Topic: 30-06 question

[agunforeachhand]

I have really  never shot my remington .30-06 past 150 yards, so what is the max range for this caliber?

[Jeff]

Max range for what?  Paper or animal?  What kind of animal?  Any particular bullet you want to use?  We need more info. 

[agunforeachhand]

Max range for what?  Paper or animal?  What kind of animal?  Any particular bullet you want to use?  We need more info. 

Paper or pop cans. Deer or elk.  150 grain FMJ.  Just kind of seeing what the max range is.

[fj40mojo]

I have really  never shot my remington .30-06 past 150 yards, so what is the max range for this caliber?

Many factors here. What bullet weight, handload vs factory, most importantly what is your skill level? IMHO the .30-06 is the ideal cartridge for North American game and has a damn fine record as a sniper cartridge. Problem is it's been around for soo long that there are lots of old rifles out there chambered for the cartridge and hence the factory ammo available is pretty anemic and even reloading manuals are ultra conservative. If you hand load ammo for a modern strong action you can load a lot hotter than  the reloading manuals say. MY hunting load is 62.5grns of H4831 and a 180grn Nosler Partition at 2900fps. That's pretty darn close to factory .300Win Mag. I've got no pressure signs but can't fit any more powder in the case. In fact I have to trickle the powder down a funnel/6" drop tube to get this charge in there. Disclaimer: This load was worked up to over time paying close attention to pressure signs and is no place to start loading for any rifle. Your rifle/chamber are unique and may not handle the same pressure as my rifle. Use this loading data at your own risk!

Check out this book, it's where I got my hunting load from.

Game Loads & Practical Ballistics for the American Hunter
by Bob Hagel

[agunforeachhand]

Thanks fj I haven't really gotten into reloading yet. I am talking pretty much factory ammo. Thanks for the info though.

[fj40mojo]

Thanks fj I haven't really gotten into reloading yet. I am talking pretty much factory ammo. Thanks for the info though.

Get some brass, bullets, powder, and primers and you can use my dies and press. You owe it to yourself to learn the process. This offer is good to all you BoiseShooters. I load for .223, .45, 9mm, .38 Special/.357 Mag, 7mm-08, 6.5x55 Swede,  and .30-06. If I didn't name the cartridge you want to load for buy yourself some dies too. The more folks that get involved in the hobby the harder it is for guberment to legislate against it. I do it the old fashioned way, one crank of the handle at a time on my single stage Rock Chucker, but that is the best way to learn the process IMHO.

[High Wall]

(snip)

most importantly what is your skill level? [/b]

Most importantly is right.  The 30-06 is adequate to ranges way beyond where most people have any business shooting at a game animal.  Especially when handloaded, as somebody else pointed out.

[agunforeachhand]

Most importantly is right.  The 30-06 is adequate to ranges way beyond where most people have any business shooting at a game animal.  Especially when handloaded, as somebody else pointed out.

I have been shooting the 30.06 rifle for about 22 years. Until about 4 years ago I have never had a scope on it so I knew my range. Just curious as to how far I can hit a gong with it is all. I am wanting to practice my long range. Thanks for all the info guys.

[High Wall]

I have been shooting the 30.06 rifle for about 22 years. Until about 4 years ago I have never had a scope on it so I knew my range. Just curious as to how far I can hit a gong with it is all. I am wanting to practice my long range. Thanks for all the info guys.

When I lived in Kotzebue, I used to shoot out on the ice in the winter.  I had built a heavy barreled '06 on a Showa action.  I used it to shoot rifle silhouette chickens at 800 yards.  On a good day, I'd hit 90% of them.  Those chickens are pretty small at 800.  My goal was to get zeros and try them out past 1000 yards, but never got around to it.  But there was no doubt in my mind the rifle is capable of it.  Hitting a gong at 1000+ with an '06 just depends on how good your rifle and load is, a good zero, and conditions.  (And how big the gong is. )

[Nomad]

Shooting a 06 past 1000yds is no trick used a 175smk.
 My son shot balloons at 700yds at Parma with a 22" barrel lite weight rifle,
as far as game hunting a safe rule is 1200lbs of energy at a distance which
will vary with loads.
 Many 1000yd matches have been won with the 06 from 200gr to 240gr bullets
h4350, IMR 4350 RL15, 19, 22, all good 06 powders as well as 4831....
 A good range for shooting is at your skill level.. Parma has targets at 500meters
and less going hunting as a rule of mine zero at 225 and still in the kill zone at
300yds...Practice and as fj40mojo lots of us reload and most would help you
out to learn how to....Luck....See you at LRTR........ 

