I know there are trillions out there, hunted with, matches shot with them Even defended out Flag. I've alway kinda hated the 30-06, just seemed like a big O dinosaur, left so far in the dust buy all the new wave calibers. My buddy started with w TC Venture, 3006 , plastic stock, KICKED like a mule, I tried to talk him into a new 6.5 Creedmoor wizz-bag caliber (which he now owns in an very accurate XBOLT.

Back to the 3006. Never thought I would be in the market but I have found one with beautiful wood. Any new fangled loadings?? or like the .270, a case full of 4831 with a 130 speer spitzer crunched in it

Not sure the twist on this rifle, I assume 165-168 grain bullet range.

Loadings??

They will never die.

One of the favorite powders for .30-06 is H-4350, and a whole lot of it. That's a pretty quick burn rate for so much powder, therefore the significant recoil. Last year I developed a load for a customer's .30-06 using H-4350 and 178 ELD-X, and his .300 Win Mag using H-1000 adn 200 gr ELD-X. So that the barrels could cool in between, I shot them side by side. Three rounds through the 06' then three rounds through the Win Mag. The Win Mag had easier recoil due to the slower burn rate in my opinion.

H-4831 SC is what I would like to try next time in the 06'.

I hope they dont die but realistically they may slow down. My 3006 uses 56 gr 4350 for 165 partitions.

.30-06 is a classic and always will be. It will kill anything in NA, just make a good shot on your bear. I've shot some that were busters, but my buddy's Ruger 77 would put three 150gr Corelokts under a dime in 1988. If either of those cartridges fades, however, it will be the '06 first as there are more positives to the .308.

I second that, H4350 or H4831SC with a 178 ELDX
or a 180 Accubond.

Great stuff guys , thank you!!! I have found a rifle with the wood I'm looking for but its an '06 Never saw myself with one. I'll let you know what happens

I don't reload but with regard to the caliber itself. I use a .308 and love it. I am not good with recoil so I found a 125 grain ballistic tip that absolutely drops deer in their tracks and has very little recoil. I will hunt that gun until I cant shoot anymore

Depends on the definition of "dying".

I suspect that the market share of new rifles for the '06 and 308 is down from past years. But there are so many rifles out there in those cartridges, that ammo sales will be strong for the foreseeable future.

I’d rather my 270 be a 30-06 than what it is.

Brother bought a rem 700 long range in 30-06 2 years ago. It’s a good shooting rifle I worked up a real good load with H-4350 and 180 grain partitions at 2830 FPS per the magnetospeed. It stomped a few deer last season.

I actually have both, even have me a 30-30. A British friend of mine once asked why the redundancy. I basically replied American freedom means I don't need a reason why. 30-06 is because it was my first rifle in my early 20's to start hunting. I'm keeping this as my standard deer rifler probably forever. 308 is my tacticool rifle and feel like it's a long term training rifle. Figured there are better options, even when i bought my barrel, but I figured i should be able to shoot one of the better caliber even better later. I still don't regret the caliber choice.

I know at least about half a dozen or so people like me, started hunting as an adult, that have either 30-06 or 308. Especially if you consider the ar10 platform as well.

Buzz, we're all dying but like the 308 and 3006, I'll likely be here for decades to come.

Nope. They just don’t get much press these days.

Yes, they are dying. Terrible calibers. Send me all of yours and I promise to dispose of them responsibly.

30.06 is a lifer. Sako puts pretty wood on them. I do have several of all the new craze calibers and yes a 6.5CM but when fall roles around for deer, I still go back to that old 30.06 Sako. Just can't help it.

If you buy it, you'll likely be kicking yourself as soon as something pops up in a caliber you like. There are plenty of rifles with great wood in calibers you like if you are patient.

Just my 2 cents.

If you already bought it, disregard my previous post.

30-06 is a standard in hunting camps across the country because of performance. I don’t see that changing. It’s versatile and potent with manageable recoil. The readily available excellent selection of factory ammo as well as projectiles and brass for the hand loader add to its desirability. On game performance is undeniable without making the jump to a magnum. High volume target guys have better options but we are a minority in the shooting crowd.
.308 is here to stay as the mother of the short actions the target guys of today and women and children desire. It excels on the range and in the field. A great choice in the field as a hard hitting cartridge that the recoil shy can better handle. Like the .30-06 there is a great selection of both factory ammo and reloading components readily available.

Both cartridges also have a storied history of admirable performance in US military battle rifles.

Fireman, I have seen excellent results loading 165-168 Sierra’s in 30-06 with H4831sc.

I am an 06 fan. Been using one exclusively for cull hunts both here and abroad with great success for many years. Killed a lot of animals both here, South America and Africa. Shoot 110 grain TTSX at 3500 fps for whitetail and elk cows. Works like a charm. Never had one walk off. It is a lightning bolt. In Africa, I have tried all of the bullets and settled on the Swift A-frame. 180 grains at 2800 fps works on everything. It may not exit a buffalo, but the typical expanded A-frame will be on the opposite side. No problems with eland, kudu, giraffe, Wildes, gemsbok, hartebeest, zebras, etc... I did a test one time with a PH. We shot 5 wildebeest with each bullet. Tried A-frame, Scirocco, Partition, Pro Hunter, Speer round nose, Barnes TTSX, 240 grain Woodleigh. Result, they all worked. I use RL10X for 110 grains and H4350 for everything else. It just works for me. Remington Core Lokts work great for those that don't reload. You can walk into any gunshop around the world and buy .243, .308, .30-06, 7 x 57, .375 H& H.

my .02 the 30-06 is a fantastic to reload with (looking at the reload manuals) has anyone ever taken the time to experiment with different gr bullets?, most every one tries for one bullet.

Ive shot 125-220 grain out of an 06 and didn't have problems.

Another .308 note, for hunters.

It's still one of the best options inside 300 yards. I do not have a bolt action .308 anymore, but I do have a 16" DPMS. I call it my "sounder rifle" and it does its' job perfectly. I think the abundance of AR-10 type rifles chambered in .308 is a major factor in keeping the cartridge alive. Sure, the AR-10 platform can be rebarreled for .260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7mm-08. But, you will not find complete AR-10 type rifles on the market, in those cartridges, as abundant as the same rifles in .308 Win. Just look at the number of them for sale in the last few months on this fourm alone.

We've also had almost 70 years of .308 Win/ 7.62x51mm brass being produced. So brass is typically extremely available, and often inexpensive. It's parallel to the .223/ 5.56mm. If the military adopts it, or has in the past, it is usually here to stay. .30-06, .45 ACP, 7.62x51, 5.56mm, 9mm, .300 Win Mag. And we are going to see them put 6.5 Creedmoor on the list.

That's it, I'm sneaking across the border to Mexico. How can the worlds greatest military adopt that new fangled caliber? A 3030 is all they need.

rifle has 1-10 twist , so It should be great to load for

I don’t think either will ever completely die off. I do think that .308 is becoming the minority due to better rounds that use the same 7.62x51 case. I personally think the .308 caliber is unimpressive compared to 7-08, .260, and 6.5 Creed. My 7-08 AR is my favorite hunting rifle these days.

I cut my teeth on reading Jack O'Conner, and am a 270 guy. But he would tell you right up front, the 30-06 is a more versatile cartridge. The old 06 will be around a long time, and rightfully so. I just struck up an interest in the 308, and it also is a fine cartridge. I believe it is gaining in popularity.