Lived in Alaska for 37 years, shot approximately 60 big game animals with many different calibers. Finally settled on the 30-06 as my favorite do it all caliber...
I think you left out the 30/06’s greatest pro: a tremendous variety of bullet weights that allows for great hunting versatility. A new hunter can load it down to 125 grain bullets with less powder and recoil. You can use 150 and 165 grain bullets for deer. But then you can hunt big game with 180 -220 grain bullets. If you could only own one gun, this would be it for most hunters.
Yeah, I was waiting for them to mention that point. The obsolete accelerator round that Remington offered with the 55 grain bullet was pretty impressive for reaching out on varmints.
I have been using the 30-06 since I was 16. Still nearly 20 years later I'm still shooting the 30-06....not only can it be loaded up or down for velocities, but bullet selection makes it extremely versatile! King of the rifle cartridges in my opinion!
For everyone who started with a 30-06, got fancy due to an over abundance of testosterone...but now, due to wisdom of age, have returned to the 30-06, please raise your hand🖐🏼🙋🏻♂️
Started with it and had to ignore a lot of advice that for Florida deer .243 is enough, good point, but Florida hogs sometimes require a little more if you do not relish following an angry wounded animal into a swamp.
One advantage is price, I found them to be cheap enough to target shoot but powerful enough for big game. Once you step up to a 300 win mag, or 7mm mag the ammo cost increases a lot.
I’m 66 years old. My first memory of a “30-06” was when my father, who was a WWII vet and a police officer in the LAPD, served during the first Los Angeles riots in the 60’s. He brought a beautiful 30-06 bolt action rifle with him. Since that time I fell in love with the caliber and have used a 30-06 for deer, elk, pig, coyotes and general utility. I love the caliber!
My dad, a .270 guy has killed every animal in north America except a polar bear and a whale with his Remington model 700 bdl. I'm an '06 guy, Springfield 03 a3 that's 87 years old. Most accurate rifle I own. Try shooting a silver tip, aluminum tip and core. I only have a handful of these left out of the box and can't remember the grains. The aluminum has a far greater expansion rate than the lead and the projectile almost explodes. Great for neck shots but terrible for heart shots ,you loose alot of meat. If you find them get some.
Been using the '06 for 55 years, I'm 70. Started with a converted 03A3 thruogh the NRA using 180 gr Remington CorLoc. Now using a Tikka. Been reloading it for 50 years. This has always been my go to round. Other calibers in my arsenal is 308 win and 45-70 Gov. 30-06 is still my favorite.
That's me to a T. At 15 that sporterized 03a3 was wonderful. Plinking in fading light in a gravel pit, those tracers would burn in the wall for a while. Very entertaining.
One factor as to why I really like the 30-06 the most is reloading. This has been by far the easiest best round to reload accurate ammo from 125 to 180 grain pills. From 4895 to 4350 it takes all kinds of powders and delivers an accurate hunting load.
@@wildrose2748 www.outdoorcanada.ca/the-11-best-cartridges-for-downing-canadas-big-game-animals/ I'm not saying that it's not a good cartridge, but it has fallen out of favor. Listen, I'm a devoted user of the 257 Roberts, but it's hardly popular.
The .30/06 is the one centrefire that all others are measured against. It's a superb versatile calibre, with the largest range of bullet weights available. I've had my '06 for 35yrs and have taken game from kudu and wildebeeste down (including sharks!). Now my daughter uses my rifle for African PG and she took her 100-pt NT water buffalo with it. One happy Dad!! 😊👍
More like the last 100 years when our soldiers had returned from World War I shooting the 1903. They found a accurate round that worked and stuck with it.
Alvin York shot a 1918 Enfield 30-06 as his WWI battle weapon. It was a big, super strong bolt gun. My dad's cousin had one. It was the first '06 I ever shot. I have a classic Win model 70 and Ruger now in that caliber.
First rifle I bought was my 30-06 about 10 years ago. Took my first big buck with it. It will remain with me till I leave this earth. There's a sense of pride when it comes to this cartridge with all the options out there today.
I'm just getting into hunting. With a wealth of modern cartridges available to me, I went with the .30-06. I just needed something I can readily acquire that can do the job without a lot of drama. I'm not interested in 1000 yard shots. I don't need to kill a TRex. .30-06 is flexible, readily available, and good enough for what I want to do. Yeah, there's probably better cartridges out there, but I'll let all of the internet ballisticians argue the finer points of the next enigmatic cartridge while I hit the woods.
Nice thing about the '06 is you can go to any podunk town in America and the local hardware store will have a variety of cartridges for it. I'm almost 60 and my Springfield still has the original ww2 steel but plate. Recoil ? Man the _uck up.
The /06 case has been the 'father' of many other cartridges. Wildcatters have loved it for a hundred years. The one drawback to the standard 30/06 is the requirement for a long throw action. As clearly stated, it still is among the most versatile rounds ever developed and a most respected one at that.
Talking about recoil. Recently, fired about 12 rounds with my Remington .30-06 (165 grain) with a steel butt plate. Ended up rupturing my major pectoral muscle and a few blood vessels. First time ever, been shooting for like 50 plus years, never even bruised. So, I got a nice recoil butt pad. At 72 years old, probably overdue.
Not sure if it makes a difference, but I got a Limb Saver (think that's the name, if they even still make them) over ten years ago on my Ruger 30-06 shooting with 180gr and it's completely tolerable. I'm afraid to ever shoot again without it!
Great video guys. I bought my first big game rifle back in 1996. It's a Winchester Model 70 Classic Sporter in 30-06. It has the claw action controlled round feed like the pre 64 models. It has been my favorite rifle even though I have other guns in 270 Win and 300 RUM. You can't go wrong with a 30-06.
After much back and forth and forth and back, the 30-06 is my rifle build caliber of choice. It does everything and allows the reloader to do even more. Custom barrel profile with a installed muzzle brake, perfection. Shoot that same bag of MM's with a light load 30-06, one hole show. And there you go. Perfection explained.
Great review. Well done. Can't go wrong with an 06. One of my youngest is going to buy his 1rst high powered rifle this next year. The 30/06 is his choice at time. I won't discourage him.
