New guy, 2 Questions

Hey guys.

I'm new to the forums, been lurking for a few months, but haven't posted much of anything yet. I had 2 questions for you guys. I searched but didn't find anything.

Here it goes:
1. How good is 30-06 for long range? How much better would .308 be?

I ask because I already have a Remington 742 carbine chambered in 30-06 and I'm not a fan of buying tons of different calibers.

2. Why no speak of Ruger?

I was about to purchase a Ruger M77 Sporter (beautiful gun!!!!!) but I couldn't find anything about precision shooters using Ruger's, just 700's.



Thanks guys!! Sorry if these questions have been answered, I didn't find anything.

.30-06 is BETTER than .308 for long range. Slightly more velocity, especially with heavier bullets. Only con is you have to have long-action receivers (weight and receiver flex), and barrels burn out slightly faster.

Nobody uses Rugers because there's not as much in the way of after market parts/accessories compared to Remington 700's. Remingtons are popular because police and military use them (my opinion).

30-06 is a superior round, and if loaded for, will shoot better, ballistic wise, than the 308. Loading components are out there for the round, but it just isn't as popular for Long Range shooting.

I've heard good and bad about the ruger actions, and for availability of parts and stocks, I'd go with the Remington. It is a tried and trued action, and it simply works. I love mine.

Thanks for the quick reply guys. Sounds like I'll stick with my 30-06 ammunition. As far as action on the Ruger goes I've felt some new models on the floor at my local gun shops and they felt like shit (granted they are new and not broken in). I'm not sure how much I'll be doing for modifications, but I'd hate to try to modify down the road and come to a road block because I bought a Ruger when I should have bought a Remington. The Remington Mountain LSS isn't a bad looking gun. I'll look into that.

If you go with the remington in 30-06, go for one of the varmint models if you want to shoot long range.

yeah, I just noticed that the barrel is only 22" on the Mountain LSS model.

I'd look less at barrel length but rather more at barrel thickness. You want a fairly rigid barrel (thick) to minimize harmonic problems, not sure on the Mountain rifle but I'd guess its a light profile barrel, the varmint rifles use a heavier contour. Length gets you more velocity which is good, but at some point you need compromise. The most common lengths in 308 are 20, 24 and 26". 30-06 is fairly comparable but has a bit more powder and can get more velocity if the barrel length is appropriate.

Thank you. Everything you've said makes sense but it seems like I have a lot more top learn. Better now than after I've made a purchase.

ruger scope rings BLOW.. and u have no choice.... that and the triggers suck... but that can change for 100$

If you handload, .30-06 and .308 are both decent 1000 yards cartridges.

If you don't handload, .308 is the way to go. There are many more excellent match loadings for the .308.

Additionally the .30-06 had several drawbacks when it comes to long range/tactical competition. Magazine choice being first and foremost. Bolt throw being second.

If you are serious about long range shooting, don't bother with a .30-06. There is little is can do that a .308 can't do. If you need something the .308 can't do, then you will most likely be better served with something other than the .30-06.

I have nothing against the .30-06. I have two of them in my safe right now and I handload for them. However I am well aware of the strengths and limitations of the cartridge.

I understand why you want to stick with .30-06. In the end it's up to you if you want to accept the limitations.

Forget the Ruger as a long range precision platform. I am sure it can be made into one, but at greater expense and trouble than the 700, Savage 10 or the Winchester M70.

+1, Also, working on the Ruger (I have an M77 in .243) and it's a pain. The 700s are much easier to deal with if you plan on doing anything on your own. If you plan on spending money to take it to a smith then be prepared to spend more money on the Ruger than the 700 as they typically require a bit more work for triggers. I personally do not have time to tinker with my rifles asnymore so I just bought a rifle out of the box that would shoot, and shoot accurately.

A 30-06 is an excellent long-range cartridge, and with current offerings it outclasses the .308 win. It can be loaded faster than the .308 and shines better with heavier bullets. The 30-06 is perhaps one of the great all-around hunting cartridges that is very flexible. Even though this is about precision, and long range, I feel that the 06's ability to take big & heavy game further adds to its pedigree. If you are just punching paper, the 06 will give you added velocity and a little range. If you do not load, or plan on loading your own, the .308 probably offers a better range of factory ammunition at more reasonable prices.

I have more than a few Ruger rifles ranging from .22LR up to .458 Lott and one thing they all have in common is good quality. Some will say Remington, or Savage offers better accuracy, and comparing my personally owned rifles they do. But I prefer CRF (controlled round feeding) in all of my hunting rifles. And actually prefer it in duty weapons as well. Many debate the significance of CRF and whether or not it matters. There is a definite reason it is preferred for dangerous game, and the same concepts could be applied to a precision rifle used in varying conditions, something you may or may not desire for your rifle. The M77 Mark II Target rifle is a sub-MOA firearm, and is probably the closest thing you will find in the Ruger lineup as a precision rifle, and it is decent. For a true precision rifle, I desire 1/2 MOA or better, and I am not sure the Ruger, as it comes from the factory, can accomplish this, but I have also seen Remington tactical rifles that do not meet this standard without having some work done.

Many, here especially, disdain Ruger, and do not like the true control-round-feeding that most of their rifles offer for personal reasons I am assuming. There may be some reason precision rifles do not have this feature. I like it, and as long as the accuracy does not suffer, than I only see it as a plus. If you shoot it well, and like it then everything else should take a back-seat.

-PC-

HS precision makes stocks for the M77.

Thanks for all your input guys. I do not plan on reloading AND the Remington 742 I have was a hand-me-down so I'm not losing out if I decide to switch over to .308. It seems I have some more options I'll need to look into.

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