30-06 bullets for deer

[blackbearaddict]

which is a better bullet suited for deer? Barnes triple shock X 165
Nosler partition 165
Nosler Accubond 165
or speer grand slam 165

 

[dakotasin]

hornady interlock and sierra gamekings do just fine.

really... it is a deer at 30-06 velocities - you won't need a premium. once you get to the upper reaches of 300 win mag velocities (3200 f/s or so w/ 165's) premium bullets are more viable.

to answer your question, though, of those choices i would go w/ whichever was most accurate in my gun.

 

[jkingrph]

Get some of the old Remington Cor lockt. Much less expensive and you can afford to practice more. The deer will not know the difference.

 

[stevelyn]

Super bullets aren't needed for deer since there isn't much to them.

Of all on your list, the Speer is probably perfect, but just about anything off the shelf in the 150 grain range that shoots accurately out of your rifle will work just as well.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Any cup-and-core bullet will do for deer. Premium bullets are for larger, tougher game, like elk and moose.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

What the others have said is true...but Barnes TSX, tipped TSX, and MRX bullets tend to be the most accurate hunting bullets around these days...Just watch the weight (length), some of the heaviest (per caliber) ones require faster twist rates than the ones commonly used.

 

[Deer Hunter]

All of them will work. It's your job to put them in the right spot.

 

[blackbearaddict]

the only reason im gonna use one of these is because im going bear huntin in the spring and i dont want to change everything and reload so core lokts arent an option where i get my stuff

 

[TexasRifleman]

Well if you want multi use bullets with potentially larger game, I have had great luck with the Nosler Partitions but I have been using the Hornady SST more lately. I tend to use heavier bullets lately too, 180gr.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

+1 for the Sierra Gamekings. I've love the 150gr. bullets because they work in .308, 30-06, and 7.62x54r.

 

[glockman19]

I hunt with Federal XXX Barnes 165 grain. Why?

I'm in California and can't hunt withlead in the "CA Condor area.

 

[Shawnee]

Since the 30/06 is about twice as much power as is needed for deer, virtually any factory ammo for it will be Ok... thus making reloading the 30/06 for deer pointless. In .30 caliber you are more likely to error on the side of getting a bullet that is built too tough for deer. I would suggest sticking to something in the 125gr. - 130gr. weights. The B.C. will stink but since you've chosen the .30 caliber that can't be helped without going to a bullet that is about 50% heavier than needed and really designed for much bigger game.

Some people like to use calibers and bullets like the 30/06 that are way too much for deer because they like to "have easy to follow blood trails". Other people like to use calibers and bullets that are designed for deer because they would rather find the deer dead right on the spot it was standing when they pulled the trigger rather than have to follow a blood trail.

Everybody gets to choose for themself.

Good Luck !

 

[rklessdriver]

I hunt pig, bear and white tail deer with my 30/06. I personally use Federal Premium 180gr Nosler Partition. It's dropped a few of each over the past couple of years and I honestly can't tell you about the projectile afterwards because I haven't recovered any. The animals were dead and had big exit holes in them thou... so i guess I'll rate it at 100%.

I could stand to do some more load development with my rifle but the factory Federal shoots just at 1 MOA @100yrds and I don't see the need for anything better considering the type of hunting and ranges I shoot at.

If the ranges were longer I would also pick a 165gr bullet over the 180gr I currently use. I would not be afraid to use any of the rounds you have listed for hunting black bear and white tail deer. They are all good rounds. Try a few of each and see what groups best in your rifle.
Will

 

[Ol` Joe]

A guy I worked with hunted black bear in Ontario every year for as long as I knew him. He swore by Speer 180 gr Mag Tips in his 308. He claimed they were the only bullet he used for all his hunting, bear, deer, moose.

The Old Grand Slam is gone and has been replaced with a bullet very similar to the old Mag Tip. The `06 and 308 are close in velocity and what works in one should do in the other.
I`d go with any 180 gr bullet, Hornady (I`ve used them in my `06 hunting deer, black bear, moose, and caribou but have only connected on deer and Boo with them), Speer, or Sierra and expect to be well armed for deer or black bear. The Nosler Partition is a excellent choice as it always expands very well and the rear core penitrates deep. They are the original "Premium" bullet and still one of the very best. If you wish spend big on bullets that`s the one I`d choose.

 

[Art Eatman]

Any of the questioned bullets oughta work for both deer and bear. The real question is which works best in any one particular rifle.

 

[45crittergitter]

I agree they'll all work fine if your rifle likes them. Me, I never found a premium bullet necessary for deer in the '06. I mostly used generic Core-Lokts, Hi-Shoks, or Ballistic Tips, all in 180 grain. All worked perfectly. Something to think about when pricing bullets.

 

[Sunray]

Any of 'em. The 165 is the best bullet weight for the .30-06. It'll kill any game you care to hunt. Your only decision is how much you want to pay for a deer bullet.

 

[cpttango30]

Nosler Partitions or Sierra Game Kings. would be my bet 150 to 165gr.

I didn't know it at the time but I had some 180gr Nosler Partitions that were from Noslers first run where he was using solid copper rod and turrning each bullet ona lather. I loaded them and shot rocks with them. Says DOAH in a Homer Simpson voice and smacks himself on the head. It was a box of 100 full and in perfect condition tape seal was still there too.

 

[Frog48]

Any soft-point will work, no need for anything fancy.

 

[pbrktrt]

for whitetail i've found the Hornady SST to be the best combination of accuracy, expansion, & penetration. they drop them right there if you do your part.

 

[W.E.G.]

Last deer I shot with a 30-06 using Remington Cork-Lokt got a hole in the heart big enough to drop a roll of quarters through. I'm pretty sure Mr. Deer suffered 50% blood loss in about 5 seconds. It was a 150-grain bullet.

 

[sarduy]

The 165 is the best bullet weight for the .30-06.

not really,

it's about what the rifle like best, i got better groups with 150gr than 165gr and even better with 180gr, as for deer...just get Remington Core-Lock "power Point or Pointed Soft Point"

 

[juk]

165 sierra gameking hollow points produce incredible destruction to deer at -06 velocities.

 

[Heavishot]

I think you can never go wrong with Barnes bullets. That X mushroom really delivers a punch. Many hunting authors report the X bullet seeming to hit like a larger caliber. Core-locs will kill 'em just as dead but I like to know I'm using the most efficient round I can.

 

[Regolith]

165 sierra gameking hollow points produce incredible destruction to deer at -06 velocities.

I'm not too sure "destruction" is what you're going for. You want the bullet to kill the deer quickly, not turn it into hamburger.

I just use CoreLokts. The last mule deer I shot with one was DRT, though I was using 150gr. .280 rem. instead of 165 gr. .30-06.