Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!doug.cae.wisc.edu!osnome.che.wisc.edu!hunting From: microsoft!johnclif@cs.washington.edu Newsgroups: rec.hunting Subject: Best Rifle Caliber Message-ID: <1991Jun22.112328.19360@doug.cae.wisc.edu> Date: 22 Jun 91 16:23:28 GMT Lines: 73 Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu You could do much worse than to select the .30-'06 as the single best all-around hunting cartridge for North America, including for the big bears. Yes, I know that many people recommend .338s and up for the big bears, but good bullets and good shooting have enabled the '06 to take many a bruin since it's creation. My '06 has been used to shoot everything from crows to deer. I have no doubt that it would do fine on elk and bear (my father originally bought it, a pre-'64 M70, in the early '50s while he was stationed at Kodiak NAS specifically for bear hunting, but he never got the chance -- since he much preferred bird hunting, I usurped it in my teens, packed in grease and with maybe 50 rounds through it -- funny, I've always liked rifles better than shotguns, and for him it was vice versa). Many of the great outdoor writers have used the '06 for game such as lion, tiger, and even elephant! I would agree that it's a little small for jumbo, but I'd be willing to pop one of the big cats with it given some Noslers. I almost think the '06 may be a little too much for deer, especially at close range. I killed my first buck with it at ~40 yards. The single shot through the lungs with a Remington factory-loaded 150 gr PSP liquified everything above the diaphram. But you can get factory loads with everything from 55 grain Accelerators to 220 grain soft points, and nearly anything else in between. Several of the ammo makers also offer excellent factory loads with Nosler, Speer, and Sierra bullets. No wonder the '06 has it's well-deserved reputation for versatility. As an aside, a few years ago I had a 8" long section of railroad rail that I tested various calibers on, just for fun. First, I shot it at 50 yards with a .22 LR and a .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ. The .22 merely left a splash mark w/o scratching the hardened steel. The .45 made a tiny ding. Then I put the rail at 100 yards and shot it with my '06. First, with a Remington Accelerator (55 gr. .223 PSP encased in a .308 plastic sabot, loaded into an '06 case -- mv 4080 f/sec). The rail had a 1/2" deep by 1" diameter crater blown in it, and lead plated. Next, I shot it with a 150 gr Remington PSP Core-Lokt, resulting in a slightly bigger and deeper lead-plated crater. Interesting factoid: the heavier bullet didn't make a proportionately bigger crater, but it did seem to impart a much larger 'shove' to the target. Energy vs. momentum? At any rate, I wouldn't want to be shot by either one! My current game load is the Federal Premium load with the Sierra 165 gr PSP boattail. I can't say that it will work on game better than the Remington 150 grain factory load, but in my rifle, accurized years ago by KDF, the Federal Premium load consistently shoots less than m.o.a. and that's good enough for me. By the way, you might also want to take advantage of the accurizing services offered by KDF and Shilen Barrels. Mine cost $100 in the early '80s (I understand KDF charges $200 now), and for that price they bed the action, place a single pressure point in the forend, and recrown the muzzle. The gun's appearance doesn't change, but it sure shoots like something else! Depending on how my new .338 Super Grade shoots, it might also end up taking a trip to Texas. Why do I have a .338? It will be my heavy rifle, with the '06 being my medium rifle, and my Ruger M77 Mark II stainless .243 as my light deer and antelope rifle. I like my other rifles too much to subject them to the constant drizzle of the Pacific Northwest! Actually, if I were you, I'd buy one of the new M70 Super Grades in .30-'06, get a Leupold 3.5x-10x scope, and also have iron sights installed and a KDF or Shilen accuracy job done on it. You'd still have spent less than either the KDF or the McMillan, and you'd have a rifle that would be every bit their equal, if not better. (No, I don't have stock in USRAC, but I really like the new Super Grades!) Just one man's opinion, worth what it costs.... John Clifford Developer, Applications Microsoft Corporation Disclaimer: I speak for me, Bill speaks for Microsoft.