Return too 30-06

[Don_Parsons]

Its been 40 years in the makings as I get ready to thin the heard as I find 1 too gett'er done.

Old school I guess as my first new rifle 40 years ago was an 06,,, "Midland" of all things that cost me $170 buck-a-roos, Ha. Dam thing shoot 1 1/2" groups for many years.

It didn't take long for me too continue the spending spree over the next few years as I bought and sold multy 100's of rifles, but I always had my fav's like most of us on the Out-Doors-Man (Women) forum. These are the fire-arms we use the most for hunting & target shooting...

My top picks over the years were 22 varmint, 6mm, 243, 7X57, 308, 270, 30-06, 7mm, 300 win & weatherby, 338, 375 H&H for a short stint too.

I've been doing lots of reading over the last year on which way too go, plan was too jump onto the 7mm-08 band wagon, or 270 that has done me well over the 32 years.

So why the change up too the 30-06, and what model would I choose, bullet selection & optics !

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...fles/25-06.jpg

Change-Up:
The change up is 1 rifle for all since time has come to scale back,,, ok,,, 3 rifles really. 22 goffer getter, black powder 50 wad chucker, and a 06.

The 06 will fill my target shooting days, light game getter & hog-down on the thick skin Elk & Moose,,, easy for a fire-arm like this too bring them down in the 40 too 150 yard range. "Still able too work out at further distance if needed.

The old school 30-06 can be loaded too my liken's depending on how I want too address targets & game harvesting,,, much like many other fire arms out there.
The 06 fits my bill since much of the reload stuff I need is pretty much free since pals have end-less stock too pick from. Bullets, powder, primers, cases, and loading dies,,, I guess the plan is too keep it simple for the remaining years ahead.

I've had many a brands of fire-arms over the years, but Remmy mid quality has done me well,,, I'll epoxy bed my self, retune trigger, order the 24" custom barrel, add thick tine at same time, and hand too bench tune stock for my fit. "All old school stuff for me."

Bullets:
The nice about re-loading is choosing the bullets that work for me.
Frugal Winchester bullets for normal target shooting since a person can order 2000 in a lot.

Sierra for the long range stuff, and Speer/ Hornady for game harvest.

Optics:
I never sell my scopes, the 2 favs I have are Leopold 3X9 & 4.5X40, quick change mounts too switch when needed. Life time warranty has more then paid for its self on both these scopes over the many years, Ha.

So,,, the task at choosing a rifle too fill my needs took a while, and I'm glad my pal pointed me in this direction too find what I needed too do.

More too follow as game plan falls into place.

Pal Don

[Don_Parsons]

Nice relaxing day looking at many fire-arms & calibers, but having my home work in place saved me lots of time !

Old School Remmy is a go, and the handler has lots of 24" units in stock. SPS with normal steel barrel to get started as it will get changed out in the winter when I go South.

Very lucky too know shooters down there and many around the globe, game harvesters that is.

Arizona and Colorado folks are awesome since they have the milling tools on hand to line things up,,, way past my know how.

Each of us fit a catagory a mile long and 1" deep, but along the spread is blipps of areas that take us a mile deep with in the inch,,, the passion of where we want too spend most of our time is different then the next. "That way each can spec their know-who with others that "choose" to par-take in the path that best suits them,,, mine is hunter gather & fun target shooting.

More time relaxing and drinking coffee under the shade roof luanching 1 round at a time,,, lots of free hand once sighted in.

Next few weeks will paly out in my "Less is More" program that frees me up to enjoy the lesser things I have.

Pal Don living the dream. LOL

[elkdump]

We'll good luck and have fun,,,

Geez ! I sure hope you don't get arrested for being TOO sensible,,,

[Don_Parsons]

Thanks Elkdump. Its hard too use my noodle at times, Ha.

I hate too over spend on side kick hobby's since my main focus is travel,,, more of America/ Canada & USA. When I get too where I'm going I spend countless days in the back country some where no where.

Got rid of the holiday trailer/ camping rigs 15 years ago, been living in the back seat of pick-up trucks for 15 ish years since they burn nill on fuel packing quad or dual-sport bike.

Just returned from a 1 year stint across all of Canada and 36 USA states,,, cost next too nothing as I did grocery store meals, parked at Wal-Mart's, Casino's, and Mac D's for free. Did coast too coast 2 X's on that outing.

Any-Who, this is what I was looking at today.


Simple rifle too fill the needs, easy to mod most of it in shop and farm out the tech stuff too pals that do this stuff.