After all these years being a gun enthusiast, how is it I am just now finding this channel? I was fascinated by the cartridge profile link. Subscribed.
In military testing back in the 60s they found that 30-06 barrels lasted about 15000 rounds until they would no longer shoot 4 inch groups which is what they say is good enough for there use
They also used pretty under powered rounds back then, thats why if you have an m1 garand you are not supposed to shoot modern loads out of it because it will blow up. Also military stands are pretty garbage. If someone got a rifle that shot 4 inch groups at 100 they would send it back.
Awesome channel, and amazing info you pack into the vids, keep them coming! I love my old ‘06. I shot a muskox with it this past May. Oh and the 30-06 has been popular WAY longer then 30 yrs.
Barrels are like tires, but even if you actually shoot 40 rounds a month for 5 years straight, you still have life in it. Heat kills barrels, so avoid rapid fire.
True. The thing is with barrels, as they wear, they just lose accuracy, it degrades slowly. Some people think that, like a tire, it just is done. Not so. So even a barrel on its downward trend is still a good hunting rifle for many years. It just isn’t going to win any target competitions. A rifle that shoots 1moa it’s whole life , and erodes to 1 1/2 - 2 MOA is still just fine for hunting. There was a time 1moa was a goal and not the norm like today.
Great review and video of the 06. In my 50yrs of hunting here in western Canada I have owned dozens and dozens of rifles. I ran the gamut of the magnum bug for several years and a number of .300 Win Mags and WSMs have gone through my hands. After the dust settled and all was said and done, today I’m back with the 06 and I hunt a lot now with open sighted 30-30s. In your vid you mention grizzly. I think you may be referring to coastal bears as the interior bears are a different animal. I see grizzlies every year and they aren’t bullet proof. In camp or deep bush I stoke my 06 with hot hand loaded 220gr Nosler Partitions to 2500fps and I don’t feel the least bit undergunned. A friend of mine shot a grizzly back in the late 90’s with his 06 and hand loaded 190gr Hornady SPs at 400yds . The bullet passed clear through and killed it with the one shot on a broadside presentation. In my experience people tend to overestimate the size of bears and again I’m not talking about coastal salmon fed bears but interior bears of BC, Alberta, Alaska and even in Montana/Wyoming.
As a hunter and avid shooter I always thought of or looked down on the ol 06 as being slow, like you guys. Until I built one and started developing handloads. I load for the 6.5 creed. With my gun, specific bullet 140gr and powder IMR4350, my Creed handloads are running at 2625fps. Pretty pedestrian in my opinion. My 30-06 loads which are within published data are, 150gr TTSX and RL17 at 3175fps and 165 gr Berger Classic Hunters at exactly 3000fps. That’s a pretty smokin 30-06 load and right up there with the small magnums. I would t consider that slow. Yes most factory rounds underperform. But if reloading you can give the boring ol 30-06 new legs and new life.
Superdude70 it is a 22” barrel. With 120 Barnes and RL 15 or 17 I can’t remember off the top of my head, I’m getting over 3000fps with the 6.5. But for some reason 140 noslers and Imr 4350 it’s lacking in velocity. But the load is super accurate, like a laser. So I live with it. Lol
Superdude70 I’ll have to get a pound of h4350 in the future. Lately I’ve spent so much money on stocking up and playing( literally thousands $$$$) that for now I think I’m done buying powder for a bit. Just locally in the last few months 1lb tubs of powder have gone up $1-$2 in price and boxes of bullets the same per box of 50. That is if you can even find what you’re looking for. Luckily I had the foresight before the China virus really took hold to stock up on most things. If not I’d be screwed. Thanks for the input.
Superdude70 yeah lol. You can forget buying primers anywhere. I bought the last 1000 primers my shop had, which were small magnum pistol primers just to load for 9mm and 380. I didn’t want to but didn’t have a choice as small pistol primers are non existent. But it’s to a point now where everything as I mean EVERYTHING is in super short supply. If you need something you better get it because it won’t be there tomorrow. I know because one day I bought 9mm bullets on midway which was the only site to have them, along with 200 cases. The next day I thought I better just buy some more. Well, little did I know I had bought all that was left.
@Superdude70 Same here. My 140's in 6.5CM are pushing 2840 out of a 22" barrel. Not even max load. My 30-06 loads in 180gr do about the same velocity. The plus on the Creedmoor loads, they seem to retain their speed longer (better cross sectional density).
@ Craig: You can also hand-load the 30-06 to near 300 WM levels of LR performance. Using a 208-grain ELD-Match from Hornady, and the right powder/primer/case combination, you can get out there a legit 1500 yards while still supersonic, which is darned near 300 WM performance. Of course, the 300 WM and 300 PRC can get further yet, but that performance is still nothing to belittle.
Dad had one of the first Remington 700 BDL from 1962 in 30-06. I was a Sharpshooter in the military so 308 Win/7.62 NATO is also well known. I've owned a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06 for 12 years (round count is at 1120). The target in the box was a perfect 1/2 inch triangle. With my loads I get .33 inch ( Winchester Nickel brass, Win Mag Primer, 55 grains RL17, 176 grain Chinchaga RBST. 2840 FPS.). Lots of meat in the freezer and on paper and steel it's outrageously great. I have done several upgrades to the rifle and have scored amazing groups at very long range. I still use a variety of factory loads for general hunting and have always been happy with the results. Yes it's an old cartridge and yes it's still great.
Thanks for your good review. I saw an interesting comparison recently between the 30-06 and 300 Win Mag. A shooter fired both rounds into paper plates. The 300 Win Mag only penetrated 13 more plates than the 06. That is insignificant.
If their data was correct on any cal. They listed.The only way you can like this is if it agrees to what you alredy think . Can disprove most data they ofer.
@@eddiestillwell1 it can be a little much for us older guys too. I don't take my Remington Model 760 Gamemaster to the range as often as I did when I was younger. I really like my 7x57 and 6.5 Swede. At 74 I don't find the 06 a pleasure to shoot any- more. Sight in for deer season, that's about it. Still a wonderful rifle though.
