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In 1906, the U.S. Army adopted the .30-06 to stay ahead of the advancing technology of firearms and ammunition. The U.S. military based its primary battle rifles on this cartridge for the next half century. And although created for battle, the .30-06 was also rapidly accepted by civilian shooters. At first the round was not standardized, though this later changed.
The United States Army continued to use the round well into the 1980s, and it is still a prized round of civilian shooters. Its name comes from a combination of the bullet calibre (.30”) and the year the round was introduced (1906). This is why it was originally known as the “30 Government ‘06.” The full name today is the .30-06 Springfield.
According to Gun Digest, it’s the only round you need for just about anything. No less an authority than Field and Stream called it the greatest cartridge of all time. This is in part due to the wide array of bullet weights available for the cartridge, including:
It was the Spanish-American War that revealed major differences between the rifles of the U.S. Army and the rifles of other countries, both in cartridge and caliber. The most common military cartridge of the time, the .30-40 Krag, was being outdone by faster, farther-reaching bullets with spitzer points that retained accuracy and energy at greater ranges. Arising from this need, the .30-06 was an improved version of the .30-03.
This new cartridge, designated M1906, was built to regularly engage targets as distant as 1,000 yards and was lethal to a range of 3,400 yards (if the muzzle was elevated to approximately 45 degrees).
The 30-06 was part of a broader adoption of lighter-weight rounds at the beginning of the 20th century. The previous service round, the 30-03, was a round-nosed bullet failing to keep up with the changes in the world of military hardware.
The .30-06 Springfield (as the round was originally officially known, or catalog number M1906) was the American foray into the field. Range estimates were initially overrated. During World War I, the American military primarily used British and French machine guns. When switching over to American weapons chambered for the 30-06, they found a 50-percent drop in effective range.
Post-war testing eventually sorted out the problems with the 30-06 range. By 1926, rounding the cartridge and changing the jacket led to increased speed leaving the muzzle, which in turn led to increased range.
The M1906, including the variations that followed, was the primary cartridge for rifles and machine guns in the U.S. military, until being replaced with the 7.62 NATO cartridge in 1954. Until then, the .30-06 was chambered in rifles that came to be well known, including the M1903, M1917 and M1 Garand. Machine guns that fired the .30-06 include the M1917, M1919 and the BAR. The military even re-chambered some its Gatling guns to also fire the M1906.
The civilian market embraced the .30-06, which is why virtually every major firearms manufacturer has produced at least one rifle for this cartridge. It is available for sale in all common rifle action configurations, and is even chambered for a pistol as well. .30-06 ammo remains arguably the most used round for hunting in the United States, as it will easily harvest all game animals in the Continental U.S. The competitive shooting community has also contributed to its popularity.
Part of the reason for the round’s popularity is that the wartime surplus market had over two billion rounds floating around. At the time, the military’s regulations said that the oldest forms of ammunition needed to be trained first, which means that several generations of the military got their earliest rifle training with the 30-06. The round enjoyed a military renaissance when it was discovered that the range of the .30 M1 ball ammunition was not safe for existing ranges. There was a scramble to get as much 30-06 ammunition as possible back into circulation to replace all of the 30 M1 that the military could no longer safely use.
Another reason for the round’s popularity is the sheer number of weapons chambered for it, some of which include:
The 30-06 was the primary round of American servicemen during both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War – which was the last time the round saw extensive use in the military during wartime, becoming primarily a civilian round after that conflict. The round was also used by the Belgian military. In 1908, Winchester released its Model 1895, a lever-action rifle that was the first commercial-grade hunting rifle chambered for the 30-06.
What’s more, the 30-06 was popular as a parent round for wildcatted cartridges and was also extremely popular among hand reloaders. This is because of the sheer amount of them lying around.
The .30-06 is loaded in many different ways. Common bullets weigh between 100 and 220 grains, and types of bullets run the gamut from eXergy to FMJ and SP. Major manufacturers make a point of offering their newest hunting and match bullet technologies in .30-06, since demand for this cartridge has been solid and steady for more than a century.
One round that the 30-06 is frequently compared to is the 308 Win. This is because the two rounds have the same caliber, with the main difference being the overall length of the round. Here are some of the other differences between the .308 Win and the .30-06:
As with many similar rounds, the answer to “which one is better?” relies almost completely on what you wish to accomplish. And, as always, there are subtle differences between ammo depending on the manufacturer, even when we’re discussing the same caliber.
The 30-06 continues to be popular and widely available, ensuring that it will likely continue to dominate among the most common choices for hunters and sport shooters wanting a cartridge with long-range accuracy and power.
When referring to .30-06 ammo (pronounced thirty-aught-six), it describes the caliber introduced to the United States military in 1906 and was used as the Armed Forces primary rifle cartridge for over 50 years. Technically called the .30-06 Springfield, this round has been described as both the greatest cartridge of all time and the only cartridge you’ll ever need. It features a total cartridge length of 3.34 inches and a .30 caliber projectile (the "06" references the year it was introduced). The .30-06 round is used for hunting and is popular among those who make their own wildcat rounds.
The .30-06 Springfield was originally a military cartridge and served as the primary rifle cartridge for the United States armed forces for over 50 years. The cartridge is known for its versatility and can harvest all North American game, which makes it a favorite among many hunters. Since its commercial production began, the .30-06 cartridge has been available in various configurations and bullet weights, which influenced its popularity among handloaders of wildcat rounds.
The .30-06 cartridge is a popular hunting cartridge. With its versatility and the variety of configurations commercially available, .30-06 ammunition has been referred to as "the only cartridge you’ll ever need." Not only is the ammo great for harvesting game of all sizes, but the vast amount of .30-06 military surplus, both in firearms and ammunition, has led to an increase in the round’s popularity.
