text: Recoil One reason that the .30-06 has remained a popular round for so long is that the cartridge is at the upper limit of power that is tolerable to most shooters. Recoil energy (free recoil) greater than  will cause most shooters to develop a serious flinch, and the recoil energy of an  rifle firing a  30-06 bullet at  is . Recoil-shy shooters can opt for lighter bullets, such as a  bullet. In the same  rifle, a  bullet at  will only generate  of recoil energy. Young shooters can start out with even lighter bullets weighing .
  Cartridge dimensions
  The .30-06 Springfield cartridge case can hold 68.2 grains and has a volume of . The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt-action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions.
  .30-06 Springfield maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters.
  Americans define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 = 17.5 degrees. According to the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (C.I.P.) the common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 254 mm (1 in 10 in), 4 grooves, Ø lands = 7.62 mm (.30 in), Ø grooves = 7.82 mm (.308 in), land width = 4.49 mm (.1768 in) and the primer type is large rifle.
  According to the official C.I.P. guidelines, the .30-06 Springfield case can handle up to 405 MPa (58,740 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P.-regulated countries, every rifle cartridge combination has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers. The 8×64mm S is the closest European ballistic twin of the .30-06 Springfield.