Best 30-06 Rifles (Tested & Reviewed)

Hemingway with lion he killed
Hemingway with lion he killed

The best 30-06 rifles are accurate, powerful, reliable, and fit your budget. Hunting rifles chambered in .30-06 caliber are as plentiful as ever, and there are many great models out there that make full use of its versatility and power.

Here are just a few of the best .30-06 rifles that I have had the pleasure of shooting!

 

What’s the best .30-06 rifle for the price?

The Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker is one of the best .30-06 rifle values for the price.

Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker Review
Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker .30-06 rifle
Buy This Rifle

While I grew up shooting a 270 for deer, my dad always carried his trusty 30-06.

While he had a few of them over the years, the first one I ever shot was his Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker.

I was immediately impressed with this gun after firing a few shots at the range and later borrowed it for a deer hunt to see how it did out in the field.

The first thing you will notice is the comfortable grip and texture on the stock.

This gives a great feel to the gun and is perfect for wet or slippery conditions.

It also eats up recoil fairly well. I ended up killing a buck on my hunt, and hardly noticed the recoil at all.

The trigger is pretty good for a stock trigger with no work and breaks crisply.

The whole gun is overall fairly lightweight and is just an all-around quality rifle that I think anyone would be happy with.

There really isn’t anything that this gun couldn’t do! 

 

What’s the best budget .30-06 rifle?

The Savage Axis II Bolt Action Package is the best low budget option.

Savage Axis II Bolt Action Package
Savage Axis II Bolt Action Package .30-06 Rifle

For those that are on a tighter budget and want to purchase a rifle and scope all in one, the Savage Axis II is a great choice.

I had the pleasure of shooting my buddy’s 30-06 Savage Axis on the day he brought it home, and while it may not be the prettiest gun, it does everything that you need it to while not breaking your bank.

This rifle has a detachable box magazine, adjustable trigger, and a 3-9×40 scope that all make it a great buy.

And at only 6.5 pounds, this little gun weighs next to nothing! You could carry this thing all day long while in the woods and never get tired.

It does not include a swing swivel, however, so you will have to install one yourself in order to put a rifle sling on the rifle.

For the price, I think the Savage Axis II could be a great hunting rifle for those that want a 30-06 that can be used for medium to somewhat long ranges.

The only thing I think this gun lacks is a quality stock, so don’t expect any extreme long-range accuracy.

But again, for the money, I believe this is easily one of the best budget-friendly 30-06 rifles out on the market today, and was very impressed with my time at the range with it. 

 

What’s the best lightweight .30-06 rifle?

The Winchester Model 70 Featherweight is the best lightweight option.

The Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .30-06 Rifle
The Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .30-06 Rifle

When it comes to one of the best 30-06 rifles that I have ever shot, the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight takes the cake.

Not only is this gun beautiful with its sleek, walnut stock and checkered grip pattern giving it an old-school look, but it is remarkably lightweight for having a wooden stock.

Not only is this rifle very reliable, but the trigger is one of the best stock triggers I’ve seen on a gun straight out of the box.

It has almost zero creep, over travel, or take-up. It is also fully adjustable, so you can set it to exactly where you like it.

Moving to the action, it is remarkably smooth and the bolt slides like it is on butter.

This gun is a controlled feed rifle, so the chance of it jamming is very slim.

At 42 inches in length and only 6.5 pounds, this little gun is my choice for a backpack hunt where every ounce counts.

Its compact size makes it easy to handle and strap to the pack as you are hiking.

But, although it is light, the sturdy stock and overall build are still able to absorb most of the recoil and make it very manageable. 

 

History of the .30-06 Rifle

Hunting has long and rich traditions, but you need a weapon before you head out into the field.

When it comes to hunting rifles, few are as popular or iconic as the .30-06 rifle.

This excellent caliber has been around for decades and continues to prove its worth every year as hunters use it to take down wild game of all shapes and sizes.

30-06 ammo rounds
30-06 ammo rounds

But the infamous 30-06 didn’t start its life as a hunting cartridge.

Designed over 100 years ago in 1906, the “30” refer to its caliber while the “06” is the year of its creation.

Made as a military round, it struck a perfect balance between size and power.

M1903 Springfield 30-06
M1903 Springfield 30-06 Rifle

It did such a great job, in fact, that the 30-06 stayed as the U.S. military’s primary rifle and machine gun cartridge for over 50 years before finally being replaced.

World War I Camouflaged M1903 Springfield sniper's rifle France, May 1918
World War I Camouflaged M1903 Springfield sniper’s rifle France, May 1918

Even after the military moved onto a new cartridge, the 30-06 stuck around and saw plenty of use in the civilian world.

Hunters found that this cartridge could be sized up or down with different bullet sizes to accommodate just about any animal on the planet.

Hemingway with lion he killed
Hemingway with lion he killed

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about .30-06 rifles, ammo, and uses.

How much is a 30 06 rifle?

Most .30-06 rifles cost between $350 and $2,500, but you can find some high end options for up to $5,000. Collectible .30-06 rifles are a different story. They can be sold at auction for millions of dollars.

 

What can you hunt with a 30 06 rifle?

A .30-06 rifle can take down anything from moose and black bear down to feral hogs and deer. Anything smaller than that will obviously be killed or destroyed. A grizzly bear could be killed with it if you get a perfect headshot or heart shot. But if you hit it anywhere else, you’re at the risk of being killed by the grizzly bear before it eventually dies from your inaccurate gun wounds. Lion’s are a similar situation. You can kill a lion with a .3o-06, but God help you if you don’t kill it with that first shot.

 

How far can a 30-06 shoot?

Most shooters can shoot a .30-06 accurately, and humanely, up to about 400 to 500 yards or less. The expert shooter might be accurate from 600 to 800 yards. But only the best snipers can hit a target at 1,400 yards. At that distance you’re reaching the limit of what’s humanly possible. For the first 200 yards the bullet will fly with basically zero drop. In total it will travel 2 to 4 miles before it naturally hits the ground on its own. Nobody’s hitting anything at 4 miles. Check out this video that gives a demonstration of .30-06 bullet drop:

 

Does Henry Rifles make a 30 06?

No, Henry Rifles does not make a .30-06 rifle right now. They have made them in the past, so you may be able to find a used one for sale.

 

What does 30 06 rifle mean?

A 30 06 rifle is a rifle that shoots a .30 caliber bullet which was standardized in 1906. So the “.30” refers to the caliber of the bullet in inches, and the “06” refers to the year the cartridge was adopted.

 

What’s the best 30 06 rifle with a wood stock?

If you’re looking for a 30 06 rifle with a wood stock for hunting, you might want to consider a rifle that is lightweight, accurate, and reliable, such as the Springfield 1903 or the Remington 700.

 

Final Thoughts on the Best .30-06 Rifles

The 30-06 is a rifle that has been around for a long time and has provided hunters with a versatile round that can effectively take down any animal.

These three rifles have all proven to me that the 30-06 may be old, but it is certainly not a pushover and is one of the best hunting calibers out there.

All of them have their own unique advantages that can come into play while out in the field, and there is one to fit every budget and hunting style.

Where to Buy the Best .30-06 Rifles

We’ve bought several guns from Guns.com and they are one of our sponsors. You can find new and used versions of all the rifles we reviewed in this article on their website:

Where to buy the Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker:

Check Price on Guns.com

Where to buy the Savage Axis II Bolt Action Package Rifle:

Check Price on Guns.com

Where to buy the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .30-06 Rifle:

Check Price on Guns.com

Resources

Info from the gun manufacturers:

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