30-06 Can't Compete With Its Children

Published on October 31, 2025
Duration: 14:54

This video compares the .30-06 Springfield to its 'children' cartridges: .25-06, .270 Win, .280 AI, and .35 Whelen, through penetration tests on lumber, steel, concrete, and sand. The .35 Whelen demonstrates superior penetration, shattering lumber and piercing steel, while sand proves an effective backstop for all tested calibers. The .30-06 itself shows more impact than its smaller variants but is outclassed by the .35 Whelen.

Quick Summary

The .35 Whelen, a .30-06 derivative, excelled in penetration tests, shattering lumber and piercing 1/2 inch steel. Sand proved an effective backstop, stopping all tested calibers. The .30-06 showed more impact than smaller variants but was outclassed by the .35 Whelen.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: .30-06 Based Cartridge Comparison
  2. 00:30Testing the .25-06 Remington
  3. 01:13Testing the .270 Winchester
  4. 02:01Testing the .280 Ackley Improved
  5. 02:44Testing the .30-06 Springfield
  6. 03:52Testing the .35 Whelen
  7. 05:10Concrete and Sand Penetration Tests
  8. 11:25Mild Steel Plate Penetration Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Which .30-06 based cartridge performed best in penetration tests?

The .35 Whelen demonstrated the best penetration, completely shattering lumber targets and successfully piercing 1/2 inch mild steel plates. It showed significantly more impact energy and destructive power than the .30-06 Springfield and its smaller bore derivatives.

How effective is sand as a backstop for rifle cartridges?

Sand proved to be an extremely effective backstop. In the tests, 6 inches of sand completely stopped all tested rifle cartridges (.25-06, .270 Win, .280 AI, .30-06, .35 Whelen) after they had already penetrated concrete pavers.

Did the original .30-06 Springfield outperform its offspring cartridges?

The .30-06 Springfield showed a noticeable increase in impact on steel compared to the .25-06 and .270 Winchester, creating a substantial dent. However, it was ultimately outperformed in penetration by the larger .35 Whelen.

What were the key differences observed between the .25-06 and .270 Winchester in testing?

Both the .25-06 Remington and .270 Winchester showed similar performance on lumber, creating significant exit damage. Neither cartridge was able to penetrate the mild steel plates used in the testing, indicating comparable limitations in heavy barrier penetration.

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