cartridges above 30-06

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The .30-06 is such a well balanced round it really is hard to do anything better than it without stepping into a "magnum" round. I think there are a lot of standard chambers out there that match the 06 in a lot of ways but few are as flexible as the 06. My two favorite non 06 cartridges are the .270 Win and .338-06. I've tried most of them as I own or have owned the .25-06, 6.5-06, .270, .280, 8mm-06, .338-06, and .35 Whelen.


If you want the roughly same power as a .30-06 but flatter trajectory you're going to have to look at something like the .270, .280, .280 AI, or 6.5X284 for non wildcats, and the 6.5-06 or AI in but they are a hand loader only cartridge. Again the .30-06 is going to take over long range if you are using 180 grain or heavier bullets but you won't notice it until you are way past 500 yards.

For cartridges that are going to hit with more energy and bigger bullets at normal hunting ranges <400 yards you have several to choose from as well. .338-06, .35 Whelen, and 9.3X62 are all standardized cartridges and you can buy factory ammunition for them. For wildcats you have the 8mm-06 and you can AI version it as well as the the .338-06 and Whelen. I've never seen a 9.3X62 AI as I think the cartridge has a little steeper shoulder than the 06 anyway.

The .338-06 can do what you want but the .30-06 will eventually take over before or at 500 yards. With Hornady 200 grain bullets you can push them much faster than a .30-06 and you can push 225's about the same speed that an 06 pushes a 180 grain bullet. Hornady list the 200 grain bullet at 2900 max load and 225's at 2700 fps. I've got some 180 Accubonds to load up as well and I imagine I'll push them right at 3000 fps pretty easily out of my .338-06.


In wildcat rounds you have the Hawk, PDK, Gibbs, and too many others to mention cartridges that all provide more thump and speed but only marginally and still based on the 06 case. Most of them have the shoulder blown forward creating a much shorter neck and in standard length barrels only gain 100-200 fps over their standard counterparts. The Gibbs cartridge was designed to use a 26" barrel as measured from a loaded chamber not the breach face as most other barrels are measured.
 
There are a couple of English cartridges, like the .333 Jeffrey, that would fit the bill, but they have never been popular here and are pretty much obsolete, which is a real pity.
 
It always comes down first to what someone wants to do with the rifle/cartridge combination. Sometimes the first thing one comes up with (such as getting a 'more powerful' rifle) isnt required. A change in factory ammunition or handload may accomplish the job with the equipment you have.

Then again, sometimes a guy wants to get a new rifle whether he really needs it or not.
 
just a note, as others have pointed this out. Factory loaded 30 06 cartridges are not loaded to their full potential. The pressure is kept to 1906 standards for the 1903 Springfield. A hand load can bring out the true performance capibilities of this fine Round. For anything an ethical marksman might use a 30 06 for the factory loads are just fine.
 
Oh, my fault. I was thinking practical use instead of a strict set of guidelines. The range could be dealt with with sights, but your velocity requirement leaves the 45/70 out. Calm down, I stand down to your guidelines. :D
 
My first thought is .308. Better ballistics, shorter action, fairly common (plus milsurp). It'll be my next deer rifle.
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The 308 runs about 100-150 fps slower than the 30-06 with bullets of the same weight. The shorter action is a plus, but better ballistics isn't.
 
Hmmm maybe my 180g Nosler AB's will do the trick for meh in .30-06, if I find a good velocity to load them with and not too much pressure etc..
 
I use IMR 4350 for handloads, I have just now switched to Nosler, my second oldest bro said there was too much meat damage on a moose from his 300 win mag loaded with Barnes tsx ot ttsx bullets.
 
Remember that "magnum" is a manufacturer's name aimed at selling rifles, like "express". Though generally a little bigger case, there is nothing unique about it. A 7mm STW has more powder capacity and velocity than a 7mm Remington "Magnum", so does a 7mm Dakota and probably others. We get too hung up on these terms.
 
Just get a .300 Win Mag. And yes it is a mag. You will pay from $25 to $50 for a box of 20. There were some "light magnum loads by Hornady (?) a while back that bridged the gap between the 30-06 and the .300 mag. Good luck
 
TX Hunter is correct. Your answer is reloading. Factory ammo does not come near the potential of the cartridge. There are too many of the old war horses running around. Because of liability they only load ammo for the weakest rifle.

You hear all the time about how the 308 is equal to the 06. With factory loads, that is pretty much true. HOWEVER: when reloaded to their potential, the 06 is quite superior to the 308 in a good modern firearm.

If you wish to go past the potential of the 06, then you will have to go to the Magnum. That is why they came about.
 
You have got to be a little realistic about the 06 even if you hand load you'll probably only beat factory speeds by 100 fps on average. .30-06 factory loads don't operate above 60,000 psi which is SAAMI max for the cartridge. Ammunition manufacturers have had over 100 years to find the sweet spot that the 06 operates in.

Sure every rifle is different and barrel length will increase or decrease your speed a bit from published speeds of factory ammunition. Plus you have rifles with fast barrels. Just don't expect hand loading to provide magical speeds without shortening brass life and putting stress on your action if you push it past 65,000 psi in a modern bolt action. Besides other than Hornady Superformance, how many of the factory "Light Magnum" loads do you see being produced today compared to a few years ago?
 
"More powerful" and "flatter shooting" are not necessarily the same. The 35 Whelen is more powerful than the 30-06 and shoots about the same trajectory, but not flatter. If you want flatter shooting, but don't want a lot more recoil and muzzle blast, then try the 300 RCM. It will give you about 75 fps more velocity, with very little more recoil.

The problem with velocity is, it takes a lot more powder to make a little improvement. So if you really want flatter shooting, you need a pretty big boost in case size, which means a lot more recoil, blast and expense. To gain 4" in trajectory at 400 yards with a 180 grain .308 bullet, you have to double the recoil. Is it really worth it???

Mono-metal bullets like the Barnes TTSX give tremendous pentetration and tissue destruction with much lighter than standard bullets. You can gain 2.5" of trajectory with the 150 grain TTSX in the standard 30-06, and actually have a little LESS recoil than the 180 grain load. If you handload, I'd go that route.
 
I would say if you load your own then hang on to the 06 out to 300 yards the trajectory is similar
And with Normandy superformance in a 180 grain inter bond you get 2820 From a 24 inch barrell versus 2700 For traditional factory loading. And traditional 300 win mag velocities only around 2960. Seems like a good middle ground between the two.
 
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