OK, so yet again I'm considering putting together one rifle to do 90% of the hunting I plan, hope and dream, to do in the next 5 or so years and wanted some input.

I guess the place to start is to list the hunts I'd like to do with this "Holy Grail" of rifles. So, I hope to complete a couple of the NA "Slams", BTW I'm not real fond of that word and aint into record keeping. But I would like to hunt the remaining NA deer (mule, columbia blacktail, stika blacktail and coues) and caribou (mountain, woodland and central barren ground). I also hope to do at least one moose hunt, we're talking about going to New Zealand for red stag/fallow deer in the next couple of years and we have a deposit on another trip to Africa, where I would use this rifle for plains game. Plus I'm always open for a black bear hunt and NA antelope.

Now for the rifle I have in mind. After years of owning and hunting with different makes of rifles I've found a few likes and dislikes I personally have when it comes to a rifle fo me. Even though I love the look and feel of a nice classic wood stock I'm just too hard on them and after a few hunts a wood stock wouldn't be pretty any more, so this rifle will wear either a McMillan or a Rimrock stock. Barrel length, no matter the caliber, will be 24" because thats what I like. I've also learned the value of having iron sights on a rifle so this one will have them. As to the action I wouldn't have a problem with either a Remington BDL or an older Sako and don't want to get into the PF vs CRF thing. Both barrel and action will be matte finished. Which leaves the real burning question... which caliber? 30-06 or 300win.?

If you can't kill 'em with a .30-06, then a .300 Winchester won't help. And there's no better way to celebrate the '06 centennial than by building an '06!

While I can't argue with Mikey's basic point, I am a 300 Win man all the way. 130 TSX for game under 350 lbs and any decent 200 gr bullet for bigger stuff. Just what I settled into that when I finally asked myself the same question.

I usually post on the big bore forum and build Mausers for fun but I hunt with a push feed 300 Win Colt Light Rifle with a ULA stock that only holds two down. Go figure.

Mark,

Tough question, requires much pondering. But after 5 seconds, I beleive I would go with a 300 wsm. Can be built lightweight as it sounds like you plan on a lot of walking. Shoot 150 grain to 200 grain bullets depending on the specifics and range. As much as I hate to admit it, as I am fairly conservative in my rifle leanings, I believe that this would be the way I would go today if starting from scratch. The extra length and weight I save in the shorter action, I would make it a 25" barrel.

Model 70 classic action, stainless steel barrel, McMillan Supergrade stock, Talley rings and bases, Swarovski PH 1.5-6X 42mm.

In 30-06.

And practice with it a lot.

Sounds to me like a 280 Remington would be better. But given the two choices, I would go '06. Why? It'll fit more rounds and todays powders give it an edge where the magnums aren't that significant anymore!
With a 24" tube You could be pleasantly surprised with an '06.

I'm with .336torque. Curent 30-06 loads are pretty wimpy due to all the older rifles still around. However, with a proper powder in a modern action, 2800 FPS is attainable and that puts it the .300 H&H mag. category, which is a pretty nice category.
I think Federal has dropped their High Energy loads, but Hornady may still be making their Light Magnum ammo. That stuff, IIRC, runs a bit faster than 2800 FPS, but I'd have to look it up.
I have to agree with Col. Whelen who once said, "The 30-06 is never a mistake." JMHO.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyB:
If you can't kill 'em with a .30-06, then a .300 Winchester won't help. And there's no better way to celebrate the '06 centennial than by building an '06!

what mikey b and vapodog said x3, sure glad i had her built,i''m smilein every time that Kepplinger trigger break''s build one up join the Party.... ...jjmp

I have 6 custom 30'06 including 2 built by big names & 1 finished this year... I never hunt with them, they are simply too pratical do it all guns so the only reason to shoot them is for practice. A 180 gr bullet with 57.0 gr of h4350 will do anything I want to do & all my rifles shoot it well. I mostly hunt with a 257 roberts & 35 whelen. I have a custom 300 win mag that has never been in the field.

The 06 is a great gun as I have 3 I also have a 300WM both are quite versatal for all game but if I had to take one it would be the 300WM just because your getting 200-400 FPS more which equates to trejectory.

So flip a coin as you can't go wrong with either.

You can't go wrong with either...but,

300 WM gets my vote.

It will do everything the -06 will do. But it will do it at a farther.

Or the -06 will do anything the WM will do, except closer.

You have to decide on your style of hunting and what fits you. But you are going to be covering a lot of different terrrain types.

No matter how versatile the -06 is, the WM is more so, simply because of velocity.

IMO that is the only difference.

On your search for the graile the 30-06 should suit you fine....but if that isn't to your liking there's another almost equivalent round.....it's the 280 Remington.

If I could go back in firearms history and change any one thing it'd be that the military round developed in 1903 (later in 1906) was for a .284 diameter bullet and had a shorter neck.....somewhat like a Gibbs round.

quote:

No matter how versatile the -06 is, the WM is more so, simply because of velocity.

Which is dependent on your proficiency with the rifle and an '06 is a bit more user friendly which generally equates to more practice.

And practice isn't shooting paper off a benchrest IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
You can't go wrong with either...but,
No matter how versatile the -06 is, the WM is more so, simply because of velocity.
IMO that is the only difference.

Do you really believe that SDh ? roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
You can't go wrong with either...but,
No matter how versatile the -06 is, the WM is more so, simply because of velocity.
IMO that is the only difference.

