Custom 30-06's
I've hunted a lot with 30-06's and am interested in possibly buying a custom, heavy barrel, sub moa type rifle. Most of the rifles like this for sale are 308's. Is this just because 308 ammo is more common, or is it the short action, or ????? Why don't we see more beanfield type rifles in 30-06?
Thanks
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Grizdog,
Welcome to the Forum!
It's pretty much because the civilian world has copied the military world in that their long range accurate round is the 7.62/.308. For all intents and purposes the .308 is about the slowest viable long range round. It's doable but slow. I shoot a customized .30-06 with a heavy barrel and I push the heavier more ballisticly efficient bullets in .30 cal about 2-300 fps faster than a .308 can. I'm currently slowly working my way through 1000 M118LR 175gr. FMJBT's. I have found for absolute accuracy in my rifle that 168 gr. Nosler Custom Competitions and 175 SMK's shoot a little more accurate.
Edit:
After looking around a bit on line I found that Howa produces a dedicated long range precision platform in 30-06, the Axiom. It was only dedicated one I could find. However, Savage and Winchester produce something close. Savage in the 'Weather Warrior' 16FHSS and Winchester in the 'Extreme Weather' series. Both come in 30-06 and have heavier barrels. Winchesters had the barrel fluted.
Westkeybanded,
I would have thought it prudent for Armalite to produce the AR-30 in 30-06 but they don't do it as a standard. It takes a custom order. One, for the chamber, and two, for the magazine. Both are different. It can be built off the .300 Win Mag magazine but they have to change the feed lips. To do that and make it work the same every time it takes jigs to put the mag walls in to bend them correctly.0 -
I think Armalite makes (made) the AR-30 in .30-06 as well. 0 -
Grizdog:
From the implication of your post it sounds like you may want a longrange varmint rifle, but I am not sure.
This may not be of interest, but Remington used to make its 700 heavy barrel varmint rifle available in 25-06. You sometimes see one for sale, but they are a bit rare. My friend had one of these almost 30 years ago, and used it for rockchucks, coyotes, and the like. So, if you like the 30-06 case, but want something for varmints, consider something like this, or in 6.5-06, etc. The recoil will generally be less than the 30-06, with probably a flatter trajectory.0 -
The hunting club I belong to has several stands along power lines, where you can pretty much see 500 yards either direction. I already have a large amount of 30-06 ammo and older rifles. Just looking for that next toy for deer/hog hunting, while trying to use ammo and reloading equipment I already have. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Grizdog
The hunting club I belong to has several stands along power lines, where you can pretty much see 500 yards either direction. I already have a large amount of 30-06 ammo and older rifles. Just looking for that next toy for deer/hog hunting, while trying to use ammo and reloading equipment I already have.
Excellent reason to stay with 30-06. And the question has been answered in the first reply to your querie (sandwarrior's post)! Where else can you get such service!! Don't forget to tell your friends about us! Best, Joe0 -
Grizdog:
Well, that is a good reason to stick with the 30-06. You should be able to find something that you like, if you look around a bit.
By the way, Remington makes the 40X in 30-06, and it has the reputation of being an excellent bean field type rifle, with good quality, accuracy, good trigger, etc. The 40X has a long, heavy barrel. You can find info on the new models on the Remington.com website under 'Custom'. You may be able to find a good used one in 30-06 if you search.0 -
find a good gunsmith and build your own. You will be miles ahead of a factory rifle. 0 -
Thanks to all for good answers and advice. I will investigate both options that were suggested. 0 -
think about a 30 gibbs if going custom.tks hedge[:D] 0 -
Grizdog,
Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums!
"Most of the rifles like this for sale are 308's. Is this just because 308 ammo is more common, or is it the short action, or ?????"
All of the above and more except for being more common. I don't know of another cartridge besides the .30-06 which can be found in virtually every store in the U.S. and many foreign countries that sells ammunition. There is also a great selection of factory loads for the .30-06 Springfield.
The .308 Win. and the 7.62 NATO cartridges have taken over the position of the 'go to' cartridge by the military, police, security and the tactical folks for many reasons not the least of which is accuracy and weight. It's also a cartridge that is intermediate with relationship to power vs performance, in essence, it's not a .50 BMG or .223/5.56mm.
The .30-06 Springfield is still the king of hunting rifle cartridges but lacks the luster of high performance that comes with using more 'target' oriented cartridges such as the .308 Win. Sometimes I think this is a problem with perception rather than actual performance. There is no reason that the .30-06 can't be used in a 'beanfield' configuration. As with all rifles though, accuracy will depend on the methods used to create the rifle as opposed to the cartridge itself.
Off-the-shelf rifle are rarely assembled with the care and expertise that a truly custom rifle is. The processes are completely different as is reflected in the prices of each. Most factory custom rifles are not really custom in the first place no matter what the writers want you to believe. Semi-custom could be used as the descriptive term but even that can be a stretch with some manufacturers.
There are a very few examples of factory rifles that will meet your criteria. Remington and Savage both have candidates with Winchester trailing by a bit. After that, your choices will be to have a good gunsmith build one for you.
If your real desire is for a moderate long range rifle with better than average accuracy for power line hunting or beanfield shooting, I suggest talking to a gunsmith or gunmaker known for this type of rifle. There is a long list of these folks who have qualified themselves by achievement and acknowledgment.
The .30-06 cartridge, when coupled with a properly constructed bullet and a tested load, can perform with superb accuracy so there is no reason not to pursue a rifle for this type of hunting.
Best.0
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