250 gr 30-06 loads...what are they good for??

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saturno_v

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Reading the Hodgdon and others reloading manuals I came across a load for 30-06 with 250 gr bullet at ~2300 fps.

This bullet has an impossibly high sectional density and the load develops a respectable 2900 ft/lb.

What this load is good for??? What is its purpose and utility??

Your average 30-06 barrel twist rate can properly stabilize such bullet??
 
AFAIK some Alaskans use loads like this for big bears.

There's a load for .30-06 that does just about anything you can imagine. How well is a different question, but not everyone who needs a heavy round can afford a rifle for every day of the week and two for Sundays.
 
Heck if I know. Especially when you can push a 250 grain bullet to 2500-2600 fps in a 35 Whelen.
 
Its good for blowing a hole the size of a football in an animal, or shooting the loch ness monster.:D
 
big heavy bullets like that are typically used for hunting BIG, TOUGH and possibly DANGEROUS game at relitivly close ranges. moose, brown, griz, polar bear, etc. but, a bullet that heavy might require a 1 in 9 twist rate to stabilize. in which case, a standard 30-06 (1 n 10) isnt going to work well.
 
Just guessing, but that sort of bullet would fit in with what I read about long-range target shooting. Today's bullet technology is allowing pretty much as good a penetration in critters with a 180-grain bullet as the "good old daze" results with 200s or 220s.
 
the only 250 grain .308 bullet that i know of is no longer in production, it was a sierra matchking, now they make a 240gr matchking, but neither bullet is for hunting, there for long-range competition, i can think of no bullet over 220grains that is you hunting.
ken
 
My mistake...sorry...got confused!!!

I just edited my reply that didn't make sense.
 
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I really think a 30-06 would have trouble getting sufficient velocity with a 250 gr bullet.
It's better suited for a magnum cartidge.
 
1. Sometimes all a person has is a 30-06, so talking about other calibers and rifles is a moot point.

2. Sometimes there is the need to punch through heavy fur, muscle and thick bones. Penetration into vital organs is the goal, not a big hole.

3. #2 usually happens at very short range (50 yards or less) with the intended target coming at you between 30 to 40 mph. And this target thinks you are the target.

220 to 240 grain heavy jacketed round nose or flat nose bullets are still somewhat popular up here and in Africa.
 

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If a 30.06 was my only gun I think that 250 gr bullets would be nice to have while walking around in the alders. I've used 220's for that purpose because it was as big as I could find. Close work on bears would be the most practical use for a load like this. At least for me.
 

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250 grain bullets for the .30-06???

Big bullet...big animal. True, there are countless other rounds out there offering more ballistic performance but like one other poster stated...not everyone can afford nor necessarily wants to buy a heavier caliber rifle for one or two special occasions. I have a great deal of respect for the .30-06 and would not hesitate to use a heavy slug against a large animal if need be. I would however, respect the down range limitations of such a round and would not attempt shots longer than would be reasonable under whatever circumstances I encountered.
 
I really think a 30-06 would have trouble getting sufficient velocity with a 250 gr bullet.
It's better suited for a magnum cartidge.

Well, Hodgdon claims almost 2300 fps (24") for the best load in 250 gr. Not exactly too slow. And still 2900 ft/lb of energy.
 
Before Roy Weatherby convinced your grandfather that velocity was king, there were 330gr. bullets for .30-06 as well and shooters learned to estimate range. Impact velocity in the range of 2,000 fps, a flat meplat and high sectional density will drill a very deep hole in muscle and bone as many safari hunters will attest.
 
Depending upon bullet shape, the standard 1 in 10 twist WILL generally stabilize the 220 grainers - there are factory loads available with 220s even. These aren't particularly long-for-weight bullets, but are shaped more or less like "solids". My understanding is that they will do, penetration-wise, in UN-bonded form, the same thing a quality modern BONDED 180 will do, and do it cheaper, but at the expense of some trajectory.

But as for 240s & 250s, my understanding is that a faster twist is needed - 1 in 9 or better, depending upon bullet shape. These are more of a specialty bullet which will shine in something like a .300/.221 whisper, with a high twist rate, shot at subsonic velocities, where you need bullet mass and BC to make up for the puny velocity, for both external and terminal performance.

I have actually considered buying a *second* .30-06 rifle, in order to have this one long-barreled one specializing in 220s for stuff like hunting grizzleys or hunting other game in heavy grizz country (to maximize power/energy), and one short-barreled "standard" one for general use such as elk, with 180s. I like to have ONE load that I settle upon for each rifle, not change loads for different uses. A lot easier to change rifles than re-zero your optics for different loads out of the same rifle. But ultimately it made more sense to step up to .35 whelen / 9.3x62 range for the serious canada/alaska rifle instead of two specialized .30-06s, though the idea had some appeal due to ammo cheapness/availability. Oh, 2000-2200 fps is *plenty* o' velocity to kill stuff dead - the unbonded lead 220s will flatten readily at such "low-ish" speeds. 200 fps is more than I'd stand in front of for a 220 gr high-SD bullet. :eek:
 
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