With the 100 year aniversary of the 30-06 just 2 1/2 years away does anybody expect a re-surgence in the caliber...not that it's had any difficulty so far. I expect that most manufacturers will come out with a special aniversary model. I might just have to finally get an 06.

JAB, wouldn't surprise me a bit, you can never go wrong with an '06. I haven't had one for a while but I really like the Remington 7600 Synthetic carbine model. The only problem I'm having is my usual mental tug of war with my wallet and my conscience (I'm not cheap, just thrifty).

JAB, bet your right. It will be interesting to see how much commemorative ammo comes out too.

Two years ago I bought a case of IMR4895 to go along with the two kegs of surplus I already had. This fall I'll be looking for more. It is funny, because I didn't think I'd done that much shooting...then the realization dawned on me, I've got 5 .30-06's. Never thought that would happen!

packrat

I think it would be nice to see some offered with Anniversary engraving, higher grade of wood. Classic too.

How about a mod70 CRF with 24" barrel, sporter stock with no cheek piece or raised comb, just straight, but higher quality walnut. Tapped for scope but also having open sights with the rear one Lyman style, removable for when scope is installed, and some nice stuff, like barrel marked with caliber and years. Receiver marked anniversary model, and then steel floorplate with engraving listing stuff like, served in WWI, WWII etc.

Of course if Winchester did it the price would probably be outrageous. Real Cool though!

Red

Well, I kinda think of this as the centennial of the .30-06, since it is just a slight variation on the original .30 Caliber of 1903, and, after all, the rifle in which it was chambered was the the 1903 Springfield.

Wow...what a great excuse to buy a .30-06. I'm a big fan of the 06-Improved, er .270 Win, but have been meaning to get an 06 anyway, just always bypass it for other .30s. Grew up in PA where everybody & his brother used a Rem 760/7600 .30-06 pump.

I would love to see a 100 year commemerative model Rem pump in .30-06. Maybe even the carbine model, which I understand was made specifically for the demand in PA (more pump Rems sold in PA than all other states, at least used to be). It would have to have the high-gloss finish, complete with some kind of wild life scene engraved in the metal (deer & black bear).

-Lou

There will be no end to special articles about the '06 in all the gun rags.

I'm sure there'll be all sorts of centenial issues of rifles. And soon we will start to see articles where the writers jump the gun to be first. As far as a resurgence goes, isn't it still among the top ten in sale of dies? Also, whenever someone brings out a new rifle or starts up a new company isn't the first offering a 30-06. This isn't intended as a put down or anything like that, I just think so much has been written about the 06 and everyone is so aware of the 06's attributes that there isn't a whole lot to be said that hasn't been said and said and said. Most of us in these rooms like to talk about our latest .273.5 whizbang but most of us have a couple of 06's tucked away. Even tho they don't get used much 'cause we know what they can do and we know that they can be depended on to do it day in and day out.

What do you mean just a couple of '06 tucked away....I have six of them!!!

I still have not found anything the old warhorse won't kill if you pick the proper bullet..It will work wonders on a Lion or a Alaskan bear with a 220 gr. round nose Woodleigh or Nosler, with a solid I would shoot elephant and buffalo and have shot buffalo with that load...So have a couple of the gentler sex on our Safaris.

It only has one criteria and that is the shooter must shoot it well when the beast presents itself.

If I could only have one gun and one load to walk across Africa, it would be a 6.5 lb. mauser iron sighted 30-06 loaded with 220 gr. Woodleigh solids.

Happy Birthday ole girl, I know I have forsaken you for bigger and better, but I never have doubted your many times proven capability. You served me well for many years and you rest now in my gun cabinet in a place of honor, your worn and haggered, you have been accused of being stainless steel, but we know your blue is just gone and your stock is old and scuffed, more like a piece of driftwood, but I will never refinish you, we both look alike and we earned that look, and every scratch or wrinkle has a memory to us that cannot be erased. We will hunt again this year, I promise you that.

Ray, very nice little poem. A fitting tribute to a rifle caliber that can (and has) been everywhere and done everything. Can't wait to see a centennial '06.
I'm also looking a few years farther forward for another 100th anniversary, the Colt 1911.
Why is it, that in this day and age, with all the computers, engineers, and other resources available, that the almost century-old calibers are still some of the most popular?

Rick

[ 07-09-2003, 20:34: Message edited by: Rick Koehler ]

Let us not forget, that first and foremost, the 30-06 began its life as a military caliber. In that regard, the US Cartridge, Ball, Model of 1906 has done all that its fatherland has ever asked, and then some.

It would be nice if our enemies once again felt its power.

Here in the Northeast USA the 30/06 remains a favorite. It's my favorite cartridge and that of many of my hunting friends.

The 30-06 Springfield is truly an historic cartridge.

In reloading die sales the 30-06 is the most popular of any cartridge.

Rick,
Because in those days you didn't have "bean counters" right out of college running or rather ruining the gun making business..

Back when things were good, They gave us the pre 64 M-70, the 1911 Colt, the colt SA, the old 5 screw Smiths, the Savage 99 EG and F, the 1886, 71 and 94s,the Enfield, Springfield, Mauser, they made guns back then, they had quality control, rust blue, walnut stocks and no sales reps of questionable birth.....Folks back then demanded and got quality, otherwise you went under..Todays gunnies accept with ignorance and are happy as a pig in s--t. Production costs are up, but they advertise us into buying junk with promotional schemes...and this applies to a lot of things besides guns...

I do not own a modern production gun and don't intend to...

Just today I saw an add in the paper "30-06 $300". So I bought a Remington 700ADL with a composite stock,glass bedded, free floated barrel with a Burris Signature 3-9x. Barrel was filthy but is now gleaming, and so am I. My first 30-06 and I needed it like a hole in the head but.........oh what the heck, I needed it !

Happy Birthday to my new (used) 30-06