All About .30-06 Springfield

A Tried-and-True Warhorse

The cartridge notably was utilized in both World Wars by American forces. In World War One, the cartridge was notably used in bolt action rifles utilized by the American Expeditionary Forces such as the Model 1903 and Model 1917. Automatic rifles and machine guns of the time also utilized the cartridge such as the Hotchkiss Model 1909 and early versions of the Model 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Between the wars, the cartridge was refined due to research and development done by the Army Ordinance Corps. This led to the development of the .30 M1 and .30, ball, M2 .30-06 Springfield loadings. The loadings complimented the issued rifles of the era such as the Model 1903A3 and M1 Garand. These service rifles saw widespread use in World War Two alongside machine guns in the caliber such as the Model 1917 and Model 1919. After the war, the cartridge would continue to serve through the Korean War and even saw some limited use in the Vietnam War. Outside of American use, the cartridge was utilized by a variety of countries and entities. Countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Belgium have utilized the round at certain points in history. A considerable number of American surplus firearms in the caliber have been exported throughout the globe and continue to show up in conflicts to this day. A number of these surplus firearms are also deemed collectable by milsurp enthusiasts in the United States due to their service history and enduring legacy.

A Sportsman’s Cartridge

Since its inception, the .30-06 Springfield has developed a reputation as an effective hunting round. Just as the rifle had proven itself in combat, the round also proved to be more than sufficient for a wide variety of game. Hunters throughout history have utilized commercial and surplus firearms in the cartridge. During the mid to late 20^th century, military surplus rifles in both their original and reconfigured, sporterized form were popular commodities. Often times, foreign service rifles were rechambered in the .30-06 Springfield cartridge. This allowed shooters to utilize the potent round and take advantage of a popular cartridge which was in good supply on the homefront. These surplus offerings allowed prospective buyers to acquire a serviceable rifle in a potent cartridge at a bargain price. These surplus firearms and commercial offerings proliferated the market at the time and made the .30-06 Springfield one of the most popular rifle cartridges in the United States. This was especially true among hunters. The cartridge particularly excels at dispatching medium to large-sized game. Historically, the cartridge has been utilized by hunters across the globe to take game such as deer, sheep, elk, and brown bears. The wide range of weights and loadings one can acquire .30-06 Springfield in make it a versatile hunting cartridge. The lighter loadings in the 150 grain range will be optimal for game such as sheep and deer. Heavier loadings around the 180 to 220 grain mark will be suitable for larger game such as elk and moose. Today, one can find purpose-built loadings which are optimized for hunting use. These offerings can be found from a variety of companies such as Norma, Federal, Hornady, and Nosler just to name a few. The specialized loadings allow end users to become even more effective when hunting with the .30-06 Springfield, prolonging the enduring legacy of the round.

Versatility of Loadings

One of the biggest boons of the .30-06 Springfield is the fact that one can find a wide variety of loadings for the cartridge. Due to the cartridge’s military usage, one will encounter a variety of military surplus ammunition offerings. These offerings can hail from a variety of countries due to the fact that that the cartridge saw considerable use across the globe during the 20^th century. It should be known that these surplus loadings may be corrosive in nature and will require a more detailed and careful cleaning after shooting. As stated earlier, one will find a myriad of purpose-built loadings made for hunting. These will come with specialized projectiles and in a variety of bullet weights. One will even find “Garand safe” .30-06 Springfield ammunition optimized for the classic battle rifles. This ammunition exists and is loaded to the spec of period-correct loadings appropriate for M1 Garand use. Some commercial .30-06 Springfield loadings will be too hot for an M1 Garand and can potentially bend or damage an operating rod.

What is the Availability of .30-06 Springfield Ammunition?

When it comes to getting .30-06 Springfield ammunition today, one will find a wide variety of options. These offerings will encompass military surplus and modern production loadings. Modern production loadings can be found from a variety of manufacturers and in a variety of forms. One will encounter loadings such as Hornady Vintage Match, Sellier & Bellot soft point cutting edge, and PPU M1 Garand full metal jacket ammunition just to name a few. Projectile weights will typically range from 150 to 220 grains. These loadings will feature traditional and specialty projectiles, often optimized for specific use cases. .30-06 Springfield ammunition can easily be found at most places where ammunition is sold. Ultimately, one will be able to find .30-06 Springfield ammunition if they need it. One will not have to search far and wide to get ammunition of this type.

What is the Availability of Firearms Chambered in .30-06 Springfield?

As far as acquiring firearms chambered in .30-06 Springfield, one will find that there are many options on the market. As mentioned before, there are many military surplus firearms available in the .30-06 Springfield round. Everything from M1 Garand, Model 1903, and FN-49 rifles can be found in the cartridge. As far as modern rifles go, one will encounter many bolt action offerings alongside a few semi-automatic rifles. One will encounter a wide variety of bolt action rifles from companies such as Browning, Tikka, Sako, and Howa just to name a few. These rifles can range from entry level hunting rifles to feature rich and tuned bolt action rifles. Semi-automatic rifles can be found from companies such as Browning with their sporting BAR variants and Ohio Ordnance Works with their H.C.A.R. line of rifles. At the end of the day, one will have no issue getting into a firearm chambered in .30-06 Springfield if they want one.