I have finally decided to have a rifle built for myself. This will be my go anywhere do everything because with a young family (wife, two kids, and one on the way) I can't afford to have more than one made at this time. I haven't worked out all the details yet, but it will be a CRF. It will be used on everything in NA, although the likelihood of Brown Bear of even interior Grizzly is slim, and on plains game in Africa. The problem is that I am not a big fan of recoil (7mm Mag. is my upper limit at this time), so I was thinking about the .30/06 set up to shoot 200 grain Nosler Partitions. What do those of you with real world experience (as opposed to repeating articles from Guns and Ammo) think of this? Or is there another bullet you would recommend?

The .30-06 seems to be the cartridge you want. 180 or 200 grain bullets will do what you want.

For a bit of recoil reduction you could also go to the .280 Remington.

i agree - the 30-06 with 180gr nosler partitions. no flash or whizz stuff here, just proven reliability and performance.

Hi Brent..
I can appreciate very well your reasoning for the one rifle/One load..
However a little more info would be helpful. Just exactly what and where are you planning to hunt in the next few years?
How far will the game be?

Just my opinion, and you will get more.. But the most versatile 30/06 load for the lower 48 is a 165gr Partition at 2800+ fps. I would not hesitate to go after anything with this load out to, and not exceeding 400 yds.

The 200gr Partition is a fine bullet and the guy’s shootings the magnums choose this one because they get the same muzzle velocity as you would with your 165gr and their effective range is also roughly the same shooting a bullet 35grs heavier.

To have the ability to kill anything in the lower 48 with minimum recoil to me the answer is 7mmX57. If you reload the 140 gr. will handle most game. For something bigger you have a large choice up to 175 gr. Forget the 7-08, it just does not handle the heavey bullets as well. I also hate recoil. roger

Brent C wrote:

quote:

Or is there another bullet you would recommend?

I definitely found an immediate lesser amount of recoil from my .308 Win when using GS Custom HV bullets compared to other 'non-drive band' types of bullets.

Visit the GS Custom web site and see what the drive band concept is all about.
Follow this link to see a simple little test done to understand why less recoil will be felt with the use of GS Custom's bullets.

Good accuracy and excellent killing ability is achieved with this premium type of bullets.

Good pick. I haven't used my '06 on anything larger than whitetail in the States but I used it loaded with 220 grain Hornady roundnose softs in Africa. My M700 gags on roundnose bullets and the Hornady slug proved a little too soft. If I had it to do over again I'd used 200 grain Partitions.

Bartche,

Here is the reasoning I am considering my choice. But remember I have no experience with it so take it with the grain of salt. I did consider the 7x57 but according to Noslers Reloading Guide Number Four the 200 grain Partition has a SD of .301, which is very high and right on the heels of the .338 250 grainer's of .313 and the .284 175 grainer's of .310 so penetration should be excellent. However the .308 had a much greater diameter then the .284 which will create a larger diameter wound channel, and the greater frontal area should create more shock. In addition the the .30/06 can drive the 200 grain Partition to 2688 fps which gives a KE of 2086 ft-lbs at 300 yards (my self imposed range limit). The 7x57 drives the 175 grain Partition at 2574 fps, giving a 300 yard KE of 1737 ft-lbs. These loads also give the .30/06 a 1/2 inch trajectory advantage over the 7x57 at 300 yards. In addion the .30/06 has a greater momentum, KO value, and Lethality Index. I know these are minor differences but we are talking about the possibility of using this cartridge on animals that large enough that many experts recomend using various magnums-.300, .338, .375, etc. I handload so I was considering the .338/06 but ammo availability decided this one for me. Thanks for all the posts.

I am not particularly recoil shy, that said I don't want any more than is neccessary. I enjoy shooting lighter rrecoiling rifles more than getting the stuffing kicked out of me.

I chose a 280 Rem, persoanl choice helps justa tad in the recoil deptartment. But what I did on my 280 certainly holds true for a 30-06.

I wanted a sttel buttplate, again its a personal preference, but felt recoil factors into how I built the rifle.

Wieght helps, for me its 8 lbs or slightly better in the finished rifle. How I went about it was use a #3 contour barrel, on a pre 64 Model 70 which is a fairly heavy action to start with. To keep my total rifle wieght down I found a fairly light blank, and I will use a compact scope. How you do your mix of barrel contour, action choice, stock wieght etc is your best method to keep the recoil level managable.

A last element to remember is the pattern of your stock, a well layed out stock does a lot to help, a ill layed out pattern will punish you.

Sounds to me as if you have done your homework! I think the 06 is a great choice also. I see that you considered the 338/06, what is your opinion of the 35 Whelen? Seems like the Whelen might be something to consider if you a looking at the heavier bullets for the 06.


