Next year is a big year for me, I'm a Lewis and Clark nerd (200 years in 2006) and a .30-06 fan (100 years)

I've been working on a nice historical map of the L&C expedition so that end is covered, but I'd like to celebrate the -06 by purchasing a "quintessential" rifle.

What was the original rifle the caliber was released in?

M1 Garand is a great description of the rifle, so that is not just in the running, but pretty highly ranked for me.
I really like single shots, maybe a Ruger #1 or Browning 1885, but that's not really a rifle you think of when you mention the -06.
Winchester 70?

Any ideas, thoughts?
Thanks-
Shane

1903 Springfield would be a lot closer to "the origional" 30-06 than the Garand.
The 30-03 round (7.62x64mm) with it's 220g roundnose bullet was the short lived forefather to the 30-06 (7.62x63m) with it's 150gr spitzer bullet.
The '03 Springfields had there barrels shortened by 1 thread and were rechambered (to eliminate shorten the throats) to match the new cartridge.

Crap, I can't believe I forgot the 03 Springfield. Good catch. Hard to say if a beat-up, abused rifle that you wish could talk about the last 100 year would be an improvment over a new, never issued rifle or even a sporter.

Of course the Springfield 03, BUT I think the 30-06 and M70 go together like Apple Pie and the Fourth of July.

If one was to build a commorative .30-06 next year it would be appropriate to do so in a springfield action.

However I suspect there will be several commoratives offered. Remington has already announced theirs.....I believe Kimber has as well.

Any bets that the Springfield armory will offer one?????

Depends on what you want it for of course. For hunting I'd go with a M-70, but for a strictly commemorative fun shooter it would have to be the Springfield 1903. And they don't have to be beat up or abused. Here are some beauties:

http://www.nationalmatcharmory.com/

Kinda spendy, I know, but if you're a do it yourselfer you could get pretty decent results for less. I recently restored a previously sporterized 1903 to original military configuration with pretty decent results. It's not the best picture, but you can see it here: (along with a few other toys...)

http://home.earthlink.net/~montea6b/images/Range.jpg

Hey, that was my first post! "Allow myself to introduce... aah, forget it!"

Anyhow, I've been lurking on occasion for a while now and didn't realize I'd never posted.

I thought SCW's idea was neat. My wife is homeschooling the kids and teaching them about Lewis and Clark, so that and the recent 1903 project I finally completed this summer got me to chime in.

My 30-06 commorative is a little odd. I am using a 1918 GEW 98 action. The stock will be a copy of a pre 64 M70. I am going to call it German engineering, American design and English Walnut.

I think the 1903 springfield NRA sporter would be the obvious choice.

Having said that, I would go for a winchester 54 or a remington model 30. I think these two were the first American sporting rifles chambered in 30.06.

Weagle

quote:

Originally posted by weagle:
I think the 1903 springfield NRA sporter would be the obvious choice.

Having said that, I would go for a winchester 54 or a remington model 30. I think these two were the first American sporting rifles chambered in 30.06.

Weagle

I couldn't have said it better.

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:

quote:

Originally posted by weagle:
I think the 1903 springfield NRA sporter would be the obvious choice.

Having said that, I would go for a winchester 54 or a remington model 30. I think these two were the first American sporting rifles chambered in 30.06.

Weagle

I couldn't have said it better.

MY thoughts too but I would add the 1895 lever action. It came in both 30-03 and 30-06.

If it were that easy though, I would personally go with the 1917 BAR just because!

Not the first rifle chambered for 30-06, but I would pick an 1895 Winchester. You might also be able to find one in 30-03 if you looked a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
Not the first rifle chambered for 30-06, but I would pick an 1895 Winchester. You might also be able to find one in 30-03 if you looked a bit.

And, if I'm not mistaken, I think the 1895 Winchester was the first "civilian" rifle chambered for the .30-03 and the .30-06. (.30-03 in 1905 / .30-06 in 1908)

-Bob F.

After growing up in PA, the "quintessential" 06 would have to be a pump Remington. I know Remington is offering a special edition for 2006.

-Lou

Kimber's doing a classic 30'06 for this year...some dealers have them on the shelves right now

Make mine a model 70 but I hope all companies make one just out of respect.


Don

Would you laugh at me if I said Savage 110?

Altho a dandy, I associate the 1895 Winchester with the .405 and President Roosevelt, not so much the .30-06. Still a good choice tho...

Most 1895's produced by Winchester were chambered for 7.62x54r.

Dakota is doing an -06 in their 76 bolt action Classic and also in their Model 10 single shot. I suspect everyone will get on the band wagon. For me, my Model 700 Classic that started out as a brand new 700 BDL in .30-06 in 1972 still shoots into less than an inch @ 100 yards so I don't need a new one

Rich Elliott