QUESTION about the 30.06
 

This will be my first year hunting with a 30.06. I was at the range the other day sighting in my new m70 30.-06. One of my ear plugs fell out just before i fired. and i think i almost went deaf. I couldn't believe how loud this rifle is. I know i was in a covered area so the sound is going to be louder, but do any of you hunt with ear protection or do you just go without for the one or two shots at a deer. Does it bother any of you?

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I do not hunt with ear plugs, though I have thought of this and wondered if this is unwise.

When I DO shoot while hunting, however, the report of the rifle is not nearly so loud as in an enclosed range. The report does not seem to bother my ears. I hunt with a .25-06 and a .243. These are probably not so loud as a .30-06. I also have a .30-06, but I have not fired it in the field on game -- figuring the .25-06 and .243 are good for the diminutive deer of the southern US which I have hunted in the past.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

No, it doesn't bother me one bit once I'm outside. Shooting with a roof over your head definitely raises the "deafness effect". Don't get me wrong--it's pretty loud. But once you're focused in the field, you might not even notice.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

If I can get away with it I put in my plugs as soon as I see something of interest. When I hunt with my boys I always find a way to get their ears protected.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I don't wear hearing protection when hunting, but always do when shooting from bench, etc. Noise above 85 decibels will eventually result in a hearing loss. Just guessing (since I don't have a chart), an 06 (with you behind the muzzle as opposed to even with or in front of) is probably in the neighborhood of 130-145. If you experienced any pain, you likely caused some damage in the cochlea. In some cases, your body will heal the damage. In others, or when you persist in exposing your hearing to repeated high decibel levels, some hearing is lost. Protect your hearing. When it's gone, it's gone!

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

The grand 30 06 (biscuit salutes, waves flag) really does have quite a bit of powder behind it, and one of the reasons I have never bought one is because I don't think it should be fired in anything under 24" in barrel length, and not wanting a custom piece. Fire a round at the range in the evening and observe what you have burning outside your tube! Similarly, the old .45 was a real peril to ears. Lots of different hearing protection out there. If you like music, and hearing your kids, you may consider getting some for all occasions.

As many veterans who did not always have time to put in plugs when things started to pop, I have some hearing loss. No reason for civilians to have that.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

About the only way I would wear protection while hunting is a game ear. I need to be able to hear game coming where I hunt. For distance glassing and shooting it may be a different deal.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

i sighted in my rifle(10rds) then shot groundhogs.....that day i went throguh almost a box.......no ear plugs......very stupid on my part.......but i did it........deer season you dont notice it half as much......if your going to shoot more then once or twice in a row id suggest you wear hearing protection......

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

Don't worry, when you touch that round off, you won't even hear it.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I look forward to the noise

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I have a M70 in 30.06 and when I shoot at game I don't even hear it. But my Browning .270 with a BOSS now that is LOUD[:@][:@][:@]

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

when deer hunting I dont use hearing protection because one shot doesn't bother me, but when bird or water fowl hunting because of multiple shots in one outting I will wear one ear plug in the ear open to the muzzle. I am right handed so when I shoulder the shotgun my left ear is open to the muzzle so I wear one plug in that ear.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

i always wear earplugs when sighting in or hunting. I also have a muzzle break

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID SONNY????????????;)

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

You won't notice your '06 go off if you're shooting at game. Just make sure your buddy isn't next to you with his 300 mag.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I do NOT use ear protection when hunting, BUT even one shot with a HP rifle when your ears are not protected has a permanent, adverse effect upon your hearing acuity. However slight, it is there, and is cumulative over the years. I know I have a lot more dififculty hearing everything my wife says to me these days, but that may not be all negative!!;)

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I'm getting my new hearing aids this week. 49 years old! Get some of the new electronic ear muffs that amplify sound but shut off at any loud noise. GET EM and WEAR EM! You may not even notice the noise when shooting at game but the damage is being done. $100-$200 for electronic ear muffs vs $3800 for hearing aids. I learned the lesson . PLEASE protect your hearing. One day you may want to hear your grandkids say their first words.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I'm getting up in age now and last year picked up a Walker's Game Ear. I shoot left handed so i put it in my right ear (the sound is louder there IMO).
I can hear things now like I used to and it does muffle the shot. Just took a little time to get used to the "static".
I was afraid I wouldn't be able to determine the direction of the sound with amplification in only one ear bet this was not a problem.
I never wore ear protection when hunting before but now I do with the Walker's.
ps: want to shoot something loud, try a contender in 7x30 Waters, 30-30 or 35 that has a muzzlebrake. Do get a lovely ringing in your ears that lasts for hours.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

For ear protection in the field try a "Walkers Game Ear". Good luck

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I have an A-Bolt in .30-06 with a muzzlebrake. It kicks like a .243 but the trade-off is a lot of noise coming right back at you. When I hunt with this rifle I always make sure I wear my Walker's Ear Muffs.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I have a Savage 30.06 and love the gun. I always wear hearing protection while at the range, but hunting, no I don't.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

Like others, I wear protection while testing loads and doing target practice, but when I'm hunting I don't. My .300 Wby is pretty loud, but I really don't notice it while hunting.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I never bothered wearing hearing protection while hunting but after the results of my last hearing test I may start. I have some hearing loss in me left ear and shoot right handed. May be coincidence but I seriously doubt it.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

99% of your shooting is at a range at targets.....wear hearing protection. While hunting the (usually) single shot you take will not even be noticed without hearing protection. Better to hear what's happening around you than to wear muffs for that one shot.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I think most of the damage to my hearing was probably in the dove fields.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

I need an argument settled. I own a remington 742 Woodsmaster chambered in 30.06 Springfield. A guy I know from Alabama owns a Winchester 30.06. I say the Springfield rounds are higher velocity and shoot flatter. My friend says that ain't so.
Am I right about this or not?

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

It is very important to wear hearing protection at the range, or when engaged in hunting where more then one round is likely to be fired, as in dove shoots or prairie dog shoots. I am 62 and wear hearing aids in both ears. They compensate well, but not like having one's own good hearing. Wearing hearing aids makes a person very aware of needing to protect what hearing is left. A good idea is to get molds made by an audiologist. These fit the ear and seal out sound. Then also wear a good pair of ear muffs to really deaden the crack of your rifle or shotgun. Take it from a half deaf hunter, keeping and protecting your hearing is well worth the effort.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

These days a 30-06 is a 30-06, no mater what gun the round is chambered in. Shoot the same ammo in yours or his, and you will have about the same velocity out of either assumeing the bbl length is close to the same length in both rifles.

Drilling Man

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

For Steven Ashe, the Reloading Bench website has an interesting piece of history on the grand 30 06. (Biscuit salutes.) But it doesn't address powder development or discrepancies in production runs shipped to depots over the decades. Yes, I think I heard somewhere along the line that pre-1950 springfield ball ammo was hot. Stories start for a reason. But I bet it was manufacturing variance. I would stick to modern rounds in modern rilfes, though. We have better bullets and powders these days. Maybe someone else is a stronger history buff on the .06.

As a supply officer attached to the 3rd Bn 9th Marines in 1975, my battalion was the first to ship without 03 springfield extractors and ejectors in our parts inventory. Tradition dies hard.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

You wont notice any noise or recoil when your shooting an 06 at game, unless its ported or something. Noise seems to be more related to the gun than the caliber, the loudest non-ported rifle I have is a 6mm rem, and its louder than my 300win mag by far.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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?

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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?

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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!

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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.

RE: QUESTION about the 30.06
 

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.