Is 30-06 Boring for Big Game Hunting? (Results)

[@stanleyharrell6009]

Absolutely, the 30/06 is totally boring for hunting, it just does the job with boring regularity. Easy to reload for and shoot.

[@Ultimatereloader]

My thoughts exactly!

[@candelariosanchez273]

Not to mention easily accessible

[@VikingNorway-pb5tm829]

Yes to all.. from birds to moose :)

[@brycecoutney2841]

What Else are you supposed to do that’s all a gun does

[@soonerfrac4611]

If you are the standard by which everything else is measured, then your probably doing something right. Hey, how’s “x” compare in recoil to the 30-06? Hey, how’s “x” compare in velocity to the 30-06? Hey, how’s “x” compare in availability W O R L D W I D E to the 30-06? The list goes on and on. There are cartridges that do things better, that are faster, have more potential accuracy, recoil less, do …whatever…. But it comes down to how does it compare to the 30-06 and what compromises must you make?

[@bigcatfish5029]

I'm 63 and have hunted for 51 years ,when I think about the number of days and hr. I've spent sitting on my camo bucket holding my old 06 brings a tear to my eye.

[@blueduck9409]

You and me both.

[@scottdavis2711]

The old war horse the 30-06! Over 100 years old and still kicking ass. One of the all time greats!

[@jeremymcauliff8485]

Nothing wrong with a .30-06. Sure it's been around for awhile, but that does not make it boring...it's just well travelled.

[@johnbabyaywbojjrgejkeoeojj8896]

Yes sir ! And you can buy your 150s at mid night at Wal- Mart also !!!! LOL

[@BionicDeathclaw]

The fact it's been around so long also shows how good it is. There's a lot of others that came after it that around anymore.

[@blueduck9409]

I feel that way about the 30-40 Krag, but with a little less felt recoil.

[@bullgravy6906]

My .30-06s and my .45-70 are my favorite rifles, the old cartridges are still here for a reason

[@MrMedicals12]

I think the 30-06 is one of the most versatile calibers and is easy to shoot and highly accurate. I have taken many deer and hog with this caliber and would recommend it as a good all-around caliber for the first option rifle for big game hunting for new hunters.

[@32halfdollar29]

I chuckled watching this as Guy is not a man of many words. I'm 50 years old and I've taken 2 of my 3 deer with my dads old BSA 30-06, yes the motorcycle manufacturer. One at 350 yards at a steep incline with a cheap old scope and the other at a close 40 yards with a dandy little used Bushnell Elite 3x9x40 I mounted on Dads rifle for just that hunt. Well 11 years later and the Bushnell is still on Dads gun, he liked it so much I never got it back. The gun just shoulders well for me and is my favorite rifle. It looks great too. Excellent content and presentation on your channel Gavin.

[@bryantoth5249]

The 30 06 was always a great round for North American big game. Way before the modern magnums.

[@soonerfrac4611]

I’d have to go check but the last time I looked the Alaskan Fish & Game department had on their FAQ page about what was the best cartridge to bring up there. The 30-06 topped the list, for *ALL* game. They ultimately said bring what you are used to, because a shot from a smaller cartridge that is perfectly placed is 1,000x better than a brand new mega magnum that has so much recoil the shot misses entirely or just wounds the critter. The old adage of Use Enough Gun is great, but there’s also such a thing as too much for what you are personally capable of doing, and better quality bullets make up for a lot in caliber diameter.

[@jasonsimone3523]

Or you could practice more and be able to handle the bigger magnums just as well which are much better for the big stuff but works on the smaller stuff too.

[@bryantoth5249]

@@jasonsimone3523 With modern bullet design there is no actual need for magnums. With a little practice you could hit the vital areas too..

[@rezaahmad463]

Magnum calibers give you too much recoil.for high distance its hard to control.i prefer 30.6 or 6.5 crm.....

[@bryantoth5249]

@@rezaahmad463 Agree

[@mrzrog]

I’ve hunted with many different rifle rounds. It seems like when I get back to the 30-06 I always think to myself “Why don’t I only hunt with this load?” Great round, forgiving, effective. Nice rifles, Guy! Thanks for sharing.

[@ipfreely205]

I bought a 300 Win Mag in my 20s however the recoil was a tad bit on the uncomfortable side so I sold it and purchased an A bolt in 3006 when I was 32. 5 bull elk, 10 Mule deer and a Moose. Longest shot was 390 yards on a bull and it was DRT. I’m now 63 and and my A bolt is the only rifle I hunt with! Partitions in 180 gr. are the only bullets I use , awesome combo!!👍

[@hantusmostert]

Wise man! Fast cars, become reliable family cars and in the autumn of life you look back on the memories and hand over that trusted one

[@westtexan2263]

Same here. I started with a 30-30 when I was a kid but as soon as started buying my own rifles I went magnum crazy. I have gotten rid of all except a Model 70 Winchester in 7mm Rem Mag that I restored myself. I'm now almost 53 and love hunting with rifles that don't recoil as much. In fact I often just reach for that same old Marlin 30-30 that I started with. I've never lost a deer with it.

