Comments on: The ‘Old Warhorse’ .30-06 Cartridge is Not Dead Yet

By: Mitchell Maxberry

Mitchell Maxberry — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:57:21 +0000

I don’t think you have the 185’s cranked up enough I was getting 2850 in the 308. The 185 Berger has a nice amount of bearing surface that creates a lower pressure then longer bearing surface bullets. The last year the 30-06 was permitted in the Palma match at Camp Perry it finished #1 and #2. Mark Humpreville won it and I finished 2ed.

By: Oregon700

Oregon700 — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 19:20:14 +0000

I also shoot a 30-06 with H-4350, but I use a 168gr SMK. The first time you mention 4350 it is H (Hodgdon) and the next time it is mentioned it is IMR. What one do you use?

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 00:30:02 +0000

Within the context of F-Class shooting, the ’06 would put you in open class (as opposed to FTR). While the ’06 is indeed an accurate cartridge, the 185 doing 28ish is not going to keep up to a 180 7mm or a heavier 30 doing the same speed. It is certainly a nostalgic cartridge but in the f-open game it is an anachronism

By: Guy

Guy — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:42:36 +0000

I can remember a junior winning the long range championship at Perry a few years back with a .308 palma rifle shooting against 6.5/284`s. Sometime the shooter has something to do with it too.

By: MrBill

MrBill — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:09:11 +0000

I don’t care what the trolls say. A well-built ’06 and a good load with modern components is a serious competitor, especially at long range. I love it when I show up at the range with mine and the 308 shooters sort of chuckle. That lasts until the targets come back . . .

By: Rikky Lee

Rikky Lee — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:09:46 +0000

The 30-06 (and the 303 British) will show a new lease of life with modern projectiles, powders and rifles.

But they still recoil a lot more than a 6.5 Lapua.

By: Jeff H.

Jeff H. — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:58:33 +0000

I would like to correct my above statement. The wind drift of the various bullets is almost identical at range, but the drop is not. The drop of the larger slower bullets is much greater. This is one of the reasons why you see the 6 and 6.5 calibers dominating in the unknown distance games like the Precision Rifle Series.

By: Jeff H.

Jeff H. — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 17:05:22 +0000

Whitefeather is correct. I recently put together a spreadsheet comparing four of Bergers best bullets to see what speed they would need to be pushed to, to get similar ballistic performance. I found out that the 105gr Hybrid at 3300, the 140gr Hybrid at 3000, the 180gr Hybrid at 2800, and the 230gr Hybrid at 2600 all had almost identical drift and drop at 1000yds. I found this pretty interesting because the barrel life and the recoil of these are nowhere near each other.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:52:30 +0000

I do see this as a fair test. Its like comparing a 308 to the 6mmBR at 100 yards. Sure the 6.5×47 can make the shot but thats a light bullet. The 6.5×47 is a low recoil extremely accurate round. My next build is going to be one.

By: whitefeather

whitefeather — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:01:35 +0000

Why would this be worthy? A larger cartridge pushing a larger, heavier bullet with a higher BC at the same speed as a bullet with a lower BC from a significantly smaller cartridge and there is an easily predictable difference in wind drift. Now run the test over with a better 6.5mm bullet, perhaps the 140 Hybrid launched at 2750 fps, and see what the results are.

If anything, this is a demonstration about bullet selection, not .30-06 vs 6.5×47 Lapua.