Very lucky too have friends that have the ammunition as it will take many cups of coffee to get back too the grove of things.

Sure glad I found this forum as the little tips here and there will get me up to speed much faster.

Pal Don some where in a America

[Bushleague]

I dunno, I'd rather own a BDL myself and just keep oil on it. Or a 7600 carbine since we're on the topic of Remmies. Never seen the point of a 24" barrel on most standard calibers, 22" is plenty on an 06 and for my style of hunting shorter is better.

BTW Pal Don, you sound an awful lot like a guy on ADS.

[bobinthesky]

Many people don't like to admit that the old "06" is pretty hard to beat! It's certainly not perfect by any means but it generally gets the job done.

[Kurt505]

The 30-06 is my favorite cartridge when necked down 0.024

[KegRiver]

I've owned an 06 since the late 80s. They get the job done. But then so too will any legal caliber in the hands of a real outdoorsman.

Some folks like to collect, that's cool. Some like to eat wild meat, that's me.
Others have a need to impress with purchased iron. Only fools are impressed, but if that's important to the buyer, have at er.

If it's legal and it works for you, who's to say you shouldn't own whatever?

[Don_Parsons]

Yuppers to food harvister for me too. I hope its small and light weight with no horns, Ha.

It will be nice to finally scale back on iron as it will free me up for other things.
Lees this and that de-clusters the whole life package that is ever changing,,, not so much in my world. "I hope".

I looked many a times at 7mm-08, 270, 308 as well as a few more,,, but I find it best to give my self the option of launching heavy lead once in a while "when needed", not always, but "some-times yes. Odd-6 fits that catagory a bit.

I'm sure it will fit the 125gr to 130gr catagory too for plinking at little furry critters and paper/ steel gong stuff. "Kind-a like the 6mm was doing over the last few years.

Each of us choose this middle ground of the happenings with game too harvest, target and general all out fun of having some-thing that best fits the intended catagories. "Kind-a that is".

Can't wait for next week to get photos and the story started on the smooth and easy path of Odd-6 to match my low tech rusty skills that lappsed over the years.

Pal Don climbing the ladder 1 rung at a time.

[markg]

Good for you I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for opening the classic arguments about calibre, I have my popcorn ready and will enjoy the show.

[Don_Parsons]

Yes'er, looking forward to getting things happening.

Today I was out at our farm working on my quad with tracks when a long long time Pal of many years stopped by with info that he has a coyote down in the pasture.

I jumped in with him since his barded-wire gate days ain't too friendly with him, Ha,,, sees a son of a gun when we get older he said. LOL.

He's packing his home built 22/308 cheata with a frugal priced Bushnell 3X9 that he ordered with the dots in it.

The cross-hairs at 100, the dots at 200, 400, 500, 600.

He ranged the coyote at 400 so dot 2 took care of that critter.

Had a good chat about the days we've missed and good times at the local ranges we attended.

C Ganter is this long time Pal as he filled me in on his "Free Bore" days from 1979 too 1986/7 when he shut it down. Couple competitions in Australia and New Zealand with 20 too England.

C Ganter at one time custom made about 50 rifles for the folks in Calgary back in the day, but now he builds only for him self.

We both had a good laugh as we spend our days visiting with many folks and touring around the back woods looking or Harvesting critters.

Today's TV has nothing of interest for us, so do our own thing out side as long as we can.

Always glad to share in ideas of things we can choose from in a awesome Province of Alberta BC and Saskatchewan.

Western Canada has been good to us, much of the Americas for me at least.

Don

[220 Swift]

Honestly if they "reinvented" the 3006 with a new name of a metric equivlent this would be the most bragged about calibre going be ause of all the points previously listed.

All the know it alls cant brag up something that is 100 years old because it just doesnt sound appealing of all the rage.

[270person]

Don? Why not just do what 80% of the idiots at my range do? Buy something roughly 3-6 calibers up from what you can shoot decently and park a muzzle brake on it. Not only will it win you lots of new friends but all those around you will be looking at you with big smiles on their faces.

I recommend the 2 most over abused calibers out there. 300 win Mag and 338. Everyone should own one and have a brake screwed on the end.

I swear if I ever own a range and someone comes on the premises with a muzzle brake....

[Demonical]

If you decide to go after elk, moose, grizzlies(?). Handload some 200gr Nosler Partitions (or 200gr Nosler Accubonds) and go get 'em.