@Surigao 1944 I will be 75 later this month. My son and I are good buddies. I taught him at 8 years old how to shoot and hunt. Killed his first deer at 12 and many many more have followed and many many hogs. Up until this past December he owned a ranch in Llano, TX where we have taken some really nice bucks.
I think the variety of bullet weights is a big pro for the 30 06 too! At one point in my ammunition collection, I had some sabot rounds from Winchester that fired, if I remember correctly, something like a 60 grain bullet. Go from that to 220 grain brush busters and that's a pretty big variety. That and you touched on the availability. Here in Wisconsin, if you forgot your box of 30 06 rounds for deer hunting, you can stop into any mom and pop gas station in northern Wisconsin and find you a box. If you left your box of 243 WSSM's at home, well, hopefully you can help out the camp cook until you can run to Cabelas...
Hands down, one of the best reviews I have came across. Own both a 300 win mag and 30-06. At times, I feel more confident shooting the 300 at longer distances....but 30-06 still as capable as the 300 in most circumstances.
Great video guys, looking forward to more just like this one. The new website has a lot of information, but obviously its a work in progress, because you only have background information on only 2 cartridges. Keep up the great work and good luck.
I would love to see y'all do this on 35 whelen. A lot of folks have never heard of it but a lot of us have. It's 30-06 case neck to 35 caliber, I guess the biggest con's about it is recoil and trying to find rifles chambered in it. My very first hunting rifle was a 30-06 but once I found the Whelen my 30-06 has been a safe Queen for about 15 years now.
Chose the round in my 20's. Spent 40 years with multiple different rifles of all sizes ,actions, prices. Most times today I hunt with a lefty Browning A-bolt St,stalker and a BAR mkII with Boss. I have over 200 whitetail racks and several large black bear pizzles to attest to their effectiveness.
Having owned a few 30-06's (my first one was a 1917 Eddystone Enfield), it is a versatile and capable cartridge. As far as taking a grizzly I would much prefer to have my 95 Marlin in 45-70.
Dudes, where have you been all my life? This kind of in-depth diagnostics is the exact sort of information I’m looking for. Y’all are thorough! Definitely got me to subscribe and I can’t wait to check out your other videos!
After my 243 was stolen 40 yrs ago,I poured over everything I could find on different rifle cartridges,because being only 15 yrs old,I knew I wanted a rifle I could use anywhere in the states,or even the world.After much thought,I settled on a Ruger M77 in 06 and am happy I did,I still have the gun and it's my go to rifle.I have been fortunate to own many different rifles,in many calibers,but that old Ruger is still my favorite and the last I would ever get rid of.Like I said,I was 15 when I bought it,and I never had a problem with the recoil,and I have shot everything from 150s to the 220s in it,both factory and handloads.So for me,this video just validates what I've known and learned thru the years.
@@mikechess5081 I belong to 3 different hunting and sport shooting associations. There are loads of guys that own a 30-06 and only a couple the own a 375. The 375 is massive overkill unless you are going after the big 5 which most of us will never be able to afford. The 30-06 is definately more popular then the 375 in SA.
Reloading and new high bc bullets take 30-06 farther than I could have expected. I have a browning hells canyon speed in 30-06 loaded with 54.3gr RL17 and 190gr Nosler ABLR. I get 2700fps! 1500 ft/lbs at 575 yrds!
Use to turn groundhogs inside out with my Winchester model 70 in 06 in my teen years back in the 80s and I’ve never have lost or missed a deer 🦌 with a 30-06... great round 😊
Let’s not forget scope eye. I remember as a kid my introduction to the 30-06. My cousin shot his Fathers 30-06 when we went hunting and the scope sliced him at his eyebrow and boy did it bleed. He received no sympathy and we ridiculed him for a few years after that. That’s what family does right?
I got a bad scope bite from my 30-06 just a few years ago. In my defense: I was in a funny angle against a washout, playing twister between a couple patches of cactus, shooting almost straight up a butte. Didn't even think about how my head was positioned so wonky over the rifle. Ya, I had two black eyes and a lot of lost pride. And yes, after people winced, they did make fun of poor old me. At least I got a decent Muley.
I liked your list of pros and cons. No one caliber or round is going to be perfect for everything. That's why it's fun to own different calibers and different actions. I always want a reason to be able to go and buy a new weapon.
You guys are hilarious and informative. I own an M1 Garand, so I have to be careful not to use modern 30-06 loads. However, amazing rifle. Thanks for all the info.
I use my Garand to save hundreds of dollars for a single limb that had to come down. 240 gr rounds will take down huge limbs. Walk across a limb and save big bucks, just cut up and haul off. You don't need a truck to cut it down.
Chris, if you "have"to use modern hunting loads, call Brownells or Midway USA and order a Schuster gas plug, which will safely allow the use of higher-pressure loads in your M-1. Ping!!
The 7.92x57mm aka 8mm Mauser is the father of all the cartridges in the .30-'06 class. Overall, the German cartridge is still the best and everything else in the class is just a knockoff. The Germans got it right in 1888, improved it somewhat in 1905, and Paul Mauser designed the finest bolt-action rifle for it in 1898. That being said, would I give up my 1903A3 Springfield for a K98k Mauser? Not on your life, Bucky!
With over 50 years of experience my gun recommendations are as follows: 12 gauge shotgun with various choke tubes and shot size 22LR, 25-06 with 100 grain bullet, .270 with 140 bullet, 30-06 with 180 grain bullet and / or a 35 Whelen with 220 bullet Never owned or needed a Whelen to take what I wanted.
Sweet cartridge. I just worked up a load with a 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tip going around 2970fps. Excited to take this out moose and Caribou hunting the next few years. Have a 308 load worked up with the same bullet tailor made for the wife if she decides to hunt further down the line. Great cartridges for sure.
I use a 1903 that was made in 1918. I love .30-06 and that rifle. It was sporterized in 1960 and I still have the 2.5K scope that was put on it. I have a .270 Win, an 8mm K98 Mauser, and an SKS, but will always hunt with my .30-06.
