Choosing the best 30-06 rifle can be a daunting task given how many options there are. We may try to compare every feature, but that takes too much time. Research is essential, but even so we still want an expert to easily recommend one. Or better yet a series of experts which is, after all, why you might read this article.
If you’re looking to buy a 30-06 rifle, you’ve likely conducted a significant amount of research prior to taking the plunge. If your search has led you here, congratulations, this article is for you. There are lots of great rifles out there, but we’ll narrow them down and help you determine exactly what the best 30-06 rifle for your needs is. It’s not an easy undertaking, but hopefully after reading this you’ll be equipped with enough knowledge to make an informed decision that can help ensure you’re satisfied for years to come.
If you’re looking for a versatile rifle that will work for all kinds of hunting, the 30-06 is definitely worth considering. This caliber packs a lot of power into a small, lightweight package. It’s also an affordable option—you’ll be able to find a suitable rifle at many price points. Let’s take a look at five ways to help you find the best 30 06 rifle:
What We Reviewed?
Here are amazing 30-60 Rifles we managed to view:
Top 5 Best .30-60 Rifles in 2022
#1 The Ruger American .30-06 spfd
- 4 round rotary magazine
- Sling swivels
- Synthetic stock
- "Best New Rifle" in 2014 by Shooting Times Magazine
#2 Savage 11/111 Tropy Hunter XP .30-06 spfd
- 2014 American Hunter Rifle of the Year
- 2017 Outdoor Life Great Buy Award
- Voted Best rifle for the money
#3 Browning BLR Lightweight
- Lightweight
- Quick loading
- Quick reloading
- Drilled scope mounts
#4 Browning X-Bolt Stalker Composite Bolt-Action Rifle
- Offers substantial value for its price point
- Won the coveted Golden Bullseye Award from the NRA's American Rifleman magazine
- Reliable and accurate
#5 Remington 783, Bolt Action .30-06
- “Best Gun of the Year Award” from Field & Stream Magazine
- “Best Buy Award” by Outdoor Life Magazine in 2009
- “Top Rated Rifle Award”
1. The Ruger American .30-06 spfd
The Ruger American .30-06 spfd is one of the best bolt-action rifles in its class, and it’s built to last. This rifle is a great option for anyone looking for something that can be used for hunting or target shooting. This firearm has won numerous awards including “Best New Rifle” in 2014 by Shooting Times Magazine and “Best Overall Value” in 2015 by Field & Stream Magazine.
The Ruger American is well-known for having an easy-to-use two-stage trigger with a crisp break at about 4 pounds. The rifle is also equipped with a three-lug bolt that locks up tight and makes it easy to cycle through rounds quickly. Additionally, the American’s aluminum bedding block makes it more accurate than other rifles in its price range by reducing vibrations that can affect your shot placement when firing off multiple shots quickly.
The Ruger American comes standard with an 18″ barrel and weighs about 8 pounds fully loaded, but you can get it in different configurations depending on what you’re looking for (such as longer barrels). The rifle’s synthetic stock is designed to be very comfortable while still providing plenty of stability when firing in all weather conditions thanks to its textured surface that resists slipping and provides good grip even with gloves on!
- 4 round rotary magazine
- Sling swivels
- Synthetic stock
- 30-06 caliber may be a little too powerful for some people
2. Savage 11/111 Tropy Hunter XP .30-06 spfd
The Savage 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP is the best 30-06 rifle for the money. This rifle has Savage’s AccuTrigger, which allows the user to adjust the pull weight. It is a bolt-action rifle with a detachable box magazine, and it weighs 7.5 pounds. The barrel length is 22 inches, and it has an overall length of 43.5 inches.
This rifle includes a 3-9x40mm Bushnell Banner scope, which features multi-coated lenses that provide clear images in varying lighting conditions. The scope also features a fast focus eyepiece and 100% waterproof/fogproof construction to provide optimal performance no matter what the weather conditions are like.
If you’re looking for a gun that shoots 30-06 ammo and doesn’t break your budget, this is it! As far as cons go, the only downside is that the scope included with this model isn’t especially good. It’s a Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm scope with Multi-X reticle. If you really want a great scope, you’ll want to buy one separately. On the upside, though, this model comes pre-mounted with a scope! And it comes with a ton of other accessories to get you started, including bases and rings so it’s ready to go right out of the box! The Savage 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP .30-06 spfd has taken home five awards in recent years:
- 2014 American Hunter Rifle of the Year
- 2017 Outdoor Life Great Buy Award
3. Browning BLR Lightweight
The Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 is a lever-action rifle that comes in at a scant 6.5 pounds, making it ideal for hunting and target shooting. It’s ultra-quick to load, which means you can get back to the action faster. The BLR also features a detachable box magazine, so you can easily reload quickly as well. The BLR comes with a modernized design, with an alloy receiver, a steel barrel and bolt, and an aircraft-grade aluminum trigger guard. It also features a receiver-mounted scope base and drilled scope mounts—so you can add your scopes of choice—as well as sling swivel studs.
- Lightweight
- Quick loading
- Quick reloading
- Drilled scope mounts
- Expensive
In addition to its performance, this rifle is also a looker. Its sleek design makes it both attractive and ergonomic—you won’t just like how it performs, but you’ll love how it feels in your hands. But don’t just take our word for it: Browning BLR Lightweight was awarded Guns & Ammo 2017 Editor’s Choice Award!
4. Browning X-Bolt Stalker Composite Bolt-Action Rifle
If you’re on the lookout for a serious hunting weapon, then this is the gun for you. The Browning X-Bolt Stalker Composite Bolt-Action Rifle is one of the most well-known and best rated 30-06 rifles around. Here are some details:
- X-Lock scope mounting system, inflex recoil pad, adjustable trigger pull with zero creep, speed lock forend cap, and a composite stock.