[@toddjohnson271]

@@westtexan2263 You start to realize that you take most game within 100 yards and 30-30 or levers do just fine.

[@Joe-lk6oc]

The grand old 30-06 is a CLASSIC that is in no way, boring!

[@bigospig]

My 360 pound black bear wasn't unimpressed when I put a 30-06 round through his skull. The only boring part was only needing one round down the barrel.

[@joeymurphy5617]

It was mind blowing

[@robertvasquez240]

You can't go wrong with a .30-06 Springfield; you just need the optimum bullet weight/design and good shot placement to take any North American big game. True, a .300 WIN magnum or .338 WIN magnum might give one more confidence in dropping large game, but the .30-06 Springfield can get the job done in most circumstances.

[@CalvinL.Stevens]

That thing brings 4000 Joules to the table. Probably enough to drop an Elephant if you shoot right.

[@russellkeeling4387]

I've shot many elk and have seen more than that shot. I have every confidence my 06 will harvest my elk at any ethical range from just about any angle.

[@BuckingFastard]

This guy is always great. I love my 30-06, it drops deer exactly where they stand. I switch around on what gun I want to bring but I always know the 30-06 is a for sure kill if I bring it.

[@andymorel4645]

Hi guys, in my preference I like small caliber for close distance. I grew up hunting for meat, so head or neck shoot are 90 to 95 % of my shots. My first gun was a 22 mag on big pigeons, chicken, pig and rusa deer, all of them wild. What I am saying is I prefer small caliber for the challenge but I still love big cal, when I get enough money I will get a couple 30 cal for long range. 30.06 is the best middle between 308win and 300win mag. So not boring more budget middle ( the one cal for everything)😁

[@jasonlopez4855]

I went with the 300wm for my first Antelope hunting to mule deer and big Rocky mountain ELK and a 22wm for everything else like terky 🦃

[@frisk151]

Proud owner of a Belgium Browning 30-06. "M7" model which my father bought new after he got back from Nam in 68'. My first deer hunting shots / loads (and, of course target before that) were the .257 and my very first deer = 22.250.. Really nice breach loading pairs. However, the second my father put his 30-06 in my hands as a teenager... I've rarely shot any game animals such as whitetail or above with any other gun. And, I've fired pretty much every caliber over the years. 30-06 isn't the most powerful.. But, it sure does feel the best to shoot / hunt to me.

[@ABa40032]

Worked up a ladder test with h4350 in a Win model 70 30-06 with a 24" inch barrel with 165 hornady interlock. Found a nice flat spot with 58 grains producing 2912 fps, 58.2 was 2911, 59.4 was 2915. Going to load 58.2 for groups.

[@carterthiessen2664]

Same bullet, same barrel length, different rifle but im loading superformance powder at exactly hornadys book max and getting 2975 fps. I would have tried 4350 as well but I have to save that for my creedmoor. Getting very hard to come by these days. I've got best velocities with superformance with both 165 and 180gr bullets. Imr 4064 seems to give best velocity with best accuracy with 150s. The old 06 is so versatile and easy easy load for, it's a shame it gets such a bad rap as a grandpa round.

[@tacticalnimrod9825]

My father gave me a REM 700, left-handed 30-06 in 72,when I was 14. I’ve gone through several favorite loads over the years and have yet to find a load it didn’t like (except for those ridiculous sabot loads). I’ve changed the stock, glass bedded and pillars and put a Timney trigger in. Last kill was an Oryx with a 165gr Speer Deep Curl, dropped right there. It only gets boring if you do.

[@bigald9560]

My first deer kill with my own handloads was with a 30-06 with speer 150 gr soft points when I was 14 years old. That gun is still a great gun, and I would be confident to take just about any game with that as long as I chose the right bullets for the job.

[@anthonybonavia2570]

I Love the 30-06 caliber and have been using one for the last 40+ years. Everything I point a 30-06 at goes down, without any fuss. When I only had one centerfire rifle for many years, I used squib loads witn my 06 and shot small game with it. It is a very versatile cartridge and is very accurate. I have a Cooper model 52 that shoots 1/2 in groups with hunting loads. Great cartridge that will still be around for many years.

[@PastorDanMoore]

It works for me. I have used my "boring" 30-06 on deer and wild boar. No problems.

[@brandonbloom5661]

I’m in western Canada, so far 6 6 point elk(restricted to 6 point here),likely 20 or more deer and a couple moose. It’s far more then capable! I wish I could find some of those leupold 6x36s though.