As for recoil, put a good pad on there like the "LimbSaver" and you will be fine.

Brent, you have made the most sensible choice, and the right caliber/bullet combination. The .30-06 will never let you down and bullet selection will give phenominal versitility. The 180's will be just slightly more recoil friendly, but the 200's are more than a match for anything that walks NA. My Browning Continental .30-06 O/U is regulated with 200 grain bullets at 2575 ft/sec's out of a 24" barrel Good hunting.

Brent-
You would have to look long and far to find something as versatile as the venerable -06, and those that come close share the same parent case. It has been 100 years and still there is no better "do it all" calibre available to the average shooter. To list all its positive aspects would amount to writing a small book, so I will limit my comments to recoil only.
Build your rifle of moderate weight, say 8 1/2-9 1/2 pounds including scope and accessories, and recoil will not be a problem. Good stock design is also important in taming recoil, and a stock with too much drop doesn't lend itself well to modern optics. Cheap insurance would include a recoil pad, but avoid the temptation to add a muzzle brake as this calibre just doesn't recoil that hard.

The 06 is a good choice but will a bit more w/ the 200gr bullet than the 7mag w/ 175gr bullet from sim. rifles. I built my "mountain" rifle in .280 becasue I wanted rig that weighed a bit over 7#, & an 06 kicks just a bit more than I like from a 7# rig. The .280 will push the 175grNP @ 2700fps & offers all of the penetration you could use. BTW, 300ft# of energy is almost nothing so the decision is yours.

Thanks for all your responses. Would there be a better bullet than the NP? Perhaps the TBBC, TSX, or the A-Frame?

quote:

Originally posted by Brent C.:
Thanks for all your responses. Would there be a better bullet than the NP? Perhaps the TBBC, TSX, or the A-Frame?

If you really want to look at ballistic tables you should really look at 165's in the 30-06.

90% of any species in North America you might want to kill with a 30-06 will be just as dead if you shoot them with a 165gr bullet
And you can tailor the penetration by your choice of bullet.

IF you DO encounter something that shouldn't be shot with a 165gr bullet say.. a big bear?
or a Moose? I think that any creature native to NorthAmerica that will actually stop a 180gr TSX has been extinct for 8000-10000 years.

AllanD

Of course there is always the Kimber 84M Super America in .308...LOL.

For a 30-06 it is hard to beat the 180gr bullets for versatillity, but no sense using a heavy bullet if you won't be shooting heavy game. One load for all is good (but where is the fun in that ) so I would consider a 150gr if deer is the number one item on the menu. A 150gr TSX will most likely do what a 180gr. Hornady would do. My father in law said he can tell the difference in recoil by shooting a 150gr opposed to the 180's. If you end up going on a hunt for larger game, I use the 180gr. X bullet in my -06 and have never recovered one yet. I've never used the 200gr Nosler so am lost for words on it.

Brent C.,

30-06 - Way to go, I like the 180 Grain Accubond, in most of my 30-06 rifles Accubonds are more accurate than the partitions and the performance is excellent.

With the right shot placement, you can take anything on the N. American continent.
Africa, more than 95% of the species will go down with a 180 grain bullet.

Ammunition is available all over the world. The 30-06 was intended for war and became the greatest hunting cartridge of all times.

Success,
Roland

quote:

Originally posted by Brent C.:
I have finally decided to have a rifle built for myself. This will be my go anywhere do everything because with a young family (wife, two kids, and one on the way) I can't afford to have more than one made at this time. I haven't worked out all the details yet, but it will be a CRF. It will be used on everything in NA, although the likelihood of Brown Bear of even interior Grizzly is slim, and on plains game in Africa. The problem is that I am not a big fan of recoil (7mm Mag. is my upper limit at this time), so I was thinking about the .30/06 set up to shoot 200 grain Nosler Partitions. What do those of you with real world experience (as opposed to repeating articles from Guns and Ammo) think of this? Or is there another bullet you would recommend?

Build a rifle in the 7.5 - 8 lb. range, Pachmayr Decelerator pad, 22 barrel with 180 gr. FailSafes and there isn't a damn thing in North America you can't hunt successfully. Performance is boringly consistent and the recoil is moderate.

You don't have to spend the family bankroll to accomplish your goal (don't have to go custom, unless that's what you truly want to do0then go for it).

You can get a CZ 550 American in 30-06 for well under $500, and you won't have to apologize to anyone for making the choice (even in Africa).

