My first thought is to try any "good" pawn shop in your area. "Good" pawn shops often have "bargain basement prices" and still take a responsible position about the merchandise they sell and will give you a "guarantee"... even on a used firearm.
Naturally, your local gun shop is an excellent place to find a number of different .30/06's which is one of the most popular calibers in the USA. Again, you should get a "guarantee" any firearm you purchase from them will function safely & properly.
You can also check out your local newspaper under "Sporting Goods" or "Merchandise Mart" to see if any firearms are listed. Often, someone listing one firearm has other firearms they'll sell.
You might considering calling an individual advertising any firearm just to see if they might have a .30/06 rifle around they're willing to sell. However, if you buy a rifle from an individual, you take the chance it may have "problems"... and any "guarantee" offered by an individual seller is questionable.
As far as a "cheap" .30/06 is concerned, a lot depends on WHAT you mean by "cheap". A new Model 110 Savage rifle is relatively "cheap" (compared to other "new" rifles by other manufacturers) and usually VERY accurate right out-of-the-box.
Often, "sporterized" military rifles are relatively inexpensive compared to used commercially-manufactured, but they are also usually heavier and may have problems connected with converting military rifles to civilian use.
In my experience, the net is NOT a good place to find a firearm to purchase. The prices are usually higher than at your local gunshop... and the firearms are sometimes NOT as they are "represented to be".
Incidentally, the .30/06 caliber is an excellent choice for use as an "all around" hunting rifle for new world game. Its wide variety of factory-loaded bullet weights (110 grains to 220 grains) plus the relatively new "Light Magnum" loads from Hornady and the powerful special, high-speed loads from Federal turn a .30/06 into a round which is slightly superior to the old .300 Holland & Holland Magnum or what they called the "Super 30".
I believe the regular .30/06 round using a good 180 grain bullet (like the Nosler Partition Bullet) is definitely powerful enough for elk, moose or black bear at reasonable ranges (100 yards or less), but if you want that extra "punch", the Hornady "Light Magnums" or the Federal ultra-high speed loads give you that "edge".
While the .30/06 caliber CAN and HAS taken the "big bears" (the Grizzly, Kodiak and Polar Bears), I'd recommend something a bit larger & more powerful... like the .338 Winchester Magnum using the 250 grain bullet or the .375 H & H Magnum using the 270 or 300 grain bullet as example.
Good luck on your quest...
Posts: 24 | Location: 10 miles N. of Dayton, Ohio, USA | Registered: 09-30-02
