How popular was the 30-06 between the wars? How popular now? capt david
Really ? Not .308 ?The USA sells more reloading materials for the 30-06 than any other calibers.
I think they used to measure it on the number of sets of dies sold each year not on components because .30 calibre components would cover a huge range of different cartridges.
Guns and Ammo used to publish the list of sales each year and for many years .30-06 was the most popular rifle dies sold but I think it was knocked off its peg some years ago.
30-06 seems very popular in Germany too. Just a very sensible hunting cartridge for their game. Even the longer length over say 308 can be an advantage in that it feeds more reliably from hunting rifle drop plate mags. Here in Ireland 30-06 seems to be well behind the 308 or even 270.
edi
It's arguable that the 30-06 could be the calibre that has killed more things globally than any other.
What about the argument that the .308 winchester can do pretty much all the .30-06 can, and be a shorter neater action ? Pin out, chucks in grenade..............
Arguable certainly! I think that you might like to refine that claim a little more Adrian, perhaps just a little bit too broad of a claim maybe.
Yes, arguable, it's not a statement of fact, it's an opinion.
I'm sure the veritable 12 bore may well have the 30-06 beaten but in terms of rifle then I'm not sure it qualifies.
It's one of the most popular calibres across the world, you would have to go a long way to find a hunting camp that didn't have one in the cupboard.
I would also suggest that if you visit our friends across the pond you will find one in most homes that hunt or own firearms.
If I turned up in Africa, the US, Europe or Asia without bullets, I bet I could find 30-06 more easily than 7.62x39 because of the popularity of the calibre.
Maybe not so popular over here as the .308 but outside of these shores I wouldn't mind betting it's right up there with any other calibre.
When you also consider it's use by the US in two world wars and Vietnam and Korea as well as other nations in their conflicts across the globe, add on it's hunting and recreational use and it's absolute popularity in the largest gun owning nation on the planet then it's arguably a reasonable opinion.