Im just thinking of what kind of species I would, or could not hunt with a 30-06 and the right bullets.

Elephant
Rhino
Buffalo
Lion
Leopard
Tiger

So, thats 6 species that one cant hunt with the 30-06. Even though with 220grain softs and solids I would not hesitate to hunt them ( they have been used effectivly in culing operations ), with PH standing behind me with a large bore rifle.

So why cant I stop thinking of upgrading my 30-06 to a 9.3x62 / 375 H&H or 458 Lott or 470 double. Why not instead use the 2-4000$ saved instead on practise ammunition, or using it on expensive hunting trips.

Quail
Dove
Pigeon
Turkey No, that one's okay here in Texas.

Leopards run well under 200 lbs, mostly under 150, and are better taken with a .30-06 using a relatively light, quickly-expanding bullet than with heavier rifles.

Lions aren't really very tough, I'm told. Lots of them have been taken with modest .30 calibers like the .303 British.

Although I wouldn't decline to hunt them if all I had was a .30-06, the larger plains species such as giraffe (in particular) and eland can soak up a lot of bullet energy. A giraffe heart is about the size of a No. 10 washtub. A single bullet through it sometimes doesn't disrupt its function very quickly. I would much rather shoot leopard with a .30-06 and giraffe with a .375 H&H than the opposite.

The reason that you feel compelled to "upgrade" to a larger caliber has to do with the unquenchable instinct to acquire, an instict that is intellectually supported by rationalizing a "need" for a larger gun .

You bring up a good question here. A cousin of mine who hunted Africa 2 years ago, told me about a hunting partner who used 4 or 5 shots with a 9.3x62 on a Giraffe.. and all where good hits. I belive they finnished it of with a 458 Lott.

Damn those insticts..I spent most of the day looking at Merkel drilling and double rifles... and of course I could always need a Blaser K95 for hunting the steep mountainsides.

The only problem is I dont nearly hunt enough to justify spending $20.000 on three hunting rifles (including optics) that could be my hunting battery for life..

Those $20.000 could buy ( reloding ) some 15.000 hunting rounds.. or some 30.000 practise rounds.

quote:

Originally posted by Nortman:
Im just thinking of what kind of species I would, or could not hunt with a 30-06 and the right bullets.

Elephant
Rhino
Buffalo
Lion
Leopard
Tiger

So, thats 6 species that one cant hunt with the 30-06. Even though with 220grain softs and solids I would not hesitate to hunt them ( they have been used effectivly in culing operations ), with PH standing behind me with a large bore rifle.

So why cant I stop thinking of upgrading my 30-06 to a 9.3x62 / 375 H&H or 458 Lott or 470 double. Why not instead use the 2-4000$ saved instead on practise ammunition, or using it on expensive hunting trips.

The beauty of a 375H&H is that it can do all that the 30-06 can do and do the six you listed well and legally - though light for elephant and rhino and also light for hippo out of the water.

So if Africa ia a major destination for you, well... If not, you'd be nuts to trade out.

JPK

With some practice, I have found that I can shoot a .375 as well as a .30-06.

And there is nothing I wouldn't hunt with a .375. Not that it would be my first choice on elephant, hippo or buffalo, mind you.

But then again, I have found that with some practice, I can shoot a .500 as well as a .375.

So . . .

Ah, well . . .

I would not hunt brown bear, polar bear or walrus with a 30-06, although I know it is possible. Why spend five figures on a hunt and trust it all to a .30 caliber bullet?

I personally would add American bison, wildebeast, eland, hippo, giraffe, Australian water Buffalo and the brown, polar, and grizzly bear to the list.

Some because they are large, and some because they ought to be hit very, very hard the first time. The .375 H&H is just about the smallest "do it all" rifle.

That being said, I don't own a 30-06 I hunt with simply because it isn't really very interesting. Is capable, just not interesting to me.

I'd take leopard off the list. Put hippo on the list, unless you plan to shoot it in the water. Likewise I've got better rifles for chasing lions, and tigers, and bears. In my limited experience conventional cup and core 220s are a little on the soft side for even non-dangerous African game so I'd choose a 200 gr premium spitzer (or the solid as appropriate) were I to go chasing things inclined to hunt me back. And maybe the Woodleigh 240 would tip the scales in an adventurous fella's favor. All that said it seems to me you can try a 9.3x62 for the cost of a barrel swap, which you can do for a fraction of the $2000-4000 savings you describe.

Gidday Guys,
A wife

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Anything with a reputation for killing hunters who do not make perfect placement shots.

Rich
Buff Killer

I mean, getting killed by any of the Big Six beats dying of cancer; but I would like to wait another twenty years before making that choice.

just blow out the 0-6 case to 375 and see how that works for ya.

quote:

m just thinking of what kind of species I would, or could not hunt with a 30-06 and the right bullets.

Elephant
Rhino
Buffalo
Lion
Leopard
Tiger

ignoring the legal issues....there are no animals on that list I wouldn't hunt given the proper bullet for the .30-06.

Is it the best for the job?....of course not.....but it'll do the job if the shooter can shoot well......

Criminy folks.....a bad shot with a .416 would do ya any good either!

I have hunted turkey with a 30-06, it worked fine. I wouldn't hunt elephant with one. I would hunt buffalo, but I would rather have my9.3X62.

With a 30-06 and proper bullets I would willing hunt anything that currently walks the earth.

I reserve mine for stalking or stand hunting light to medium hoofed game, not that I distrust the .30-06 but I have calibers much better suited for bigger critters or for drive hunting.