"It wouldn't be my first pick … I would probably step up a bit" Good advice for you folks who like reasons to buy more chamberings for your oversize safe. For the rest of us, the 30-06 is completely capable of taking the largest stuff walking North America. And easy to load down for much smaller stuff. It's a legend because it covers such a wide range that you don't need 3 or 4 expensive rifles to cover your hunting aspirations.
love the 30-06' unfortunately my shoulder injury prevents me from shooting it in a bolt action. I've got the classic 7400 simi auto . it's manageable for one or two shoots. my new favorite is the 6.5 Creedmore .
My first Hi power rifle as teenager (15yr old) was a 7.65 Argentine Mauser carbine . Cost me $40 for the rifle and a box of 50 rds of surplus ammo combined , my dad signed for me. Years later I then moved up to the '06 but still I have that old Mauser!
I was 15 first time. Didn't shoot .06 again for 44 years. Tikka m695 very nice, very manageable recoil at 150gr. It likes everything I've put in it too.
.308 is only close to the ‘06 up to a 150 gr bullet. Go up in bullet weight and the ‘06 starts to leave the .308 behind considerably. Also, if you are in the western hemisphere and can’t kill it with the ‘06, maybe you better re-think your hobby!
Lived in Alaska for 37 years, shot approximately 60 big game animals with many different calibers. Finally settled on the 30-06 as my favorite do it all caliber...
Thats the round that does it all my old man really loves the round he sais nothing else does it better
even moose?
@@smokerx893 Yes, And Grizzlies...
@@johnganshow5536 yup ive nwver seen the 30-06 fail yet hope it stays that way
If you wanna blow a hole in an out of a animal use it it's very productive 👍🏻
I think you left out the 30/06’s greatest pro: a tremendous variety of bullet weights that allows for great hunting versatility. A new hunter can load it down to 125 grain bullets with less powder and recoil. You can use 150 and 165 grain bullets for deer. But then you can hunt big game with 180 -220 grain bullets. If you could only own one gun, this would be it for most hunters.
Yeah, I was waiting for them to mention that point. The obsolete accelerator round that Remington offered with the 55 grain bullet was pretty impressive for reaching out on varmints.
Agreed! Very versatile calibre!
Completely agree. Currently using home reloads 125gr nosler ballistic tips. 55gr of powder. Ballpark around 3350fps out of my Tikka T3X
That’s why I prefer the 30-06 over the 308. It’s ability to launch 180 grain bullets with more authority.
i guess but everyone just uses 150,165,168,180 grain anyway
I have been using the 30-06 since I was 16. Still nearly 20 years later I'm still shooting the 30-06....not only can it be loaded up or down for velocities, but bullet selection makes it extremely versatile! King of the rifle cartridges in my opinion!
Now you know how to peel an M&M. 😂
"The .30-'06 is never a mistake."-Col. Townsend Whelen
If you need .300 mag power but you've got a 30-06, just get 75 yards closer.
Or get Hornady Superfromance. 200 feet per second faster. Now it’s a magnum lol
If you need 308 power but you've got a 30-06, just get 200 yards further.
Yes!300 yds..is my maximum ethical distance.
@Nicholas Rodriguez sources please.
@Nicholas Rodriguez I'm not doing your homework, bring proof or keep your mouth shut.
Hard to beat the .30 -'06 as an all around cartridge. If I were limited to just one rifle in the states, an accurate .30-'06 would be the choice.
For everyone who started with a 30-06, got fancy due to an over abundance of testosterone...but now, due to wisdom of age, have returned to the 30-06, please raise your hand🖐🏼🙋🏻♂️
Spot on my friend!
Started with it and had to ignore a lot of advice that for Florida deer .243 is enough, good point, but Florida hogs sometimes require a little more if you do not relish following an angry wounded animal into a swamp.
I started with the 30-06 at age 15 and never left. Its the only big game caliber I have ever owned. I am now 51.
MegaMilyon ...wise
Bought a 30-06 when I started hunting deer, I'm 60 now and still see no reason to switch.
Pro, due to the election year with the ammo shelves dwindling and fire arms dwindling. 30-06 ammo and rifles are still available.
I wonder just how many years till 30-06 disappears. Still going strong past 110
Tell me about it! I had my pick of the lightweight rounds at Walmart.
Fuhrer Harris will see to that not being the situation. Gun owners will be the enemies of the state
The only round I’ve been able to find.
@@johnrice1943 mad they don't sell under 21 huh
One advantage is price, I found them to be cheap enough to target shoot but powerful enough for big game. Once you step up to a 300 win mag, or 7mm mag the ammo cost increases a lot.
And when the shtf,, I wonder who will have a harder time finding ammo?
Mill surp at .68 a round 145gr
I’m 66 years old. My first memory of a “30-06” was when my father, who was a WWII vet and a police officer in the LAPD, served during the first Los Angeles riots in the 60’s. He brought a beautiful 30-06 bolt action rifle with him. Since that time I fell in love with the caliber and have used a 30-06 for deer, elk, pig, coyotes and general utility. I love the caliber!
That is pretty cool to hear
I've been shooting my 30/06 since I was 12 and now I'm 48 it still shoots true
First shot it in '80, when I was nine. 1943 Smith-Corona M1903A3, at 200 yards. I'm sure it knocked me down but I don't remember it.
Youngster
My first rifle!! 3006
Yea, the barrel life deals a buch of crap. Been shooting mine since 1986. Still accurate as anything new
Would love to see .270 in one of these breakdowns. In my area of longer ag fields .270 and 30-06 are hands down the most common cartridge.
Just bought a new .270 so we’ll definitely do one soon.
Someone picked a ridiculous pet peeve...
Please do 270 next!
Yeh! I really wanna hear their take on the .270
My dad, a .270 guy has killed every animal in north America except a polar bear and a whale with his Remington model 700 bdl. I'm an '06 guy, Springfield 03 a3 that's 87 years old. Most accurate rifle I own. Try shooting a silver tip, aluminum tip and core. I only have a handful of these left out of the box and can't remember the grains. The aluminum has a far greater expansion rate than the lead and the projectile almost explodes. Great for neck shots but terrible for heart shots ,you loose alot of meat. If you find them get some.
Been using the '06 for 55 years, I'm 70. Started with a converted 03A3 thruogh the NRA using 180 gr Remington CorLoc. Now using a Tikka. Been reloading it for 50 years. This has always been my go to round. Other calibers in my arsenal is 308 win and 45-70 Gov. 30-06 is still my favorite.
