Thread: 30-06 Freebie!

Just got my license, and I was thinking of getting a 308.. but a very good older freind of mine (with more guns than he will ever use he reckons! ) has said he wants to give me (one of) his 30-06's . Its a nice gun, He said it's scoped really well but has a decent kick to it. I honestly have no idea about the pros and cons of a 30-06 ... never had any dealings with one. Im going to take it to the range anyways and put a pack or 2 through it. He has some ammo he said goes well qith it so thats good to know what goes well... to see if I like it. my question is, would silencing be an option? Would it make a difference.? I just do deer and goats primarily. Not super long range , just run of the mill stuff. Is this gun total overkill? Ive been trying to do my own research on them but there ar so many people more knowledgeable and have so much more experience
here! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. .

go for it!
if the recoils is too high then put a brake on it, suppressor or use light loads.
just check any 2nd hand firearm first to make it sure to fire

30-06 calibre of the Gods cant go wrong really.
Suppressing is definitely an option worth looking at as they can be a bit stout in recoil depending on bullet weight used.
You could also look at using a lighter projectile if you find yourself to be a bit recoil sensitive. There are factory options using lighter projectiles.
Cant beat a 30 cal i'll do everything you need and more if you want to reach out further when your confidence and skills allow.
what breed is this rifle you are potentially being gifted ?

A 30.06 for free !!
Don't look that gift horse in the mouth. Just grab it with thanks.
Shoot it a few times at the range and see what you think. If the recoil is completely unbearable you could always swap / sell for another cal. I don't think it's so terrible that you don't come to accept it.
It's a fantastic hunting cal and versatile too if you want to get into handloading.
Best of luck to you.

p.s. good on you getting your firearms license. A worthwhile thing for a young man.

I recently bought one off the Forum here, check my threads for info on DPT can and muzzlebrake..highly recommend it. 308 is entirely capable. 30-06 a tad more so. Just a bit more costly to run if you want to fill the case for max results, which doesn't seem likely..Mine is a.delight to shoot and a tad kinder than my young mates Tikka 3x Lite in 308 suppressed, stock barrel. My barrel ended up 23 1/4 in after threading and new crown.

You lucky bugger.
Decent recoil pad and if it's like my czech 8x57 I put one of those ammo pouch cheek risers to get my eye in line with the scope. Its really good.
As long as it shoots you'll take anything in NZ

If you decide you do not want to take the extremely generous offer up, please let him know I am open to taking it off his hands

There are a few threads on here recently about 3006
Basically the 308 is a 3006 cut off by 1/2” ( 10 gr powder).
3006 tend to be 1/2” longer action and 4” longer barrel so, typically the rifle itself is heavier. Ammo is 20% heavier but 50% better. So if youve got reasonably strong arms its the gun for you.
270 is popular but really only reaches up to the lower bullet weights of the 30-06. Among common cartridges only the 7mmRemMag is significantly better.

What brand is the gun ?
Older wooden stocked ones can be getting a bit long in the tooth and may need rebedding to bring back to 21st century accuracy.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

A 30.06 for free !!
Don't look that gift horse in the mouth. Just grab it with thanks.
Shoot it a few times at the range and see what you think. If the recoil is completely unbearable you could always swap / sell for another cal. I don't think it's so terrible that you don't come to accept it.
It's a fantastic hunting cal and versatile too if you want to get into handloading.
Best of luck to you.

p.s. good on you getting your firearms license. A worthwhile thing for a young man.

What about a young lady... cause that's what I am ! That's why I was a bit concerned Re: recoil
I insisted on paying for it, but he said how about I lend it to you and just forget to ever get it back??. Good bugger that man.

Use the money you would have paid for it for a threading and a suppressor, that will for sure tame the recoil and you'll be able to use it no problem.

A 30-06 was my first rifle except for a .22. I went to the range and put 20 rounds through it in one session and developed a flinch as a result, and i'm still battling with that flinch. It will be fine for you once suppressed, but i'd suggest learning on something smaller first, like a 223.
Don't spend heaps of time shooting paper with it

Use the lighter projectiles for a start. 150s
Decent recoil pad and as I tried with great results a cheek riser maybe.
If you can handle the weight go for a suppressor.
If some you know does reloading, they could load up some lighter loads for it.
They do factory ammo like that in the states but unlikely here.
Maybe even go some lighter barnes projectiles.
How heavy is the rifle?
Old school parker hale or a newer light jobbie

Originally Posted by csmiffy

You lucky bugger.
Decent recoil pad and if it's like my czech 8x57 I put one of those ammo pouch cheek risers to get my eye in line with the scope. Its really good.
As long as it shoots you'll take anything in NZ

Apparently it's got a nice pad to it, so rhats awesome.! Can't waitnto lay eyes on it... will try upload a shot when I get it

I'm going to go against the grain here, I took my nephew to the range he has a suppressed 30.06, I took the .308 I had at the time. The kick from the 06 was significant for a small guy like me compared to my .308. However he is a big guy and it wasn't an issue for him and on his first time out with it was ringing steel at 750m.

https://www.deltamike.co.nz/product/...ion-box-of-20/

And as posted to be on the safe side basic sight in and practice and leave the shooting for the game. You won't notice it.
Bit like when we were younger mucking about with 303s and brass butt plates.
My 8x57 without the stuff I mentioned started to let me know after about 15 or so shotsbof some euro 185 or.
If the packet was tight it would've been 2500ish fps for the slightly shorter barrel.
Anymore if I'd shot the full packet I'd have known about it the next day hut only just.
Not a super heavy gun either. Wood stock czech mauser with just under 22" barrel and stock.
Be careful and keep the majority of shooting to game.
I wasn't even really recoil sensitive I think.
Never did a lot of shooting off a bench either but did put a lot of shooting over the years with 1 1/4 loads out of a shotgun.
Usually down at the bunny hunt on rabbits.
The old A5 one year gave me the sorest shoulder I'd ever had but it was a good 4 or 5 packets and a another the same with the pump action. Shoulder was definitely sore the next day