[element2012]

THE .308 is 5% more accurate

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

The 30-06 is my favorite cartridge when necked down 0.024

That's what I used for my first big game kill, an antelope about 55 years ago. The rifle was dad's 725 Remington. If I ever have to settle for one, that's the one

[WLT]

Not to let this 30-06 thread die, I'm thinking about getting the 'Howa' name buffed off my rifle's floorplate and 'Hand of God' inscribed instead...

[Rio56]

Originally Posted by WLT

Not to let this 30-06 thread die, I'm thinking about getting the 'Howa' name buffed off my rifle's floorplate and 'Hand of God' inscribed instead...

Everyone has a weak spot and gets off the road at some point ....

[Don_Parsons]

Today the 1 target, silhouette, game harvest rifle idea is a reality.

Photos soon too follow.

The Magnum locker is now empty as it becomes the new non-power house "standard old school" of good times where it all started.

Funny that I went from standard to magnums, then switched back and forth a few times till I settled in on the power house idea.

I had some good times with a few of these beasts, lots of time delivering the mail, and burning gun powder too see how much punch I could send down field.

It became a fad that consumed my funds and time more than anything, but over the years I drifted away from iron silhouette shooting... Then 3 years ago my long time friend got the iron targets out for good times.

Purhaps this is why change is coming into play, that and the practical aspects of not getting kicked in the shoulder in some of these shoots.

So today we head too the Eastern Slopes of Alberta too check things out, dial in our sights and launch some tame bullets down range in the sport of good times.

Photos too follow in days too come as I get back to basics that "hopefully" won't wear me down threw the day.

Don

[spoiledsaskhunter]

read this thread and thought I should take the time to add my support for your reasoning............

first rifle I ever bought was a .270 savage, back in 1964. over the years I've owned about every calibre there is at one time or other, but in recent years the novelty has worn off and I get little satisfaction from looking at 25 guns in my cabinet (sure used to though!)

anyway, I sold a bunch and gave the left overs to my son (including that original .270 savage).

today there's lots of room in my cabinet and the only big game gun in there is a new t3 in .270............I don't see anything walking that I can't knock down with the .270. last fall took a bull elk @ 400 yds and he couldn't tell whether he was shot with a .270 or something else!

this new attitude may not be right for everyone, but I can identify with it and think the odd six is a fine choice for you and your one gun decision.

[Don_Parsons]

I hear yha SSH.

At times we have way too much stuff, and getting out the door is hard to do when we open the door of firearms glory. Ha.

Of course we'd have our game plan thought out, but for some reason we are pron too second guess the other beautiful rifles that could substitute for a outing.
At least for me that is.

Any-who, the weather was raining, snowing and darn chilly as it adds too the good times. No big deal since enjoyment of just being out side is better than any day thinking about it.

The new too me Odd-6 was spot on accurate, but middle age Don was a bit out of practice. LOL


First time ever shooting a Ruger, and it fits the feel of my Remington / Parker Hail kind-of
At first the laminated wood stock felt big and bulky, but after a few placement warm up shots I took on the free hand thing.

24" barrel and weight factor keeps it on target, well balanced, and the 4 1/2 too 7 lb trigger pull is ok.
Even better with thick leather gloves on.

I was thinking a few days ago about a after market trigger for the Ruger M77 Mark II, but it ain't going to happen since this rifle comes factory ready too harvest and silhouette shoot.
It could be a match grade unit with some funds invest and time fiddle farting around, but why bother as it will do what I need it too do from 70 too 140 yards easy for the critter stuff.

I won't know till latter on how it plays out in iron target shooting till I launch a few more rounds.


It's too easy getting use too this trigger as it has built in creep too the wall, and a consistent let-off point.

Yes that the Muser bolt is not silky smooth, but I set my mind too fast hard full length jacking and it cycles like nothing. "No lully gagging getts'er done.

It ain't the best of the best, nor is it the worst of nothing as it fits me like a glove.

My long time friend hardly even used it, and he kept it in mint condition knowing it was not for him.
Not sure what made him think of me last year, but being a left hand unit might be part of it.

More too come as I volley some rounds down range, paper and iron as I heat temp the barrle too find out if it stays on track.

Tomorrow is 22 caliber time since we need too make sure there good too go for gophers and fall Chickens. Time well spent looking for furry critter tracks along the Rocky Mountain range too.

Don

[Flyfishchrism46]

I have three 30-06 rifles as well as magnums; and, two of them are my kid's rifles. The 30-06 in a 180 grain bullet is plenty big for all ungulates one will come across and the recoil quite manageable. The bullet selection for this caliber is also quite exhaustive. And there is a certain beauty in the conventional wisdom that a person can be in a small hardware store in rural Western Canada and the two calibers that certain to find ammo are the 30-06 and the 270!