That's me to a T. At 15 that sporterized 03a3 was wonderful. Plinking in fading light in a gravel pit, those tracers would burn in the wall for a while. Very entertaining.
03 a3 all the way. Been shooting mine for 43 years. 87 year old Springfield.
Nothing like a Tikka T3 wood stock in 30-06. I reload mine with Nosler partition and it’s an absolute animal.
One factor as to why I really like the 30-06 the most is reloading. This has been by far the easiest best round to reload accurate ammo from 125 to 180 grain pills. From 4895 to 4350 it takes all kinds of powders and delivers an accurate hunting load.
Here in Canada the .30-06 is easily the most popular cartridge for hunting moose.
Chris P. Critter what about the .303?
It's also the most popular cartridge in Germany.
.30-06 will kill anything that dwells in N America. .45-70 or .45-90 take your pick WILL kill anything on this planet.
@@wildrose2748 It is a popular caliber. At one time, it was thee caliber. AT ONE TIME.
@@wildrose2748 www.outdoorcanada.ca/the-11-best-cartridges-for-downing-canadas-big-game-animals/
I'm not saying that it's not a good cartridge,
but it has fallen out of favor.
Listen, I'm a devoted user of the 257 Roberts, but it's hardly popular.
The .30/06 is the one centrefire that all others are measured against. It's a superb versatile calibre, with the largest range of bullet weights available. I've had my '06 for 35yrs and have taken game from kudu and wildebeeste down (including sharks!). Now my daughter uses my rifle for African PG and she took her 100-pt NT water buffalo with it. One happy Dad!! 😊👍
More like the last 100 years when our soldiers had returned from World War I shooting the 1903. They found a accurate round that worked and stuck with it.
That, and it was easy to find after WWI.
Ask the German soldiers about silent death. Oh never mind their all dead.
Alvin York shot a 1918 Enfield 30-06 as his WWI battle weapon. It was a big, super strong bolt gun. My dad's cousin had one. It was the first '06 I ever shot. I have a classic Win model 70 and Ruger now in that caliber.
@@larrytischler570 My father-in-law was in the 82nd Air Born and was picked to be one of Alvin York's pallbearers.
First rifle I bought was my 30-06 about 10 years ago. Took my first big buck with it. It will remain with me till I leave this earth. There's a sense of pride when it comes to this cartridge with all the options out there today.
Facts
I'm just getting into hunting. With a wealth of modern cartridges available to me, I went with the .30-06.
I just needed something I can readily acquire that can do the job without a lot of drama. I'm not interested in 1000 yard shots. I don't need to kill a TRex. .30-06 is flexible, readily available, and good enough for what I want to do.
Yeah, there's probably better cartridges out there, but I'll let all of the internet ballisticians argue the finer points of the next enigmatic cartridge while I hit the woods.
...yup, cartridges out there that can do one thing better, not many things better. Wise choice on your selection👍🏼
You could still prob kill a TRex with the dam thing tho. Lol.
@xeepromx. I’ll let u know when I get there lol I’ll try and take a heart shot so I can do a European mount
With an M-1 you can take a T-Rex! Put eight rounds into its vitals, and it will lose all interest in you.
Nice thing about the '06 is you can go to any podunk town in America and the local hardware store will have a variety of cartridges for it. I'm almost 60 and my Springfield still has the original ww2 steel but plate. Recoil ? Man the _uck up.
The /06 case has been the 'father' of many other cartridges. Wildcatters have loved it for a hundred years. The one drawback to the standard 30/06 is the requirement for a long throw action. As clearly stated, it still is among the most versatile rounds ever developed and a most respected one at that.
Even the 50 bmg is a enlarged 30-06
Talking about recoil. Recently, fired about 12 rounds with my Remington .30-06 (165 grain) with a steel butt plate. Ended up rupturing my major pectoral muscle and a few blood vessels. First time ever, been shooting for like 50 plus years, never even bruised. So, I got a nice recoil butt pad. At 72 years old, probably overdue.
OMS.... Old Man Skin....get it..got it...sucks
Oof.
Time to scale it down my friend. Go pick up a Ruger American in 6.5 and keep shooting and hunting.
Not sure if it makes a difference, but I got a Limb Saver (think that's the name, if they even still make them) over ten years ago on my Ruger 30-06 shooting with 180gr and it's completely tolerable. I'm afraid to ever shoot again without it!
Great video guys. I bought my first big game rifle back in 1996. It's a Winchester Model 70 Classic Sporter in 30-06. It has the claw action controlled round feed like the pre 64 models. It has been my favorite rifle even though I have other guns in 270 Win and 300 RUM. You can't go wrong with a 30-06.
Keep these up. Love seeing an accurate cartridge analysis that doesn’t have any obvious bias behind it.
After much back and forth and forth and back, the 30-06 is my rifle build caliber of choice. It does everything and allows the reloader to do even more. Custom barrel profile with a installed muzzle brake, perfection. Shoot that same bag of MM's with a light load 30-06, one hole show. And there you go. Perfection explained.
Great review. Well done. Can't go wrong with an 06. One of my youngest is going to buy his 1rst high powered rifle this next year. The 30/06 is his choice at time. I won't discourage him.
You raised him right!
Finally some articulate conversation regarding cartridges! Keep it going.
One of the best ammo/ballistics reviews I’ve found on the net. Great stuff, thanks, subbed!
After all these years being a gun enthusiast, how is it I am just now finding this channel? I was fascinated by the cartridge profile link. Subscribed.
Awesome Work! You rarely find channels who put this much effort into their video’s. Keep up the exceptional work.
Long live the King !!! 30-06
Will always be#1 30-06 is no joke.
In military testing back in the 60s they found that 30-06 barrels lasted about 15000 rounds until they would no longer shoot 4 inch groups which is what they say is good enough for there use
They also used pretty under powered rounds back then, thats why if you have an m1 garand you are not supposed to shoot modern loads out of it because it will blow up. Also military stands are pretty garbage. If someone got a rifle that shot 4 inch groups at 100 they would send it back.
