Fire Arm Barrel Twist Optics Distance       Shots

: Browning A-Bolt : 21 inches : 1:10 inches : 24 X : 50 yards : 10

Click on figure to access ANSI technical cartridge drawing

A commercial cartridge. The world's most popular non-magnum hunting cartridge, bar none, though initially developed and deployed as a military cartridge.

Developed by the Springfield Amory as a refinement to the 30-03, and as the replacement for the 30-40 Krag as this country's primary battle cartridge. Formally known as "caliber .30, model 1906, mark I". The final 30-06 form was reached by trimming the 30-03's long 30-40 style neck by .090".

Introduced to the public as a hunting cartridge in 1908. Has been chambered by all manufacturers of any significance. Initial chamberings include the Win 1895 lever gun, 1908, m54 bolt, 1925, Rem m30 bolt 1921, Savage, 1928. Today a century later it is still the singularly most commonly chambered (centerfire hunting) round.

The case capacity of the 30-06 runs: 68.2gr (of water), fullcase, 60.7gr (with a flatbase bullet seated .400") - a significant increase over the 30-40 it replaced, at 54.3gr and 46.8gr, respectively. Its replacement, the 308 Win offers 55.6gr and 48.0gr. In comparison, other 30 caliber hunting cartridges run: 30-30 Ackley, 46.6 and 39.1; 300 Savage, 53.1gr, 45.5gr; "the" magnum 30 caliber hunting cartridge of the ear, the 300 H&H, 81.3gr and 73.8gr; the 1950's 300 Win Mag, 87.0gr, 79.5gr; the 300 Rem Ultra Mag, 110.2gr, 102.7gr; 30-378 Wby, 120.3gr, 112.9gr. The 30-06 Ackley Improved only increases the capacity by a few percent, to 70.5gr and 62.9gr.

As a North American hunting cartridge, with the appropriate bullet selection, it is viable for varmints thru all but the largest bear and moose. With 100-120gr bullets the 30-06 is a varmint cartridge, with 150-160gr bullets it's a deer, sheep and small bear cartridge; and with 180gr and heavier it's a moose, elk and bear cartridge.

The 30-06, known in Europe as 7.62x63mm, shares the case head design of the 8 and 7x57 mausers of the era. The -06, simply by necking up or down, has been the basis of multiple commercial cartridges: 25-06, 6.5-06, 270 Win, 280 Rem, 338-06, and 35 Whelen; and innumerable wildcats.

Nominal bullet diameter is .308". ANSI lists the maximum operating pressure as 50k CUP and 60k PSI.