The standard commercial round for .30-06 ammo measures 3.34 inches in total length and comes in various bullet weights. Hunters can find light-weight varmint rounds in 125 and 130 grain (gr) all the way through 200 gr bullets that can harvest North America’s largest game. The most popular rounds feature a bullet weight of 165 or 168 gr, which is considered by many to provide the perfect balance of power and velocity. Many handloaders make wildcat rounds in .30-06, which can add even more configurations to this versatile cartridge.
The term for .30-06 is "thirty-aught-six." Thirty refers to the projectile’s size, which in this case is .30 caliber (the bullet measures .308 inch). The aught references an Old English word that means zero, while the six is associated with the year 1906 when the cartridge was adopted by the United States military.
Although .30-06 ammo comes in a wide range of configurations, most agree that when it comes to long-range shooting, 165-168 grain (gr) bullets tend to be in the "goldilock zone," where the speed and power of the projectile balance for optimal performance. Most ammunition companies that manufacture .30-06 ammo offer this or similar rounds, some specially made for long-distance shots. Opt for ammunition by Hornady, Federal, or other reputable brands.
When comparing .223 ammo to .30-06, the .30-06 is noticeably larger, measuring more than a full inch longer than the smaller round. The larger cartridge is loaded with over 5,000 more pounds per square inch (psi) than the .223, and has over double the energy output. While the .30-06 can take all of North America’s big game, the .223 is limited to varmint and small-to-medium game.
Multiple factors, such as distance and the game in question, influence how deep a bullet can penetrate. Luckily, all hunting round configurations in the .30-06 Springfield have deep penetration and stopping power. As the velocity of the projectile decreases with bullet weight, the heavier, 200 grain (gr) .30-06 bullets may not penetrate through large game the way the 165 gr does a whitetail deer, but they create massively fatal wounds with their energy.
Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.
| 30-06 Bullet WEIGHT | Muzzle VELOCITY (fps) | Muzzle ENERGY (ft. lbs.) | TRAJECTORY (in.) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | Muzzle | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | 100 yds. | 200 yds. | 300 yds. | 400 yds. | |
| 55 Grain | 4080 | 3485 | 2965 | 2502 | 2083 | 2033 | 1483 | 1074 | 764 | 530 | 2 | 1.9 | -2.1 | -11.7 |
| 125 Grain | 2660 | 2335 | 2034 | 1757 | n/a | 1964 | 1513 | 1148 | 856 | n/a | 0 | -5.2 | -18.9 | 0 |
| 125 Grain | 2700 | 2412 | 2143 | 1891 | 1660 | 2023 | 1615 | 1274 | 993 | 765 | 2.3 | 0 | -9.9 | -29.5 |
| 125 Grain | 3140 | 2780 | 2447 | 2138 | 1853 | 2736 | 2145 | 1662 | 1279 | 953 | 2 | 1 | -6.2 | -21 |
| 150 Grain | 2910 | 2617 | 2342 | 2083 | 1853 | 2820 | 2281 | 1827 | 1445 | 1135 | 2.5 | 0.8 | -7.2 | -23.4 |
| 150 Grain | 3080 | 2848 | 2617 | 2417 | 2216 | 3159 | 2700 | 2298 | 1945 | 1636 | 1.4 | 0 | -6.4 | -18.9 |
| 165 Grain | 2800 | 2534 | 2283 | 2047 | 1825 | 2872 | 2352 | 1909 | 1534 | 1220 | 2.5 | 0.4 | -8.4 | -25.5 |
| 168 Grain | 2710 | 2522 | 2346 | 2169 | 2003 | 2739 | 2372 | 2045 | 1754 | 1497 | 2.5 | 0.4 | -8 | -23.5 |
| 168 Grain M1 Garand | 2710 | 2523 | 2343 | 2171 | 2006 | 2739 | 2374 | 2048 | 1758 | 1501 | 2.3 | 0 | -8.6 | -24.6 |
| 170 Grain | 2000 | 1740 | 1510 | n/a | n/a | 1510 | 1145 | 860 | n/a | n/a | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 178 Grain | 2720 | 2511 | 2311 | 2121 | 1939 | 2924 | 2491 | 2111 | 1777 | 1486 | 2.5 | 0.4 | -8.2 | -24.6 |
| 180 Grain | 2700 | 2469 | 2250 | 2042 | 1846 | 2913 | 2436 | 2023 | 1666 | 1362 | -2.5 | 0 | -9.3 | -27 |
| 180 Grain Superformance | 2820 | 2630 | 2447 | 2272 | 2104 | 3178 | 2764 | 2393 | 2063 | 1769 | 1.8 | 0 | -7.6 | -21.9 |
| 180 Grain High Energy | 2880 | 2690 | 2500 | 2320 | 2150 | 3315 | 2880 | 2495 | 2150 | 1845 | 1.7 | 0 | -7.2 | -21 |
| 220 Grain | 2410 | 2130 | 1870 | 1632 | 1422 | 2837 | 2216 | 1708 | 1301 | 988 | 2.5 | -1.7 | -18 | 0 |
"I was shooting these bare eyed at 400 yards. from a remington bolt action. I was shooting from a bench. It took me 6 rounds to register were I wanted and then shot 50 more rounds with little deflection. Good stuff."
"Just purchased 500 rounds of mil surplus 30-06 for my M1. Great pricing and prompt service. Will order again."
"Very good "
"Breaking in a new barrel on a Garand. Fired twenty rounds at 50 yards. Most 3 shot groups had two very close and a third within an inch. I would definitely purchase this ammo again."
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"Very accurate with plenty of power. Dead on at 200 yards and further."
"good stuff never had any problems with this round have used it faithfuly for over 15 years."