Posted on 03/08/2006 11:19:12 AM PST by 45Auto
The .30-06 cartridge was created for the M-1903 Springfield rifle, a decade before World War I.
For the next six or seven decades, the same cartridge became the most widely used rifle and light machine gun ammunition, staying in service well into the 1970s.
History of the .30-06 Cartridge
Development of the .30-06 cartridge was motivated by the development of the pointed nose spritzer 7 x 57mm and 8 x 57mm Mauser cartridges by the Imperial German Army, a breakthrough in ballistic technology. When issued for the M-1903 Springfield rifle in 1906 the .30-06 was known as "Ball Cartridge, caliber .30, Model of 1906", replacing a short-lived, round-nosed ".30-03" cartridge originally intended for the Springfield rifle. The then-new spitzer technology (ie, the ability to make a pointed nose bullet) had obsoleted the ".30-03" design.
The versitile .30-06 cartridge was used during World War I not only for the M-1903 Springfield, but also for the .30 cal machine guns, the BAR, and for the .30 cal M-1917 Enfield. In 1940, when the M-1 Garand replaced the Springfield as the service rifle, the .30-06 continued to be the ammunition for the Garand as well as for the many models of light and medium machine guns. Machine gun usage included not only infantry weapons, but also models adapted for aircraft, for armored vehicles and naval vessels. Finally, in 1954 the .30-06 cartridge was officially replaced by the 7.62mm cartridge as the M-14 began to be phased in as the new service rifle. The .30-06 continued in service for machine guns and for the many .30 cal rifles that remained in use for snipers, ceremonial duties, and other uses well into the 1970s. Of course the .30-06 continues a strong presence in the civilian market.
Surplus .30-06 ammunition was plentiful in the U.S. market during the 1950s and 1960s, often packed in Garand clips still in their cloth bandoleers or even in Springfield stripper clips. Ball, armor piercing and tracer ammo was easy to find at very low prices -- some is still on the market in the 21st century. Note that ammunition loaded before 1950 or so has corrosive primers and careful cleaning of your weapon after firing is essential. U.S. military ammunition loaded after 1952 generally has non-corrosive primers except for some batches of Frankford Arsenal Match ammunition which may still use the old corrosive primers.
Charactaristics of the .30-06 Cartridge
As issued in 1906 the rimless cartridge held a 150-grain spitzer, flat-base cupronickel jacketed bullet with 2700 fps muzzle velocity. In 1926, to improve machine gun effective range, the bullet was replaced by a 172-grain 9-degree boattail design with the same 2700 fps at the muzzle, designated the "Ball, caliber 30, M1." The velocity was reduced for a time to 2640 fps, but in 1938, as the gas-operated Garand came into service, the specs returned to the flat-base 150-grain loading, called the "Ball, caliber 30, M2" round. It was the M2 that accounted for most of the ammunition expended in World War II.
Nomenclature and Marking of the .30-06 Cartridge
The correct name for the most common military .30-06 cartridge is the "Ball, caliber 30, M2". This is the "regular" rifle round. However, there were many loads made for various military purposes, usually identifed by colored markings on the bullet tips. Here is a partial list of some of the more common ones:
Purpose Tip Color
Armor Piercing Black T
racer Red or Orange
AP/Incendiary Silver
Blank rounds for launching grenades and for ceremonies were also made to chamber in the .30-06 firearms as well as gallery or dummy rounds for training purposes. The dummy rounds had fluted cases or holes or both to identify them. Blanks had crimped tops. Some of the many types of rounds were called M2, same as the Ball ammo, but others had their own model numbers.
In addition to these basic categories, there are many varieties and subtle changes within the U.S. military loads for .30-06. Consult one of the very detailed books for web sites for experienced collectors for more information.
Packaging of the .30-06 Cartridge The .30-06 cartridge was packaged to meet the requirements of the military user at the end of the supply chain. The riflemen of World War I received bandoleers with 5-round stripper clips, two in each pocket. By World War II this had changed to the 8 round block clips for the M-1 Garand, in similar cloth bandoleers but with one clip per pocket and six pockets per bandoleer. The bandoleers were, in turn, packed into ammo cans or wooden crates.
When packed into bandoleers, there was a cardboard sleeve in each bandoleer pocket that gave a little protection to the bullet tips. These have to be the right size -- the right length for the cartridge and the right width for the type of clips. The light cotton bandoleers and cardboard sleeves were thrown away after use or after the rounds were transfered to cartridge belts with sturdy canvas pockets. Bandoleers could be slung over the shoulders to carry extra ammo, more than the cartridge belt can hold.
