Is the 30-06 really good for everything on the NA Continent?

Question

If so, what grain bullets should be used for each game animal? Thanks.

Answer 1

It sure is.  General rule of thumb, the bigger the animal, the heavier the bullet.  150 grain bullets are adequate for deer sized animals.  Heavier bullets, and boat tail bullets are less affected by wind.  A little personal note....my Dad used his 1903 for every thing, other than bird hunting.  Rabbits were taken with a head shot...Dad never missed....and no meat was wasted.

Answer 2

No  shoot a dove with one and see what you have.

ohhhhh no doves.

i prefer a 25-06 with 180 grain. Mauser action,heavy barrel.

next would be an 8mm Mauser.

30-06 is a good all around gun for big game.

Answer 3

I use the ought 6 for all big game animals, but I have never hunted Brown Bear, or big cats. I would say that the ought 6 is all you need for cats, but I would use something bigger for brown bear. I have known people who used a modern made 45-70 for brown bear, utilizing high pressure loads in 400 to 500 grains. I also heard of guides in Alaska that use 12 gauge smooth bore shotguns utilizing 3 inch magnum slug loads.

Based on my experience with guns and shooting, I would say a minimum of a 338 would do, and would feel better if the cal was a 400 or better pushing at least 400 grains to 2000fps, for the big bears.

If you don't plan on hunting brown bear, the ought-6 is a great choice. I have killed Elk, Black Bear, and Moose with ease. I used a bonded 180 grain for the Moose and Black bear, and a 168 grain Barnes on the Elk.

The 30-06 is used on large African Game as well. It is not an Elephant gun, but is used on Zebra, Lion, and other large animals weighing up to 1500 lbs.

The 30-06 is so popular that many bullet manufacturers make an array of bullet types to accommodate the gun as an all purpose killer.

I like Federal for the bonded rounds, Hornady for Deer, and Cor-Bon for the Barnes X.

I think that if you want one gun for all sorts of game, and plan to shoot reasonable distance, the ought-6 is the best choice.

Answer 4

Of course not. You can't hunt small game birds with it, and it's needlessly powerful for a lot of other small game. Likewise, though it can kill a large brown bear, it won't reliably stop one, so unless you don't mind becoming grizzly p**p it isn't a good choice there. It's at its best with medium game and soft-skinned non-dangerous big game. You'll get arguments on these choices, but my thinking is 150 grain bullets for pronghorn, 165 for whitetail or mule deer, and for hogs, and 180 for elk and moose. With the premium 180's, there's less reason for the larger bullets than there once was.

Answer 5

It's not much good on rabbits or squirrels, but anything larger it will do the job. Although the larger bears and moose may take a couple of rounds in the right place. As to the size of the slug, remember the bigger animal needs a bigger slug.  For elk, moose and large bear, 220 grain. for deer, antelope, small elk 180 grain.  For small deer 160 or 170.  Buffalo?  Is there an open season on them or even a drawing? For sheep and goats 160 or 170.  I'm kind a out of the loop lately. Lost 3 partners to illness in 4 years.  

Answer 6

It is a questionable cartridge for use against grizzly and moose.

Answer 7

The 30-06 was designed to shoot through an earthen embankment, and then through a steel helmet. It is a semi-magnum in powder room size, and therefore overpowered for anything smaller than big elk. But with a good reloading manual, you can match the ballistics for the job at hand. For short range deer woods hunting, where you can't even see much more than 100 yards, and shots average 70 yards nationwide for all deer taken, duplicating the old 30-30 specs will reduce the killer recoil to not mess with your aim. Unless you have a sexual connection with that recoil, in which case, enjoy. Next up is duplicating 308 specs for that mule deer hunt, or medium elk. A big elk you probably couldn't lift a quarter of, so let's be real about this! The chances of you needing the full power of a 30-06 are contingent upon the help of friends in dealing with all that carcass. Of course nothing is stopping you from using it on gophers either, if that's your idea of a good time. But do marvel at all those who are brainwashed into thinking that nearly blowing a deer in half is "just right for deer!" Regards, Larry.

