Pennsylvania Game News - January 2009 - 63

(Remington 7600), semiautos (Remington 7400, Browning BAR), lever guns (Browning BLR and 1895 reproductions), even some specialty single-shot pistols (Thompson Center and Savage Striker), as well as double barreled guns. The myriad of bullets for handloaders is mind-boggling. Just between Sierra, Speer and Hornady alone, there are more than 40 choices of projectiles to choose from, ranging from 110 grains to more than 220 grains. If we add Remington, Winchester, Nosler, Barnes, Swift and other manufacturers, well, let’s just say you won’t be bored. There are softnoses, Core-lokts, partitions, Trophy Bonded, solids, hollow points, polymer tip, Bronze points, Aframes, and other types of bullet construction that make the .30-06 very versatile and effective. For hunters, the favorite choices for whitetail and antelope run from 150-165 grains, for mule deer and black bear the 165-180 grains are hard to beat. I have talked to a couple of sportsmen who were completely satisfied in using the 200- and 220-grain bullets for elk and large bear. If you are a big game/varmint hunter with just a .30-06 rifle (if there is such a hunter) there are the 110-130-grain slugs to choose from, or the factory Accelerators with the .224 caliber bullet in a sabot sleeve that travels more than 4,000 fps. Match bullets today for 30-caliber firearms run from 150to 220-grain match boattail hollow points, with favorites of the ’06 being the 168- to 178-grain. Even gun powders have evolved into making the .30-06 more of an accurate, faster and more powerful cartridge than it ever was. Old favorites such as IMR 3031, IMR 4064 and IMR 4895 still work great, Fun Game answer: DOWNY but slower powders such as IMR 4350, 4831 and a host of others make the bolt guns and single-shots reach their potential. The 150-grainers can be driven more than 2,900 fps, the 165 around 2,800 fps, the 180 at 2,700 fps and the 200-grain at almost 2,600 fps. I find that most .30-06 rifles will shoot spitzer bullets from 150-180 grains close to the same point of impact, but with a little vertical dispersion. Due to the velocity of the .30-06, if you sight in two inches high at 100 yards, then the mid-range trajectory is flat enough to easily and accurately reach out to harvest an animal beyond 300 yards with the proper hold over, as long as you have the practiced skill to back it up. For those who are recoil sensitive, the .30-06 cartridge is usually the upper limit to their tolerance. But with a good recoil pad it becomes very manageable. The recoil can also be somewhat controlled by bullet selection, such as using a well constructed 150-grain projectile versus a 180grain for hunting deer. My own .30-06 rifle is the new Savage Model 114 American Classic. It is not only a handsome rifle, but also well balanced at 71/4 pounds. With the Accu-trigger, pillar bedding, free floating barrel, and very effective recoil pad (all factory standards), it shoots like a dream. For optics, I hadn’t decided what scope I was going to put on it, so I mounted a Bushnell 6-18x40 target scope that I keep around for testing purposes. So far it shoots my handloaded 150grain Remington Core-lokts with IMR 4350, and the Hornady 180-grain spitzers with IMR 4831 in groups better than I expected. Whenever I have talked to fellow sportsmen on the range, in the field, or in the gun shops, I usually get a consensus that the old ought six is the American sportsman’s workhorse. With its rich history and everlasting versatility, I can certainly understand why. With recommendations like that, it wouldn’t surprise me if it lasts another 100 years. 63 JANUARY 2009

Pennsylvania Game News - January 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2009