Packaging for machine guns had the individual rounds organized into long belts, originally made of canvas cloth but later replaced by disappearing metal link belts. For infantry use, the belts were packed into ammo cans. For aircraft, as in the photo on this page, belts of thousands of rounds were prepared and carefully folded into the ammo bay where it could feed the gun continuously
bump for later
I think I'll go buy a few boxes and celebrate.
It is STILL the cartridge by which ALL others are judged.
It is amazing to me to read various cartridge performance data, and realize that when all-around performance is sought, the .30'06 is still the most versatile performer of them all. Modern magnum rounds provide higher velocity, but modern technology is pushing '06 performance up to what was until recently only magnum performance.
I have noticed that smaller calibers do have flatter trajectory, but deliver less impact at longer range. Magnum rounds like the .338 deliver heavier projectiles, but with .30'06 trajectory. Even the 270gr. .375 H&H approximates .30'06 trajectory, so....there's no getting away from it. It appears to have defined the general limit of all-around cartridge performance, when all factors are considered.
H-mantle bullets increase hunting performance in standard weights, indicating that if a game animal can be properly hit, the .30'06 compares well to heavier bullet magnums. The .300WM does not perform well with bullets over 200grs. Companies like Conley Precision offer factory loaded 250gr. bullets, and other weights and designs, all at impressive velocities.
When ammunition availability and the use of standard actions are considered, the field-proven .30'06 has a lot to commend it as an all around hunting, military, and general use cartridge, even from this vantage point in the 21st. century.
The P.O.Ackley IMPROVED modification, increasing powder capacity by lessening the case taper, can deliver 150 to 200 feet per second more velocity, with the rifle still being able to fire STANDARD ammunition. This also preserves magazine capacity over the belted .300WM. With moly-coated bullets it can equal standard magnum performance, it still can fire 220-250gr. projectiles as does the parent case, and even use stripper clips for fast magazine recharging in military actions, which can be handy when using the .30'06 on dangerous game like black bears and wild boar.
Belt measurements vary so much from brand to brand and even case to case that a belt has no practical effect on headspace, an original rationale for the design, as well as to enable the use of .458WM in double barreled rifles. Shouldered cases do not need this. At its introduction, the belt appeared to strengthen the case, but this has also proven to be unnecessary.
The .30'06 still rules the roost, IMHO.
Excellent summary, PM. I love my Rem 700 '06. Shoots anything I stuff in it well.
Well said my friend !
"This Nyala was taken with .30-06 in South Africa. The author took only a .30-06 and killed everything from mountain reedbuck and impala at ranges of 300 yards plus, to a waterbuck at 375 yards. These are long and unusual ranges for Africa, but the .30-06 with 165-grain bullets handled them with aplomb." -Terry Wieland
Excellent article, my friend.
The .30'06 Springfield and .375 H&H are truly amazing. I suppose that many are apprehensive about the recoil of the Holland & Holland, but in a heavier, longer barreled rifle, it is no big deal. I find that heavier bullets are a lot more pleasant to shoot in all of my firearms, perhaps counterintuitively, BTW. An Edwards Recoil Reducer in the stock should settle it down if need be, as would a heavier barrel contour, but I have found that concentration upon the target, and ignoring the "feel" of the shot helps me to disregard recoil before it takes place. My .30'06s used to impress me as stout kickers. I developed better field skills, and it seems very insignificant to me now.
I once had to make do with an old single barrel 28" Stevens 3" Magnum 12 ga. for a while, on some rural property which was covered with many acres of concealing brush, and crowded with rabbits. This attracted packs of rather brazen and large coyotes and other "varmints," the most troublesome being a LARGE bobcat right at my front door, which glared at me with total derision when I attempted to chase him away without brandishing a firearm, looking over his shoulder as he slowly walked away, and a family of 3 mountain lions, only 10 miles away from where several people were attacked in daylight recently, one terribly mauled. This became pause for thought on the way to the out-house in broad daylight, when the cats were seen, and especially in the middle of the night! Where I was, only the circling vultures would have indicated my demise.
The shotgun would not even shoot straight with 2 3/4" shells. I learned to shoot the magnums without flinching or negative expectation, from necessity. It taught me a very good lesson. I even had to hunt for food upon occasion, and learned to clip rabbits with the edge of buckshot patterns. When one must, one figures out how.
