30-06

[the hog]

Fantastic for African game.
This pic, looking for mugabe.

[tenyearsgone28]

It's great for most large game IMO. But if I had a lion running at me I might wish I had a .416 rigby or the like.

What kind of rifle is it? Most 06's don't even have iron sights.

[FredLee]

Looks like a long action 98.
I have a Parker-Hale 1200 that looks much like it.With iron sights...
Great rifle.

[dayliterun]

My savagae in 30-06 dosen't have iron sights.

[tenyearsgone28]

I'd still use it to put a wallop on animals! I'm very partial to my 30 cal pills!

[30-30remchester]

Originally Posted by tenyearsgone28

It's great for most large game IMO. But if I had a lion running at me I might wish I had a .416 rigby or the like.

What kind of rifle is it? Most 06's don't even have iron sights.

I must be living in the past as every 30-06 I have has iron sites, however most of mine are over 50 years old.

[375H&H]

I'm a big fan of the 30-06 but for Africa aren't there better calibers for most game?

Examples:
Gazelle-size at long range- .257 Weatherby - Flat shooter.
Kudu-size at med range- .375 H&H - more punch equals less walking.
Leopard-7mm Magnum or .300 Win Mag - probably long range+flat shooter.

Dangerous game other than leopard:

Lion-.375 H&H - absolute minimum-preferably 416 Rigby
Cape Buffalo- .416 Rigby or larger.
Elephant- .458 Lott

The 30-06 could handle the first 3 adequately, not the last three. Of course, they've priced the last 3 out of most everyone's reach.

BTW I have a Winchester M70 in 30-06 with iron sights. Rifles with iron sights used to be common.

[justin_baker]

Originally Posted by tenyearsgone28

It's great for most large game IMO. But if I had a lion running at me I might wish I had a .416 rigby or the like.

What kind of rifle is it? Most 06's don't even have iron sights.

My dads 06 had iron sights when he bought it, i was there when he mounted and sighted the scope in. Not sure of the brand though.

[30-30remchester]

Originally Posted by 375H&H

I'm a big fan of the 30-06 but for Africa aren't there better calibers for most game?

Examples:
Gazelle-size at long range- .257 Weatherby - Flat shooter.
Kudu-size at med range- .375 H&H - more punch equals less walking.
Leopard-7mm Magnum or .300 Win Mag - probably long range+flat shooter.

Dangerous game other than leopard:

Lion-.375 H&H - absolute minimum-preferably 416 Rigby
Cape Buffalo- .416 Rigby or larger.
Elephant- .458 Lott

The 30-06 could handle the first 3 adequately, not the last three. Of course, they've priced the last 3 out of most everyone's reach.

BTW I have a Winchester M70 in 30-06 with iron sights. Rifles with iron sights used to be common.

I have never been to Africa however a friend has several times and all he took was a pre 64 model 70 Winchester in 270 Win. He took @36 head of game, none needed a second shot. The legendary Craig Boddington swears by the 30-06 for most African plains game. Again I aint been there yet.

[Duelist]

Originally Posted by 375H&H

I'm a big fan of the 30-06 but for Africa aren't there better calibers for most game?

Examples:
Gazelle-size at long range- .257 Weatherby - Flat shooter.
Kudu-size at med range- .375 H&H - more punch equals less walking.
Leopard-7mm Magnum or .300 Win Mag - probably long range+flat shooter.

Dangerous game other than leopard:

Lion-.375 H&H - absolute minimum-preferably 416 Rigby
Cape Buffalo- .416 Rigby or larger.
Elephant- .458 Lott

The 30-06 could handle the first 3 adequately, not the last three. Of course, they've priced the last 3 out of most everyone's reach.

BTW I have a Winchester M70 in 30-06 with iron sights. Rifles with iron sights used to be common.

I seem to recall an article in Field and Stream for the 30/06's centeniall, where a man described taking a Cape Buffalo with a 30/06 shooting 220 grain solids.