[@guyminer2384]

They're sweet scopes. I've got three of the 6x36's and one 6x42 Leupold. All are great scopes. Also have a 6x SWFA. It's big & heavy, but also a good scope.

[@tomwilcox1574]

I'm in northwest Oregon and my hunting rifle is a 30-06 that I handload Nosler 180gr Partitions for. Will do the job for anything I hunt. Very nicely I should add.

[@guyminer2384]

That combo is lethal on any big game in North America, and most of the world.

[@jgrass5814]

Great video 👍 I’m getting up there in age now 70+ so I’m passing along a lot of my firearms. I’ve been an “ Acquirer” of firearms and not a collector. All of my rifles are used for hunting. I never realized how I had this affinity for the “aught six”. I’ve gifted to family members five rifles, 4 Win Pre-64 70’s (3 ea.aught sixes ,1 ea. 270) and a Savage M99 308. I still have in the gun cabinet, 4 aught sixes left😳. I’ll probably only keep two rifles, 1955 Win 70 Fwt. With two stocks, original wood, and a McMillan carbon hunting stock with a nice pad. That shoots Hornady 150 (SP InterLock) American Whitetail. This factory ammo shoots in this rifle better than I can shoot. I’ve done 1 1/2 MOA, my Nephew consistently shoots clover leafes🍀 1/2 MOA., and a 1937 Savage M99 T in 300 Savage. I mostly hunt close to the Cabin now with all shots less than 75 yards in the woods. That will do 2” with a peep sight. I have Ruger MKII in Aught Six that I took my largest Whitetail with,(165 grn Federal) 235 lbs ,270 yards, one shot, broke both shoulders dropped light it was hit by lightning. Again 1” MOA with Factory ammo. In all the years (50+) of hunting for deer I’ve never had to take a second shot with aught six. It really is the best cartridge of all time for the single rifle hunter. It truly is amazing how versatile and consistent it really is. My two cents 👍

[@drewmorg.]

In the world of guns, boring is good. My friend lives in Colorado and couldn't buy 300 PRC for months locally or even online. 30-06 and 308 were sitting on the shelves even during peak Covid. You tell me!!

[@tylarhaugan7908]

Sadly no 30-06 here or 308 only thing you can find is 300 wsm which i dont own. You can find 30-06 brass so thats good

[@calebrusnak8736]

Took my first deer with a pre 64 model 70. Many since then. Just purchased a new rem 700 stainless adl in 30-06 and plan to keep filling my freezer with it

[@patchitwood7428]

I still own the same Remington 700 ADL in .30-06 that I purchased in 1987 as my first centerfire rifle. It has taken over 50 Kentucky whitetails (we have a very generous season limit). I originally shot 180 grain Remington Core-Lokts in it, which worked fine. For the last 15 years or so, I have shot Barnes 150 gr. TTSX. I have yet to recover a Barnes projectile from a deer. I would not hesitate to use this load for elk. Thanks for the great content.

[@dutchjennings1705]

I have the same rifle he's got there only in left handed. This is my only 30-06, and yes I love 30-06. I don't reload and use Remington Core-Lokt 150 gr. PSPs on everything I shoot with it, but have only used it on whitetails and coyotes in Virginia's Shenandoah mountain region. I also love .308 though and keep both to take advantage of ammo availability these days. I'd love to try reloading some day if the components can ever be found in plentiful supply again. Nice vid.

[@Ratkill9000]

The fact that it can be hand loaded to near low end .300 Win mag levels is a positive. The cartridge just works and does its job well, so well you could call it boring.

[@kellywalker8407]

Low end .300 levels? I disagree. I've had to kick a few 30-06 bolts open to eject the cases. Of course the primer fell out and got lost in the action and the brass was ruined.....lol (Please have some sympathy, I was an idiot teenager). Seriously, now with 50 years reloading experience, I safely get 3150 fps with 180 gr. Bullets in my .300 win mag.

[@fedup3582]

@@kellywalker8407 and that's what you consider "low end 300 mag levels"?

[@200130769]

@@kellywalker8407 300 win mag is pointless. Europeans have been killing moose with 7x57s and 6.5x55s for decades and laugh at americans because we need magnums to do the same. And not to mention why make a jump from a 270, 30-06, 308, ect just for a couple hundred fps more? Why make such a small jump? It's literally pointless. If you're going to make a real jump to 375 h&h? Not just a baby step?

[@kellywalker8407]

@@200130769 Two straight forward questions for you. 1. How many elk have you shot or seen shot. 2. Why do you care what the Europeans think.

