30-06 as first rifle?

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You mention shooting 300 - 500 yards at a range. Is this realistic? Do you have ranges that go out 300 - 500 yards?

If you're planning on deer hunting, is it to be at distances such as listed above or at closer distances? Where I hunt, it's the latter.
 
.22 b/c it is cheap and good to learn on. But, if you only want to buy one rifle, a .30-30 or a 7mm-08.
 
I would just get the 30-06 with a good recoil pad and learn to shoot it. Where I hunt we cannot use centerfire rifle to hunt deer so we use 12ga shotgun with slugs. The recoil is about 2X that of a 30-06. A bought a 30-06 Rem 700 several years ago (no recoil pad) and the recoil is very moderate compared to the 12 ga pump.

A lot of range time though will require a lot of $$ for ammo so you may want to consider a 223 for practice (cheaper ammo) and a 30-06 for hunting.
 
I have a Savage 111 chambered in 30-06 and I don't find the recoil to be terrible but.... After 30-40 rounds I want to switch to my 223. You have to remember that 30-06 ammo is pricey compared to the smaller rounds as well. If you're new to shooting I would buy something smaller so you can buy a lot of ammo and practice :D
 
What do you weigh? Comparitively speaking some people that don't weight say 180 or larger, find shouldering the recoil different than people that weigh say 200 and up. It's a caliber with alot of "felt" recoils as supposed to the .270 win. etc. It's totally up to you on what you want to try. See if maybe someone that you know may have an 06 just to try, than go from there. But remember that starting light and working your way up through the smaller calibers might give you insight on some thing you may even like much better!;)Anyway whatever you do, happy shootin dude!:)
 
Skill with a rifle has a learning curve. It's bunches easier if loud noise and recoil are not in the early part of the curve--which is why I and many others suggest getting a .22 rimfire as the starting toy.

You can learn sight picture and eye-hand coordination much more easily; this takes a good bit of shooting and most centerfires distract via noise or via recoil.

I had right at ten years of shooting experience as a kid with a .22 before I started in at sixteen with an '06. Lord knows how much allowance money I'd spent on .22 cartridges, but I'd run through several thousand rounds of ammo.

I like the '06, and handloading for it makes it extremely versatile. But even today, sixty years later, I still use a .22 rimfire to touch up my skills...
 
How about a .270 WIN?
I could imagine way less recoil still with some take down power

Or still too big for first timer? Honest opinions!!!! lol
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I started with a .22LR single shot with my Grandfather. First of my own was a .22 lever action. Then a Mosin... then a .223... then a .270 Winchester. When I took the .270 to the range the first time, I regretted even buying it, it hurt so much. Left me sore and bruised for a week.

The second time, it was uncomfortable, but I was starting to get the hang of it. And the third time, my buddy was bruised, and I didn't really notice.

So I'd say (1) hurts like heck, (2) you can get accustomed to it (and make sure you get a good recoil pad and bring additional padding, just in case).

HOWEVER, I would also say that the .270 doesn't *necessarily* give you much benefit over the '06 in terms of recoil. It's hard, where I live, to find anything but 150 grain loads for the .270, which is essentially the same recoil as the 30-06 with the same weight bullet. In theory, since the .270 may give you lighter bullet options, the recoil could be less. Here are some numbers for you (remember that recoil scales with momentum, or mass times velocity -- not kinetic energy):

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Well, I'm going to suggest getting a .22 also, but with a different view, perhaps. I'd save up and get a nice one. Maybe something like a Browning SA22, or possibly a CZ. Don't think of it as "training wheels", but as an investment that will pay off later.

As far as the .30-06 goes, you can get "managed recoil" ammo for an introduction to centerfire that will be a little more gradual than full-up 180gr loads. Once you get used to recoil that is significantly higher than .22, you could move up to normal factory ammo.

Depending on your needs, a .243 or .223 would fill the gap between the .22 and the .30-06, if you have plans on varmint hunting. Without that element, you could be set with just the .22 and .30-06.

(Lots of folks used to get by with those two and a 12 gauge shotgun... :) )
 
Practice is a good thing.

My suggestions would both do more to make that happen than anything else:

1. Get a .22 rifle to learn the basics with. You can get 20-25 times more shots for dollar with a .22lr than with a 30-06.

2. When you do get a 30-06, get a handloading set-up for it. It will pay for itself in as little as 15 boxes of shells, and you will learn a lot in the process.
 
A used .22 rifle can be very inexpensive. Less than an average scope for a hunting rifle.

Go to a pawn shop or where ever used guns are sold. The odds are that you'll find a good one for under $150
 
You don't learn how to "tolerate" recoil.
Millions of military men fired their first shots with an '06. Their rifles weighed 9-10 pounds. A hunting rifle weighs 7-8 pounds. The wieight difference is substantial as it applies to felt recoil.

If you are in a rush to be a crummy shot, start on the '06. You'll have a black and blue shoulder, a semicircle cut above your right eye from the scope and a near permanent flinch habit that will hinder the ability to shoot accurately. 300 yard shots will be a struggle to keep on the paper after a while.

You have a nice budget for shooting irons: Get what you need when the time is right- $200 will get you a nice shooting .22 rifle and a lot of ammo. After you've learned trigger control, sighting and proper breathing you'll be smart to buy a .243, .257 Roberts;, .260 Remington or 7mm-08. These will kill deer all day and are accurate and fun to shoot. Spending here around $600. With the $500 you have left, after you've shot a while, you can buy a real big bore elk type rifle (.338, .35 Whelen .300 WSM). At this point you'll have 3 specific purpose rifles that are fun to own and shooting/hunting will be a lot more fun than trying to make one rifle the jack of all trades.

