Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Happy 100th Birthday .30-06!

Springfield '03
Springfield '03

M1 Garand
M1 Garand

Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)

Browning Machine Gun - m1917a1
Browning Machine Gun - m1917a1

Like many popular sporting cartridges, the .30-06 began life as a military round. Though it goes back 100 years now, it wasn't the U.S. Army's first--or even second--.30 caliber.

Just before the turn of the 20th century Germany came out with what is considered one of the finest bolt guns ever--the Model 1898 Mauser. The '98 had it all--a very strong action with controlled feed.

Uncle Sam could see the handwriting on the wall and five years later came out with his own version of the Mauser, the fabled Model 1903 Springfield. The rifle itself was a sleek rendition of the '98 that is considered by many experts to be the best bolt-action military arm ever.

The military continued to expand the .30-06's repertoire and chambered it in the Model 1917/19 Browning machine gun, Browning Automatic Rifle, M1 Garand, 1903A3 and the1903A4 sniper rifle. The round was found to be so perfect that it was simply upscaled to provide one of the finest heavy-machine-gun cartridges in history, the .50 BMG.

After the Second World War the .30-06 became even more popular. American and foreign companies continue to churn out rifles for the round in a dizzying variety of models and styles.

Check out the article at Guns and Ammo.

The .30-06 is a great caliber, chambered for some great rifles! I aim to own a Springfield '03 and M1 Garand eventually, but for now I'm happy with my Mauser (see Renegade's Toys for photo), the father of them all!

If you're interested in purchasing a classic US military rifle of your own, check out the Civilian Marksmanship Program

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