I don't hunt, but I love shooting at paper targets. For some time I've wanted a 30-06 (every shooter should have at least one, right?) but stayed away because my bony shoulder can't handle much recoil. And I didn't want to be seen wearing a shoulder pad --- you just wouldn't believe how vain and self-conscious I am. Then I began to notice that guys much bigger than me were using various forms of shoulder protection --- shoulder pads, padded vests, slip-on butt pads, etc. I also read on the Chuck Hawks website that the recoil energy of the 30-06 is just two pounds greater than that of the .308. Good news.

So vanity went out the window and yesterday I showed up at the 100 yard range toting my new 30-06. An old towel, folded lengthwise a few times and draped over my shoulder, reduced the kick to a painless push, and I was able to concentrate on proper trigger technique. Next stop: the 200 yard range.

So other than caliber, your bony shoulder and vanity, do tell us more......weapon?...glass or iron?.......
this thread is useless without pictures............

.

I thought you'd never ask:



Ruger MKII Classic with a Nikon Pro Staff 3-9x - 40 scope. Two-inch groups at 100 yards --- best day at the range I've ever had. And I'm no marksman.

Very nice!

I too picked up an .06 last fall just after hunting season.

I'm not afraid of the recoil, my best friend has a 300 ultra mag, and I've put many a shot through that.

I'm just afriad that once I shoot it....I'm going to want another Rifle. That wouldn't be a good thing for my pistol fund....

I dunno, I'd like to argue that fact that .308 is only 2 lbs less than 30.06. I suppose it all depends on what grain projectile one uses. The last time I fired my 30.06 was about three years ago now. I fired five rounds through it. It was painful. It doesn't help that the gun is mostly composite. I was almost in tears from the recoil. My .308 is way easier on the shoulder. Another 30.06 I fired was an M1 Garand. It had some recoil, but it was nowhere near as painful as my hunting rifle (a Remington 710)

The only calibers I've fired out of a rifle are .22LR, .223 (thanks jac714) and .303 British. At some point I'd love to own a bolt-action rifle. For me it would be mostly a range gun as I deer hunt in the shotgun zone, but it would be nice to have for any rifle hunting opportunities that might come along.

Would .308 be a good all-around caliber choice? If you could own a single bolt-action rifle, what would it be chambered in? I'm not trying to start a heated caliber debate, just looking for some opinions.

My dream .308 semi

Yes. With today's modern powders, the .308 ballistically overlaps the 30-06 in all but the heaviest bullets choices. It's also a shorter cartridge and can be chambered in shorter, lighter rifles.


Well, if I wanted to keep my options open to hunt deer, elk, and moose, I'd have a magnum rifle, probably like my .300 win mag.

.308 is nice. Lots of stopping power, moderate recoil, wide variety of loads and bullet types, and not expensive (if you're into factory ammo).

Yes on the .308, but no on the .300WM.....go with 7mm Rem Mag........

.

Call me when you find a 7mm bullet bigger than 180 grains.

My buddy booked an outfitter for elk hunting this fall in MT and the guide told him that he wouldn't take him out if he brought his 7mm mag. Not the first time I have heard of this.

Don't need one bigger........so don't expect a call................

Recoil
180gr .300 Win Mag 26.7ftlbs
140gr 7mm Rem Mag 19.1ftlbs

Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR)
180gr .300 303yds
140gr 7mm 310yds

Ballistic coefficient and muzzle velocities.
180gr .300 .483 3070 fps
140gr 7mm .485 3150 fps

I have taken a number of elk and griz with it, and not one complaint. Also, when I have run into a outfitter that has questioned it, ten minutes at the local range and they are satisfied...........but then again, I usually don't go through outfitters....................

But then again, it is like .45 vs 40 vs 9 argument...............

.

Greg, don't mind us getting off track....remember two things, 1) 30-06 has taken every animal in North America and still can/does, and 2) the .mil very successfully used 30-06 in most all early SEA in Rem 700 and Win 70 versions for sniper duty (read about some of the pre-69-70 period snipers).

Good hunting...........

.

.308 . . . I am very fond of it as a multi-purpose rifle round.

The list of animals on this continent that can't be reliably dropped with a well aimed .308 shot is pretty short.

It can also be had in various semi auto flavors - several AR manufacturers make .308 ARs, and Saiga makes an AK in .308 I am personally very fond of.

I do find myself longing for a bolt gun to keep the Saiga .308 company & maybe reach out a little farther . . . not that the Saiga isn't accurate, just that my marksmanship could use a boost with better optics and such.

I'd agree the .30-06 vs. .308 debate is much like the .45 vs .40 . . . as soon as you mention 9mm, I think we have to add .243 into the mix

I'm not saying the 7mm is a bad cartridge. I've killed a couple deer with one. It just seems to me that everything the 7mm mag can do lies within the ballistic spectrum of the .300 win.