30-06 Can't Compete With Its Children

Published on October 31, 2025
Duration: 14:54

This video from Banana Ballistics provides a detailed comparison of cartridges derived from the .30-06 Springfield case, including the .25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, .280 Ackley Improved, and .35 Whelen. Through rigorous testing against various materials like lumber, steel, concrete, and sand, the host demonstrates the performance differences in terms of penetration and impact energy. The .35 Whelen emerges as the clear winner in penetration, while the .30-06 Springfield and its derivatives show varying degrees of effectiveness, offering valuable data for handloaders and shooters seeking optimal performance for specific applications.

Quick Summary

The .35 Whelen stands out as the most potent .30-06 derived cartridge for penetration, successfully piercing a 1/2 inch steel plate. Testing against lumber, steel, concrete, and sand revealed significant performance differences, with the .35 Whelen offering maximum impact energy and penetration, while the .30-06 Springfield showed solid performance, outperforming its smaller-bore derivatives in steel impact.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to .30-06 Based Cartridges
  2. 00:30.25-06 Remington Testing
  3. 01:13.270 Winchester Testing
  4. 02:01.280 Ackley Improved Testing
  5. 02:44.30-06 Springfield Testing
  6. 03:52.35 Whelen Testing
  7. 05:10Concrete and Sand Penetration
  8. 11:25Mild Steel Plate Penetration

Frequently Asked Questions

Which .30-06 derived cartridge offers the best penetration?

The .35 Whelen demonstrated superior penetration capabilities in the tests, successfully piercing a 1/2 inch mild steel plate. This makes it the most potent option for applications requiring deep penetration compared to its .30-06 Springfield parent case and smaller derivatives like the .25-06 Remington and .270 Winchester.

How did the .30-06 Springfield perform against steel compared to its 'children' cartridges?

In the penetration tests against mild steel plates, the .30-06 Springfield produced a substantial, visible dent, outperforming its smaller-bore 'children' like the .25-06 Remington and .270 Winchester in raw impact energy on that specific target.

What materials were used for ballistics testing in the Banana Ballistics video?

The Banana Ballistics video utilized a variety of materials for testing, including lumber blocks, mild steel plates (3/8 inch and 1/2 inch), concrete pavers, and 6 inches of sand, to evaluate the penetration and impact characteristics of different .30-06 derived cartridges.

What are the average velocities for the tested .30-06 based cartridges?

The tested cartridges showed varying average velocities: .25-06 Remington at 3108 fps, .270 Winchester at 2892 fps, .280 Ackley Improved at 2861 fps, and .30-06 Springfield at 2680 fps, all from 24-inch barrels. The .35 Whelen achieved 2926.2 fps from a 21-inch barrel.

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