30-06 M2 Ball. Tested and approved by our greatest generation.
Amen to that.
Fudd tactical
A lot of dead Germans, Japanese, North Koreans, and Chinese can attest to its effectiveness!
Holy Shit. That’s Boomer As Fuck.
@@45acporbust73 fudd tactical
30-06 STILL available at gunshops in my area ...... meanwhile almost everything else is GONE
Awesome channel, and amazing info you pack into the vids, keep them coming! I love my old ‘06. I shot a muskox with it this past May. Oh and the 30-06 has been popular WAY longer then 30 yrs.
Barrels are like tires, but even if you actually shoot 40 rounds a month for 5 years straight, you still have life in it. Heat kills barrels, so avoid rapid fire.
yeah, just dont run it till you can cook an egg on it. barrels are not egg shells, but dont go fuckin crazy, puttin a box down range in 5 minutes
True. The thing is with barrels, as they wear, they just lose accuracy, it degrades slowly. Some people think that, like a tire, it just is done.
Not so. So even a barrel on its downward trend is still a good hunting rifle for many years. It just isn’t going to win any target competitions. A rifle that shoots 1moa it’s whole life , and erodes to 1 1/2 - 2 MOA is still just fine for hunting. There was a time 1moa was a goal and not the norm like today.
Great review and video of the 06. In my 50yrs of hunting here in western Canada I have owned dozens and dozens of rifles. I ran the gamut of the magnum bug for several years and a number of .300 Win Mags and WSMs have gone through my hands. After the dust settled and all was said and done, today I’m back with the 06 and I hunt a lot now with open sighted 30-30s. In your vid you mention grizzly. I think you may be referring to coastal bears as the interior bears are a different animal. I see grizzlies every year and they aren’t bullet proof. In camp or deep bush I stoke my 06 with hot hand loaded 220gr Nosler Partitions to 2500fps and I don’t feel the least bit undergunned. A friend of mine shot a grizzly back in the late 90’s with his 06 and hand loaded 190gr Hornady SPs at 400yds . The bullet passed clear through and killed it with the one shot on a broadside presentation. In my experience people tend to overestimate the size of bears and again I’m not talking about coastal salmon fed bears but interior bears of BC, Alberta, Alaska and even in Montana/Wyoming.
The cartridge profile on your website is very cool. I’m looking forward to you adding more calibers
As a hunter and avid shooter I always thought of or looked down on the ol 06 as being slow, like you guys. Until I built one and started developing handloads. I load for the 6.5 creed. With my gun, specific bullet 140gr and powder IMR4350, my Creed handloads are running at 2625fps. Pretty pedestrian in my opinion. My 30-06 loads which are within published data are, 150gr TTSX and RL17 at 3175fps and 165 gr Berger Classic Hunters at exactly 3000fps. That’s a pretty smokin 30-06 load and right up there with the small magnums. I would t consider that slow.
Yes most factory rounds underperform. But if reloading you can give the boring ol 30-06 new legs and new life.
Superdude70 it is a 22” barrel. With 120 Barnes and RL 15 or 17 I can’t remember off the top of my head, I’m getting over 3000fps with the 6.5. But for some reason 140 noslers and Imr 4350 it’s lacking in velocity. But the load is super accurate, like a laser. So I live with it. Lol
Superdude70 I’ll have to get a pound of h4350 in the future. Lately I’ve spent so much money on stocking up and playing( literally thousands $$$$) that for now I think I’m done buying powder for a bit. Just locally in the last few months 1lb tubs of powder have gone up $1-$2 in price and boxes of bullets the same per box of 50. That is if you can even find what you’re looking for. Luckily I had the foresight before the China virus really took hold to stock up on most things. If not I’d be screwed.
Thanks for the input.
Superdude70 yeah lol. You can forget buying primers anywhere. I bought the last 1000 primers my shop had, which were small magnum pistol primers just to load for 9mm and 380. I didn’t want to but didn’t have a choice as small pistol primers are non existent. But it’s to a point now where everything as I mean EVERYTHING is in super short supply. If you need something you better get it because it won’t be there tomorrow. I know because one day I bought 9mm bullets on midway which was the only site to have them, along with 200 cases. The next day I thought I better just buy some more. Well, little did I know I had bought all that was left.
@Superdude70 Same here. My 140's in 6.5CM are pushing 2840 out of a 22" barrel. Not even max load. My 30-06 loads in 180gr do about the same velocity. The plus on the Creedmoor loads, they seem to retain their speed longer (better cross sectional density).
@ Craig: You can also hand-load the 30-06 to near 300 WM levels of LR performance. Using a 208-grain ELD-Match from Hornady, and the right powder/primer/case combination, you can get out there a legit 1500 yards while still supersonic, which is darned near 300 WM performance. Of course, the 300 WM and 300 PRC can get further yet, but that performance is still nothing to belittle.
I have no doubt these guys will be at 100k subs in no time! Always killer content.
Dad had one of the first Remington 700 BDL from 1962 in 30-06. I was a Sharpshooter in the military so 308 Win/7.62 NATO is also well known. I've owned a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06 for 12 years (round count is at 1120). The target in the box was a perfect 1/2 inch triangle. With my loads I get .33 inch ( Winchester Nickel brass, Win Mag Primer, 55 grains RL17, 176 grain Chinchaga RBST. 2840 FPS.). Lots of meat in the freezer and on paper and steel it's outrageously great. I have done several upgrades to the rifle and have scored amazing groups at very long range. I still use a variety of factory loads for general hunting and have always been happy with the results. Yes it's an old cartridge and yes it's still great.
the 06 rifling was designed for the 180r bullet but really shines with a good 150 or 165 gr boat tail soft point for most game.
The 06 was designed to shoot 150 gr.bullets.but will stabilize 110to220 billets.
@@wadeparker6091 My old M 1903 loves the 150 gr.
Thanks for your good review. I saw an interesting comparison recently between the 30-06 and 300 Win Mag.
A shooter fired both rounds into paper plates. The 300 Win Mag only penetrated 13 more plates than the 06. That is insignificant.
Keep posting these! These caliber videos are awesome and some of the most comprehensive I've stumbled across
If their data was correct on any cal. They listed.The only way you can like this is if it agrees to what you alredy think . Can disprove most data they ofer.
