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About .30-06 Springfield Ammunition
Like the name suggests, the .30-06 Springfield was developed by Springfield Armory. The cartridge made its debut in 1906 and was adopted by the military that same year. The “06” in the name actually refers to 1906, the year of the cartridge’s introduction. The round was borne from a desire to replace the .30-40 Krag cartridge which was being eclipsed by other service rifles at the time. Unlike spitzer-tipped (pointed projectile) cartridges such as the .303 British and 8mm Mauser, the .30-40 Krag featured a round-nosed projectile. The cartridge has been utilized in rifles and machine guns in conflicts across the globe since its inception. Beyond use in armed conflicts, the cartridge has been enjoyed by hunters and target shooters. The cartridge has been utilized by hunters across the globe throughout history. Notably, President Theodore Roosevelt used a .30-06 Springfield chambered rifle on safari in Africa. At the end of the day, the cartridge is a round which has been proven in both combat and in the field that continues to be popular today.
Types of .30-06 Springfield Loadings
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Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): Like the name suggests, these types of loadings feature projectiles which are adorned with metal jacketing. This jacket is generally made of copper and will cover the tip and sides of the projectile. Typically, the base of the projectile is left uncoated. These types of loadings are well-suited for range use and are some of the most common types of ammo one will encounter.
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Pointed Soft Point (PSP): Like traditional SP loadings, PSP loadings are designed to rapidly expand upon impact, making them optimal for hunting usage. The key difference between SP and PSP loadings is the key term “pointed.” The addition of a distinct point in these projectiles allows for flat trajectories and a greater accuracy potential. Additionally, pointed projectiles are going to have a greater velocity potential than their rounded counterparts.
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Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail (FMJBT): Like FMJ loadings, ammunition of this type features a projectile that is fully encapsulated in a metal jacket. This metal is generally going to be of the copper variety. Typical FMJ projectiles feature a flat base while boat tail projectiles feature a tapered base which resembles a boat tail. This geometry promotes accuracy and high velocities.
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Soft Point Cutting Edge (SPCE): Loadings of this type are designed to facilitate potent and consistent levels of expansion on impact. The projectile features two distinct components, the soft point and the cutting edge. The soft point is what expands and mushrooms out upon impact. The cutting edge works to ensure an optimal level of penetration is achieved upon impact prior to expansion. These loadings are well-suited for hunting a variety of game.
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Tipped GameKing (TGK): TGK loadings feature specialized Sierra projectiles which are optimal for hunting use. Like the name suggests, TGK projectiles are adorned with a polymer tip which aids in promoting optimal velocities and facilitating expansion. On impact, this polymer tip pushes rearwards into an open pocket and causes the projectile to expand. Additionally, Sierra’s TGK projectiles feature specific case wall thickness levels which help facilitate effective expansion and retain weight.
Use Cases for .30-06 Ammunition
- Plinking
- Competition
- Hunting
Popular Brands: .30-06 Ammo
Caliber Name Variations
- 30-06
- .30-06
- 30-06 Springfield
- .30-06 Springfield
- .30 Gov’t ’06
Firearms that Use .30-06 Springfield Ammo
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. These rifles can range from entry level hunting rifles to feature rich and tuned bolt action 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.
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