30-06 hunting rifle for pops.

[God's Country]

Might want to consider moving to a .308. Less recoil, especially if a lighter rifle is being considered.

[eatmydust]

+1 on the .308 Win.

[MD66948]

I am retiring my 1903A3 that I have been shooting since I was 10 years old. It was a NIB 1903A3, 4 grove barrel, purchased at the US Navy Base in Phila Pa by my neigbor. At 12 my neighbor and I sportorized it and glass bedded the rifle. I am 67 now and the 30-06 is just beating me up. I still shoot Garands and a 1918A2 BAR but the recoil on those weapons is toleralble.

I was going to go with a 6.5 Creedmoor but I changed my mind. I have several thousand once fired 308 cases and several thousand US Military/IMI rounds to plink with so I desided to go with this new rifle from Remington: https://www.remington.com/rifles/bol...seven-threaded. This rifle is light and short which makes it a Great PA Deer Rifle. Since it is threaded you can install a recoil/FH on it to help tame the rifle. I will be installing a New OSS 762 TI QD suppressor for it as soon as it gets out of ATF Jail.

[Hawk]

Go 308. Same hitting power as 30-06 with a slight edge in accuracy.

[Yoder]

I have two Savage rifles that are 1/2 moa. I don't think you can get a better rifle for the price. My .270 Doesn't have the accutrigger, so the trigger is mediocre but at 100 yrds it shoots clover leaf groups with factory ammo.

[gghbi]

I want to get my dad a new hunting rifle. He was mentioning a Remington 700. What do yinz think for a hunting rifle in 30-06 for a 60 something liver transplant survivor?

Lots of good info so far. If he has a good 30-06, why get another? As he gets older, he might find a mid caliber to be more satisfactory. If you are looking at Remingtons, keep in mind their more recent guns have been sometimes questionable in the quality department. I don't have an updated report though.

A lighter rifle will kick more, as that is the tradeoff physics require. If this is strictly a PA rifle and bear is not on his list, a .243, one of the 25s, or 6.5 x 55 would cover deer to wood chucks and will last him well lnto much older age.

[Daycrawler]

One more thing that might help is a shooting stick. I have the single pole design.

[Justin///M]

Wow thanks for all of the responses gents!

I don't think he's really hung up on 30-06 other than that's what both he and I hunted with all our lives. I'm definitely going to explore all of the options mentioned, including the higher end options and .308.

One thing is that the scope that I asked for help with last year will go on the new rifle.

http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=329327

[abner13]

Thanks gents.

He hunts fine with a 30-06 now, but has been using the same rifle since I can remember, so at least 35 years.

I'm thinking weight will be a primary concern these days. It seems there's several good options on that front.

Let him keep his trusty old rifle , but perhaps swap in a lightweight synthetic stock. I've been using the same Ruger M77 for 40yrs. It's really not a heavy rifle.

[pennlineman]

The most accurate out of the box rifle I have was gifted to me by my wife. A Thompson Center Venture in .25-06. The left target is the first group I shot with it at 100 yards with factory 120 core lokts. This is repeatable too. Fantastic bargain of a rife, inexpensive so you could put more towards a scope.

[IMG][/IMG]

If weight is a concern look at the Tikka T3 lite. A bit more coin but a great choice for someone who walks a lot or is getting old. Recoil becomes more of a factor though. Only you know what he can handle. Lots of great choices smaller than a .30-06. I'd suggest a .270 with 130 grains or a 7mm-08. Lots of guns being chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor too.