The U.S. Military introduced 30-06 ammo back in 1906 to feed their standard service rifle. Over time, the .30-caliber round, pronounced "thirty-aught-six", replaced a number of other military cartridges, but proved to be incredibly capable for a variety of weaponry. So capable, in fact, the U.S. Military and allied forces continued to use 30-06 Springfield ammo in rifles and machine guns for almost 70 years. It was replaced by the current standard 5.56mm and 7.62mm. Today, the .30-06 Springfield cartridge remains popular among sportsmen like competitive shooters and hunters.![]()
The 30-06 round is so popular because it is designed to be effective at longer ranges. Although it’s available in a variety of weights and designs, a 180-grain 30-06 bullet is fairly common. On paper, the .30-06 cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet-per-second and 2,913 foot-pounds of energy. Going the distance, velocity drops to 1,667 fps at 500 yards and 1,111 ft-lbs of energy.
Yes, .30-06 ammunition is still being made by many ammunition manufacturers. 30 06 ammo has been in use for over a century and remains a popular choice for hunting and target shooting. In fact, you can find tons of high-quality 3006 ammo right on this page!
Both .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield ammo are powerful cartridges that are commonly used for hunting and target shooting. However, the 30 06 ammo is generally considered to be more powerful than the .308 Winchester cartridge in terms of pure ballistics.
3006 ammo performs better at longer ranges, making it ideal for competitive bench rest shooting and hunting at further distances. However, it will produce slightly more recoil than 308 ammo and is often used in heavier rifles. Therefore, your personal preferences and shooting distance will help determine which round is best for you.
The ideal grain weight of .30-06 ammo for deer hunting can depend on a variety of factors, including the hunting conditions, the type of deer being hunted, and the shooter's personal preferences. In general, a medium-weight bullet in the 150-180 grain range is a good choice for deer hunting with a .30-06 rifle.
A 150-grain bullet is a good all-around choice for most deer hunting situations, offering a good balance of velocity, energy, and accuracy. This weight is also a popular choice among many hunters and ammunition manufacturers.
For larger game, such as mule deer or elk, a heavier bullet in the 165-180 grain range may be more suitable, as it provides additional energy and penetration. However, heavier bullets can also be slower and may have more bullet drop over long distances.
Find .30-06 Springfield ammunition for sale online at OpticsPlanet, where we carry popular brands like Federal Premium, Winchester Ammunition, Hornady, and more. We offer more than just a great selection of ammo, too. We also offer free shipping on most orders $49 or more. Browse 30-06 ammo and buy a box today!
Other categories you might be interested in are 9mm Luger Ammunition, .30-30 Winchester Ammo, .308 / 7.62 NATO Ammo, .338 Lapua Magnum Ammo, .350 Legend Ammo.