[luvmy45]

A good range for shooting is at your skill level.. Parma has targets at 500meters
and less

Actually, there is a 600 meter permanent gong now from the rifle line... 

I was going to using my 06 for my 1st LRTR, but then found a deal on a 308, but the 06 is capable of a 1000yards, depending on load.

Have fun!

Brian K.

[agunforeachhand]

Actually, there is a 600 meter permanent gong now from the rifle line... 

I was going to using my 06 for my 1st LRTR, but then found a deal on a 308, but the 06 is capable of a 1000yards, depending on load.

Have fun!

Brian K.

OK what is LRTR?

[fj40mojo]

Long Range Tactical Rifle

[Nomad]

 Sorry for not explaining LRTR.... Hook up with some on the site that shoots long range
or ask to meet a group to help...We have a small group that shoot here in the Magic Valley
we have a 1000yd range here but its private yet we share as long as one of our group comes
along, five on this site.
 Post a note asking for some ideas and someone to help you out .........Ringing steel at a long
distance..........Priceless........Contact Edge he's a great shot and know a great deal..........

[agunforeachhand]

Sorry for not explaining LRTR.... Hook up with some on the site that shoots long range
or ask to meet a group to help...We have a small group that shoot here in the Magic Valley
we have a 1000yd range here but its private yet we share as long as one of our group comes
along, five on this site.
 Post a note asking for some ideas and someone to help you out .........Ringing steel at a long
distance..........Priceless........Contact Edge he's a great shot and know a great deal..........

Thanks Nomad.

[MarkinIdaho]

IMHO, 30-06 is the most versitile rifle cartridge out there.  Have fun shooting, John.  Up for some deer hunting this October?

[Nealio]

I have really  never shot my remington .30-06 past 150 yards, so what is the max range for this caliber?

9473 feet +/- 6"

[agunforeachhand]

9473 feet +/- 6"

Thanks. Finally an answer that I understand. Some of these answers have went right over my head. Lol

[agunforeachhand]

IMHO, 30-06 is the most versitile rifle cartridge out there.  Have fun shooting, John.  Up for some deer hunting this October?

You know it brother.

[NoviceHunter]

Google basic rifle ballistics or something similar.

You're basically chucking a rock, and it arcs like one.  The more time gravity has to effect the projectile, the farther it drops.  How far factory fodder can shoot is no different than how far you can throw a baseball or shoot an arrow.  Answer: how far until the drop becomes nearly vertical, assuming you put in enough holdover to compensate for said arc.  The farther out you get, the sillier the arc gets.

The '06 can easily do 1000 yards for targets.  But that's kind of an ambitious distance to attempt if you haven't read up on the subject matter.  And that's almost certainly too far for hunting (generally considered to be 300-500 yards for hunting, depending on which religion you happen upon that day, and assuming you've practice that far.)

[MarkinIdaho]

The '06 can easily do 1000 yards for targets.  But that's kind of an ambitious distance to attempt if you haven't read up on the subject matter.  And that's almost certainly too far for hunting (generally considered to be 300-500 yards for hunting, depending on which religion you happen upon that day, and assuming you've practice that far.)

You better be an expert for a 1000 yard shot when hunting.  The point to being an ethical hunter is a clean, fast kill.  Furthest I've killed a deer at was around 400 yards... but that was when my eyes were much better, lol.  Now my max is about 250.

John - my son and I are heading out opening weekend (actually a few days earlier) let me know if you are interested.

[NoviceHunter]

Note that I said "100 yards for *targets*."