- Offers substantial value for its price point. It’s reliable and accurate with an amazing scope mounting system that’s fast and easy to use.
- You may have to replace the factory sights, but this is common with most rifles.
This rifle has won the coveted Golden Bullseye Award from the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine, as well as being named Gun of the Year by Outdoor Life Magazine.
5. Remington 783, Bolt Action .30-06
This gun is an excellent option if you’re looking for a more affordable gun without sacrificing quality or performance. It’s a great gun for hunting and target shooting, as well as many other applications.
The Remington 783 is designed to be simple, durable, and effective. The bolt action system helps ensure that it will run smoothly and reliably no matter how much wear and tear it gets. The design makes it easy to load and unload with one hand, which is great if you’re in the field with gloves on or don’t have a free hand (or two).
It’s also got a built-in safety that prevents accidental discharge when firing from an awkward position or at an unusual angle which can happen when hunting in the field. This feature makes this gun much safer than some other guns that do not offer this safety mechanism! The Remington 783 has won numerous awards including: “Best Gun of the Year Award” from Field & Stream Magazine in both 2008 and 2009; “Best Buy Award” by Outdoor Life Magazine in 2009; “Top Rated Rifle Award”
What factors make for the best .30-60 Rifle?
1. Weight
It’s essential to have a rifle that has a comfortable weight. If your rifle is too heavy, you’ll feel tired after carrying it for a long time and will be less accurate when taking shots. On the other hand, a lightweight rifle can be too light, which means you won’t have enough stability when aiming.
For example, a bolt action rifle will be heavier than a semi-automatic one because it has more parts to move around when firing the bullet from the chamber to the target. If you want a lightweight rifle, then you should go for one with a lower weight capacity.
2. Optics
When you want to buy the best 30 06 rifle, you need to ensure that the scope of the rifle is powerful enough to zoom in on the target. You can also choose to add optics on your own, but they need to be compatible with your gun first.
Your optics are an important part of the overall package when purchasing a rifle. Look at the size and type of scope that is used on the gun, how much magnification it can provide, and what kind of reticles are available.
A good scope will allow you to see targets better in low light conditions, as well as being able to see through brush or foliage without having any distortion issues with your vision due to the scope being too bright or too dimly lit by ambient light sources like streetlights and more.
A sling hook is an important attachment for your 30-06 rifle, as it allows you to carry the gun around easily without getting tired or needing a separate bag. The sling hooks should be attached securely and provide enough grip for easy carrying.
4. Price
The price of the best30 06 rifle varies from one brand to another and depends on different factors such as durability or power level. If possible, try not to spend too much on this type of gun because there are many cheaper options available that offer good quality as well!
5. Trigger Pull Weight
The amount of weight required to pull the trigger on your rifle is called the trigger pull weight. The lower the trigger pull weight, the more accurate your shots are likely to be. A low trigger pull weight is ideal if you’re planning on doing long-range shooting or hunting small game.
6. Barrel Length
The length of your barrel determines how far away you can accurately shoot. A longer barrel will result in greater accuracy at longer distances, but it will also make your gun heavier and more difficult to carry through difficult terrain like thick brush or steep hillsides.
What’s the Range of a 30-06 Rifle?
The .30-06 offers a very large range. As far as cartridge length is concerned, the .30-06 has a longer case than the .308 Winchester cartridge, but not quite as long as the .300 Winchester Magnum. As far as accuracy is concerned, the .30-06 can be accurate up to about 500 yards, depending on your skill level and your rifle’s capabilities.
As far as bullet weight is concerned, you can use bullets that weigh from 110 grains to 220 grains in a .30-06 cartridge. The most popular bullet weights for this caliber tend to fall between 150 grains and 180 grains.
As far as bullet velocity is concerned, a typical 150 grain bullet travels at a velocity of between 2,600 feet per second and 3,150 feet per second at the muzzle—depending on the type of powder used and other factors.
Reasons Why Hunters Prefer to Use .30-06
Ask any serious hunter about the .30-06 caliber rifle and you’ll be sure to get a smile, a nod, or a sigh of approval. It’s one of the most popular hunting cartridges in America and abroad. This is because it has the ability to hunt not only small game like white-tailed deer and elk but also large wild animals like moose and grizzly bears. In other words, it’s pretty darn versatile.
But why do .30-06 shooters all have such affection for this cartridge? A few reasons:
- It's a powerful round, so it will travel far before dropping or slowing down. Make no mistake about it: The .30-06 round packs a punch! It's a powerful round that can drop even larger animals effectively and consistently.
- It's accurate at long distances, so you can shoot longer shots with confidence.
- It's widely available, so you don't have to worry about finding ammunition when you want to go hunting.
- It pairs well with a wide variety of rifles. This caliber can be used with bolt action and lever action rifles. You can also find semi-automatic rifles chambered to fire the .30-06 round. In other words, there are many different options when it comes to finding a rifle to pair with this round.
The .30-06 Rifle Aesthetics
I am a big fan of the .30-06 rifle. It has a lot of history, and it’s been used to hunt many animals. I think that this is the best rifle for hunting deer and moose. The main reason is that it uses a cartridge that is designed especially for hunting. It is also very easy to aim, because it has a scope.
This makes it great when you want to shoot an animal from far away, or when you are in a situation where you can’t see clearly. It’s also very accurate, which means that if you hit the animal in the right place, he will die quickly and quietly.
Final Thoughts
What all this research really tells us is that with the vast number of rifles available, it pays to do more research before choosing a brand or model. And even then, you still might end up with a lemon. That’s why purchasing from a reputable company, like the one with website links above, is recommended.