Do you really believe that SDh ? roger

Well, It's not the only difference, But a 280fps difference in Muzzle velocity, in like loads, means significant energy downrange. At 500 yds it's nearly 25% more "E"

collins, that so called fps difference can shrink very fast with a custom barrel of longer length,my 27.25 inch Hart barrel pushs 155s@3075 fps,165@2900 to 2965 fps, 168s@2960 fps,175s@2920 fps,180 partitions and speer deep shocks@2860 and 2855 fps, i''d say thats very impressive ??? wouldn''t you? not flameing you or anyone, but stop and think theres different ways of looking at everything! sooooooooooo by happy mon and re-load and shoot safely...... to one and all.. jjmp

For what you want, my choice would be a H-S Precision sporter or preferably a professional hunting rifle if I didn't mind the extra half pound weight.

I would chamber it in 7mm WSM.

http://www.hsprecision.com/new_phr.htm

quote:

Originally posted by jjmp:
collins, that so called fps difference can shrink very fast with a custom barrel of longer length,my 27.25 inch Hart barrel pushs 155s@3075 fps,165@2900 to 2965 fps, 168s@2960 fps,175s@2920 fps,180 partitions and speer deep shocks@2860 and 2855 fps, i''d say thats very impressive ??? wouldn''t you? not flameing you or anyone, but stop and think theres different ways of looking at everything! sooooooooooo by happy mon and re-load and shoot safely...... to one and all.. jjmp

Then to be honest, you have to measure it against a 27.25 inch 300 Win mag. We're talking catridges, not barrels.

Also, the difference in felt recoil between a 30-06 and a 300 Win in equal weight rifles is negligible. Anyone who can become proficient with one can handle the other with the same amount of hunting-style practice.

You won't go wrong with either of your cartridge choices.

I would concentrate on getting the rifle perfect for you above and beyond the chambering. I think that with the rifle you are describing you have about a half pound of practical difference between the two chamberings to end up with the same felt recoil. Maybe a pound if you aren't particularily sensitive to recoil. I would opt for the McMillan stock and go with the Edge choice at that.

That said I would choose the .300 WM (standard old version) for its trajectory and time of flight advantages over the 06.

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
You can't go wrong with either...but,

300 WM gets my vote.

It will do everything the -06 will do. But it will do it at a farther.

Or the -06 will do anything the WM will do, except closer.

You have to decide on your style of hunting and what fits you. But you are going to be covering a lot of different terrrain types.

No matter how versatile the -06 is, the WM is more so, simply because of velocity.

IMO that is the only difference.

I'll second that.

Way I see it......the 30-'06 is a magnificent round. The .300 Win is all that & more.

The 30/06 does more for me,then the 300win mag. I've got both in the same configuration,24 inch barrel and M700 action. The 300 kicks more no doubt about it. Neither is what you could consider a hard kicking rifle.

You'll spend a lifetime trying to wear out an 06. You can burn a 300 up in less then 3000 rds,which is also a lifetime for most.

I've never seen a bit of differance in killing power between the two. A friend of mine shoots a 300 and over the past twenty years I've seen him kill an elk,antelope and deer every year. None fell any quicker then the 06 killed animals. In fact,I've seen more dramatic kills with the .270 and 150 grain partitions.

Very few people can utilize the extra range offered by the .300 mag under field conditions and a good rifleman with an 06 can operate at the same ranges. I've never met anyone who was actually a capable rifleman that felt handicapped with an 06 over a 300. I've seen the 06 used out to 500 yards on elk many times with deadly results.

And one can get the 30-06 is a featherweight or light mountain rifle.....but not the 300 mag.

To me it's a easy one....the old 30-06 wins!

Depends on how wide of a do it all universe you are talking about, how much rifle weight you are talking, your recoil tolerance, and especially how much you practice.

I have a 30-06 do it all. It is loaded with 165 grain Partitions.

I have a 300 Win Mag do it all loaded with 180 grain North Forks.

The 30-06 is the perfect do it all for the lower 48, and plains game hunting where there no stomp you or gore you animals around.

For Alaska I take the 300 (or a 416 if I'm going to be hunting the thick stuff near rivers in Salmon season).

Define where and what you plan to hunt, and the decision will make itself for you.

LD

I own both cal. and love both ,Kinda like loven two ladies never know which to take out . A lot depends on the expected range and recoil tolerence. If it is going to be a light sporter I would opt for the 06 in a heavier piece the .300 is the one. In my guns the .300wm has an edge in the accuracy dept .
Wayles

.30-06 in a 24" barrel with good handloads and good bullets is a winner. I love the .300 WM, but when I think of the Holy Grail for North American big game, I always think of the '06. So what if it's "boring"? So what if the paper ballistics aren't as hot as it's Magnum brother? For a rifle for 90% of the hunting anyone in North America would do, an '06 is hard to top. With a feathery stock and light accessories, there is a noticeable difference in recoil (with heavier guns I find the difference to be less pronounced). It's just IMHO however, the .30-06 has only reigned supreme for a hundred years...

That being said, what do you plan on using for the other 10% of the hunting you plan on doing?

tiggertate,you talk honesty, the 300 holds on average 20 grains more powder than the 06s.....surely you''d grant me 5.25 inchs of extra barrel length to each his own..jjmp

One advantage of the .30-06 is that most factory models will hold 5 down and one in the spout.

While this is seldom an issue with deer or elk or sheep hunting it becomes a factor when shooting hogs at times and could be a consideration in a defensive bear situation.

I've got both they are both fine rounds.

Use what you like, like what you use.

Two things to consider.
One, how far do you walk/stalk? Is weight an issue? If so, the '06 will be a lot easier to shoot at the light weight of a "hiking-rifle."
Two, how far is your maximum range? If inside 250 yard, there is no reason under the sun you need a Magnum.

Remember, todays bullets and powdershave given the '06 a bigger potential than the .300 WinMag had 20 years ago!