If you want to pay for the hunts I'll gladly hunt anything you pay for with any of my 06's. If Iam paying for it I'll use something bigger for lions ,large bears and bigger things.

30/06 would be fine in North America. Too little for Africa though IMHO.

The 30-06 loaded properly with premium bullets and AIMED CORRECTLY will quickly kill every land animal on the Planet Earth. This cartridge has done it and will continue to do it. I'm going to Africa next year and will be hunting plains game and Cape buffalo, and I want to keep things simple by taking only one gun. To stay legal for all species and insure that I'm over-gunned for all eventualities, I had a 375 H&H Ackley Improved made - besides I needed an "excuse" to get another gun (the real reason). Regards, AIU

P.S. The 375 H&H AI Ackley Improved will work fine with your standard magnum bolt-action rifle - of course, you'll need to get a second barrel. Loaded with Norma MRP (95 grs) and 300 gr. bullets (Sierra or Accubond) and a 26" barrel, I'm getting 2930 fps (5700 ft# energy). Nothing is going to stand-up against that, including the shooter - it's all I can handle . Trust me, with absolutely no pressure signs. Big bore mags are under loaded PSI wise.

AIU,

Two things,

Fisrst, you will want a better bullet for buff, eland, waterbuck, and the list goes on, look at the Swift A Frames.

Second, isn't the 375 Weatherby about the same as a 375 AI?

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
With a 30-06 and proper bullets I would willing hunt anything that currently walks the earth.

+1....

quote:

Originally posted by Nortman:
Im just thinking of what kind of species I would, or could not hunt with a 30-06 and the right bullets.

Elephant
Rhino
Buffalo
Lion
Leopard
Tiger

So, thats 6 species that one cant hunt with the 30-06. Even though with 220grain softs and solids I would not hesitate to hunt them ( they have been used effectivly in culing operations ), with PH standing behind me with a large bore rifle.

So why cant I stop thinking of upgrading my 30-06 to a 9.3x62 / 375 H&H or 458 Lott or 470 double. Why not instead use the 2-4000$ saved instead on practise ammunition, or using it on expensive hunting trips.

If you have a good -06 and $2-4000, why not just buy a DGR and keep your -06? For that kind of money you should be able to find another rifle. Of course, spending the money on more hunts gives you more fond memories than another safe queen.

There's nothing wrong with a .30-06, except that a 258 grain or 286 grain slug from a 9.3x62mm is better at ranges under 250 yards. The .30-06 beats the 9.3mm at longer ranges, however you are then getting into retained energy problems and ranges where most people should not take the shot anyway. I am carrying a .30-06 as "light rifle" and a 9.3x62 as my heavier piece, and I am still not going after dangerous game.

LLS

Tyrannosaurus rex

Barstooler

JPK, yes, the 375 AI = 375 Weatherby. For Cape buffalo I plan to use 300 gr. Failsafe bullets. Regards, AIU

Chinese water deer...

I'm inclined to make cartridge selections based on the overall situation rather than simply on what I'm hunting. For example, my 30-30 is a fine deer cartridge but still hunting or calling Sitka blacktails in October can be quite exhilirating when you run into a brown bear at close range with that rifle in hand. In situations where I'm my own backup I'd be likely to choose something bigger than 30-06. In situations where a guide or PH is assigned to the backup task I'd be more likely to hunt a wider variety of game with an '06.

mosquitos

All that you have listed and a few more that was brought up. I would add grizzle Bear also. It would be on the minamun side.

Honestly, I have to be realistic. I'm 30 years old, with a new house, new car, new baby boy, and a wife who loves shoes (as they all do). I have more important things to spend/save for than hunting right now so I understand I will mostly likely be spending all my limited time and money hunting in Manitoba for the next 20 years - that means whitetails, black bear, caribou, elk, moose, wolf, and maybe a wild pig if I'm lucky enough to see one. Ranges will be out to about 300 yards in most cases, so I honestly don't think I would have a problem with a .30-06 as a do-all in my situation.

Granted, I have a few deer spots where ranges can really stretch out, but I've got a .257 Wby for that.

And I love turkey and waterfowl, but I have a Browning 12 ga. for that.

I have an old Cooey .22LR for the small stuff, and don't bother with varmints due to limited time.

I could probably do without my .300 and .338 magnums.

I already got rid of my 7mm Rem Mag.

My .270 is overlapped by the '06 and .257.

My .243 Handi never gets used.

The 7mm-08 I wanted to buy was intended to be something my son can shoot someday, not really something for me.

My .303 is also a "never gets used" gun since the POI shifts regularly and it's inaccurate as all hell.

I can't honestly think of a situation where a good .30-06 wouldn't be "enough gun" for me.

Although it has been done, I wouldn't have the necessary confidence to take:
Elephant
Rhino
Buffalo
Brown Bear

I would not hunt anything with a 30-06. Kinda like watching black and white television. It gets the job done but it sure is boring. You only live once.

My .338-06 is the smallest cartridge I would consider for " anything ", especially since Barnes 250 gr Banded Solids are available for the biggest stuff. For the bad critters that have shown up on these lists, only when backed up by a genuine big bore.

quote:

Originally posted by 30378:
I would not hunt anything with a 30-06. Kinda like watching black and white television. It gets the job done but it sure is boring. You only live once.

I smell what you're stepping in here, but I don't want to get into one of those shouting matches again. Folks sure do get passionate about defending their -06's.

I would never, ever hunt naked with an odd 6. It would be good, but boring, for pretty much anything else excluding DG>