Well, this has become a pretty "spicy" thread .....
Well, this has become a pretty "spicy" thread .....
When you're talking about mens' preferences regarding cars, women, liquor, and guns, it's bound to be "spicy".Originally Posted by back country
I'm saying the popularity of the 30-06 cartridge was due to the fact that it was a Military cartidge, was available, and highly developed. While it has some merits, they aren't superior to those other cartridges, then or now.
When I hear someone praising the 30-06, using the romance of it's history, I think, "Oh, not again".
Of course, I don't think that about the 30-30, so it must be ME.
Thanks
Smitty of the North
Walk Slow, and Drink a Lotta Water.
Has it ever occurred to you, that Nothing ever occurs to God? Adrien Rodgers.
You can't out-give God.
Certainly, what you say about the 06's origins is true and accounted for it's initial popularity. But if what you go on to say about it's lack of superiority were true, then what accounts for the fact it remains the most popular and common cartridge in North America some 100+ years later?
...he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods & errors. ~Thomas Jefferson
I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. ~Gerry Spence
The last thing Alaska needs is another bigot. ~member Catch It
Back then (unlike now) the military were not hamstrung by NATO commonality of caliber. The '06 was developed/selected to become a military caliber BECAUSE of it's superiority (to those others available at the time). Then civilian popularity grew and for good reason - it is available, manageable (to shoot), versatile and pretty good at killin big stuff. Is it THE BEST at everything...NO, but what caliber truly is all-round? Oh yeah, the 12Ga
sayak - ROGER THAT !
Right or wrong, when I lived and hunted in AK I used a Rem 700 Mtn rifle in.280. When going to Kodiak for deer I always took the heavy gun...a Rem 700 in .30-06 with 220gr RN. Only had one close encounter at Kodiak with a brown at 10' or so and the sling on my rifle got stuck on the pin of my pack frame and I couldn't get it off...I backed up and the bear left me alone. Lucky...maybe....I flew back to Homer on an overloaded South Central Beech 1900 and the next day the same plane crashed at Homer killing everyone on board...lucky...maybe.
I've always had confidence in the .30-06 to do what needs to be done and I still do. You don't need to agree. I have bigger guns and use them sometimes but the .30-06 is still the best all around gun IMHO.
Somewhere along the way I have lost the ability to act politically correct. If you should find it, please feel free to keep it.
Brian does have a point here though. Is the OPs question actually 'Is the '06 the best all-round gun for AK for use on a fenced in Range?'. 'Cos that is surely the only place in AK that you can shoot that ain't bear country.
CLEARLY... YOU JUST DON"T GET IT...
YOU bet!!! Inside the 100 yds. to very up close and personal --- the magnum-type, higher intensity, higher grain, larger caliber, bigger wounds, and more shock factoring.... in addition to shot or less than optimal shot placement is way way better moving on up to higher velocity mid-bores and upwards.
I'm out.
Me too ! (oh, and I "get it" alright)
I'd hafta say, that it didn't disappoint many folks, but that could be true for any cartridge.
The 303 British was popular, and used all over the world, but I don't think it is as good a design as the 30-06.
Military cartridges just seem to have the edge in usage. Of course, there are some good reasons why that would be true, when you consider the needs of a Military Cartridge. Things like feeding, pressure, and loads.
Except for MAYBE some specialized use, I'd prefer my 7x57, 280 Rem. or 7mm Mag. to the 30-06.
Smitty of the North
Walk Slow, and Drink a Lotta Water.
Has it ever occurred to you, that Nothing ever occurs to God? Adrien Rodgers.
You can't out-give God.
The 30-06 became such a popular cartridge when the US government started getting rid of surplus WWI and WWII bolt rifles after WWII. When a surplus rifle cost $10 and a new 30-30 cost $50 and the average person made 3-4 dollars a day, do the math. The 30-06 was scheduled to be replaced with a 7mm round (276 Pederson) when Garrand designed the auto rifle, but WWII broke out first. The US had millions of rounds of 06 in storage and the war wasn't going to wait, so Garrand refitted the auto rifle to fire the 30-06 round.
As a general rule American military rounds have always had a large following, due partly to the NRA/CMP type programs which have been around since the CSA showed the US Army what marksmanship was in the Civil War.
Is the 30-06 the BEST round;for what and when ? It certainly isn't the oldest military military cartridge currently in use the 7.62x54R holds that title. It's not the most used worldwide probably the 303 or 7.62x54R held that title.
For all around general use the 06 turns in acceptable performance, it is generally accurate, and available in all forms of firearms. In the hands of a competent shooter and under the right conditions it delivers. In tight quarters with large agressive animals it could be lacking in some areas.Do I like the 30-06, I own 6. However I'm glad that there are lots of other calibers and a few wilcats too. AIN'T Choice Wonderful ??
brav01 - all well said but be careful ! you're gonna get yelled at !!
Smitty - I just like the lightweight "affordable" rifles like the 84L and "if" they would've come out with a reglar .280 instead of the AI version I wood've taken that over the '06 .......... MAYBE but then HECK ! I probly would take an 84L 338 win mag knowin me
See now....I do kinda feel that way about the 30-30. Something about the gun that has arguably taken more game than any other that really appeals to me. Plus I just like the way it looks.....lol
Sheep hunting...... the pain goes away, but the stupidity remains...!!!
Good info, and good info, brav01:
I ain't gonna be the one to yell at you, for that.
Thanks
Smitty of the North
Walk Slow, and Drink a Lotta Water.
Has it ever occurred to you, that Nothing ever occurs to God? Adrien Rodgers.
You can't out-give God.
What I'm sayin is, that I do appreciate the Romance and History of the 30-30, but for some reason, don't have the same interest in the 30-06.
I have 3, 30-30s now. I sold 2 pretty recently. It's just a fun gun to shoot. It has light recoil, and a long neck for cast bullets.
Smitty of the North
Walk Slow, and Drink a Lotta Water.
Has it ever occurred to you, that Nothing ever occurs to God? Adrien Rodgers.
You can't out-give God.
Oh sorry about that, I mistook what you were saying. I gotta say I've always held a soft spot for the ol' 30-30....
Sheep hunting...... the pain goes away, but the stupidity remains...!!!
Not me Brav01... well said and & valid historical perspective - thanks.
Smitty... also good stuff on the .303 along same lines - thanks.
I use an M28 and M39 for quite a bit of my shooting plus occasional hunts and enjoy the 7.62x54 in these rifles. Two other favorites are also the K-31 Swiss in 7.5 SWISS and a Swed. 1899 carbine 6.5 Swed. up for target work... both very accurate rifles.
Lately, I've had an eye on a Savage Enfield in .303 in nice shape --- looks to be a fun shooter.
Brian most of the Savage Enfields are in real good shape as the US govermnent didn't use them much. They were used for civil deffense during WWII by the civil deffense/home guard. They were originally built for England but the order was too late for WWI and the UK cancelled it's order and Savage got stuck with them. They were cosmolined and warehoused and then sold to the US Goverment to supplement it's supply of battle rifles that went overseas.Taking production pressures off contracting firearms manufacturers. In order for the sights to be regulated you'll need to replicate the British cordite load of the military.
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