What are your 30 cal thoughts?

[bsaride]

I'm looking at a 30 cal rifle for distance shooting.
Can you tell me what your thoughts are regarding the 30-40 and 30-06?
I'm thinking 300-500 yards and it's been over 30 years since I shot a 30-40.
I have a vintage 30-30 already.

[JB]

It depends if you're hunting, plinking, or serious target shooting at those distances. The 30-40 Krag wouldn't be my pick for anything other than fun at that distance. For serious target work I'd look at a 308 Winchester. For hunting the 308, 30-06 or one of the 30 caliber magnums would all work.

[Old Savage]

Personally, I like the 30-06 best of the 30s.

[O.S.O.K.]

30-06 is the classic. I'd go with that. In fact, I have - 5 times. I also have a couple 30-40's and they are great but for long range, the 30-06 is a much better choice.

[Lefty Dude]

With a single shot, like a high wall & such the 30-40 will out preform the 06.
Not so much in a bolt gun, such as a Krag.

The 30-06 would be my choice also.

Unless your a wild-catter. Then I would suggest a 30/338. A very easy conversion for any bolt 30-06 rifle with a Mauser type action.

[CEMENTHEAD]

30-06 all the way.....load up some 175 Sierra BTHP or 178 A-Max bullets to 2700+fps and have some fun !!

[Rusty]

Between the two you listed I'd have to go with the '06 for 500 yard work. Personally I have a Ruger #1 in .308. I feel it's a little more efficient for the range of bullets I shoot, but I don't shoot the 200 grain and up class.

For paper punchin a .30-40 sounds like it might be more fun of the two. I think it's been so long since anybody shot them much it might be interesting to find out if it's an accurate cartridge it's self. Some people claim certain cartridges are more inherently accurate than others. I don't know how the .30-40 would fall in line with that kind of thinking.

[flatnose]

The plain old 308, or 7.62x51 if you like, has a proven track record and is hard to beat. Leftys suggestion, the 30/338 was at one time favoured by benchrest shooters.
If I were to throw some dough at a nice barrel, action, trigger etc etc, I might go with the 30/338.
For 300-500yds the 308 winchester is plenty cartridge,, and treated right, highly accurate.

[stew71]

I'm looking at a 30 cal rifle for distance shooting.
Can you tell me what your thoughts are regarding the 30-40 and 30-06?
I'm thinking 300-500 yards and it's been over 30 years since I shot a 30-40.
I have a vintage 30-30 already.

Well...based on the calibers you mention...go for the 30-06 for long distance. Any rifle chambered for the 30-40 Krag will be either....generally...a restored or Bubba-tized Krag, a Ruger #3, or a Winchester 1895...none of which are generally set up for long range shooting, unless you can mount a scope on such a specimen. That also means you limit yourself in choices of firearms. The good ol' '06 is one, if not the most, popular centerfire rounds going. That gives you unlimited choices. And that, my friend, is a good thing. Something else to consider is the availability of ammo. Try finding 30-40 Krag ammo at the last minute in some Alaskan or Wyoming sporting goods store. Then...look at the shelves and see how much 30-06 ammo is there.

For the record, I own a '95 Browning in 30-40 Krag and use it only for close range timber hunting of pigs and deer. Equipped with a Lyman peep sight, it's downright pretty...but useless beyond 150 yards for hunting purposes.

My Remington 700 30-06 is used for Nevada antelope & mule deer, California hogs, Alaska caribou, and Wyoming elk. I also use a Springfield 1903A1 for NRA metallic silhouette matches, along with an M1 Garand for the CMP matches.

If I had to own only 1 centerfire rifle, I'd go with the 30-06. Or my Marlin 336 30-30.

Of course, you can always do the smart thing...save up and buy BOTH!!!!

[AJMD429]

Any rifle chambered for the 30-40 Krag will be either....generally...a restored or Bubba-tized Krag, a Ruger #3, or a Winchester 1895...none of which are generally set up for long range shooting, unless you can mount a scope on such a specimen.

Don't forget about THIS option...



This was shot with a .30-40 Krag handgun-length barrel, so I'm sure the rifle-length ones can do the job...



http://www.eabco.com/Review06.html

[Old Time Hunter]

There is only one cartridge in .30 cal that eclipses them all for distance and that is the .300 WM. You can down load it to paultry numbers like the .30-06 or even down to the wimpy .308, but you can also load it to the max. So why would anyone bother getting a wannabe?

[fordwannabe]

Whoa whoa whoa what's wrong with wannabees?

[Nath]

Being short in the arm and of small hands I like the small action Remmy, mine is in 308 and it mostly shoots varmints. I recently broke my record on a rabbit at 455yards in a gusty wind and a 3-9Weaver scope. The short action is sweet to work with the gun still in the shoulder.

