30-06

[The_King48]

What are my options for this cal. in a synthetic stock, semi-auto, and MAYBE a stainless steel barrel???? I might also want a recoil reducer something like the BOSS...

[Mr Special]

If you could afford a stainless steel barrel then go for it. They are worth the extra cash. I'd prefer synthectic stock myself, less hassle and worrying about getting them looking nice. From what I hear the Boss's are super loud!

[Bear55]

I can tell you first hand that the Boss's are increadibly loud. However they do reduce recoil and are said to improve accuracy.

[slimngrizzly]

I bought a Tika T3. Accurate, reliable, affordable, and I love having a clip. I think they are some of the best bolt actions for the money!

Sorry.... thats not a semi-auto! My bad.

[mwal]

THe Boss works a advertized. My brother has 3 rifles with them. However do not shoot one without ear protection even while hunting. All muzzle brakes create a louder muzzle blast. It seems to be at least double the volume IMHO.

Mwal

[The_King48]

I figured that the boss was loud.. Not to big of a concerne though.....

[lawdog]

Loud is an understatement, they are dangerously loud and cannot be shot without hearing protection. One guy I hunt with in Wisc. used to use one and you could be on the other side of a bluff and know when he shot. It was louder than the guy closest to you shooting...

[vister]

if recoil is an issue when buying a gun, get a .243. i always thought it was kinda silly to throw a muzzle break on the end of a gun barrel. i'll take a black and blue shoulder over my ears ringing any day!

what, did somebody say something?

also, synthetic, stainless, and semi auto come in few models. one i know being a remington 7400. jam-o-matic. been a real problem gun for my fiance' we upgraded her to a sako finnlite 270 shortmag. very light, so it kicks a bit more than my 7mm rem mag. VERY nice gun though!

[sparkydm]

Look at Browning BAR. Not sure about the stainless and synthetic part. Had one of those Rem Jam O Matics. Got rid of it fast.

[Eye Slayer]

If you would consider a bolt action, there are far more options available to you. Depending on what you are hunting for, my personal opinion is that a bolt action is the only way to go...

Anyway, in a bolt, you could look at a Ruger M77, Remington 700, Tikka T3, and a host of others. You could also consider a laminate stock instead of syntheti...

I would also stay away from a BOSS system. The only people who could reasonably need one of this are safari hunters. Besides, you could always buy reduced recoil ammo, put a BOSS on after purchase if absolutely necessary, or just buy a smaller caliber (.270 would be a great choice, as would 7MM-08, or .243 as suggested).

[Jim Almquist]

Look at Browning BAR. Not sure about the stainless and synthetic part. Had one of those Rem Jam O Matics. Got rid of it fast.

I had a 7400 but was lucky enough to win a Browning Bar 30.06 at a MDHA banquet.

I sold the 74001 !

The bar for what ever reason has very little kick and is very,very accurate.

[Gus]

If I had to go back to an auto, I would go Browning BAR and nothing but. It is heavy, but that takes out some of the kick. It as pretty darn accurate too. But I don't have any plans of ditching my bolt action. I love it. Remington model 700 with X-Mark adjustable trigger.

[00rowe]

I have a BAR in 30-06 with the boss and it is loud but shoots like a 243, but hit's like an '06. Hearing protection should be worn whenever shooting rifles whether they have a muzzlebreak or not. I have shot mine without a couple of times but was wearing a stocking cap and didn't notice a big difference than my 270 without a break. I have a 7mm STW with a muzzlebreak also, if you are more comfortable with the recoil it will make you a better shot, with hearing protection on, I see no downside. Also, you cannot use Managed recoil ammo in an auto, they will not consistantly eject.

Mike

[lawdog]

I have had my Rem 7400 30-06 for 19 years and had one shell that didn't completely eject. Never another jam ever. Its hunted in three states taken countless deer and a bull elk. I don't know why you guys claim they are so bad...

[Gus]

I have had my Rem 7400 30-06 for 19 years and had one shell that didn't completely eject. Never another jam ever. Its hunted in three states taken countless deer and a bull elk. I don't know why you guys claim they are so bad...

Our hunting party had 6 7400's. Out of all 6 only mine had problems. And I had problems with it since day 1. I dealt with it for 12 years and it finally cost me a nice deer. I am happy you have a good one. I am happy the other 5 people I know shooting them have no problems, but for me I'll never buy or use one or recommend one again. I did take many deer with it, but it also cost me a nice one. It's one of those guns that some people (like me for example) just have problems with. The gun was well cared for, probably better than at least half the other guns in our party. Just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

[Bassman55]

As far as automatic rifles go their are really only four options.