[@200130769]

@@kellywalker8407 I've shot 2 elk and a kudu. I use a 308 because its super light and I can put 15 miles on the rifle is the least of my worries. Question for you, what do you need a magnum for that literally anything else besides a 22 can't do? What are you trying to achieve? I could care less what europeans think. I just find it funny how the rest of the world dont use magnums much except for americans. Even in africa where the animals are bigger and tougher, they love 270s. And if they need bigger they jump right to 375 h&h. They don't mess around with weak magnums that only give you an extra 300fps. What's the point?

[@vieuxacadian9455]

Ed Shilen reworked a Rem 700/ 30-06 to Remington 40X rangemaster specs for Me in the 1980s . It has been My main hunting rifle since and will still shoot 1/2 moa to this very day . ( NOT BORING ) .

[@JRMny-nl4ut]

Glad Guy is back.... Thanks Gavin

[@martinn.2563]

I own my CZ 557 30-06 here in the old country (czech republic) and I absolutely love it. I use accubonds 180 gr for longer distances and 220 gr hammer for hogs at feeders - such of versatility is strongly appreciated from my side.

[@chevyon37s]

Guy upgraded the suspenders, I see... what a BOSS!

[@guyminer3168]

Ha! I did. Red white and blue suspenders, made in America! :)

[@rob338lapua]

Find so many awesome rifles ,most people looking for new cal. But found 03 Springfield and pre 64 m70 in 06

[@jackuber7358]

Excellent show, gentlemen. Thank you.

[@inupik23]

Yup. I've got two at the moment, a Mauser action '06 and a 1973 Remington Model 700. Soon will have my grandmother's old Winchester Model 70. Only wish I knew where my grandpa's old Mauser actioned carbine in 30-06 that he carried in the Aleutian islands during WWII chasing Japanese was. He killed a few moose, caribou, seals, and walrus with that old war horse. Such a good caliber. I have lots of other calibers but I always look at the '06 when I am deciding what to bring out for the next hunt. Can't go wrong with it on any hunt up here in Alaska.

[@tractormandeere]

The 30-06 is very effective and reliable. Constancy is not boring. I have hunted with a Remington 700 BDL, like his CDL, in .30-06 since 1987, 34 years. I use a plain Speer 180 Hot-core PSP. To date one antelope (360 yards), one black bear, one six point bull elk (150 yards) , over 20 black tail deer, 12 mule deer, and six cow elk. All one shot kills.

[@tsgeorge106]

I seem to be old school with my cartridge selection. My grandpa was a forest ranger in southern Utah and used a 30-30 which I inherited from him and my dad used both a 30-30 and a 30-06. Now if the chambered a AR10 platform in 30-06 I would be ecstatic! 😘

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

There's a company called Noreen that makes ARs in .30-'06. They're pricey but they do exist. It's bigger than the AR 10 because the round is too big to fit.

[@tsgeorge106]

I now own a 30-06 bolt action! Personally, I don't need anything bigger.

[@wadelandeche8632]

Had good success with IMR 3031 powder in the 30'06, in two different guns 700 and 742... Hello Guy and Gavin!

[@Ultimatereloader]

Nice! Good to hear from you Wade :)

[@bendennis8773]

When me and my reloading buddy talk rifle cartridges we always compare them to the 30-06 as the baseline. Very few cartridges can truly compare, it is the sweet spot for power, flexibility, recoil and barrel life. It has no equal for someone who owns only 1 rifle.

[@Electroal1y]

Love my stock standard -06. Shoots great. And what is wrong with the Creedmoor. Mine shoots dangerous gongs and paper all day long🤣

[@rgalletta58]

Not a bad choice at all for a one rifle cartridge! Pretty darn versatile.

[@solidrib]

Yes it does, 7x64 😃 cheers from the other side of the pond. By the way.. my first rifle was 30-06! I planed to buy 7x64.. but at the end I took 30-06.

[@jamiehurtt3530]

Absolutely correct . The second rifle that meets those requirements is the venerable 300 H&H magnum.perfect blend of those attributes as well

[@mikerudolph2419]

Absolutely 👍

[@RogerSnell]

You have to go to extraordinary measures to beat the 30 06. There's a very good reason it's still about the best for almost everything.

[@michaeldunn150]

I have 2 30-06 rifles that I inherited from my grandpa. One is his old army war gun that he used and the other one is a Savage that he bought right before he passed away. I still haven't shot them. I love my Remington 7400 308 too much.

[@tylerjohnson2833]

I switched from a 300 savage that i was given when i was 11 to a 30-06 a few years ago since 300 savage ammo is near impossible to find and expensive. Im taken many deer with both guns but the 06 is my go to. 180 grain Hornady interlock loaded with Hodgdon Superform is my go to load. I dropped a doe at 475 yards in her tracks a few years ago.

