The 6 Best .30-06 Rifles: Buyer’s Guide & Photos [2024]

Image	Product	Price
	Best Overall – Savage 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP .30-06 Spfd.	Check Price
	Best for All-Around Performance – Ruger American .30-06 Spfd.	Check Price
	Best for Classic Style and Handling – Browning BLR Lightweight	Check Price
	Best Value with Scope Package – Remington 783, Bolt Action .30-06	Check Price
	Best for Durability and All-Weather Use – Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker Bolt-Action Rifle	Check Price
	Best for High-Performance Semi-Automatic Hunting – Bear Creek Arsenal BC8 Huntmaster	Check Price

The rich history of the .30-06 has long attracted enthusiasts. But then, this is also the caliber that has the power to put down almost any game in the land. And if you’re in the market for the best .30-06 rifle, here’s what you should know before we review the best options out there.

First introduced in 1906, the .30-60 caliber has retained its military pedigree to this day. These rifles are quintessential American classics to the core. And they’re also highly versatile in a sense.

If you’re getting a .30-06 for the first time, you obviously shouldn’t be aiming for the same as experienced hunters. There are starter rifles in this caliber, and they might be somewhat different than what the veterans may favor.

The idea is to find a weapon that would boost your sporting experience. For example, the type of game and the terrain are important. Then, you need to consider the features such as the sling hooks, weight, optics, and price.

Optics

The .30-06 may come with optics pre-installed, or you may choose to buy a scope separately. The installation is pretty straightforward.

The scope’s features, clarity, and other characteristics can significantly increase your accuracy. As you may observe from the veteran hunters, you’re likely to end up spending the same amount on the optics and the rifle for the best result.

Weight

Assuming that you’ll be covering a lot of ground, you don’t want to carry too much weight.

When selecting a rifle, consider your stamina and stature to determine your comfort zone. In general, you should be looking to balance the weight against the other features. And a slightly heavier model may just be the winner if it’s superior in all the other aspects.

Sling Hooks or No Sling Hooks

If you’re only planning to shoot at a range or a ranch, you might not need sling hooks. Together with the sling, these add weight to the rifle and it’s only really important for hunting.

Those who need to go a long way to get to the prey will surely appreciate the hooks. What I like the most is that your hands are free to work the binoculars.

Price

As indicated, budget and starter options are available in this caliber as in any other. But if you want the best .30-06 rifle, you probably can’t go cheap on it.

For a few hundred dollars more, you can get a top-level rifle that will enhance your hunting experience. And mark my words, the premium .30-06s can last a lifetime. Plus, they might be something you’d want to pass down to the young hunters in the family.

In good weather, the rifle can shoot up to 500 yards with ease. Those who have exceptional targeting skills should be able to hit a stationary object at 800 yards away.

A friend of mine did two rounds in Afghanistan as a gunner, right? With a .30-06 in his hands, the guy can put down an elk at 1,000 yards. How? He’s been hunting since he was old enough to hold a rifle, and then he perfected his skills in the Marine Corps.

The bottom line is that your experience affects your accuracy and the gun’s range.

First, the recoil is pretty mild in comparison to other rounds of comparable ballistic damage.

.30-06 rounds are suitable for handloading. You can go to either end of the grain weight and size. The rifle performs equally well with heavy and light rounds. For experienced hunters, this means they can just change the load instead of the caliber.

The sweet spot for hunting deer is about 150 grain or there’s going to be too much damage. If you have it out for a moose, a caribou, or a ram, you may have to step up to 180 grains. That’s also suitable for target practice.

The engineering of the .30-06 has also improved over the past three decades. Some rounds are much hotter than before, and you can expect to find Magnum-like ballistics.

The Aesthetics

Some .30-06 rifles offer more than just versatility and great shooting experience. Etchings and engravings can make them trophy pieces. These add to the price of the weapon, but you might be getting a work of art that could appreciate in value in the years to come.

Sure, there’s always the option to add custom engravings to a plain model after the fact.

Best Overall – Savage 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP .30-06 Spfd.

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Trophy Hunter is a bolt-action rifle. It has a capacity of four plus one round, and the magazine is removable.

The rifle is 42.7” long, and more than half of that is the barrel (or 22” to be exact). There is no front sight at the barrel’s end, and the muzzle is plain. But finding a brake or a compensator that fits won’t be hard.

As for the scope, you’re getting a 3×9 scope that matches the rifle. It’s a Nikon and among the clearest optics you can get your hands on at this price. Another thing that caught my attention is the scope’s wide field of view.

The material is synthetic, and it feels comfortable and well-built. This rifle also has sling hooks, but its weight of 8 lbs is not that great.

This rifle is for those who want to start firing right away. Just load the magazine, find your target, and you’re off. As such, the Trophy Hunter is a great option for novice and inexperienced hunters.

Best for All-Around Performance – Ruger American .30-06 Spfd.

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Coming from the award-winning American manufacturer, this .30-06 is a force to be reckoned with. The stand-out features include the Ruger Marksman adjustable trigger and the hammer-forged barrel.

These add to the Ruger’s usability and mechanical accuracy. You also get a power bedding, a tang safety, and a recoil pad. Couple that with the rifle’s lightweight stock, and you’re getting one of the most balanced firearms around.

The stock is black composite, a synthetic material. The rifle itself is of a high-quality steel alloy, and the finish is matte black. You may agree that a matte black finish makes the gun stealthier and protects it from the elements.

The cool thing is that Ruger managed to shave down the weight to 6.25 lbs., which puts this model among the most lightweight of its class. The barrel length is 22”, and the overall length is on par with most other .30-06s.