This is great information. You guys educate without it being boring looking forward to more. I will check out they chart comparing calibers.
Just about to go moose hunting with my 30-06 next weekend here in Finland :)
there are no "cons" to the 30-06 period !!
Recoil is a little much for smaller people. Thats about it.
@@eddiestillwell1 it can be a little much for us older guys too. I don't take my Remington Model 760 Gamemaster to the range as often as I did when I was younger. I really like my 7x57 and 6.5 Swede. At 74 I don't find the 06 a pleasure to shoot any- more. Sight in for deer season, that's about it. Still a wonderful rifle though.
@Surigao 1944 glad you had that time with your dad. Hope he is still with you.
@Surigao 1944 I will be 75 later this month. My son and I are good buddies. I taught him at 8 years old how to shoot and hunt. Killed his first deer at 12 and many many more have followed and many many hogs. Up until this past December he owned a ranch in Llano, TX where we have taken some really nice bucks.
fuck its awesome
Really enjoying these, hope you continue!
You are getting better and better! I like how are you checking the facts yourself, not just repeating common believes.
I think the variety of bullet weights is a big pro for the 30 06 too! At one point in my ammunition collection, I had some sabot rounds from Winchester that fired, if I remember correctly, something like a 60 grain bullet. Go from that to 220 grain brush busters and that's a pretty big variety. That and you touched on the availability. Here in Wisconsin, if you forgot your box of 30 06 rounds for deer hunting, you can stop into any mom and pop gas station in northern Wisconsin and find you a box. If you left your box of 243 WSSM's at home, well, hopefully you can help out the camp cook until you can run to Cabelas...
30-06 was my first hunting rifle, love it!
Mine too it would turn a ground hog inside out
Hands down, one of the best reviews I have came across. Own both a 300 win mag and 30-06. At times, I feel more confident shooting the 300 at longer distances....but 30-06 still as capable as the 300 in most circumstances.
Great video guys, looking forward to more just like this one. The new website has a lot of information, but obviously its a work in progress, because you only have background information on only 2 cartridges. Keep up the great work and good luck.
"A bullet? Where?! There are decent humans here!" earned my subscription. LOL
I would love to see y'all do this on 35 whelen. A lot of folks have never heard of it but a lot of us have. It's 30-06 case neck to 35 caliber, I guess the biggest con's about it is recoil and trying to find rifles chambered in it. My very first hunting rifle was a 30-06 but once I found the Whelen my 30-06 has been a safe Queen for about 15 years now.
35 Whelen is a very efficient cartridge
I am happy to hear all this information!! Thank you for this video and the analysis!
Chose the round in my 20's. Spent 40 years with multiple different rifles of all sizes ,actions, prices. Most times today I hunt with a lefty Browning A-bolt St,stalker and a BAR mkII with Boss. I have over 200 whitetail racks and several large black bear pizzles to attest to their effectiveness.
Dude! Literally just looking at ballistics between 270 and 30-06. It’s new rifle time! Thanks for the vid!
Adding a limbsaver butt pad to your rifle is a lovely accessory along with a dime to dial in your scope if it so happens to need to be adjusted
Just found this channel. Love it and the website. Please keep up the good work gentlemen
because of the detail put into this channel, i wont be surprised if it has 500k subs in a year or two from now.
It was good enough for my granddaddy's M1 Grand and it's good enough for mine.
@Jeffronimo Gothlay I stand corrected JG thank you :)
30-06 in the Garand reduces the recoil of this hard hitting round.
Having owned a few 30-06's (my first one was a 1917 Eddystone Enfield), it is a versatile and capable cartridge.
As far as taking a grizzly I would much prefer to have my 95 Marlin in 45-70.
I was thinking the same thing, if I'm going after bear, i'd be carrying a 45-70
Or 338 Win mag..... which seems like a beast, it is actually kind of a 'mild' magnum in 33 caliber.
Dudes, where have you been all my life? This kind of in-depth diagnostics is the exact sort of information I’m looking for. Y’all are thorough! Definitely got me to subscribe and I can’t wait to check out your other videos!
Really enjoying these videos! Please keep them coming!
Dude that stats page is awsome!!!! That's exactly what I was needing!
Thanks! Looking forward to making all of them.
@@backfire I love the page too. Would like to see a page for 308 up soon!
Love this series guys!
Thanks! It's a lot of fun to put each one together.
You guys do solid videos like how you guys name off the cons but are realistic about the cons. Instead of pushing certain biases.
After my 243 was stolen 40 yrs ago,I poured over everything I could find on different rifle cartridges,because being only 15 yrs old,I knew I wanted a rifle I could use anywhere in the states,or even the world.After much thought,I settled on a Ruger M77 in 06 and am happy I did,I still have the gun and it's my go to rifle.I have been fortunate to own many different rifles,in many calibers,but that old Ruger is still my favorite and the last I would ever get rid of.Like I said,I was 15 when I bought it,and I never had a problem with the recoil,and I have shot everything from 150s to the 220s in it,both factory and handloads.So for me,this video just validates what I've known and learned thru the years.
Still the most popular calibre in South Africa!
Ja swaar, stem!
Die ou 30 nul bes werk al 25+ jaar baie goed vir my. My 300WM le maar in die kluis as ek gaan jag.
Gotta raise my "Bullshit Flag" here. I'd bet a lot of money that the most popular caliber in South Africa is 375 H&H. I own both, so no ax to grind
@@mikechess5081
I belong to 3 different hunting and sport shooting associations. There are loads of guys that own a 30-06 and only a couple the own a 375. The 375 is massive overkill unless you are going after the big 5 which most of us will never be able to afford. The 30-06 is definately more popular then the 375 in SA.
Reloading and new high bc bullets take 30-06 farther than I could have expected.
I have a browning hells canyon speed in 30-06 loaded with 54.3gr RL17 and 190gr Nosler ABLR. I get 2700fps! 1500 ft/lbs at 575 yrds!
What twist are you running to stabilize that bullet? Thanks.
1:10
Stewart Hoy thank you.
