Interested to see what you folks find the best round for deer (gr. wt.) at 100 yds or more. I've shot 150 gr. projectile with relativley good sucess. I've also shot 180 gr. which I've found fair... Thinking about 165 gr. ........what's your favorite?
30.06 owners :best projectile for deer ?
- Thread starter Ed/Pa
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Snapping Twig
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I like the 165g best too.
Seems the military likes it for long range as well.
Seems the military likes it for long range as well.
Rosco-Pico
Member
I have dropped many deer (Black-Tail and Mulies) with the 150gr Rem Core-Lokt. Nothing special, but it does the trick.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The 165 - 168 range is the ultimate bullet weight for the 30-06 if you look at downrange trajectory & energy figures.
rcmodel
rcmodel
John4me05
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I use Hornady 180gr BTSPs in my handloads... Verrrrry accurate and devastating... Not much body damage unless you hit a shoulder
jimmyraythomason
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For whitetail deer,Winchester 150gr Silvertips or Remington 150gr Core-lokts. Also like 165gr Hornady. 180 and 220 grainers are better for thicker skinned game like elk,moose or larger bears.
mljdeckard
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+1 165 Hornady
HM2PAC
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Hornady 180gr BTSP.
lonewolf5347
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http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a380/lonewolf5347/30-06target001.jpg
II use the hornady 165 grain SP for more then 42 years and never lost a deer out to 300 yards from my A3-03 Springfield.
I did switch this years only because hornady prices are skyrocketing
the above group from a H@R Handi at the 100 yard target from the bench 165Remington core-lock bullets using 4350 on the load end of the chart.
My other favorite load is IMR 3031 44.5 grains
II use the hornady 165 grain SP for more then 42 years and never lost a deer out to 300 yards from my A3-03 Springfield.
I did switch this years only because hornady prices are skyrocketing
the above group from a H@R Handi at the 100 yard target from the bench 165Remington core-lock bullets using 4350 on the load end of the chart.
My other favorite load is IMR 3031 44.5 grains
jpwilly
Member
Federal Power Shok 150gr work very well too...but for a little more doe or bucks, if you will, (pun intended) you can get the Premium VITAL-SHOK ammo and choose between the Nosler AccuBond, Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX Bullet, Sierra GameKing BTSP, Nosler Ballistic Tip, and Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. That's one heck of a line up for non reloaders!
Smokey Joe
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Consensus seems to be...
165 grain weight bullet. My own preference is the Nosler Ballistic Tip in this weight for .30 caliber. That seems to be the ideal weight.
Second place goes to the 150 grain projectile--there are a lot of very successful deer hunters who favor that weight.
180 and 200 grainers are heavier than you need for deer.
165 grain weight bullet. My own preference is the Nosler Ballistic Tip in this weight for .30 caliber. That seems to be the ideal weight.
Second place goes to the 150 grain projectile--there are a lot of very successful deer hunters who favor that weight.
180 and 200 grainers are heavier than you need for deer.
Years ago I began reloading for my 30-06 and other family members in '06 and 308. I choose 150 grain bullets for a couple of reasons. Recommendation's on a older wiser hunter, and I figured 150 would be the best in a .308 and fine in a '06. I picked Core-lokts because of great bulk prices, results hunting, and they are a much better bullet than many guys seem to think.
Maybe 100 deer elk and antelope kills later it apperars to have been a good choice. I feel sure none of the critters shot would have been able to tell if my bullets would have been 165 or maybe even 180 or any quality huntig bullet. Bottom line is all were shot dead just fine using 150 Core-Lokt's, I still have a few hundred, so I am not about to change any time soon.
Any of the above weights are just fine if you use a bullet constructed for game hunting and your shot hits the animal where it should.
Maybe 100 deer elk and antelope kills later it apperars to have been a good choice. I feel sure none of the critters shot would have been able to tell if my bullets would have been 165 or maybe even 180 or any quality huntig bullet. Bottom line is all were shot dead just fine using 150 Core-Lokt's, I still have a few hundred, so I am not about to change any time soon.
Any of the above weights are just fine if you use a bullet constructed for game hunting and your shot hits the animal where it should.
30-06 lover
Member
I like 180 partitions for my do it all load, but for just deer, Federal Fusion 150 or 165 bullet is great.
Remington core-lokt
For 30/06 I like the plain jane reliability of the 150 grain Remington core-lokt out to 150 yards on whitetails.
Considering that almost all of my whitetail hunts occur at under 150 yards, (many at half that distance or below) the core-lokt gets the job done. If I were doing longer shots I would very likely switch to Hornady loads
I also like the various core-lokt loads for my 270 and 280 as well.
I have not tried the 180 grain core-lokt in my 30/06 yet, but the 180 grain is simply devastating on whitetails in both 303 british and 30/40 krag.
I would without question use the 180 grain core-lokt factory loads in my 7.7Jap and 7.65 Mauser if Remington made them, although the Hornady load I currently use is likely superior in some ways.
For 30/06 I like the plain jane reliability of the 150 grain Remington core-lokt out to 150 yards on whitetails.
Considering that almost all of my whitetail hunts occur at under 150 yards, (many at half that distance or below) the core-lokt gets the job done. If I were doing longer shots I would very likely switch to Hornady loads
I also like the various core-lokt loads for my 270 and 280 as well.