If you do some digging, you can find a CZ 550 Premium (or is it Premiere?) in either 270 Win or 30-06. These have upgraded wood, and metal finishing. The American series have a high straight comb-that takes sting out of cheek felt recoil. They also come with a thick gel-type recoil pad. I have a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 and love it. It's a sub moa shooter

These are well made rifles, and come with a great trigger. Slap a 4x scope on it, and you are all set to shoot those 200 grainers in 30-06. The Premium/Premiere is discontinued, so it will be a second hand gun -unless you find one under a bed someplace in the box. It's not custome, but it's "more special", and still run around $500.

Double square bridge Mauser 98 action with a single set trigger, typical moa shooter, steel bottom metal, good price. Can't beat that with a stick. Not sure if you'll be able to do much better going "custom", except for saving $500 - $2500+.

The truth is that if you shot a .270, 280, 30-06 and 7MM Remington Magnum all with a 150 Gr. bullet they are all so close in recoil if you shot them blindfolded you would not be able to tell the difference.

quote:

Originally posted by Brent C.:
Thanks for all your responses. Would there be a better bullet than the NP? Perhaps the TBBC, TSX, or the A-Frame?

If there is a calibre with more bullet choices available than the thirty, I'm unaware of it. The bad news however, is that you will have to do some experimenting to find the most accurate bullet for your rifle. The good news is that 180s will do every conceivable task the old -06 is capable of. The 200s are great insurance and the 06 has sufficient case capacity to send them downrange with authority, something that can't be said about the 308.
My favorite bullet is Nosler's 180 grain partition, next is their 165 ballistic tip, but when all is said and done I'd try these two: the partition for its flat base and the newer accubond. You can't go wrong with either.

quote:

Originally posted by catboat:

You can get a CZ 550 American in 30-06 for well under $500, and you won't have to apologize to anyone for making the choice (even in Africa).

This is exactly what I did for my first hunting rifle. Very nice rifle - it even sounds good (when cycling the bolt, etc.)

bob

As one who believes in the K.I.S.S. principle, (Keep It Simple Stupid!) I think the 30-06 is an excellenct choice. Where the simple comes in is how I load for mine. First, I chose one bullet weight, 180 grains, but two bullets. First bullet was the Sierra Pro-Hunter, and the second, the Nosler Partition. Then I worked up to a maximum load with the Sierra bullet. Then, I dropped back two grainds and worked back up to (at least in my case) the same charge with the Nosler bullet. My rifle, an FN commercial Mauser holds five in the magazine and one up the spout. I can mix up three of the Sierra loads and three of tehe Nosler loads, shoot all six from the bench and all six will usually, if I do my part, place all six rounds withing one inch. FWIW, I have done this wih five different rifles chambered to the 30-06 and in three rifles in .300 Win. Mag. The Sierras are good for anything up to elk and the Noslers from elk on up.
This keeps things simple. If you shoot 150 gr. loads today and want to go to say 180 gr. tomorrow, you have to resight the rifle in every time you change bullet weights.
You could probably try the same idea using 165 gr. bullets if you want, although none of my 30-06 shoot any 165 gr. bullet worth a damn. YMMV.
A 7.5 pound rifle with a Pachmeyr Decelerator pad shouldn't be too big a problem with recoil with 180 gr. bullets and even less wwith 165 gr. bullets if your rifle likes them.
I think Col. Townsend Whelen said it best, "The 30-06 is never a mistake."
Paul B.

30/06 will do fine. If you are very recoil shy, go with a heavier rifle with a synthetic stock. The weight to me, really helps the balance. If it still kicks to much, get a vais muzzle break fitted or put mercury tubes in.

I hate recoil myself and spend a lot of time at the range working on my form with a nicely rigged 22lr. I usually start and finish with the little rig. Shoot my boomers in between.

The 30-06 is very versatile, recoil can be managed very easily with practice. Muzzle breaks are great, but at the expense of greater noise, if you put one on, try to get a removable break. Best choice for recoil reduction is to buy the heaviest rifle you can caryf or 3-5 miles comfortably, then have the stock fitted to you.

CRF will limit you on the heavy rifle selection (at least off the shelf rifles). Kimber now has the 8400 in 30-06 at 7lbs +/- a few oz. Winchesters are hard to find and the quality has been sub par. Ruger and CZ's can be had at reasonable prices and both are on the heavier side. Good luck and happy hunting.

John

Ah, the wonderful old -06. 100 years old this year and still going strong. Hmmm--maybe that ought to be my next rifle instead of a 6mm Rem?

After fifty medium size African animals including wildebeest, kudu, zebra, etc, taken with 180-grain Nosler Partitions fired from a 30/06 or 308 Winchester...

Happy with the results.


Hammer

As noted above you just can't go wrong with a 30-06 especially if you are looking for a really flexible caliber. I shoot a variety of calibers but if limited to just one it would be the 30-06 hands down - just match the bullet to the game and go hunting.