[375H&H]

Like I said, I'm a big fan of the 30-06. However, different situations require different calibers if you're after the ideal.

In making the trip to Africa you're usually limited to 2 rifles.

If I was making the trip seeking only plains game, the 30-06 might be one of the two I would take.

If I was intending on hunting a mix of the Big Five and plains game the 30-06 might not make the cut.

If I lived there, and the availability of other calibers was there the 30-06 might get a lot of safe time. It would depend on the intended hunt.

A couple of rules I would follow: As per Ruark: Always bring enough gun.

Don't **** off a dangerous animal with the wrong caliber or a bad shot.

The less walking you have to do in that heat and grass the better. You don't want to chase a wounded animal.

Of course many people going over there in this modern era don't worry about stopping power because they rely on their guide's heavy duty gun to stop any trouble.

Being old school, I like to do things myself. I would not rely on a .270 for Cape Buffalo or a .30-06 for lion. But every situation is different.

[30-30remchester]

I study African hunting professionals so over the years I have collected many
culling reports. One professional used a 30-06 with 180 grain Nosler Partiton bullets to cull many cape buffalo. Teddy Rosevelt like the 30-06 as a lion round. Just read a report from a culling officer that uses a 308 win and has fired his rifle over 20,000 times. Now consider maybe 200 rounds are sight-in's and guessing few misses since these are true professionals so would GUESS in excess of 14,000 animals taken with a 308. So I would guess the 30-06 would be an excellent African cartridge.

[375H&H]

Originally Posted by 30-30remchester

I study African hunting professionals so over the years I have collected many
culling reports. One professional used a 30-06 with 180 grain Nosler Partiton bullets to cull many cape buffalo. Teddy Rosevelt like the 30-06 as a lion round. Just read a report from a culling officer that uses a 308 win and has fired his rifle over 20,000 times. Now consider maybe 200 rounds are sight-in's and guessing few misses since these are true professionals so would GUESS in excess of 14,000 animals taken with a 308. So I would guess the 30-06 would be an excellent African cartridge.

The famous Karamoja Bell killed thousands of elephants using a 7x57. But I don't think you would find a professional guide who would recommend you do that.

In a perfect situation a 30-06 or even a .308 will kill a lion. Animal is not expecting to get hit and you have a perfect bullet placement. If you have a wounded or ticked off lion full of adrenalin on your hands, and he's charging, good luck with that 30-06.

There's been many documented cases of a charging lion or cape buffalo ignoring multiple 375H&H hits. In many countries now there is a law that you must use a .40 caliber or above for dangerous game.


These guys were tracking a wounded lion (that someone else had shot). Up close and personal.

YouTube - Lion Hunt and Charge!

[Phoenixhawk]

I love my 30.06 Springfield 1903 it doesnt have Iron Sights but it knows how to reach out and touch someone..... but that said, Charging Elephants?!?

Screw That I want a 50 at a time like that.

[30-30remchester]

In my above posts I stated im my fairly extensive research and experence I stated it was my believe the 30-06 was an excellent HUNTING cartridge. I never stated or implyed it was a stopping cartridge. These are two intirely different things.

[375H&H]

All I'm saying is that a hunt for dangerous game can turn tragic if you're not prepared by having enough gun.

In today's Africa, some guides will ask you if it's ok for them to take a follow up shot on dangerous game. Some guides won't even ask; it's their policy.

They are equipped with the right rifle and would much rather dispatch the animal you wound rather than having to go chase it.

Most if not all companies have a policy that you are not allowed to go with the guide if he has to track wounded dangerous game. The game eating the clients is bad for business.

You as a client don't really have to worry too much about having enough gun since your guide is your safety net.

Hunting plains game now in Africa is almost always done in areas that have a low danger factor. The choice of caliber in that case, is like anywhere else.

In fact today in many areas there are fenced in thousands of acres where it is just about guaranteed a lion isn't going to eat a New York stock-broker.