[@billfisher6708]

I've been hunting with a .30-06 for over 40 years and everything has been a one shot kill. Of course I am picky with my shots and do not use game animals for target practice at extended ranges.

[@TommyPinto]

Mr. Miner can tell a story, for sure!

[@anthonyross9276]

Whomever thinks 30-06 is boring has never shot am m1 garand.....

[@rgalletta58]

I love my Garand

[@Live_Outdoors]

In normal times the other benifit to 30-06 is the ammo availability. Every mom and pop shop by me and alot of the gas stations have some 30-06 load available. It truly is the benchmark in a do all caliber.

[@russellkeeling9712]

Do you really think that is the only benefit?

[@hollywood7935]

@@russellkeeling9712 did you read the comment? He said the “other” benefit. Don’t be that guy.

[@emmettperkins844]

I Respect the 30 06, I’ve preferred the 25 06 for two decades . The last two years and a half years ( 2019 ) I’ve embraced the 270 caliber and harvested two deer fall 2021 . If it Works, Work it .

[@theredflannelchannel7820]

I have a 1955 Winchester M70 in 30-06 and it’s still racking and stacking! I primarily hunt elk and deer with it but I also live in grizzly country and know it’s going to do the job!

[@jasonkaye9487]

I absolutely love my boring 30-06 with 165 nosler acubond

[@darrenanderson4921]

My family is from Oregon, we have hunted elk with reloaded 30.06, Hornady interlok bullets, Lyman reloading tools, for years. My dad reloaded his whole hunting groups 30.06 rounds. The guns were two Remington 700 BDLs and one Winchester 70 featherlight. They have taken so many elk with the 30.06 over 40-50 years.

[@mbonneau79]

It's only getting better - my latest loads are pushing 180gr Accubonds to average 2838fps out of a 24" Rem 700 barrel. StaBALL 6.5 really sends them! No excessive pressure, hits like a howitzer, and can put 3 into an inch pretty consistently at 100 yards.

[@michaeltartaglia2112]

The 06 killed more game and people then any cartridge in the world.

[@GunFunZS]

No way to verify that, and it's been days of many other cartridges.

[@eggbert191]

30-30 first commercial available smokeless cartridge holds the title for game and 7.62x54r holds the second title. Started military service in 1891 and still in service.

[@DavidEvans-yc9ly]

.303 British has killed millions of people and game animals all over the world, but right along with it the 30-06 is truly a great cartridge!

[@michaeltartaglia2112]

I don't see many game rifles in 303 as the 06

[@DavidEvans-yc9ly]

@@michaeltartaglia2112 No doubt that is true in the USA. But in any country where the British had influence such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India and parts of Africa, the .303 is prolific and many surplus rifles were converted to sporting configuration. In New Zealand the .303 has always been extremely popular, no doubt due to the ready availability of cheap surplus rifles and ammo after WWII. Plus the need to cull vast quantities of mostly Red Deer, whose numbers had increased exponentially during the war years.

[@Lixmathing]

30-06 is a great round. I have a Ruger m77 LOVE it. I have taken many deer and this year I am hoping to take a cow elk!

[@lynnanderson2683]

Enjoy story, hunted with my Vanguard 06 for years till it was stolen out of my garage during bear season finale pick up one last year looking forward to another down deer with the versitale 30-06

[@guyminer3168]

I really don't like thieves. Particularly stealing a hunter's 30-06 rifle!

[@whogivesacrap84]

Same thing with my cow elk... 30-06 180 btsp bullets not an issue at all even used a boring powder like imr 4320.. i wanna say 44 grains

[@bixby9797]

I've taken coyote, whitetail, a black bear and a moose with the 30-06. All within 200yrds and I have no complaints. 150gr for the whitetail and coyote and 180gr for the others. All performed as expected. Powder is the old, boring IMR 4064. I actually prefer it's brother, the .308 and have found it works just as well at reasonable hunting distances up to 180gr bullets with less recoil and then I run out of room but it shines with 150-165gr. I'd be comfortable hunting anything in N.A. with one short of a brown bear/grizzly. 06/308 would be great in Africa along with a magnum.

[@dalejordan4869]

I hand built a 30-06 on a 1909 Argentine Mauser in 2009. I didn't have a whole lot of money at the time, so I used a cheaper Barrel than I might have normally. I finished the barrel at 24 in, researched and worked up a load that pushes a 165 grain bullet at 3000 feet per second. That rifle is my go-to and has taken deer, elk, Antelope and wild boar. I also pull it out for coyotes prairie dogs and other vermin

[@Mr880881]

I shoot with a Browning A bolt Medallion Left hand and 3 x 9 Leopold scope. Bullitt is a 30-06 with 130 grain Barnes triple shock X with Hodgen 414 powder. The results are sick. Fast, flat and impact is devastating. When you hit that animal its game over. Incredible results on all the bucks and bear I have shot over the years. Never lost one.

