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30/06 , a interesting short read
outdoortexas
Member Posts: 4,780
The Best Cartridge Ever? by David E. Petzal
(C&P from FIELD & STREAM - March'04. Note: I did cut a few lines of bs to make it read quicker, ODTX)
"IF YOU WERE TO COUNT UP THE BIG-GAME cartridges available today, starting at .243 and ending at .45/70, you would come up with no fewer than 95.
"It was not always thus. If you had made the same list in the early 1950s, it wouldn't have in-cluded more than 20 or so big-game rounds. They now exist in almost unimaginable profusion. But the big-game cartridge that was most popular in the repressed '50s, and is today, and probably will be 20 years from now, is an ancient number developed three years after the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.
"CATCHING UP WITH THE KAISER
The .30/06 was originally "U.S. Cartridge, Model Of 1903," loaded with a slow-moving 220-grain bullet, and designed for the Springfield Model 1903 bolt-action rifle.
"However,
in 1905 the Imperial German Army came up with an 8mm (.323) round, which fired a lighter, faster bullet that badly outranged the'03. Not to be outdone, the U.S. Army modified the '03 to take a 150-grain bullet that could reach out to where the Huns were and renamed it "U.S. Cartridge, Model of 1906." Because that was a mouthful, people have called it the .30/06.
"AN IDEAL BALANCE
What the Army achieved in the '06 was a cartridge that struck an ideal bal-ance between power and recoil. It has killed every kind of big game in North America, but its kick can be managed by just about every-one. The '06 can also handle a wider range of bullet weights than any other cartridge. At the light end, you can go as low as 220 grains, whereas at the upper, 110-grain slugs are avail-able. This will take you from mice to moose.
"Moreover,
the '06 is now a lot more power-ful than when it first appeared, because the slow-burning gunpowders we have today produce much higher velocities than the propellants that were available before World War I. For example, the standard muzzle velocity for the Army-issue 150-grain bullet was 2700 fps, but most current factory loadings will chronograph at 2900 or so. The velocity increase is even more pronounced with handloads. This occurs right through the range of bullet weights.
"WEIGHTY MATTERS
Because there are so many bullet weights available, '06 users often snort and fa-rt in confusion over which to use. Here's a brief guide:
125- AND 130-GRAIN: These light weights are suitable for varmints, but the '06 kicks too much for high-volume shooting, and anyway it would be like swatting flies with a sledgehammer.
150-GRAIN: For my money, this is the best of all the deer-shooting weights-it travels fast, expands violently, and puts them down in their tracks more often than not.
165-GRAIN: A number of very knowl-edgeable shooters think this may be the best all-around weight, combining relatively high velocity with enough heft to take on most crit-ters.
180-GRAIN: It's the consensus favorite for best all-around weight. There is very little out there that a good, tough 180-grain bullet can't handle.
[img][/img]200-GRAIN: For big beasts only: A zoo-grain .3o-caliber bullet is not the fastest thing around, but it bucks wind well, re-tains plenty of impact downrange, and provides incredible penetration. It's my choice for elk, moose, bear, or the bigger African plains game.
"A COUPLE OF CAUTIONS I would not want a .30/06 that weighed less than 7-1/2 pounds with scope. A lighter gun can be built but will knock your block off.
Lastly, there are a lot of '06s that have been out there for a long, long time, and some of them are not up to handling the high pressures of modern loads. If you have an old gun and have any doubts about it, take it to a gunsmith for a checkup."
Comments
Kids that fish, hunt and trap have never mugged any old ladies!
To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!
Oh, you mean that underdeveloped, runty, stepchild of the mighty "30-Govt-06"? [:D][:D][}:)][:D]
Stir, Stir
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
The .243 is really a "BIG-GAME" cartridge? I was going to start with this size in my first rifle, and I'm a target shooter. Admittedly, I want to shoot @ 100+ yards.
Go Army Beat Navy
IF you wanna have fun join the cavalry
stir stir stir
"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long..."
ya know I'm still shootin' the 270!
Dad always shot an 06, but gave it to the older brother when he quit hunting. Just been shootin' the 270 so long, wouldn't feel right with anything else. 'sides, here in Texas it's all the "gun" a man needs!
jsergovic,
one of my best buds is as good a hunter as there is in the woods,
he shoots nothing but the 243 and he's taken some mighty big pigs and such. Flat shooter for sure.
Okay, where's that Allen dude from way up north? [;)]
To join in with Tail-stir-gunner! [:D]
Kids that fish, hunt and trap have never mugged any old ladies!
To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!
How you doin'!
Ah your getting old and senile!!![:D] You ain't been the same since that female coworker followed ya in the mens room!! L.O.L. Im still giggilin over that one!!!
Kids that fish, hunt and trap have never mugged any old ladies!
To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!
plenty of them on the river,
but ya have to hunt 'em with a pointed stick!
Special hunt we do for our northern neighbors!!![:D]
Actually have film of six young'uns that swam the river,
saw us and still ran right through our camp.
Promise, when we do the trip you'll see plenty.
Quote "Somehow government decided that the Constitutional Bill of Rights has become the Bill of "Suggested" Rights and are to be rationed to the citizens as the power elite sees fit"
You ain't been the same since that female coworker followed ya in the mens room!!
Used to see her twice a day, every day. I seen her maybe twice since that happened. Funny, she just dosn't get out like she used to.[:D]
How you doin'!
OleDuk
And trooper, that lefty sniper ain't shooting no 7.62x54R![:D]
Quote "Somehow government decided that the Constitutional Bill of Rights has become the Bill of "Suggested" Rights and are to be rationed to the citizens as the power elite sees fit"
A dead intruder cannot testify against you in a court of law!
If they're still moving, put another round in them!
If this is true then wouldn't the .243 even be taking this logic a step further, in turn being even better then the .270?
LOVIN MY 30/06[8D][:D][8D]
JC
Ted Kennedy's breath has killed more people than my car.
Nope!!! Last time I checked the 243 was a necked down .308!!!
Kids that fish, hunt and trap have never mugged any old ladies!
To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!
The 8mm Mauser is the European equivalent of the 30-06, what one will do the other can also.
You could ream to 8mm-06, but you might have some magazene length issues. Work up a good handload to CIP specs (or purchase Norma factory loads) and you will gain a whole new respect for the 7.92x57 cartridge. The Americian factory stuff is kept at very low levels to prevent blowing up the very early (pre-1910? built) ones that use a .318 dia bullets.
To go to a 30-06 or 308Win requires a new barrel, as those 2 use .308 dia bullets as opposed to the your Mausers .323 dia.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
I let my father-in-law hold on to my 06 and replaced it with a 300wsm and a 6.5 x 55 two for one is always agood deal to me.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
Quote "Somehow government decided that the Constitutional Bill of Rights has become the Bill of "Suggested" Rights and are to be rationed to the citizens as the power elite sees fit"
Also as he says, you'd have to re-barrel it to convert to .30-06 or .308.
OleDuk[:)]
She is probably still in a daze trying to figure out how water could run through something that small![:)]