Then again, I could be wrong.
 
I weigh 170lbs at 6'1" B.T.W.

If I get a .22 than its going to be an AR-15

Would you guys recommend getting THAT as a first rifle?
Ehh A bit pricey though for a .22 but you get what you pay for I guess....

Get what you need when the time is right- $200 will get you a nice shooting .22 rifle and a lot of ammo
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-valentsgrif

Are you referring to new or used? Post some links maybe?

By the way Clifford L. Hughes.....thanks for the P.M.!!!
 
Autoloaders for hunting in NY STATE?

I don't know the rules there, but if you are limited to using other actions, Remington has 3 pump-acton firearms for you to look into.

Remington 572 .22LR
Remington 7600 .30-06
Remington 870 12-gauge

That gives you 3 guns from the same manufacturer that all share familiar, common motions for operation.
The overall cost would be pretty good for the entire set, too.
You'll have a rimfire; a centerfire and a shotgun.:)
Remington started in NY State, if I remember right.

Just an idea you might think about or read up on.
 
My 2 cents.
Having a good centerfire hunting rifle to shoot is one chapter.
Learning the fundamentals of shooting is another chapter.
A person who selects the 30-06 for his long term hunting rifle has made one of the finest choices possible.If you want a 30-06,buy a 30-06,and do not let anyone talk you out of it.No matter what cartridge they recomend,it might fit their preference better,but ,while a .270 or a 308 or a 7-08 or a .270 are all great choices,they are not better than a 30-06.Just different.
Now,about that other chapter,learning marksmanship.The 30-06 is not so good.It costs a lot to shoot,so you wont shoot so much.More important,its about developing muscle memories and good habits and techniques,the fundamentals.What will set you back,or ultimately make you a mediocre marksman,is buiklding a foundation of bad habits.A few characteristics of a substantial rifle are noise and recoil.I am not calling you a wimp.You may like noise and recoil.Noise and recoil cover up bad habits,actually encourage them.
So,get your 30-06.
But also get a fairly large ,heavy bolt action 22.If you can find an old 1950's target rifle with a fat barrel,buy it.
With that,you will learn your 30-06.And,later,if you want an AR,go for it,but get a 5,56/223,and I suggest one designed for shooting accurately rather than spraying.
Its like a set of golf clubs.You can have more than one.
 
My 2 cents.
Having a good centerfire hunting rifle to shoot is one chapter.
Learning the fundementals of shooting is another chapter.
A person who selects the 30-06 for his long term hunting rifle has made one of the finest choices possible.If you want a 30-06,buy a 30-06,and do not let anyone talk you out of it.No matter what cartridge they recomend,it might fit their preference better,but ,while a .270 or a 308 or a 7-08 or a .270 are all great choices,they are not better than a 30-06.Just different.
Now,about that other chapter,learning marksmanship.The 30-06 is not so good.It coists a lot to shoot,so you wont shoot so much.More important,its about developing muscle memories and good habits and techniques,the fundementals.What will set you back,or ultimately make you a mediocre marksman,is buiklding a foundation of bad habits.A few characteristics of a substantial rifle are noise and recoil.I am not calling you a wimp.You may like noise and recoil.Noise and recoil cover up bad habit,actually encourage them.
So,get your 30-06.
But also get a fairly large ,heavy bolt action 22.If you can find an old 1950's target rifle with a fat barrel,buy it.
With that,you will learn your 30-06.And,later,if you want an AR,go for it,but get a 5,56/223,
Its like a set of golf clubs.
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Well said, thanks

Thanks everybody for your input!
 
don't

Take about $200 and buy a Ruger 10/22 . Take another $50--100 and buy all the .22 ammo you can. A scope is optional, but will allow faster progress. But everybody should be able to shoot iron sights acceptably.

Go to a range with benches, take somebody that is knowledgeable as a rifleman w/ you. Begin shooting the .22 off the bench. When you can consistently shoot tennis ball size groups at 50 yds w/ no coaching and on demand, start shooting from seated, kneeling etc until you can consistently hit a target about the size of a softball at 50 yds.

This should take several trips and a fair amount of your ammo. By then, you will understand sight picture and trigger. You can start thinking larger at that point. You will not outgrow the .22, and shoot it far more often, and far more cheaply, than anything else.
 
I think im going with the 30-06, gonna go to the range once with it
if its too much than ill buy a .22 for 200 bucks and have both and call it a day.

Everybody is probably thinking I should do it the opposite way
 
well have it ur way its like burgerking here man ha ha ha anyways if you think u can handle it go for it dont be scared its just a gun pull the triger and see if its to much it well tell you
 
I think im going with the 30-06, gonna go to the range once with it
if its too much than ill buy a .22 for 200 bucks and have both and call it a day.

Everybody is probably thinking I should do it the opposite way
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Yes, and for good reason. Learning to shoot requires developing a lot of new skills; holding the rifle steady, forming a sight picture, trigger control, breath control, etc, etc. Developing those skills requires practice and a lot of shooting. It's much more effective and FAR cheaper to practice with a 22 where your shooting is unlimited by noise, recoil or cost. Develop the skills on a 22 and transfer them to a 30-06. And in the end, you'll have a 22 you're familiar with and can shoot well. That's worthwhile by itself.
 
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