[@ImageThisPhoto]

Great caliber I have used since the 90's and still hunt with today. Part of that is because Ive always been loading my own and have tons of brass and lotsa load variations. In hindsight, wish I had focused more on .308,,, simply for the short action... Both are great, but 30-06 is more versatile, slightly faster = more energy, if one loads...

[@robdoyle65]

If I could only have one big game rifle 30.06 would be the one

[@markwithrow705]

I just got a WINCHESTER XPR for a Christmas 🎄 present 🎁. Never got to Kill anything with it. But it is a very Accurate and Very Reasonable recoil for an '06.

[@shanedevon147]

I only use 2 caliber rifles for big game. I have my 308 sighted in with 150 grain for deer, and my 30-06 with 180 grain for bear and elk.

[@robertbass780]

Got my first deer with a Remington 30-06 742. Still hunt with a 30-06 and it a great all around caliber for what I hunt or want to hunt here in North America.

[@sgtslippyfist6345]

If people don't like 3006 then they flat out don't know anything about internal, external, and terminal ballistics

[@jdscally]

Have always liked 30-06 and have fired friends rifles chambered in it. Sadly, have never owned one myself so I use .303 British (Enfield No 4 Mk2) and 7mm Rem Mag. My dream rifle is a left hand bolt M1903.

[@josephrogers8213]

Lol keep dreaming they didn't make them in lefties they taught you to shoot right handed

[@jdscally]

@@josephrogers8213 One can dream. With the exception of the 7mm Rem Mag every long gun I own is for righties.

[@shawnkidman3523]

My family has used 30-06 as long as I can remember. They 125 grain bullet for everything up including moose. Long and short range. The only time they went to 165 grain bullet was for buffalo which my family was able to go after 5 times in a row. (Different member each time). The 165 grain bullet worked great mostly 1 shot. I'm sorry I don't remember how much powder they used. Definitely a great all around caliber

[@Mark-uq9km]

In 1984 I was living in Pittsburgh and one of the finest gunsmithing schools in the US is located there in Bellevue. I met a student who needed to build a rifle from scratch to be able to graduate. I asked for a .30-06, LH bolt action, Douglas barrel from Charleston, WV on a Savage action/receiver and a bastogne walnut stock. I have always reloaded my own ammo. I have taken a coyote, many groundhogs for good practice, many deer and a moose from Newfoundland. Boring often translates to dependable and the game you're hunting deserve that. Boring is good because it is consistent and consistently clean kills are important for an ethical hunter. However, the .30-06 is versatile, too. Being able to load bullets from 110 grs. all the way up to 200-220 grs. indicates the ability to have the same platform perform in different settings with different priorities. It is more than a one trick pony. Thank you for a boringly good video.

[@trevorkolmatycki4042]

There are a couple of options for getting that performance 165gr at 2950fps... Run a 30/06 hot AF or... run a 300WSM cool at 150fps below maximum. Hot loads bring consequences and they are usually delayed... especially on a warm day... keep an eye on that brass... it will likely retire quickly.

[@dthunter2506rem]

The 30-06 is boringly effective! It will work EVERY-SINGLE-time, when used within it's strengths/limitations. That stability is what I enjoy about it.

[@larrybassett5559]

Two thumbs 👍 up all the way around. The .30-06 is a personal favorite and will always have a place in my rack.

[@corymallo581]

My dad hunts elk southwest of Laramie In Wyoming. All he will use is a bone stock savage axis in 30-06. He’s only wished he had a magnum one time and he said he wasn’t even confident enough to take the shot at that range if he had one 700 yards.

[@rockie307]

The 30-06 has always been a excellent hunting rifle. About as good as it gets for all around big game rifle and with modern bullet technology it's better than ever. If I were limited to one big game rifle for north America it would be my pick.

[@justinrucinski7225]

miss my 30-06 ... great stories by the way ... sounds like a hell of a week

[@TheWheels1965]

Hey Gavin, that wall behind you needs your logo on it and big like the whole wall! cheers mate

[@paulbarela6548]

I am a multiple weapon muzzle loader so I experiment from 40 cal to 50 cal With sabot. Makes shooting times fun at the range. I have been experimenting with Lehigh Defense loads from rifle to pistol in my 50 cal to find a nice medium since New Mexico does not allow scopes on muzzle l's anymore. Lehigh has some crazy performers from 40-50 that work well in a muzzle loader just need to find the ffg or fffg that works well with bullet weight and length. Watch your barrel twist some sabots don't work with certain current BP powder loads.

