“What did you call it?” the man asked as I was showing him a rifle for sale at my gun shop.

I told him, “It’s a 30 aught six.”

“Oh, I always thought it was called a 30 ‘o’ six” he responded.

The .30-06 Springfield is a cartridge with a .30 caliber bullet developed for the US Army by the Springfield Armory in 1906. Some older Winchester rifles from the period were marked .30 Gov’t 06. Called a 30 ‘o’ six by new hunters, it’s affectionately referred to as an “aught six” by seasoned deer chasers around the country. A term picked up sooner or later from one’s grandfather or one of the hunting camp elders. Despite the vast number of calibers available to choose from and the immense popularity of some of them, the .30-06 Springfield remains one of the most popularly chambered rifles around the world after more than 100 years.

I was probably in the fourth or fifth grade when I had my first encounter with the beloved .30-06. I was walking to school one day with one of the neighborhood boys named Eddie, when he reached in his pocket and pulled something out. He opened up his hand and said, “Hey Dave, check these out! They’re my dad’s.” That was the first time I ever saw live ammo before except for maybe BB’s or .22’s.

He had about five or six rifle cartridges in his hand – big, shiny .30-06 cartridges. I said, “What are those, what are you doing with them? You’re going to get into trouble, you shouldn’t have those.” I put some distance between us as fast as possible. I knew he’d be in trouble with his dad as soon as he found out he had those.

Looking at the cartridge gives you a feeling that’s similar to when a teenage boy gets his first close up look at a ’73 Corvette Stingray. They’re long and lean and they glisten in the sun. The shoulders taper down in the front giving a fast, sleek, aerodynamic profile. The horsepower packed inside adds to the intrigue.

Take a look at some of the features of the .30-06. Factory ammunition is available in a large selection of bullet weights ranging from 125 grains to 220 grains which is suitable for most game. Power levels run from approximately 2700 pounds of muzzle energy up to 3300 pounds for average factory loads. Corresponding muzzle velocities run from 2600 feet per second for heavier bullets up to and beyond 3100 feet per second for lighter weight bullets. The bullet energy of standard, off the shelf, 150 grain loads at 300 yards is approximately 1450 pounds. The “maximum point-blank range” for this load is 290 yards. This means the bullet’s path is never more than 3” above or below the line of sight in 290 yards. That’s pretty impressive. The fact that this cartridge is the most popular in the world means that you can find ammo anywhere. If you run out or it gets lost while traveling or hunting, any local gun shop such as Pachella Arms,http://www.pachellaarms.com/ will have a box of ammo. In a pinch, you can also go to your local “Cheapo Mart”.

Compare the performance of the .30-06 to some other great choices. Another one of the most popular choices of caliber is the .308 Winchester. For a common 150 grain bullet load, it has a “maximum point-blank range” of 275 yards and retains a bullet energy of approximately 1340 pounds. The larger .300 Winchester Magnum has a “maximum point-blank range” of 315 yards with a standard 150 grain bullet load and it retains just over 1800 pounds of energy at 300 yards. Looking at these numbers doesn’t show too much difference between the .308 and the .30-06, but the aught six has the advantage none the less. The .300 Win Mag excels when you compare these numbers to the 308 and the 30-06, but loses out in shooter comfort compared to the other two when you consider the heavier recoil of the 300 Win Mag. The higher cost of .300 Win Mag ammo is a consideration by some people as well.

The cartridge performance information above isn’t all inclusive of what one can find on a ballistics chart, but it’s some of the most important information I look at when comparing cartridges and what I first look at before delving further into research. I’ve discussed the .308 and .300 Mag to give you an idea of what the .30-06 is like compared to two other .30 caliber cartridges with loads using the same bullet weight. Look at some ballistics charts and also compare these to other popular calibers like the .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester and the 7mm Remington Magnum. These all may excel at a specific task above the performance of the .30-06, but when you consider its versatility, the “aught six” comes out on top. With its selection of bullet weights and loads, relative felt shooting recoil, “on the shelf” purchase availability, ammunition purchase price and overall shooting performance, it would be hard to pick a better all-around caliber. Reloading for the .30-06 enhances its versatility even more. It can and has been used for every game animal around the globe. I dub the .30-06 “King of the woods and field”.

It’s true that the .30-06 may not be the best choice for any one thing, but it just may be the perfect choice for everything.