text: Commercially manufactured rifles chambered in .30-06 are popular for hunting. Current .30-06 factory ammunition varies in bullet weight from 7.1 to 14.3 grams (110 to 220 grains) in solid bullets, and as low as 3.6 grams (55 grains) with the use of a sub-caliber bullet in a sabot. Loads are available with reduced velocity and pressure as well as increased velocity and pressure for stronger firearms. The .30-06 remains one of the most popular sporting cartridges in the world. Many hunting loads have over  of energy at the muzzle and use expanding bullets that can deliver rapid energy transfer to targets.
  The table above shows typical muzzle velocities available in commercial 30-06 loads along with the maximum .30-06 muzzle velocities reported by several reloading manuals for common bullet weights. Hodgdon, Nosler, and Barnes report velocities for  barrels. Hornady and Speer report velocities for  barrels. The data are all for barrels with a twist rate of 1 turn in  which is needed to stabilize the heaviest bullets. The higher muzzle velocities reported by Nosler for  and heavier bullets use loads employing a slow-burning, double-base powder (Alliant Reloder 22).
  The newer 7.62×51mm NATO/.308 Winchester cartridge offers similar performance to standard military .30-06 loadings in a smaller cartridge.