[@davidball2174]

In my old sierra manual I wrote in an over max load for Alaskan size Alberta (Kakawa) moose, 400yards I hit mine across a slash, 450 yards my brothers shot one With the same load. They both dropped in the spot, both of us would have rather stocked in but it was do or don't. Caution ahead, 55 grs. is a safe start in most arms, 61 grs. 4350, 200gr sierra bt spitzers, I believe. 180, 165 gr bt hollow point match, 150 spitzers were all used with 4831 and 4350 with excellent success. Not to boring if you do the math and shoot the bullets at max point blank. of 270-325 for the ol' aught six or my 25-06. Sunny Alberta say's Hi and shoot straight bro. That's cowboy for don't lie. Hahahaha.

[@boomerrangerron]

Great video and I love my 30’06!! Still shooting an old Winchester Manlicher sticker Model 70 which shoots factory and hand loads as well! Always used 55 grs of IMR 4350 and 165 gr Nosler Partitions.

[@nielrossouw7831]

My 30-06 bored a Golden Wildebeest and a Gemsbuck to death two weeks ago. 2 shots, 2 bucks. It is still the round all the new kids on the block are measured against. It will kill anything in Africa.

[@brianmccormack84]

Oh the 3006 overkill for most North American game but who am I to talk I use a 300 short mag LOL of course the 3006 works for everything easy to load for always accurate

[@ronws2007]

So much of the wisdom in calibers is based on traditions handed down. .30-06 Sprg came around, from what I can see, as a military necessity, as do most technological advances in anything, including emergency medicine. My favorite round is the red-headed step-child of the .30-06, the short actioned .308 Winchester. I came to that round through an intellectual process. Being an avid reader and getting into some history, I knew that the Marines in Vietnam and even into the 70s, trained snipers on their M40, a Remington 700 short action and 22 inch barrel or less, for ease of use and transportation in various jungle warfare scenarios and chambered in 7.62 x 51 MM (.308 Winchester.) The performance of a 175 grain round was that it could bring down a 200 pound target at 600 yards. This made it a perfect fit for sniper activity, especially in training. The rifle could be relatively light. You might sneak for a day or two into your FFP. But once you take your shots and have to bug out, you may be running flat out like a cheetah to an EP a mile away. So, you carry a .308 instead of a shoulder cannon. I figured if it could knock a 200 pound target (enemy agent) at 600 yards, I could knock down a 140 pound buck at ranges usually less than that. Having read the memoirs and autobios of a few different military snipers such as Ryan Cleckner of the 1st Ranger Battalion 75 Ranger Regiment and Nicholas "The Reaper" Irving of the 3rd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and Charlie Melton of the US Navy SEALs, most active combat saw ranges of less than 800 yards. In fact, 500 yards and less was common. And doable. Today, while hunting, I used my reticle and ranged a tree line at 238 yards and I could hit that, being an amateur. So, I like the .308 Win. And it is ubiquitous. You can find it every where, and a bit easier since it is equivalent, mostly, to 7.62 x 51 mm NATO. Next to that is the parent cartridge or long action version, the .30-06 Sprg. In reality, you can load .308 past 200 grains but it is preferrable to do that with .30-06 because of the longer casing, which allows more powder to push the heavier bullet faster. Which provides, like the .300 Win Mag, a fast bullet that is less susceptible to wind. Some snipers used .300 Win Mag bolt action because at distances such as 600 yards and less, there was no need to calculate wind, you simply held your crosshairs in the reticle to left edge or right edge of target, depending on the wind direction relative to your FFP (final firing position.) So, keep shooting the .30-06 if that is what makes you comfortable and accurate, regardless of shooting feral hog, whitetail, or moose. For the latter, I will continue to invite people to go to the deermeatfordinner youtube channel and watch Rob Arrington go to the Cree Nation in Canada and he got a moose in velvet at distance shooting his Howa 1500 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with Hornady 143 grain ELD-X. With one shot. The accuracy is more important than the final grain weight, though the damage done by contact of the projectile is also important.

[@tedb.5707]

If I were invited to hunt deer, elk or sheep in the West I'd go with .30-06 and 7mm mag just to feel confident. We can only use shotguns for deer here....and the ranges are much shorter. The 6.5mm Creedmoor or 7mm-06 are better for long-range target shooting....but not my hunting preference.

[@jaybailleaux630]

It took many years for me to come around to the 30-06. I started off with a 270 and graduated to a 7mm mag. Both great cartridges. Years later I discovered the M1 rifle . Loaded for the M1 to shoot in matches and was impressed with what it could do. From there, decided life would be simple to load 30-06 for a bolt action hunting rifle. 30-06 is truly an all-around versital cartridge for everything. Cheaper to load for than a magnum with light magnum performance. Loaded with a plain 180 grain cup and core hunting bullet and I am ready for any non dangerous game hunting.

