.30-06 Springfield
The great American do-it-all — enough gun for anything on the continent, with a recoil level that reminds you it predates shoulder-friendly fashion.
Family
Rifle
Introduced
1906
Origin
US Army Ordnance, Springfield Armory, USA
Military
Caliber .30 Ball M2 (US service through Korea)
History
Adopted in 1906 for the M1903 Springfield, the .30-06 armed America through both world wars and Korea in the Springfield, M1917, M1 Garand, and BAR. Returning veterans made it the cornerstone American hunting cartridge, and nearly every bullet weight in .30 caliber has been factory-loaded for it. It remains the yardstick other big-game cartridges are measured against.
What it's used for
Iconic platforms
M1903 Springfield, M1 Garand, Winchester Model 70, Remington 700, and a century of bolt-action sporters.
Common load types
Soft point, polymer-tip, bonded and monolithic big-game loads, match, and surplus-style FMJ for Garands (which want Garand-safe loads).
Reference only — not loading data, not ballistics advice, and KitID links to no ammunition sellers. Know your local law before you buy anything that goes bang.