In terms of general accuracy, this rifle should live up to expectations. All the contemporary features and engineering may compensate for the user’s lack of experience, if necessary.

Furthermore, it comes with four cartridges, and the magazine is easy to remove and reload.

Best for Classic Style and Handling – Browning BLR Lightweight

Specifications

Pros & Cons

With a sculpted walnut stock and blue steel finish, this rifle is a show-stopper. The aesthetics are timeless but it’s just a start.

This is a bolt-action rifle with bolt-head locks. These engage when you close the lever to enhance the accuracy and strength. All the while, the reliability and handling are going to be there.

According to the manufacturer, the BLR’s barrels are triple-checked for straightness prior to coming off the assembly line. All in all, the rifle is precision manufactured for accuracy, reliability, and durability.

The design incorporates a rotating multi-lug bolt for the tightest possible lock-up. What I really like is that you can add any scope to this gun. The rifle features a convenient receiver to facilitate scope mounting and changing.

Unlike some other lever models, the BLR has a steel box magazine. This allows you to use pointed bullets and improves the ballistic performance of the weapon.

However, there is more off-target action involved between your first and second shots. But this shouldn’t affect the rifle’s performance or accuracy.

Best Value with Scope Package – Remington 783, Bolt Action .30-06

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Remington 783 has all of the bells and whistles you may expect from a .30-06 rifle. It features an adjustable CrossFire trigger, and you get a detachable steel box magazine that holds four rounds. The total loading capacity is four plus one, of course.

In addition, the gun has a free-floating carbon steel barrel as well as a dual-pillar bedding platform. But what do these mean to you as a shooter? They add to the rifle’s mechanical accuracy and promote a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

To offset some of the recoil, the gun is wrapped in a SuperCell pad. Since the recoil of this caliber is already gentle, the padding further makes the rifle a good choice for novices. And then there’s the pre-mounted optics.

The 783 ships with a bore-sighted 3-9x40mm scope. The view is clear, but like with all packaged scopes, you can expect limitations. The adjustments for elevation and windage aren’t exactly smooth. This is particularly apparent when you’re sighting too far out on either side.

Nonetheless, this is one of the .30-06 rifles that have the power to bring down large game animals and you can always upgrade the scope later.

At 8.6 lbs., the 783 isn’t ultra-lightweight, which might surprise you given the synthetic stock. But the weight is well-distributed, so you might not actually mind the heft.

Best for Durability and All-Weather Use – Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker Bolt-Action Rifle

Specifications

Pros & Cons

This is among the most affordable .30-06 rifles on the market. All told, the X-Bolt Composite is in the great value for money category.

One of the main highlights is the composite stock that features a Dura-Touch Armor coating. It’s there to improve the control and to help with the grip. And the coating’s properties are quite helpful when you’re shooting under harsh weather.

The X-Bolt also uses Inflex Technology to buffer the recoil. And the barrel is target-crowned and free-floating to improve the rifle’s mechanical accuracy.

You get a proprietary Feather Trigger with no take-up and a clean pull. The best thing about it is that there’s almost no overtravel, and there is an adjustment screw. It allows you to choose between 3 lbs. and 5 lbs. of squeeze pressure.

This Browning doesn’t come with optics, but the manufacturer went the extra mile to ensure easy installation. The receiver is made of steel and has a matte finish. There are four screws on each base for secure placement of the scope.

The magazine is rotary and detachable, and it doesn’t feed offset like most standard magazines.

Best for High-Performance Semi-Automatic Hunting – Bear Creek Arsenal BC8 Huntmaster

Specifications

Pros & Cons

In our review of the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-8, we discovered a unique and impressive .30-06 rifle that marries the classic .30-06 Springfield cartridge with an AR-style platform.

Despite initial reservations about the .30-06 cartridge, the BC-8’s design and functionality, reminiscent of an AR-10 but tailored for a larger cartridge, quickly won us over. The rifle’s robust build, featuring a right-side charging handle, a 20-inch barrel with a 1:10 twist, and a rifle-length gas system, was immediately noticeable and appreciated for its thoughtful design and quality, including the Magpul furniture and the crisp Velocity trigger.

During our testing in the Rocky Mountains, the BC-8 showcased exceptional accuracy and reliability, especially with various types of Hornady ammunition. It consistently achieved around 1.25 MOA accuracy, impressing us with its performance at longer ranges.

The rifle’s heavier weight contributed to a comfortable shooting experience, lessening the felt recoil, and despite the unconventional right-side charging handle, we found it easy to adapt to. The only minor drawback was the slightly heavy magazine release button, likely a necessity given the larger .30-06 magazine design.

In conclusion, the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-8 stands out as a remarkable option in the .30-06 rifle category, skillfully combining a traditional cartridge with a modern, tactical rifle design. While it may not be the top choice for conventional hunting due to its weight, its versatility in various shooting scenarios is undeniable.

The BC-8 represents a harmonious blend of historical cartridge legacy and contemporary firearm innovation, offering a powerful and reliable choice for shooters who value the .30-06 Springfield in an AR-style rifle.

Check out the full review here!

All of the above rifles are engineered for the pleasure of hunting or target practice. When you come down to it, however, there is one that shines the brightest.

The Browning X-Bolt Composite takes the traditional hunting rifle design and brings it to the 21st century. The features that elevate it to the best .30-06 rifle include the Inflex Technology and the Feather Trigger.

Okay, the X-Bolt may not come with a scope. But for the money, it leaves enough room in your budget to go get one.