30-06??

I'll be 84 in a couple of months. I shoot at least 3 times a week (precision airgun). I haven't missed the opening of elk season in the last 44 years. I've filled my elk tag the last 4 seasons, from 200 to 670 yds. So, at 67 you have lots of hunting years ahead of you. I killed several elk with a pre-war Mod 70 30-06. Now shoot a Mod 70, .300 WSM with a brake. 700 yds is my limit on elk, based on a minimum of 1500 ft lb of energy. My current load with a 181 gr Hammer Hunter, meets that criteria, as well as terminal performance. My second choice is the Federal 175 gr Terminal Ascent out to 650 yds. For elk, I'm a .30 cal fan, your choice of a Weatherby .30-06 is an excellent one. This forum is great place to learn about shooting, hunting and reloading.
Bull, you are an exception. Several of my hunting friends have retired from the hunt at around 80 even with ownership of a 30-06.
 
I have been using a 30-06 for hunting for the last 52 years, I started with a model 1903 that had been sporterized.
I started using 165 gr bullets and H205 powder back in the late 70's. Using 60 grains as per Nosler reloading manual, I was getting 3100 fps out of a Sako 24" Finnbear that my Father had. At the time it was equal to 165 gr 300 win mag factory ammo. I still use H205 today as I obtained an 8 lb Bag from a guy who bought it from a store in the 90's. He never opened the Box it came in. We opened it and smelled it for freshness, yes you can tell if it has gone bad from the smell. I now have 2 Sako Finnbears one made in 1963 or 1964 a 3 lug and one made in 1972 a 2 lug. Both shoot 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 using 60.5 grains of the new H205 powder. Checked by my Magneto Speed.
That bullet is not a great long range choice but with all the new high ballistic coefficient bullets out there today and some of the new powders for heavy 200+ bullets the 06 can certainly be used to take game such as Elk at 700 to 800 yards, maybe further depending on your skill.
 
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I have been using a 30-06 for hunting for the last 52 years, I started with a model 1903 that had been sporterized.
I started using 165 gr bullets and H205 powder back in the late 70's. Using 60 grains as per Nosler reloading manual, I was getting 3100 fps out of a Sako 24" Finbear that my Father had. At the time it was equal to 165 gr 300 win mag factory ammo. I still use H205 today as I obtained an 8 lb Bag from a guy who bought it from a store in the 90's. He never opened the Box it came in. We opened it and smelled it for freshness, yes you can tell if it has gone bad from the smell. I now have 2 Sako Finbears one made in 1963 or 1964 a 3 lug and one made in 1972 a 2 lug. Both shoot 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 using 60.5 grains of the new H205 powder. Checked by my Magneto Speed.
That bullet is not a great long range choice but with all the new high ballistic coefficient bullets out there today and some of the new powders for heavy 200+ bullets the 06 can certainly be used to take game such as Elk at 700 to 800 yards, maybe further depending on your skill.
I have a couple 1903s and A3s thats been placed in the rear of one of my safes. Only shot the ball ammo in them but you've given me an idea to try and load for them and see what happens.
 
I have ordered a 30-06 custom from Weatherby about a month ago.
I plan on shooting for fun and mostly targets.
But I will be learning to hunt. At 67 I figure it's never to late to learn, and I have a very experienced stepson to help.
(ELK)
But with what I'm seeing these days i must have chosen the wrong cartridge.
Maybe I should have gone 6.5 Cm or the new 6.8.
Or the 270 weatherby.
Your opinions are the reason for the post.
Newguy
Using a custom chamber with the right lead to the lands that maximizes your internal ballistics and a long enough magazine plus a 26in barrel a 30-06 can be set up to handle say 190gr-200gr Berger VLDs. With some of the newer powders you should have an easy time reaching 500yards with decent elk killing speed/power and maybe 700yards with easy deer killing speed/power. If most of your game shots are less than 500yard even a SAAMI spec 30-06 will do the job with the right 165/180 bullet. It would be fun to play with a 30-06 AI.
 
Using a custom chamber with the right lead to the lands that maximizes your internal ballistics and a long enough magazine plus a 26in barrel a 30-06 can be set up to handle say 190gr-200gr Berger VLDs. With some of the newer powders you should have an easy time reaching 500yards with decent elk killing speed/power and maybe 700yards with easy deer killing speed/power. If most of your game shots are less than 500yard even a SAAMI spec 30-06 will do the job with the right 165/180 bullet. It would be fun to play with a 30-06 AI.
Hornady 30-06 ammo with 180gr SST Superformance or 178gr ELD-X out of a normal 24" off the shelf rifle should give you 1500 ft/lbs of energy and about 1940 fps at 500 yards. That energy and velocity should work.
 
Hornady 30-06 ammo with 180gr SST Superformance or 178gr ELD-X out of a normal 24" off the shelf rifle should give you 1500 ft/lbs of energy and about 1940 fps at 500 yards. That energy and velocity should work.
As I said, 500 and under a lot of SAAMI loads and rifles will provide plenty of speed and power. An AI version would still be fun to play with.
 
Here's her bull and the bullet recovered It is a 150 Barnes TTX. She hit a rib going in took out the vitals turned left and was in the opposite hind quarters
 

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Must have too much time on my hands.
Anyway, here's a Strelok pro screenshot of the 7 RM 162g Eldx and 30-06 190g Ablr. Both zeroed at 300 yards.
This is just very close, the edge goes to the .284 bullets due to their BC advantage. 06 has over 1500ftlbs. energy past 600 yards, 7 has maybe 50 yard edge. I'm sure we could find closer BC bullets for .308
Pretty much a coin toss!
 

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I have ordered a 30-06 custom from Weatherby about a month ago.
I plan on shooting for fun and mostly targets.
But I will be learning to hunt. At 67 I figure it's never to late to learn, and I have a very experienced stepson to help.
(ELK)
But with what I'm seeing these days i must have chosen the wrong cartridge.
Maybe I should have gone 6.5 Cm or the new 6.8.
Or the 270 weatherby.
Your opinions are the reason for the post.
Newguy
A little late here, but 30-06 is my only hunting rifle for anything other than varmints. Yet, my Win 70 has put bullets between the eyes of coyotes at night.

There are definitely mightier rounds out there, but 30-06 (when there isn't a panic) can be found every where ammo is sold.

That can't be said of many modern cartridges. Also these cartridges kick harder, use more powder and have more expensive brass.

Unless you need something for extreme ranges, it should be adequate to the task.

I'm currently building a precision shooter for this cartridge on a Rem action. I hope the shooter is up to the task.

Enjoy your 06 and good hunting.
 
I have ordered a 30-06 custom from Weatherby about a month ago.
I plan on shooting for fun and mostly targets.
But I will be learning to hunt. At 67 I figure it's never to late to learn, and I have a very experienced stepson to help.
(ELK)
But with what I'm seeing these days i must have chosen the wrong cartridge.
Maybe I should have gone 6.5 Cm or the new 6.8.
Or the 270 weatherby.
Your opinions are the reason for the post.
Newguy
Definitely not. 30-06 one of the best and always will be . My old hunting partner , God bless him , used nothing else and he was not only a very good hunter but an excellent shot as well . You have made a very good choice .
my son shoots a Sako Finnlite in 30-06 and told me he would never lug around my 300 WM.
happy hunting .
 
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