OK Biscuit, now I'm curious. Tell me what you know about the 30.06 - when, where, how...This is the second one I've owned and all I know is that I love the feel, ya know?

I'm much more familiar with the 03 Springfield, & M1 "thumb" Garand and I have not hunted with them. These were Uncle Sam's & I have fired them on ranges. I regret not taking the chance to get a decent 03 springfield when I could. They always struck me as superb rifles and well machined. Heavy by today's sporter standards, though! Doubt that I would get an M1 Garand. While I went to Indochina with the Mattel Toy and cold c rations, Mrs Biscuit's dad took his Remington 3006 auto to Alaska and brough home moose & bear roasts! He used 180 grain bullets exclusively. At this point, I doubt that a good springfield will cross my path again. The last decent one I saw was in a good gunshop in Falls Church, VA, in 1974. I see the 06 as a magnum without a belt, and I think it deserves more than a 22" barrel both for less punishment on the shooter, both in recoil and muzzle blast, and better balistics. (Sure, I recognize the other arguments.) It can be loaded with 220 grain bullets (and more!) if you need a heavy pill. Most available round in any whistle stop that sells bullets from what I see. With two world wars behind it and countless battle streamers... yup, I just gotta salute it. Like the .303 British and the 45-70, this is a heritage cartridge that works, and works well. Otherwise, my shooter experience is on the anti personnel end, and I will set that aside for this forum.

Thanks Biscuit! the gun I own presently is a Remington 742 Woodsmaster. Real pretty gun with a 22" bbl and a 3x9 Redfield scope. I was just curious about the "Springfield" distinction. Is that a military term?

It is hard to do justice to this round, so if I find exactly what I am looking for, I will post a new topic. As far as I can tell, the "Springfield" designation calls back to its armory of origin, Springfield, Massachuesetts. At what point the "Cartridge, 30 06" became known nationwide as the 30 06 Springfield is not clear to me, but I may find out as I dig more. Springfield Armory (SA) started out as a major arsenal for George Washington, perhaps the first in our history, and built muskets. SA also parented the Springfield and Garand rifles. The 03 springfield cartridge originally started out, I understand, in a slightly longer case pushing a 220 grain bullet! That was short lived and they went to a slightly shorter case with a 150 grain bullet. I have never seen an original 03 round. The round went some through some later revision when we went to the M1 Garand. I think that is when we went to M2 ball ammo, as opposed to M1 ball. Powder developement over the decades in the 3006 is equally as exciting as anything about this round.... with modern materials it just keeps getting better and better. WWII ammo was produced in many, many factories around the nation. The 03 Springfield rifle was still on military property books into the 70's, but not now in any modern units that I know of. We went modern on sniper rifles in Viet Nam and went to the 7.62 Nato. Well, the 3006 is simply the way America hunts. I think it is just perfect to call it the "Springfield," and this is an especially good time to honor it. The original Springfield Armroy is now in the National Park Service, has an arms collection and can be visited by the public! They have a website for details. :-)

Some things just keep gettin' better!

OK. Glad I found this forum and glad to have you so eloquently describe military history in such a grand fashion. I served for three years with the US Army, but never became involved with the history of the armed services. I spent 2 13 month tours in Korea in 75 and 76, assigned to the 2nd ID in an air defense batalion. Ever heard of a Vulcan? Sort of an electronic gatling gun that shot 20mm rounds. I did my last year at Fort Carson Colorado and went on to build cars in Detroit. I'm in the south now and enjoying all the hunting that is afforded us here. Ever hunt eastern turkeys in Georgia? Ticks, fleas, snakes...wonderful!!
Anyway, thanks for the information, and know that you've increased my appreciation for my rifle.

Biscuit, you ought to go to www.odcmp.com and order yourself an '03. From everything I've heard, the '03s they sell are are in decent shape though may have some pitting in the barrels. I have an 03A3, not as nicely made as an '03, but I like the sights better and is as really fine rifle in its own right.

Many of the M1s they sell have been rearsenalled and stored with very little use. I ordered and H&R M1 last year and got a nice looking rifle that also shoots better than I expected.


30-06 and ears....*contemplates ringing sound in head* Every time you fire a high powered rifle without ear protection, you do some permanent damage to your hearing. You might not notice it with all of the excitement while hunting, but damage is done. Whether the cumulative effects of a few shots fired every season at game with unprotected ears adds up to much I don't know, but you'll never sell me on any rifle with a compensator or muzzle brake. I'm only in my early 30s and my hearing has been diminished quite a bit- I used to shoot alot of trap when I was an invincible teenager, often times without hearing protection as I didn't perceive 12 guage trap loads to be very loud.

When I shoot my .30-06 (or even a 30-30), I wear earplugs, and earmuffs over them. That way, I just hear a *thump* when I squeeze the trigger.

Of course, the fillings in my teeth loosen a bit, but I can stll hear after being at the range.

I am 53 years old and have had hearing aids both ears for the last 15 years due to gun fire. Both in the military and my shooting, hunting. I am an avid shooter and have been for years but my stupidity of being macho cost me my hearing, with out my hearing aids I am stone deaf. My ears ring constantly 24-7 non stop you never get used to it and its not pleasant. The ringing is nerve damage and cant be corrected. I always thought that I needed to hear the game well even with my hearing aids I cant hear the game unless its really loud and then I cant tell which direction its coming from. Definately use hearing protection or you wont have hearing to protect.