It is using the Hornady V-max 110grainers on top of 50grns of H4895 (a case full) and will make a one ragged hole at 100yds.

I throw a load together with some Speer 170 flat points that is sub 2" at 100 so thats any deer sorted come the time.

The 308 is puny compared to others but it is also efficient fuel wise and good in short barrels.

Funny thing is I still miss my 30/30!

Nath.

[86er]

If you're stopping at 500-600 yds I'd personally prefer the .308 Win. I just finished a rifle school where we shot 6500 rounds in a week, about 1/2 .223 and the remainder 308 Win. We fired out to 1250 yds. I did as well or better than the guys that had 30-06, 300 Win Mag and others.

[txpete]

I'm looking at a 30 cal rifle for distance shooting.
Can you tell me what your thoughts are regarding the 30-40 and 30-06?
I'm thinking 300-500 yards and it's been over 30 years since I shot a 30-40.
I have a vintage 30-30 already.

30/06 all the way over the two choices given.

pete

[Griff]

Between the two you mention... the 'Aught-Six!

[HEAD0001]

You did not let us know what action type of rifle you wanted to use. That would be an important part of the decision. Lately I have been doing a lot of reading about the 30-40 Krag. And it is actually a remarkable cartridge. I am wanting one in a TC Encore. And the 30-40 Krag has some advantages in the Encore. So it really depends on what type of rifle you want to shoot. The 30-06 is also a dandy cartidge. And a nice Garand can be alot of fun. Tom.

[bsaride]

I was planning on the 30-06 but saw a custom Krag that looked really cool.
And then there was the custom 8mm Mauser that was just outside the budget
that has already gone to someone else.

I think I would prefer a bolt but also looking at a Win 1895 as well.

Haven't decided, but I prefer something with irons and history.

[W.E.G.]

BLR

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... ype_id=015

Don't mess around.
Be the only kid on the block to have one of these in .300 Win. Mag.

[Alan Wood]

BLR

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... ype_id=015

Don't mess around.
Be the only kid on the block to have one of these in .300 Win. Mag.

At 7 pounds 12 ounces that thing has gonna kick like a mule on steroids!

[AJMD429]

BLR

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... ype_id=015

Don't mess around.
Be the only kid on the block to have one of these in .300 Win. Mag.

Cool. . . I want one in 7mm Magnum, just due to that high-ballistic-coefficient .284 bullet it spits out. . .

I wonder if they are anywhere near as accurate as a Savage Accutrigger, though, with the takedown, and all...?

[Griff]

BLR
http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... ype_id=015
Don't mess around.
Be the only kid on the block to have one of these in .300 Win. Mag.

Cool. . . I want one in 7mm Magnum, just due to that high-ballistic-coefficient .284 bullet it spits out. . .
I wonder if they are anywhere near as accurate as a Savage Accutrigger, though, with the takedown, and all...?

Before I answered the .30-06, my first thought was neither... beats the 7mmRemMag. And this TD version sez something besides "gimmick" to me!

[bsaride]

So how accurate are the 30-06 leverguns?
BLR, 1895, fixed or td?

Is it really a 300-500 yard gun?

If you were to get a bolt gun and want wood, fixed sights, accuracy what would you choose?

[Lefty Dude]

The best bolt Rifle for the money in my opinion would be a Savage.

I know one fellow shooter who ownes 6 in different calibers. He also owns Brownings, FN's & Winchesters. His go-to rifles are always Savage.

[bsaride]

The best bolt Rifle for the money in my opinion would be a Savage.

I know one fellow shooter who ownes 6 in different calibers. He also owns Brownings, FN's & Winchesters. His go-to rifles are always Savage.

I see tons of Savages and wonder if there is some way to decifer the model numbers.

[fordwannabe]

savages using 2 digit numbers such as 10, 12, 16 are short actions. 3digit model numbers 110, 114,116 ect are long actions. This is with the newer numbering system, in the day all were 110 no matter caliber or action length. The savage website had a pretty good explaination of model numbers. As some of you know my other gun related website home is SAVAGESHOOTERS and we have a Pennsylvania get together every yearfor a little shooting and fun, and to see some of these guns shoot is amazing. I can only do 10 shots under a quarter at 100 yards with my 308 and I ain't even in the running with these guys. A little trigger work(unless it already has the accutrigger) and some load developement and those babies will shoot. But I am biased -I have 4 actions and 3 or 4 extra barrels for them so I can change calibers at will. I would definately rcommend a Savage( ask my remington 700 BDL I haven't shot it in 3 years and its a good gun).Tom

[Nath]

The Savage has a nice compact slim action, was tempted myself

N.

[JReed]

I have the cheaper Stevens 200 short action and it is a tack driver. My hunting partner has the Savage 110 in 30-06 and he has used it to great effect on coyotes out to 500 and it prints nice little groups on paper also.