[Hey Squantos...(watch me throw a bomb and run)....how about the .270 Win. Ackley Improved..?!!!]
Oops.
*Ping*
One of my favorite rifles is a Ruger No. 1 chambered in .45-70; shooting that offhand with suitable loads has taught me that I probably don't want to go to anything more robust (like the .458 Win Mag) with a 7.5 pound rifle. I also have a bench rest rifle chambered in .300 Win Mag. Even with the 8 contour barrel, that can get pretty interesting off the bench.
Your story about the shotgun reminds me that the recoil from a 12 gauge shooting full magnum slugs is something to behold, especially in a 18 inch barreled pump.
The first .458 and .375 I ever fired were the personal rifles and hunting handloads of a respected gunsmith. He was rather large - had an 18" neck! - and had filled the stocks with lead. They balanced and shouldered very well, slowly, but well, and he cautioned me to just let the recoil push me back, and not to fight it. The .458 was loaded with 510 gr. Barnes bullets.
I was amazed at the deep sound, and remarkably softer and slower push of the .458 over the somewhat nastier .375 H&H. Shooting from a bench seems to potentiate felt recoil greatly. One of the most unpleasant firearms I have ever fired was an 18" barreled Winchester 3" 12 ga., off the bench. Bench shooting removes all of the body's recoil absorbing flexibility, and such repeated shots are rare in the hunting fields. It also seems to focus one on the rifle, not so much on delivering a devastating effect upon the "target."
I have since realized that longer barrels are much better choices in all firearms, regardless of cartridge, for power, accuracy and follow-through, and lessened muzzle jump (the most objectional part of recoil), and lessened muzzle flash. The difference can be startling.
Heavier and longer rifles and handguns just work a lot better. Easy carrying is great, but if one's main interest is in hitting the target well, and delivering a telling blow, or several, weight and length is your friend.
I grew up thinking that shorter barrels were a great advantage, and in dry fire, seemed to come up faster, which I took as the key to hitting game, or defending myself. Later on, through using firearms in many different circumstances, it became clear to me that just having the sights pointing at the target was in no way a guarantee of hitting it, or accomplishing the task well, should I hit it. Powder burning/pressure developing barrel length, follow through, stable pointing/aiming, muzzle jump and flash....all adds up to success or failure. Failure can be disappointing, ugly, or dangerous, so facing the truth of what REALLY works is important. Now, I would rather carry more gun, than miss or wound. I would rather have less magazine capacity and a longer gun.
I wonder if one sat lower, making more of a standing type geometry, your .300 would be more pleasant to fire?
Bench shooters can more or less ignore the gun weight. I only carry these a few yards from the truck to the bench and back again.
My .300 Win Mag bench rifle weights about 20 pounds with scope. I had my dear friend and rifle builder extraordinaire, Lee Six, put extra weight in the stock. Even so, an afternoon at the range with the .300 and about 80 rounds does take its toll for the reasons you state. All the recoil is transmitted to only the upper body; the lower torso and legs do nothing to absorb any of it.
Shooting the large caliber pistols is another matter. I have taken to downloading the .454 Casull and the .475 Linebaugh to mostly .44 mag recoil levels. Occasionally I get reckless and shoot full house loads, but never more than a half dozen at a time. In the hunting field, these would be great because only a shot or two would suffice. Target shooting with the Linebaugh at top end loads gets tiresome (for me) rather fast. After a dozen or so accuracy suffers. I use heavy gloves (like John Taffin) to soften the recoil and save my hands from tendinitis and the possibility of early arthritis.
Slim reveres the .30-06, showing once again he was brought up right.
As a matter of fact I have one that needs sighting in right now.
Wow. Lee Six has a great reputation.
The effect a gifted gunsmith can have on a firearm can be spectacular. It can make a lousy shot quite good, when the machine doesn't get in the way. I have especially seen a "day and night" difference in handgun performance. It is really worth the money to have it done....as long as the smith is the real thing. Otherwise, I would rather put up with the lesser performance than wonder what was done which may cause problems later. One wants to know that if necessity dictates, his firearm will serce him well, even a target gun. What if it is all one has at the time? I find highly specialized firearms to be interesting as a hobby, but no longer a "real gun."
SAKO- Finnbear---70's vintage....
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