I had the opportunity to hunt this past season for the first time in many years. I had to borrow a rifle because I don't have a hunting rifle. I want to remedy that before the chance comes around again. Local shop has a Ruger American 30-06 on sale for a good price. Just wanted to get some opinions on it. This past year I was in Michigan when I got the chance to hunt. I've been doing travel nursing and don't know where I may be next season. I know there are a ton of new cartridges out there, but I figure the 30-06 will handle pretty much anything I may need and is easy to find. Just wanted to see what the opinions were on the Ruger.

I hunt with a Ruger American,  I love it.  If it’s a good price then get it.  The 30-06 is a great round

i have one, its a fine gun and 3006 still kills things dead

It is also a brute - some 17 foot pounds of recoil.

I would look at some of the more enjoyable shooting rounds...

7mm-08 comes to mind.

If it is just deer - the 243 is a sweet and easy gun to shoot.

Red

30-06 is the king of calibers for NA imho.  NO other caliber, including creedmoor, is better at distance given the options and loads available.  30-06 kills 99% of all land animals on the planet, can reach well in excess of 1k yards accurately and for hunting, has zero equal with respects to range, options, weights, etc.

great choice

Thanks for the input. Went by the shop today and picked it up. On sale for $339, pretty good deal I think.

Good rifle.  I have one in 308.  $339 is a good price, you did fine.

A 30-06 bolt action will kill any animal on this continent.

Ruger is a great value.

Now add a Leupold 2-7x or 3-9x and a Ching or Rhodesian Sling, and you've got a wonderful "do anything" rifle.

If I could find one for $339, I'd buy one too. Heck, I'm not sure I'd be that picky about the caliber either.

have you looked at the T/C Compass here as it's got more features for same or less money.

A Ruger American .30-06 is my main hunting rifle

A brute?  All medium hunting rifles in that class, .270, .280, ‘06 with similar weight bullets for deer in the 130-165 grain range will have virtually indistinguishable recoil.  The retained energy of these classic rounds gives you a little edge if you have to take shots at angles other than broadside, or if you are a couple inches off.  We don’t always get the classic broadside shot when the monster trophy buck appears.

The ‘06 is an extremely effective hunting round.  Millions have found their recoil quite acceptable.

I have several 7mm Rem Mag bolt guns, a lightweight Mark V .300 Weatherby Mag and a .45-70 with heavy loads that all make the ‘06 case cartridges like the three listed seem tame.  The magnums might be overkill for deer except at very long range in the hands of someone who can make hits at long distances.  The 45-70 is great in the woods.

But for 90% of the hunting in North America, a good bolt gun in ‘06 is very hard to beat.