I want a new rifle

[phishisgroovin]

You can get a used 223 or a military surplus rifle, they are equally cheap to go shoot at ranges due to the fact of Surplus ammo purchases online.
and they are fun to shoot.
that and if you are only popping holes in targetsm its funny as hell seeing peopleattherange with a $2000+ rifle and scope set up see me nail the bull on the target next to his with OPEN sights lol!
No, its hillarious actually, they piss, moan and cuss while they pack up their $3000 worth of target stuff and leave lol!

Find a mosin 91/30, you can get one for around $100 online or pawn shop in great condition, the ammo is cheap as heck. If you want to shoot a deer or elkl with it, the scop setups are cheap also. just need a one piece 22 rifle double ring scope mont, remove the three pins holding the rear sight base on ans slip the 22 base right on the dovetail.
SNIPER rifle at the ready! AND ITS CHEAP!

Did i tell you its CHEAP? it is.

PS: shoot at thick steel if you use a steel target.
steel gong at a range. bottom hole is a mosin.

also, search Mosin Long range on youtube, they are awsome long shot rifles and since they are cheap sportering one isnt a cardinal sin to a purist like my Enfield 30-06 was when the P/o sported it.

[phishisgroovin]

oh yeah, 30-06 target ammo here: http://www.ammogarand.com/3006ammo.html

[Intruder]

Keep your 30-06... it'll do everything you could ever need it to do.  Not much in a big game rifle that's cheaper to shoot.

[Elk-aholic]

If you want CHEAP you got to go with the good ol Russian 7.62x39. CZ, Remington and Ruger all make bolt actions for this caliber it's good enough for deer and would even work for Elk up close within 100yds or so, the ammo is very very cheap around $200 for 1000 rounds it the cheapest thing a guy can shoot besides a 22 rimfire.

[dbllunger]

Based on your basis for need the only thing you can find is a military surplus caliber with ammo available.  Any commercial ammo will cost the same as 30-06 excluding .223, 7.62x39.  Personally buy a new rifle just because you want one.   Want is a good enough excuse when it comes to guns.   In fact buy a .223 then a 7.62x39, then a .308, and finally a nice new magnum.  Then you can really compare ammo prices and maybe end up shopping for a new gun that is even cheaper to shoot.

[NWBREW]

Wow, I knew prices went up, but wow. I thought you could still get 30-06, .270, .308 for $10-$12  bow for Remmy ammo.

  sorry but that was funny. Thats what I thought before I bought a box of 270 for 24 bucks.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I haven't bought ammo for more than 25 years.  I reload.

The only round that's not quite worth reloading for is the 30-30.  I see quality 30-30 ammo on sale once in a while for less than $15./box. That said, no it's not a 30-06, but in a quality singleshot like a TC, you can use it as a prime practice rifle, expand on the barrels/calibers in the arsonal, and still have a round that's a great backup gun to your '06.

Other than that, buy a quality single shot bolt action, (I said quality), rimfire rifle to practice with year round. Sure, the smaller center fire calibers are fun to shoot, but unless you reload, the ammo isn't all that cheap. If you need a Varmint gun, then fine, but don't consider one good for a backup hunting rifle. So.. Define the real need, as a backup, or cheaper to shoot practice rifle.

-Steve

[JackOfAllTrades]

$70.00 for a box of 20? 

Highway robbery!

Not in my lifetime! Nope, I won't pay it. So after five boxes of what-every that was, you could have purchased reloading equipment. No, the next five boxes wouldn't be free, but probably closer to $20/box. I dunno about you, but that adds up to more fuel in the tank for more hunting trips. Will I pay $5/gal for fuel? I've paid it once or twice. Will I pay $7/gal? No, I'll start making BioDiesel!

-Steve