Answer 8

Just to make things clear, I am an opinionated old f**t.  I started hunting over 45 years ago and am an "Old School" guy.  That said, here's my opinion mixed with some experience.

A .270 is nothing but an -06 necked down to .27 caliber.  A man whose name I can't recall has taken ever game animal in the world with one of them.  He managed to make at least one single shot kill on every specie; including a full grown African Elephant as well as an adult rhinoceros.  I must tell you a secret though.  That feat speaks more highly of the hunter than the caliber.  Many of his shots were at very close range.  At least in my opinion 10 to 15 yards from a charging elephant is very close range.

That said, I shoot an -06 improved.  It is simply a 30-06 with a sharper shoulder in the chamber.  You can shoot standard ammo and it will fire form to the new chamber then when you reload using the correct dies you have the improved casing.  I grab one of five rifles for all my hunting and to this point it has all been in NA.  

Coyotes and similar size animals get treated to a .223 slug.  I get there either with a .223 rifle or with the 30-06 shooting a sabot round with a .223 packaged in the sabot.  

Smaller animals are usually taken with a .22 long rifle.  Rabbits, squirrels and so forth.  I actually have two in this caliber.  An autoloader I use for plinking, fun hunting and targets of opportunity.  Then I have a bull barreled target rifle that will cut clover leafs or shoot 10 shot groups into a dime at 100 yards.  When I really need to fill the pot, that bull barrel and some CCI mini mags gets the assignment.

I like the -06 for deer unless the ranges start stretching out.  When that happens, the 7 MM Remington Mag comes out of the closet.  It is my plains rifle.  When the shots will exceed 250 yards I will shoot the 7 MM.  It is a good flat shooter and really shines from 200 to 600 yards.  A better man with a rifle could get more range I'm sure but my abilities fall off sharply beyond 500 so I tend to limit my shots to that envelope.  Light bullets fired at barrel burning velocities are my favorite round for any rifle I own.  I love those 350 to 500 yard shots at varments.  It takes some reading the environment to be successful at those ranges with that small a target.  I guess it the challenge that keeps me coming back.

A heavy bullet in the 7 MM or 30-06 is adequate for moose, musk ox or bison.

When I hunt bear, especially animals in the Kodiak, Grizzle, Brown Bear or Polar Bear class I want a "GUN".  So far we have only discussed "guns".  When the animals get big and potentially dangerous, I pull out my old .458 Winchester Mag.  A 500 grain slug is all I fool with in this caliber.  They make a 350 grain slug and I could load it down to 45-90 performance but I would prefer my 06 to the performance of a 45-90.

So generally speaking, if you are an excellent shot, and a better than average stalker with patience enough to wait for the right shot the 30-06 will do it all but it hinges more on your ability that that of the round or rifle.

For general hunting, I.E. deer and other game in the 100 to 200 living weight class I would shoot 180 grain projectile.  I like the partitioned Nosler Bullets because even if they come apart, the base holds together as a single pill and penetrates deep into the animal's vital organs.  I like the 220 grain for Caribou, Elk, Moose and similar sized game including Black Bear.  You can kill a Grizzle, Brown, and Kodiak if you like but as I said earlier, personally I want a GUN for that work.  When the deer drop below 100 pounds or you change game to something in the 50 to 100 pound class I would recommend a 150 grain slug.  In my experience it does less damage.  If you want the real light weigh varmint stuff; prairie dogs and so forth look into the sabot rounds with 55 grain .223 slugs.

It is said opinions are like @$$ holes.  Everyone has one and they all stink.  Well by now you have had the opportunity to get a good whiff of mine.  I hope it at least gave you something to think about.

Answer 9

Absolutely True.* Can also be used on various Big game animals in Africa also.* The vast Majority of Big Game Animals are Harvested within 100 yards or less.*