I was already sold on .30-06 but now I know for sure that I want it. A good leader in power without too much recoil is exactly what I want
These videos rock! I cant wait for the video on 270,308 so I can compare them to the 30-06 and 6.5 C you have done so far
Can you do a pro and con video on the 338 win mag?
Its turning a very popular cartige in europ.
Thanks
Will stick to my 30-06 over the 300 win mag
Use to turn groundhogs inside out with my Winchester model 70 in 06 in my teen years back in the 80s and I’ve never have lost or missed a deer 🦌 with a 30-06... great round 😊
I just loaded 50 cartridges 3006 with Lapua Mega 185 grain bullets for Moosehunting now on saterday. Love this calliber!
Let’s not forget scope eye. I remember as a kid my introduction to the 30-06. My cousin shot his Fathers 30-06 when we went hunting and the scope sliced him at his eyebrow and boy did it bleed. He received no sympathy and we ridiculed him for a few years after that. That’s what family does right?
As a victim of kebob eye, I say yes it is okay to mock someone who does it. Assuming all they lose is some blood and a bit of pride.
I got a bad scope bite from my 30-06 just a few years ago. In my defense: I was in a funny angle against a washout, playing twister between a couple patches of cactus, shooting almost straight up a butte. Didn't even think about how my head was positioned so wonky over the rifle. Ya, I had two black eyes and a lot of lost pride. And yes, after people winced, they did make fun of poor old me. At least I got a decent Muley.
My brother came up with a good one. "I laugh at pain. Your pain"
One huge reason to use 30-06, Ernest Hemmingway used a custom Griffin & Howe '03 Springfield with 220-grain solids to take huge African Lions!
I liked your list of pros and cons. No one caliber or round is going to be perfect for everything. That's why it's fun to own different calibers and different actions. I always want a reason to be able to go and buy a new weapon.
These guys are making great videos! Thank you!
You guys are hilarious and informative. I own an M1 Garand, so I have to be careful not to use modern 30-06 loads. However, amazing rifle. Thanks for all the info.
I use my Garand to save hundreds of dollars for a single limb that had to come down. 240 gr rounds will take down huge limbs.
Walk across a limb and save big bucks, just cut up and haul off. You don't need a truck to cut it down.
I use modern ammo in my garand but there are variable gas screws you can buy to use any ammo. It saves the garand bolt and slide
We handload light for the m1, we have used surplus, korean war i think, the handloads seem comparable, not over gassing it.
Chris, if you "have"to use modern hunting loads, call Brownells or Midway USA and order a Schuster gas plug, which will safely allow the use of higher-pressure loads in your M-1. Ping!!
There is no cons to the 06, its the father of most calibers , n if a 100-200 fps is a big deal to you, then get a hyped up 6.5!
bits 5 it’s not the father of most cartridges, it’s the grandfather of most cartridges.
@J Calhoun or you could neck it up to 338
@Rom vin yeah that was pretty much my exact point
The German cartridge it ripped off,
is the grand daddy then.
The 7.92x57mm aka 8mm Mauser is the father of all the cartridges in the .30-'06 class. Overall, the German cartridge is still the best and everything else in the class is just a knockoff. The Germans got it right in 1888, improved it somewhat in 1905, and Paul Mauser designed the finest bolt-action rifle for it in 1898.
That being said, would I give up my 1903A3 Springfield for a K98k Mauser? Not on your life, Bucky!
Love these caliber profiles!!! Going to Patreon right now
With over 50 years of experience my gun recommendations are as follows:
12 gauge shotgun with various choke tubes and shot size
22LR, 25-06 with 100 grain bullet, .270 with 140 bullet, 30-06 with 180 grain bullet and / or a 35 Whelen with 220 bullet
Never owned or needed a Whelen to take what I wanted.
Since 1974 I've taken 31 deer and 2 bear with 30.06 rarely has an animal taken more than a few steps and I don't think I spent $100 in rounds .
Sweet cartridge. I just worked up a load with a 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tip going around 2970fps. Excited to take this out moose and Caribou hunting the next few years. Have a 308 load worked up with the same bullet tailor made for the wife if she decides to hunt further down the line. Great cartridges for sure.
Nice. It's awesome when it comes together like that.
I shot 2 Does with my 30-06, one at 60 yds, one at 125 yds. The wound channel was identical. 2 ribs missing on the other side. Good review 👍.
I use a 1903 that was made in 1918. I love .30-06 and that rifle. It was sporterized in 1960 and I still have the 2.5K scope that was put on it. I have a .270 Win, an 8mm K98 Mauser, and an SKS, but will always hunt with my .30-06.
30-06 has the right amount of stopping power!
I'd love to see .270 and .308!
"It wouldn't be my first pick … I would probably step up a bit"
Good advice for you folks who like reasons to buy more chamberings for your oversize safe.
For the rest of us, the 30-06 is completely capable of taking the largest stuff walking North America. And easy to load down for much smaller stuff.
It's a legend because it covers such a wide range that you don't need 3 or 4 expensive rifles to cover your hunting aspirations.
I love what you guys did with the Channel
I always go back to my 30-06
love the 30-06' unfortunately my shoulder injury prevents me from shooting it in a bolt action. I've got the classic 7400 simi auto . it's manageable for one or two shoots. my new favorite is the 6.5 Creedmore .
7400 is a great rifle. Got my first whitetail with it as a wee man.
My first Hi power rifle as teenager (15yr old) was a 7.65 Argentine Mauser carbine . Cost me $40 for the rifle and a box of 50 rds of surplus ammo combined , my dad signed for me. Years later I then moved up to the '06 but still I have that old Mauser!
I was 15 first time. Didn't shoot .06 again for 44 years. Tikka m695 very nice, very manageable recoil at 150gr. It likes everything I've put in it too.
Ricky drives an old Suburban? I knew I liked him!
I do. And it’s awesome!
.308 is only close to the ‘06 up to a 150 gr bullet. Go up in bullet weight and the ‘06 starts to leave the .308 behind considerably. Also, if you are in the western hemisphere and can’t kill it with the ‘06, maybe you better re-think your hobby!
11:43 = LOL! Well done folks, great review of the goods and not-so-goods of this legendary cartridge!
Great channel and great comments and discussion.