Remington 750 woodmaster- a new version of the 7400

Browning BAR

Benelli R-1

Winchester- don't remember the name of it.

My dad was in the market for a new rifle after shooting a 7400 for 20 years. He never had problems with it. Niether my dad or me though that the BAR or Winchester fit us well. The R-1 is about twice the price of a 750, but my dad was considering it. We talked with a guy at Reed's and he said every R-1 he has sold has got brought back to him with problems, so my dad went with a 750 woodmaster with a synthetic stock. I don't know if their are any that you can buy with a stainless barrel.

[glenn57]

OK 30-06 shooters. got a question for ya all. i have an 06. i like to shoot the 220 grain because i dont seem to have to trial deer far, and by the way the furthest i tracked a bear is 50 yards. so are they not making them anymore becuase they are hard to find. at least places like fleet farm etc.

[Ferny]

Why would you want a auto???

Trust me (as a 7400 owner for 15 yrs.) I would NEVER buy a auto deer rifle again! I see the guys at the range with bolts. They can do <1" groups at 100 yards. I can do a pop can group on my best day. The tightness of the forearm screw matters on my point of impact too!!! That being said It has never failed to kill every deer I shot.

You should be practicing for a 1 shot 1 kill mentality. Not well if I miss I got 4 more to back it up!!! Who wants to be flinging 30-06 rounds all over the place?

I was young and dumb when I bought this and now I don't want to shell out $700+ for a nice bolt and scope. If I ever went out west I would not bring this auto! For MN and <100 yard shots no problem so far.

It just gives you more options for long open field or mountain shots with a bolt. You could still take the shorter deer/bear shots.

FYI deer hunting buddy changed to 7MM Mag and has not had to track anything since! At least on the 3 deer he has shot so far. It makes a pop can entrance and exit wound with Federal Premiums. Quite impressive to say the least.

Ferny.

[Alleyoop]

I owned a Rem Model 742 semi auto in .30-06 for 40 years & shot numerous deer, moose and bear with it. The jamming issues have finally got to me and she killed her last buck for me 2 weeks ago (jammed after 2 shots as usual). I have bought a BAR in 7mm/08 Rem.I have never hunted big game witout my .06 & I love that shell but I couldn't turn down the mint used BAR.I have had it with Remington semi-autos although 4 other guys in camp have not had issues but I think they are ticking bombs. Any thoughts on the 7MM-08 Rem shell ?

[Ferny]

Sounds like several people use this gun here's a good TIP:

Remington 742/7400 jamming issue. Time for a complete tear-down and good cleaning. Remove the forearm stock and scrape all the carbon off of the gas port. I use a bunch of foaming bore cleaner and let it soak. Take a pipe cleaner and ream it out.

Look at the mating surface that pushes the bolt back and scrape off all the carbon. Mine has NEVER jammed on me...yet

Sorry this doesn't relate to your question, just trying to help.

Ferny.

[Gus]

OK 30-06 shooters. got a question for ya all. i have an 06. i like to shoot the 220 grain because i dont seem to have to trial deer far, and by the way the furthest i tracked a bear is 50 yards. so are they not making them anymore becuase they are hard to find. at least places like fleet farm etc.

180's will still tip them over quite well.

[fasternu]

I shoot a Weatherby Vanguard 30.06 with 180 grain ammo. I have shot 4 deer with it, 3 dropped in their tracks, one was never found. Even though there was lots of blood, it still made off. If you make a good shot, it shouldn't go far, no matter what the grain ammo. In fact, after seeing the meat destroyed on several of those deer, next year I am considering going to some ammo with a little less power (150-160).

[paul pachowicz]

Faster, I'm with ya 100% on goin to a lighter bullet weight with the .06. I shoot handloaded 150 grain Sierra boatails and have taken several deer in the 300+ yard range. I would drop down to a 130 but, I've never been able to get them to MOA. I see what damage those big bullets do to carcasses. But, on the other hand, it's less work for me after I trim away several pounds of hydrostatic shooked meat. Those Vanguards are nice shooting guns. I've got a '83 model Smith & Wesson 1500 which is the same action.

