Eight .

30-06 cartridges
loaded in an en bloc clip for
the M1 Garand

Bullet
weight Federal[29] Hodgdon[30] Speer[31] Hornady[32] Nosler[33] Barnes[34]

110 gr 3,505 ft/s 3,356 ft/s 3,500 ft/s 3,471 ft/s

N/A N/A
(7.1 g) (1,068 m/s) (1,023 m/s) (1,067 m/s) (1,058 m/s)
125–130 gr 3,140 ft/s 3,334 ft/s 3,129 ft/s 3,200 ft/s 3,258 ft/s 3,278 ft/s
(8.1–8.4 g) (957.1 m/s) (1,016 m/s) (953.7 m/s) (975.4 m/s) (993.0 m/s) (999.1 m/s)

150 gr 2,910 ft/s 3,068 ft/s 2,847 ft/s 3,100 ft/s 3,000 ft/s 3,031 ft/s
(9.7 g) (887.0 m/s) (935.1 m/s) (867.8 m/s) (944.9 m/s) (914.4 m/s) (923.8 m/s)

165 gr 2,800 ft/s 2,938 ft/s 2,803 ft/s 3,015 ft/s 3,002 ft/s 2,980 ft/s
(10.7 g) (853.4 m/s) (895.5 m/s) (854.4 m/s) (919.0 m/s) (915.0 m/s) (908.3 m/s)
180 gr 2,700 ft/s 2,798 ft/s 2,756 ft/s 2,900 ft/s 2,782 ft/s 2,799 ft/s
(11.7 g) (823.0 m/s) (852.8 m/s) (840.0 m/s) (883.9 m/s) (848.0 m/s) (853.1 m/s)

200 gr 2,579 ft/s 2,554 ft/s 2,688 ft/s 2,680 ft/s

N/A N/A
(13.0 g) (786.1 m/s) (778.5 m/s) (819.3 m/s) (816.9 m/s)

220 gr 2,400 ft/s 2,476 ft/s 2,500 ft/s 2,602 ft/s 2,415 ft/s
N/A
(14.3 g) (731.5 m/s) (754.7 m/s) (762.0 m/s) (793.1 m/s) (736.1 m/s)

The table above shows typical muzzle velocities available in commercial 30-06 loads along with the
maximum .30-06 muzzle velocities reported by several reloading manuals for common bullet
weights. Hodgdon, Nosler, and Barnes report velocities for 24 inches (610 mm) barrels. Hornady
and Speer report velocities for 22 inches (560 mm) barrels. The data are all for barrels with a twist
rate of 1 turn in 10 inches (250 mm) which is needed to stabilize the heaviest bullets. The higher
muzzle velocities reported by Nosler for 165 grains (10.7 g) and heavier bullets use loads employing
a slow-burning, double-base powder (Alliant Reloder 22).

The newer 7.62×51mm NATO/.308 Winchester cartridge offers similar performance to standard
military .30-06 loadings in a smaller cartridge.

Recoil
One reason that the .30-06 has remained a popular round for so long is that the cartridge is at the
upper limit of power that is tolerable to most shooters.[35][36] Recoil energy (free recoil) greater
than 20 foot-pounds force (27 J) will cause most shooters to develop a serious flinch, and the recoil
energy of an 8-pound (3.6 kg) rifle firing a 165-grain (10.7 g) 30-06 bullet at 2,900 feet per second
(880 m/s) is 20.1 foot-pounds force (27.3 J). Recoil-shy shooters can opt for lighter bullets, such
as a 150-grain (9.7 g) bullet. In the same 8-pound (3.6 kg) rifle, a 150-grain (9.7 g) bullet at 2,910
feet per second (890 m/s) will only generate 17.6 foot-pounds force (23.9 J) of recoil energy.[37]
Young shooters can start out with even lighter bullets weighing 110, 125, or 130 grains (7.1, 8.1, or
8.4 g).

Cartridge dimensions
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge case can hold 68.2
grains and has a volume of 4.42 millilitres
(0.270 in3). The exterior shape of the case was
designed to promote reliable case feeding and
extraction in bolt-action rifles and machine guns
alike, under extreme conditions.

.30-06 Springfield cartridge dimensions. All sizes

in inches

.30-06 Springfield maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters.[38]

Americans define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 = 17.5 degrees. According to the Commission
Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (C.I.P.) the common
rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 254 mm (1 in 10 in), 4 grooves, Ø lands = 7.62 mm (.30 in), Ø
grooves = 7.82 mm (.308 in), land width = 4.49 mm (.1768 in) and the primer type is large rifle.

According to the official C.I.P. guidelines, the .30-06 Springfield case can handle up to 405 MPa
(58,740 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P.-regulated countries, every rifle cartridge combination has to
be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers. The 8×64mm
S is the closest European ballistic twin of the .30-06 Springfield.

Sporting use
Although the .30-06 was designed as a military round, it soon caught the attention of big game
hunters in the United States. This new cartridge offered a flatter trajectory and carried more
energy than the popular .30-30 Winchester. The .30-06 also could be loaded with the then new
spitzer designed projectiles, which also contributed to extending the cartridge's performance with
respect to other .30 caliber bullets fired from lever action rifles, making it easier to put venison on
the table.

It is a very versatile round that may be loaded with bullets ranging from 110 to 220 grains, which
may be effectively stabilized from 1:10" twist barrels. Thus, the cartridge may be used to hunt
animals of different sizes from varmint to moose and even brown bears with adequately
constructed heavy bullets.[39] Since the cartridge may be used for taking all North American big
game species it was considered an all-round by hunters and gun writers as Jack O'Connor, who
hunted extensively with it.[40][41]

President Theodore Roosevelt took a .30-06 to his famous African Safari along with his son Kermit
and Frederick Courteney Selous, proving that the .30-06 could bring down game of any size.
Though not optimal for dangerous game, the .30-06 is adequate for hunting African plains
game.[42]

With 150-grain bullets, the .30-06 Springfield is a perfect option for medium-sized game such as
deer and sheep. Leaving the muzzle at 2950 fps, it gives the hunter a maximum point blank range
slightly short of 300 yards. The 165 and 168-grain bullets with higher ballistic coefficient
contribute to buck cross winds more efficiently and maintain downrange energy at expense of a
more curved trajectory, while loaded with 180 to 220 grains, the .30-06 is adequate for hunting
larger game such as elk, moose, and even brown bears.

The .30-06 is also the parent case for many other popular hunting cartridges such as the venerable
.270 Winchester, the .25-06 Remington, the .280 Remington, and the .280 Ackley Improved. All of
them are balanced, flat-shooting cartridges ranking high among the most popular big game
hunting cartridge for mid-sized species worldwide.

Despite the new trend towards high ballistic coefficient cartridges, designed to be used with short
length actions, hunters still praise the .30-06 as it still lists high on the rank of big game hunting
cartridges popularity, and every major gun maker worldwide chambers it in at least one of its
rifles.[43]

Military cartridge types

Note: .30-06 cartridges are produced commercially with many different bullets and to a number of
different specifications.

United States
The .30-06 round was replaced by the 7.62×51mm NATO round in 1954. However, it remained in
limited use in the army reserves and national guard for some time; Frankford Arsenal only stopped
production in 1961, and Lake City Army Ammunition Plant was making .30-06 until the late 1970s,
with new production batches in 1993 and 2002. The "T" (Trials) designation is the code number it