Elk2901

The 30-06 is a great utility gun. I don't own one but have always envied those that have one and hunt with it. I shoot a 300 WM and it kicks the s**t out of me. I really have to shoot it all year to be ready for hunting season. The 06s that if have shot seem smooth and a pleasure to shoot. For reloading they are great. I agree that the 300 mags or the 338 WM is the best elk rifle. But not everyone can shoot a mag rifle. Within 300 yards an 06 is just the ticket. And I don't know of a general all-game gun. I don't subscribe to that theory. Especially when elk is part of your game.

My advice on an elk gun is to use the biggest gun you can shoot accurately and not too heavy to carry. For many hunters, thats a 30-06.

Crew Dawg

O.K. Maybe i was a little defensive about my cartridge of choice. I have a marlin M60 .22 a m77 sporter in .223 a Rem Sendaro in 25-06 and2 CZ 550s in 416 Rigby and 505 Gibbs. They all have their purpose, tiny stuff,varmits, long range varmits, scary stuffand T-REX(if i find one) in that order. But my go to gun is a 57 year old Rem 721 in 30-06. The guys who ask for advice are probably like me. They may only be able to afford one Elk or Moose hunt in there life. Why by an Ubermagnum they will never shoot again,if they already own a gun that will do the job well? Why not the 06 or 308 they can use on anything from Sparrows(now thats OVERKILL)to Moose?

Alsatian

Wolf Killer: There is room under the tent for all cartridges. No one says you ONLY have to have a .30-06. It is OK to have rifles chambered in many cartridges. Notwithstanding, the .30-06 is a pretty handy deal. I'm sure you've heard the arguments. Let me just review the utility that the .30-06 provides to me.

I prefer my .25-06 for deer and antelope. I would prefer a .338 Winchester Magnum for elk (I'm going on my first elk hunt in mid-October and will take my .30-06). When I go out of state for hunting, however, I want to take a backup rifle in case something happens to the "go to" gun. What should I do? have two .25-06s? two .338's? I think one .30-06 suffices as a backup for all the hunting I do. Not perfect, perhaps, on these game animals -- elk, pronghorn, deer -- but entirely adequate to the task, if the shooter does his part. If I hada .270 for deer and antelope, some folks judge that this is a little light for elk and moose, and hence would be a poor backup rifle for those hunts.

ShatoDavis

OHHHHH NOW YOU GOT MY DANDER UP!

I see many many people hunting without proper practice. You know what the majority of them are shooting? Something in the "smaller" category. Like a 243, 30-30, 270 etc.Now I agree that too many people go hunting without shooting enough to become proficient. But, it is incorrect to generalize by saying that people shoot bigger gunsbecause they don't want to practice. Don't pi$$ on my head and tell me its raining.

My dad is one of those "never go undergunned" guys. His theory is: If a 30-06 is good then a 338 is better. And let me tell you he shoots a lot and is good.I think resonable peoplewho like to shoot "bigger" rifles do so because they are not limited to broadside 100 yard shots. When the 7x7 bull elk of my dreams presents a quartering to me shot at 225 yards I'm going to feel very confident in my 338's abilities to take out the front shoulder, plow right on through the vitals, and anchor him.

I've never been one to run down the lighter cartridges. I've said on other posts that I wouldn't hesitate to take my boy elk hunting with his 270 for an instant. He's good with it. What I would do is tell him to limit his shot selection. No marginal angles or distance. Thats not to say that just because I carry a 338 that I can shoot at anything I see. No, I have limits as well, the 338 only broadens my window of oppurtunity a little.

Target acquistion, proper breathing, trigger control, & follow through. Its all the same regardless if its a 22 lr or a 416 rem. The big ones just push a little more.

stubblejumper

I don't currently own a 30-06 and never will own one.I personally prefer the 7mmremmag as a one gun for everything cartridge.

Red Lion

I do not own and have never owned a .30-06 as well, but by rep a very good rifle. I just think, why would you want to limit yourself to just one rifle, unless of course you simply can not afford any others. I like having variety.

early

yer absolutely right

the 308 win is all ya realy need[8D][8D][8D]

early

SwampTHING

I agree!
my Rem 760 in .308 has been very good to me,, wouldnt hesitate too use it on any big game in north america. Ive killed coyotes to moose with it... Beware of the man with 1 rifle,, generally he will know how too use it,,, and use it well!

ELKampMaster

First three long guns for someone starting out thatI would recommendare:
a 22LR, a 12 gauge, and a 30-06.

When your rack of rifles is limited, thena 30-06 is a great asset due to its versatility.

For those who believe in cartridge spacing,and go about collectingadditional rifles, thenthe 30-06 will tend to become less and less valuable due to its "jack of all trades master of none" characteristics as it compete with ones more specialized rifles. Eventuallythe 30-06can bereplaced unless you have got real attached to it along the way.

If I was phasing out an '06 out of my rack, I'd replace it with a 308 for target work (already got that one)and a 300RUM (looking real hard)for hunting (same caliber, but very different cartridges). Probably won't get rid of the 30-06 since I like taking a 30-06 along to elk camp as one of the back up rifles in case someone in the group has a mishap --- anyone can shoot a 30-06 without recoil management savvy, the mags generally require a little more cognitionon the part of the shooter.

Per Stubblejumper, I would also agree that a 7mmRemMag is a good 30-06 equivalent/substitute depending on your tastes and preferences. Of course it does have the dreaded "magnum" word in its name which makes it automatically unmasterable to some.

Bow4Bo

I'll tell you the reason I chose to get one.

Reloading.

I can reload it with 100-200 grain bullets, and I like that flexability. I generally shoot a 150 grain, but I'm not limited.