30-06 long range hunting?

[BubbaHFD]

Ive been wanting to get into long range shooting/hunting and have been doing some research and going to start build on a 300win mag but my question is why isnt a 30-06 a popular 30 cal contender in the long range game? It seems ot should be a good round for say....1000yrds. The 308, 300 winny and rum seem to be the go to also the 300wby as well but I never see anything abou the 06.....why is this and what am I missing? Would a custon rig with say a blueprinted 700 action bedded to a high quality stock with a high quality barrel not give the same accuracy or better that a 308 or a 300 with same equipment and bullets? Help me out long range guys.....or am I just way off in left field with this?

[jefandaward]

ballistic arc like a rainbow....

[Abu_dude]

Re: 30-06 long range hunting?

Same reason why a 30-30 isnt included in that group

[.270_Maniac]

ballistic arc like a rainbow....

This^^^

[Abu_dude]

Re: 30-06 long range hunting?

Now maybe someone with alittle more experience can chime in here but after plugging in the data into my balistics calculator, the 2 calibers are very similar at 1000yds. Maybe its more of just the availability of the .308 round?

At 1000yds you are going to have a drop of roughly 371.4 to 372.1 inches (about 31 ft) with a 165 grain bullet with a rifle sighted in at 100 yds.

[wickll]

ballistic arc like a rainbow....

If you compare the 30-06 to the .308, is it really that different? From what I recall in my reloading manual, the ballistics are very similar. I am not a long range shooter, but curious.

My reloading manual is a bit old, but have newer, faster , .308 loads been developed putting it ahead of the 30-06.

[Brazos Hunter]

I have built a number of '06's and have dropped several pigs at 800+ yards. For the most part I feel when Uncle Sam went from the '06 to 308 many followed thinking it was far superior. Myself, I didn't want to follow everyone else. I did my own homework. After my barrel gets in, I'll post up some pics and specs to include ballistics. One of (if not the) most important thing when shooting long range is to find the bullet recipe that works best for you and your rifle.

[sutherpride59]

30-06 was originally the 1000 yard cartridge due to the availability of match grade ammunition after WWII. However when technology started to get better and we could load a heavier bullet into a bigger case and match the accuracy you began to see people flock to 300 win mag. When 338 Lapua came out people moved to it for 1000 yard shooting, heavier bullet, more powder, same accuracy. the bigger the bullet and powder load, the flatter the round shoots. All together Americans don't like to do the guess work involved with shooting 30-06 beyond 600 yards. It's a matter of technology advancing and people moving with the times. 30-06 will do great things in the long range game, you just have to find the right projectile, powder, powder load, case size, and learn the finer points of distance shooting good sir. if you really want to learn some good information find a book called The Accurate Rifle or just PM me and I'll loan you my copy. Also if you want to start off modest and do it right start with a bedded Mauser K98 in 8mm.

[texag93]

Hmmmmm......Carlos thinks its a fine 1000yd hunter.

[lesson 101]

Always wondered the same thing. Good thread!!

[Ron]

Interesting.

[dustoffer]

If memory serves me correctly, the military moved from the .30-06 to the . 308, a more compact round, to give the soldier the ability to carry more ammo for the same weight/volume. Did the same thing when shifting to the 5.56 mm. Why teach 'em to shoot accurately one shot at a time when they can "spray and pray"?

[wellingtontx]

30-06 long range hunting?

Lots of possibilities but take a look at a 300 Jarett if looking to shoot a 30cal out to 1000 yards.

[BubbaHFD]

I posted this same question on another forum and got some great info.....heres a good read debunking the 30-06 myths.....check it out. http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/ you need to page over a couple pages and find the May cover section. ...its got a 3 part write up on the accuracy of 30-06

[Bonesplitter]

It would be fine, yes there maybe better suited calibers but once you shoot it, learn the dope's and can consistently hit the target, what else can you ask for. Trajectory like a rainbow? I believe that can be said about a ton of calibers. They all drop and drop a bunch out to 1,000.