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Yeah, for an American at least, I used to think that the .30-06 was too common, too "bubba", too "redneck". I swore I would never own one. Just too plain and common. Every "bubba" had one. Yuck.....

Then, I started reading about some famous Americans that went on safari in Africa in the "old days". Seems that most used the .30-06 Springfield (as their light rifle). Not necessarily because it was the best cartridge around for Africa, but because it was readily available, for an American, in the first half of the 20th century. People like Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt, Stewart Edward White, Ernest Hemingway, Martin and Osa Johnson, and Robert Ruark used it on safari.

I decided I wanted to “walk in their shoes” a little, so to speak, and took a Ruger M77 MkII in .30-06 to South Africa in 2002. I shot five animals with it and it worked great; from Steenbok to Red Hartebeest. I even used 220 gr bullets just for the nostalgia and to be old fashioned.

(Woodleigh 220 gr round noses. Great bullets!)

I’ve now become quite attached to the ol’ Springfield cartridge. When I pick up my rifle, I always remember the afternoon that I took a Limpopo Bushbuck along the Limpopo River with it. Believe it or not, I have never hunted with a .30-06 here in America! I’ve only used it in Africa (South Africa). So, to me at least, it recalls memories of safari and Africa. Not bad memories to have.

I’m going back to South Africa in August of this year for a plains game hunt. My primary rifle will be a CZ 550 in 9.3 x62. But, I’m also taking along my new Ruger M77 MkII in .30-06 Springfield. (A different rifle from the one I used in 2002.) It hasn’t been to Africa yet and I want to introduce it to an Impala or a Warthog.

Back to the original thread topic:
Now, I've never hunted dangerous game (in America or Africa), but IMHO, the .30-06 isn't a good choice for big bears (brown / grizzly). I believe the old rule of thumb about it being the minimum for grizzly bears got started back when there really weren't that many truly powerful cartridges available to the American hunter. Back in the first half of the 20th century, the .30-06 was considered to be pretty powerful but, not much else was commonly available to the American hunter besides some of the old lever action cartridges. That's why so many Americans took the .30-06 to Africa (to use as a light rifle) simply because it was about the only game in town (for an American buyer). Since the end of World War II, the number of different cartridges available on the American market has increased greatly. Better choices for big bears are now readily available. IMHO, a sensible minimum for grizzly/brown bears now starts with the .338 Win Mag.

-Bob F.

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