I have not tried the 180 grain core-lokt in my 30/06 yet, but the 180 grain is simply devastating on whitetails in both 303 british and 30/40 krag.
I would without question use the 180 grain core-lokt factory loads in my 7.7Jap and 7.65 Mauser if Remington made them, although the Hornady load I currently use is likely superior in some ways.
Dan360
Member
Out to 400 yards, the difference in trajectory between the 150 and 165 bullet weights isn't really enough to nitpick over. It takes a stiff charge to get a 180 to shoot that flat, but its possible as Federal High-Energy with 180 gr bullets will shoot as flat as standard 150 gr loads. 165 and 180 gr bullets don't drift as much in the wind, but out to 400 yards, its not really enough to worry about. I know I can't hold within an inch or two at 400 yards in the field. Good thing a deer has a 10 inch vital zone, right?
With a 30-06 at ranges from 0 to 400 yards, the biggest issue will be bullet expansion. You want something that will hold together at close range. You will also want something that will still expand at longer distances. The Nosler Ballistic Tip is my favorite on deer because I don't care about saving rib meat. I want rapid expansion with lots of damage to the vitals. I hunt in an area where shots within 100 yards are rare. Because most of my shots take place between the 200 and 400 yard line, I want something thin jacketed that will open up at those ranges. The Ballistic Tip opens up nice at those ranges. I like the 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at around 2900 to 2950 FPS out of my M70 with 24 inch barrel. Bucks wind very well, only drops about 18 inches at the 400 yard line.
With a 30-06 at ranges from 0 to 400 yards, the biggest issue will be bullet expansion. You want something that will hold together at close range. You will also want something that will still expand at longer distances. The Nosler Ballistic Tip is my favorite on deer because I don't care about saving rib meat. I want rapid expansion with lots of damage to the vitals. I hunt in an area where shots within 100 yards are rare. Because most of my shots take place between the 200 and 400 yard line, I want something thin jacketed that will open up at those ranges. The Ballistic Tip opens up nice at those ranges. I like the 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at around 2900 to 2950 FPS out of my M70 with 24 inch barrel. Bucks wind very well, only drops about 18 inches at the 400 yard line.
Ed/Pa;
I roll my own, for several different rifles. I've settled on one load for the .30-06. It uses 150 grain bullets, over 59 grains of IMR4350. That gives me a very good load for all the lighter game animals I hunt at anything approaching a reasonable range. Given the right shot, I wouldn't hesitate to take an elk with it either.
900F
I roll my own, for several different rifles. I've settled on one load for the .30-06. It uses 150 grain bullets, over 59 grains of IMR4350. That gives me a very good load for all the lighter game animals I hunt at anything approaching a reasonable range. Given the right shot, I wouldn't hesitate to take an elk with it either.
900F
scbair
Member
I load my own, too. I find the 165 grainers measurably more accurate than 150 grainers, out of my Ruger M77. I haven't tried 180 grainers, but have been told the 165 - 168 grainers are optimal for stabilization from most .30-06 rifles (rate of twist seems geared for this weight).
I have a good stock of Sierra 165 gr. Game Kings, and deeloped a load that's just a shade under maximum, per my manuals. Accuracy is superb (MOA or less, if I do my part, from a light-barreled sporter). Plenty of power for whitetails at 200 yards, anyway.
I have a good stock of Sierra 165 gr. Game Kings, and deeloped a load that's just a shade under maximum, per my manuals. Accuracy is superb (MOA or less, if I do my part, from a light-barreled sporter). Plenty of power for whitetails at 200 yards, anyway.
Oohrah
Member
I have been using 180 grain Sierras for a good many years with
successful one shot kills. Kind of going to look at 165 grains as the
deer in my area are on the small sized. Accuracy counts more than
bullet weight. A well placed round that holds together pretty well keeps
the story short
successful one shot kills. Kind of going to look at 165 grains as the
deer in my area are on the small sized. Accuracy counts more than
bullet weight. A well placed round that holds together pretty well keeps
the story short
Vern Humphrey
Member
Just about any 150-grain bullet will do for deer. The 165 offers the best ballistic balance in the .30-06, and conventionally 180-grain bullets offer deeper penetration on large game (elk, for example.)
But Barnes has just brought out the Tipped TSX, which seems to be a major step forward. I've seen at least one article where the 130-grain TTSX was used on African game like wildebeast -- and exited!! That's stunning performance for such a light bullet.
From the .30-06, the 130-grain bullet can be driven to 3200 fps. It ain't your grandpa's .30-06 anymore!
But Barnes has just brought out the Tipped TSX, which seems to be a major step forward. I've seen at least one article where the 130-grain TTSX was used on African game like wildebeast -- and exited!! That's stunning performance for such a light bullet.
From the .30-06, the 130-grain bullet can be driven to 3200 fps. It ain't your grandpa's .30-06 anymore!
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
+1 for 165's. Here in the Adirondacks some bucks go 200+ and I'de want 165. Hornady's 165 sp has been good for me in a .308 Winchester.
Rokman
Member
I like the 165 grain class. I am currently shooting 168 gr. Winchester ballistic tips. My gun shoots this grain bullet really well and the ballistic tips haven't failed me yet.
Stover954rr
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180 gr winchester super-x
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