[@duke8152]

Nothing wrong with using a classic cartridge. I enjoy any of the 06 family cartridges, and they’ll remain in my collection of hunting rifles.

[@b01tact10n]

My Ironsighted Rem700 in 30'06, with 180 Nosler Partition handloads is awesome. Very great with 1 shot headshot kills on moose!

[@melissagravitt487]

Never would have thought one day reliability was considered boring

[@kimdavis5522]

I still use the 30-06 my father bought back during the early 60's. Wonderfully boring, does the job every time.

[@jakobusprinsloo5871]

I have been hunting with a .30-06 for almost 15 years now (since the age of 16) and have taken the all of the smaller plains game in South Africa (Impala, Blesbuck, Bushbuck, Springbok and Warthog) as well as some of the larger ones (Kudu, Blue Wildebeest and Red Hartebeest) on all of which it has performed very well. My rifle is a Brno built in 1983 (the pre runner for the CZ 550) I shoot factory core bonded 180 gr ammo which runs at ~2600 fps - definitely enough gun to take down anything up to the size of an Eland. I agree that boring isn't a bad thing when selecting the caliber of a fire arm, there is a reason why some stick around for so long and that's because it works. I am such a firm believer in this that for my second rifle, rather than purchasing a 6.5 creedmore or one of the newer generation caliber rifles I am in the process of buying a 7X57 Obendorf Mauser from the early 1970's. I plan to use this rifle for smaller game with 140 or 120gr projectiles, this will also serve as a training rifle for my daughter, so really you could call me a rifle nostalgist, why change it if it works...

[@fedup3582]

I like your mind set. When a cartridge performs as well as the 30-06 has for as long as it has, and maintains it's popularity even today, despite all the competition its endured, even by todays newest, it has to say something about the cartridges abilities. And the added nostalgia of the cartridge just adds to the enjoyment of using it. That same nostalgia applies to the 7x57. Good luck on acquiring your new 7x57, and I wish you many, many more years of enjoyable and successful hunting with both rifles.

[@jakobusprinsloo5871]

@@fedup3582 Thanks! likewise to you on all of your hunting endeavors

[@outdoorswithevan2997]

4 Black Bears and 2 Moose with my 30-06 and id feel comfortable taking a bison with 180 gr Core Lokt

[@juliesamide5251]

I have a Remington 721 30-06 that shoots 1" groups still with cheap factory ammo as long as the barrel is cool.

[@devinleenhouts6562]

2 of my 3 deer taken with 30-06 only stepped up tp 300winmag for little more power a little further

[@johnterpack3940]

First rifle I ever shot was a 30-06. I was five. It knocked me on my butt. I cried, my dad laughed. This was in the days before stern words were considered child abuse. Good times.

[@1966cambo]

What a beauty of a Muley! I am curious at that close of distance why not shoot through the front of the neck/spine? I don’t like neck shots but did one last year at between 300-400 yards, didn’t have a range finder along but will range it soon! My biggest buck yet 4 x5 (would have been 6 but that point was broken off)

[@guyminer2384]

That would probably have worked real well. Choices...

[@x4x4offroad87]

30 ought 6 is always been an awesome round you can't go wrong there I just wanted to be different I used to shoot with the 308 but now I shoot with the 65 creedmoor a little bit smaller round higher velocity but I like that round especially reaching out there which y'all take on it

[@peggycastleberry9665]

I'm 61 been having my win mod 70 06 for48 years with a 4 power weaver scope. By the serial number it was made in 65. Here in the south you didn't get a shot over 100 yards. served me well all these years and as someone said below will take anything in north America. Best damned round ever made

[@johnwalker863]

My grandad, dad & every respected and accomplished hunter I know have always said....that 30.06 rem is the one gun for everything & kill anything on the north American continent. That statement is true and this man has proven it yet again. Good show thanks

[@BlueDart1971]

Probably the best round ever invented.

[@heerkrupp64]

My Brno ZG47 30-06 1957 is the first rifle I take when I go for a hunt, I wouldn't leave it at home on any trip I go on, the only problem I have is, which I like better the rifle, or the Cartridge.

[@russellkeeling4387]

I've owned many rifles in various calibers. I mostly hunt elk and mule deer. I got rid of all my magnum rifles because I didn't need them. I held onto a .35 Whelen for a long time because it and the 6.3x62 are such wonderful calibers. I have decided my primary big game rifles are from now on my long trusted 30-06 and my .275 Rigby. I harvested most of my elk with a 30-06 and the two largest elk with the .275.

[@retireddec04]

Odd why somebody would want drama in a cartridge. Consistancy and reliability gets the job done. It's been around for well over a century. The bayonet has been around much longer and it's not boring. Haha.

[@semperparatus5942]

I own one rifle only: Winchester Model 70 in 30-06. If it ain’t broken why fix it?!