[SKIPPERS KID]

"OK 30-06 shooters. got a question for ya all. i have an 06. i like to shoot the 220 grain because i don't seem to have to trial deer far, and by the way the furthest i tracked a bear is 50 yards. so are they not making them anymore because they are hard to find. at least places like fleet farm etc."

I do now Gander mountain caries the 220 you are looking for.

[Double D]

I agree with other posters above - the best way to reduce recoil is change ammuntion, not guns.

If you shoot 220s great, I have in the past, just be ready for a wallop. I noticed a difference when I started 180s and a friend said when you go to a 150 it feels (almost) like a 22.

Just another opinion.

DD

[Jim Almquist]

I guess that is reason why I feel there is very little kick with my 30.06 is I have always shot 165 grain and have no problems dropping a deer BUT I can't take a long shot ( over 100 yards )even if I wanted. ( Too many trees )

[looneyducer]

Why would anyone want a stainless automatic 30-06?

I would never buy stainless in anything but a bolt, the whole idea being to build a gun to hunt in the worst possible weather conditions at the edge of the civilized world. That rules out autos, even reliable ones.

Then again, I can't imagine buying an '06. I shoot a .270, a beautiful Winchester Model 70 Featherweight with a straight six Leopold, but I wouldn't even go that way right now.

Do yourself a favor. Look at bolt actions with short actions and go for all the stainless and synthetic you can get, even in the scope. Consider all the calibers carefully, including the short mags, and then buy a Ruger Model 77 in 7mm08.

That is, in my opinion, the best all around deer gun in production right now.

[lenny7]

I guess that is reason why I feel there is very little kick with my 30.06 is I have always shot 165 grain and have no problems dropping a deer BUT I can't take a long shot ( over 100 yards )even if I wanted. ( Too many trees )

That's what I've always shot. I've got 12 deer on 12 shots from my Remington 700 and I've never had to track any of those.

Maybe if i switch to 7mm they'd be deader?

[looneyducer]

Originally Posted By: jimalm

I guess that is reason why I feel there is very little kick with my 30.06 is I have always shot 165 grain and have no problems dropping a deer BUT I can't take a long shot ( over 100 yards )even if I wanted. ( Too many trees )

That's what I've always shot. I've got 12 deer on 12 shots from my Remington 700 and I've never had to track any of those.

Maybe if i switch to 7mm they'd be deader?

A 7mm08 is smaller than a 30-06, not bigger. It uses the shorter casing of a .308, necked down to accept a bullet that is a little over a half a millimeter narrower. Another way to look at it is to say it's a .243 with the neck expanded enough to take a bullet that is one millimeter broader at the shoulder.

Essentially, you are shooting, out of your '06, a 165 grain bullet at a little over 2800 feet per second. A 7mm08 shoots a 140 grain bullet at about the same speed. Both could (and should, in my opinion) be hand-loaded up to a Horandy SST (139 in the 7mm)at about 3000 feet per second, and both would be perfectly capable of cleanly killing an elk, let alone a whitetail. The 7mm08, however, takes full advantage of the leaps we have made in firearms tech over the last century. It's incredibly stable, even when fired from a short barrel, making the caliber virtually synonymous with tack-driving accuracy, and the shorter receiver allows the overall rifle to be shorter. It also kicks a whole lot less.

The original poster was asking about an automatic 30-06 in stainless, and somebody asked about 220 grain bullets. None of this makes sense. Stainless and synthetic are tough, and don't need the kind of carefull care that fine wood and blued steel do -- fine -- but automatics need that kind of care anyway. A 30-06 reciever is long, and putting it in an automatic only makes it longer, causing a shorter barrel if you need to swing the thing, and thereby reducing accuracy. It's far better suited in a bolt, especially in a beefy model like your 700. And it certainly doesn't need a 220 grain bullet. Holy Moly. That 220 can't be pushing much more than 2000 feet per second, and that with knocking the snot out of you every time you look at the rifle. What that essentially does is take the beautiful 30-06, near undisputed king of the 20th century (rivaled only by it's step-child, the .270), and turn it into a 19th century firearm, and not a very good one at that.

[Tim_Anderson]

I shoot a Remington 700 mountain (featherweight model) bolt action. Stainless barrel. Laminate stock. Love the gun. Have had good success with 150 grain hornady. I'm a firm believer in a small, fast bullet. I rarely shoot very far, but might weigh some other bullet options when I start hunting more out west. The light gun does kick a bit more, but you really don't notice it much when you're shooting the critters.