[Don_Parsons]

Yes, the top favs that were in my cabinet was the 22 rf, 6mm/243, 308, 270 replaced by the 300 Win & Weather, 338 win and a short duration 375 H&H.

I'm not really sure how my 30/06 got sold off, but it must of had something too do with cash. Ha.

My noodle was pretty busy this winter planning which rifle had too go, and who remained.

My mind told me too stay large, my body said go small.
My old 308 could of remained, but we never got the chance too become real good friends. It was one of those Remmy Tac models with mid weight barrels.
Good shooter as I bought it new,,, but the synthetic stock did not look right in my eyes.

My Remmy 300 Weatherby and 270 win both had beautiful wood grain stocks, they were my go too units,,, the 300 was my flag ship.

So too prevent any hard ships between the rifles I decided to clean house.
Except for the 22 rim and 12 gudage,,, then a very good friend let me try his Savage Mark II plinker as it is now my new unit as of last month... We traded 22 Rimfires more or less.

The 30/06 idea came about when another friend was cleaning out his cabinet last year,,, my mind went into double over time trying too fit it in between all the rifles I had.

Basically it put me in a tricky area between the 308 win and the 300 maggy.
The only thing that set this return too 30/06 into play was that laminated wood stock.
The caliber as well.

This meant that the cabinet needed a fresh start, and too become a cabinet of less.

I will loose in some areas of what the other rifles will do, but I'm sure if I put in the time and a small fraction of funds that I can get the unit up too speed.

I've done it before, so I'll do it again.
This will test my middle age skills too dial in a sporter Harvesting rifle in the mid budget line-up,,, rifle and optics that is.

I'm guessing that other folks run into change when change comes, it's not easy too do this either as it consumes our thoughts if we should even think of this path.

Had someone asked me 5 years ago if I would consider 1 target & Game rifle for my all,,, I'd a said no way man,,, it ain't going to happen...

Here I am today on that path. I know now that my 1 & 1/2 year plan is working out.

"I" will make it work since it has too, no going back now that it's the only unit in my arsenal too choose from.

Yes, I still get the strange feeling that I might be missing out on the other units, but I'll get over this once the rifle and I test our worth at the range of distance in all kinds of weather.

Don

[Double Dropper]

Love this one, no real winner or losers lol, I as well have returned to the 06 from some bigger magnums and so far, no regrets, the rifle is lighter and shoots extremely well. RL-17 is awesome with 165 gr and 150 grain bullets. Currently using it at over 3100 FPS with Barnes X bullets in 150 grain. I also pounded out some 168 grainers x bullets at 2940 FPS, considering 100 percent weight retention its nothing to sneeze at. I wouldn't hesitate to take big game out to 400 + yards, recoil is nice, brass is cheap, its a winner.

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by Double Dropper

Love this one, no real winner or losers lol, I as well have returned to the 06 from some bigger magnums and so far, no regrets, the rifle is lighter and shoots extremely well. RL-17 is awesome with 165 gr and 150 grain bullets. Currently using it at over 3100 FPS with Barnes X bullets in 150 grain. I also pounded out some 168 grainers x bullets at 2940 FPS, considering 100 percent weight retention its nothing to sneeze at. I wouldn't hesitate to take big game out to 400 + yards, recoil is nice, brass is cheap, its a winner.

That pretty much says it right there. My path is similar to yours, Mind you I am using IMR 4198 and 4350 with just a simple Hornady 180gr flat base spitzer. Fantastic results on paper out to 300 yds.
I have a couple boxes of the 150gr TSX but the Hornady's are working too good, for now.
There's a lot of good info on Ballistic Studies.com
As well. Brass is everywhere, you can get a box of bullets pretty much anywhere too.

[Double Dropper]

Unfortunately when ballistics are compared, generally the comparison is with a 180 grain bullet out of some dated catalog factory load and its not to potential. There are some nice factory loads out there especially the Hornady Superformance stuff, a 165 grain bullet @ 2940 fps still hits with 1500 foot pounds @ 500 yards, and maintains 1200 out to 600 yards and when zeroed 2.7 inches high @ 100 yards its only down 16 inches @ 400 yards. When we start talking how flat something shoots most folks cant hold 3 inches up or down @ 400 yards in a hunting situation, its immaterial, hunting is a whole nother game, its not benchrest shooting.