but simple fact.  Are a lot out there that do the same and get overlooked because they don't impress on paper.

[Special T]

My 06 gets "LOVE" because i can shoot cheep Greek ball ammo out of it, Or some of the Trophy bonded bullets. I do not think there is a caliber that has more choice of weights, and bullet types than the 06.

Have you seen the ammo selection for the 30-30? Its pathetic in comparison, and more expensive.

[Dan-o]

If I could only have two rifles, the first would be a Savage 111 in 7MM rem Mag.

The 2nd would be a Savage 111 in 7MM Rem Mag, because you just can't go wrong with the best rifle out there.   :-)

[RadSav]

I really never understood all the love the 30-06 gets? Sure people can say how long it has been around and how many people have used it to take animals, but with that logic the 30-30 should be considered one of the best of the best? The old 06 is such a dog looking at the numbers compared to so many of the even mainstream options available today.

 

A "dog"?  If you really look at the numbers, you'll see there's virtually no difference between the 270, 280, and 30/06. The 7mm Rem Mag and the 300 Win Mag really don't do any better than the "old '06" until you get out well beyond 300 yards.

Take the 300WM and the 30-06 both loaded with 180 grain bullets.  The difference in speed, at the muzzle, between the two is 30% less than the speed of my 63# compound bow.  At 500 yards there is less than a foot difference in trajectory - barely larger than the length of the human head!  In my mind you don't really start seeing a concernable difference between the two until you near the 800 yard mark.

If I had the two sitting side-by-side and both shot equally I'd definitely take the 300 when I hit the elk woods, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'd label the 30-06 a "dog".  Then again, perhaps my definition of a "Dog" is quite different than cboom's  

[grundy53]

If I had to choose... 25-06 and .300 win mag

[black hog]

270 win and 338 win mag and your covered

[SCRUBS]

keep your 30-06 and get a .243, you're all set 

 

[pianoman9701]

You know Mags, I suggested the .30-06 and a .243. After thinking this through, still keep your .30-06, but get an AR platform in 6.5, or 6.8, even a 5.56. Make it a fun gun.

[Magnum_Willys]

.338 WM and .338 WM backup.   

[RadSav]

Definition of a dog should be something that doesn't leave the muzzle at at least 3000 fps. 

So the 30-06, 300WM, 325WSM and the 338WM don't make the grade, huh?   Well, a least with medium weight bullets.  Leaves some pretty sexy dogs out there! 

[Bullkllr]

I don't think it's totally out of the question to load a 30/06 cartridge to produce 3000fps. Factory loads with 125 grain bullets claim 3000 or a bit more.

[RadSav]

I don't think it's totally out of the question to load a 30/06 cartridge to produce 3000fps. Factory loads with 125 grain bullets claim 3000 or a bit more.

With a 24" barrel you can actually break 3,000 with a 150 grain bullet.  I've never seen that speed produce what I would call stellar accuracy, but I do know a few that shoot their 06's that fast!  Though I don't really consider the 125 or the 150 .308 bullets medium weight projectiles.  I was thinking more along the lines of the 180 grainers.  (200gn for .323 and 250gn for the .338).

[wheels]

30-06 for all around 22 or 17 for small game coyote to gofer

[DOUBLELUNG]

Keep the 30-06 and buy a .22lr.  I've only killed one moose with my '06, recovered both 168gr bullets under the hide on the offside, expanded to 0.6" and just under, with 90%+ weight retention.  He ran a total of maybe 60 yards.  I've killed multiple elk, dozens of deer and dozens of antelope with the '06 (smallest critters have been ruffed grouse and snowshoe hares).  In the lower 48, I'd feel slightly under-gunned only for bison and grizzly, and I'd be confident killing both.

I like rifles, own about a dozen and have owned dozens.  If I was limited to two rifles, they'd be these.