I have a .30-06 remington and I feel it is a good all around gun but am I living in the past and should I update from a bolt action to semi. automatic. I have killed plenty of deer i am just wondering.
2007-01-29 15:19:42 · 14 answers · asked by bluebeest 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
The .30-06, in it's 100 year lifespan, has continued to prove itself time and time again. You just cannot deny it's great performance. If it works great for you then why change. Rest assured that the majority of the country also uses a .30-06 with success just as you do.
Bolt actions are the most accurate actions, the safest actions, the simpliest actions, and the most reliable actions. I don't see the need to change over.
2007-01-29 15:32:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
First off 30-06 is powerful enough to kill anything in North America and I know several people who big game hunt overseas and use a 30-06. It's probably the finest round ever and that's why it's been around so long. Not like the short lived WSM's or WSSM's that you can't hardly give away now. As for a semi auto rifle, they are significantly less accurate than a bolt action and will cost more to maintain. They are an inferior weapon, ESP the BAR, Benelli and Rem 7400. They all okay to shoot large game up to 150 yards but that's becaure large game have a large kill zone. A bolt action 30-06 is has been and will always be an accurate, dependable and inexpenive weapon to operate. You're friends are probably buying large caliber semi auto weapons to compensate for other short comings.
2007-01-31 20:31:24 · answer #2 · answered by jmmccollum 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is not a thing wrong with your .30-06. I certainly wouldn't move to a semi auto for a deer rifle. So long as the rifle still shoots accuratly with properly chosen bullets for deer hunting I'd be satisfied. The old round has hardly lost anything to some of the magnum boomers you see and unless you are going after elk in a serious way I'd stick with the .30-06. Even for elk it will work just fine but you might have to limit your shots a bit compared to what someone with say a .325 WSM might take. But not a whole lot.
Good luck.
2007-02-01 23:42:32 · answer #3 · answered by Christopher H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why? Expecting a war? There's nothing wrong with a single-shot for deer hunting. The bolt-action is much more firepower (and the '06 is more cartridge) than you need for that purpose. My favorite deer guns are a 7x57 bolt gun and a 348 lever action, so if you're living in the past, then I'm a dinosaur. And look how popular the 45-70 has become again in the past few years.
2007-01-30 11:10:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just have a few questions for you, as my answer.
How many times have you had to take a second shot with that .30-06 bolt?
Ever missed one because you weren't fast enough?
How many times has that .30-06 jammed on you or failed to eject?
How many deer have you missed because your old .30-06 wasn't accurate enough?
My answers are:
Rarely....been a long, long time.
No
Never
None....I missed and it's my fault, not the rifle.
==============
I'm in the camp that feels that semi-auto rifles are for target shooters, plinkers and the like and that hunters who rely on accuracy use bolts. Also, while I own automatics, I TRUST a bolt-action to fire when I've spent six months worth of savings and a lot of time an effort getting me in range of a big furry critter.
I'm also a big, big fan of the .30-06 round and while a lot of newer rounds have good characteristics, nothing has yet made the old '06 obsolete.......... especially if you find yourself in Van Horn, Texas and the only store open at 2:30 am is the gas station and they only carry .22, .308 and .30-06.
2007-01-30 00:54:59 · answer #5 · answered by DJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I prefer a .308 to a .30-06, but if I already had a good .30-06 and was satisfied with how it shoots I would keep it and not think about "updating".
As for the semiautomatics, I have a few but still hunt deer with a bolt action. I plan to shoot one deer one time, and have seen too much evidence that people get sloppy with semis and mess up their first shot because they think they can get a quick follow up. to me that shows disrespect for the animals we hunt, and i want clean, quick kills with as little sufferring as possible.
If you are looking for an excuse to get a new gun, get a Ruger model 77 in .308, and make it the all weather one with a stainless steel barrel and a synthetic stock. The .308 is usually more accurate than the .30-06 and ifr you reload you can get cheap brass for it. Then you can retire the old .30-06 and keep it as an heirloom from your "good old days" to be passed on to another person who loves hunting and our American freedom.
2007-01-29 23:48:46 · answer #6 · answered by mountainclass 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not the gun or cartridge that is most important. The most important thing is the guy/gal behind the gun. Are you confident and capable with that bolt action 30-06? Is it capable of doing what you need to do? Then it's the best gun for you.
To put it another way, my main gun is a lever action rifle. I shoot it a lot and know it well. I am confident that I can shoot minute-of-milk-carton out to 200 yards with iron sights. (That is plenty far for this old guy.) I can shoot 6 rounds in 3.5 seconds. Anywhere that sells ammo, has ammo for my gun. ;-)
Do you need another gun? No. Do you want another gun? Well....
Semi-autos can be very particular as to ammo, are mechanically complex, are easily jammed and the gas ports clog. They are my last choice in a rifle.
2007-01-30 10:17:14 · answer #7 · answered by TubeDude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bound's hubby here:
The .30-06 is a great cartridge. I have 3 M1903s and 4 M1s chambered for the .30-06.
Given the choice, I will pick the .308 or the .223 for rifle competition and the .308 for hunting over the .30-06. However, once I am limited to possessing a single cartridge or rifle for my shooting needs, I will turn always to the .30-06. It is a known performer. My match tuned Garands and match tuned Springfields place the bullet where I want it all the time. They are dependable and reliable. Be the target paper, varmint, enemy of the state, large game, or bruin I know the '06 is up to the challenge and will be king of the hill.
You have a fine rifle and cartridge combination. You do not have to upgrade unless you want to.
Good luck.
2007-01-30 07:30:20 · answer #8 · answered by gonefornow 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This year I shot two dear in a matter of seconds with my Remington 30-06 the hunters with me thought I had a semi auto rifle. It happened that fast. You Don't need a reason to buy anew rifle go buy something different if you think you need it . It is really your decision. I buy anew rifle every year just to try something new. I enjoy having new and they do not have to cost a fortune to own. I have single shots to semi autos and probably have had more fun with the single shots. Good Luck and have great day
2007-02-01 22:56:56 · answer #9 · answered by rczurcher2000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 03 Springfield in .30-06 and it still gets out there150 yards or better with open sights i just love it and people at the range stop by and look at it. Good round stick with the bolt action less problems.
2007-01-30 10:57:09 · answer #10 · answered by L J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