180 Grain for deer and black bear?

[30-06 lover]

Well another question...I have decided to use my 30-06 vs my 308 this year to hunt with, but all of my rounds for the gun are 180 grain Accubonds loaded by Federal. The gun shoots the round wicked good, but I am worried the the heavy round will blow right through the deer or bear without opening up resulting in a wounded or running animal. I have read that I should use 150 for bear and maybe even lighter than that for deer, so I worried I would be pushing too much bullet. Should I use my Federal 180 grain Accubond load for deer and bear, or go buy some 150 grain interbonds? Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[one-shot-one]

i might get corrected on this but....

that load should do fine unless your target is extreamly far off.
apples and oranges but shot a doe at less than 80 yards with winchester 300wsm and 180 grain sliver tips, worked well.

 

[scooterthegreat]

I have a 300WSM. I initially bought the gun and sighted it in with 180 grain for Moose and Caribou - turned out to be such a nice gun and how many trips like that is one going to take... That and quite a few people gave me ammo for Christmas cause it was so darned expensive. I think I have enough to last at least another 6 gun deer seasons including sight in...

Anyway - Where I deer hunt I may have a very close shot or be reaching out to 200 yards. Yeah, it's a bit big, but I certainly haven't had to track anything.

I don't bear hunt around here, but was told that would be great to bring to Canada when I go back for bear.

 

[critter]

It is a good bullet. You evidently have confidence in both your and your gun's ability to shoot it well. 'Nuff said. Use it-you won't be let down. Good luck.

 

[BIGR]

All I use in my 06's are the 180 gr. bullet. I hunt in heavy brush and most shots on deer have been 80 yards or less. The 180 has performed well for me.

 

[RyanM]

Unless you accidentally use a 7.62x25mm Tokarev instead of .30-06, 180 gr bullets will open up fine. If anything, 180 gr bullets are probably designed to open up over a wider velocity range than the lighter bullets.

 

[Art Eatman]

For deer, my whole family has used some brand of 150-grain bullet in an '06--going back to WW II. Hornady Spire Point, Remington Bronze Point, Sierra SPs in both flat base and boat tail. They all work, from up close to way out yonder.

For bear, I'd guesstimate a 180, just because of what I've read about heavier bone structure to break down. However, I wouldn't really worry with a 150.

I don't think I'd worry much about the Accubond, either. As long as you place the shot righteously, it'll most likely ruin Bambi's day...

, Art

 

[Lennyjoe]

The gun shoots the round wicked good

If the gun shoots this round as wicked good as you say it does then there's no reason to quit using it. That's half the battle. If you put that bullet where it needs to go you will have no problems filling your tag.

As a side note, I use a 165gr Sierra Gameking over 57.5gr of IMR 4350 out of my Savage 110 30-06 and it shoots it wicked good too. For bear and Elk I'm moving up to the 180 gr bullet of some sort. Haven't started working up a load for it yet but will in the next month.

 

[Art Eatman]

I"m having no trouble with 180-grain SPBT GameKings for one MOA out to 500 yards. I use 4064, but 4350 oughta do just as well...

Art

 

[H&Hhunter]

The Accubond like all polyemer tipped bullets is a rapid expansion type bullet. They open wicked fast and will do so on deer in any weight bullet. Plowing through would be the last of my worries with this bullet.

Beside the fact that if a bullet "plows" through it usually has to get through all that pesky heart and lung tissue before it exits. That is a good thing and if the bullet was not well placed an exit wound is a better blood trail producer than a one sided wound.

The accubond should be considered a very good deer bullet.

 

[Starter52]

"Shoots the round wicked good" ?

Mike, you're not a transplanted New Englander by any chance?

 

[T.R.]

I've been hunting big game with .308 since the early 1970's. 150 grain bullets will drop most deer and antelope in their tracks with a broadside shot that destroys both lungs. 180 grain pointed bullets open up slower and form a narrower wound channel. A fine choice for heavy built animals such as wild boar, elk, moose, zebra, etc. In contrast, the old-fashioned round nose 180 grain bullets open up fast like a 150 but have the weight and momentum to break heavy elk/moose bones without any fuss at all. This may be the best choice for your deer and bear hunts.

Good hunting to you.
TR

 

[birddog]

I've used .30-06, 180 grain (usually Remington Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Points) for two bears, and I don't know how many deer. Dozens, for sure. Never had one get away. It's an excellent choice.