30-06 bullets for deer

[JShirley]

Shawnee, you say reloading for the '06 is "pointless", and then you say

I would suggest sticking to something in the 125gr. - 130gr. weights

.

Okay...I know there is a Remington 125-grain SP and a 125 Winchester, but the vast majority of factory ammunition is loaded with heavier grained bullets. Reading between the lines of your post seems to suggest you prefer a bullet that explosively fragments in a deer. You appear to contradict yourself by saying something about ammunition that's too much for the job while suggesting using the most destructive (at close range) ammunition possible.

I wouldn't go lighter than 150 grains with an '06, unless using a premium bullet. An inexpensive 125 grain SP doing over 3100 fps is not what I want to use on any deer unless I'm expecting to hit them at 100 meters or further away. Any of the bullets the OP mentioned will work fine on deer or black bear.

John

 

[Nate C.]

I'd spend a little money and sample various brands/weights. See what your specific rifle seems to shoot the best group with.

And then use that.

 

[Matt304]

Non of those choices will work well enough for deer with a 30-06, actually. You need to find the 179 grain, C4-containing, .30 caliber electronic-fuse-initiated shaped-charge projectiles. I heard that nothing will stop a deer more quickly than two of them fired at the deer in rapid succession; one being fired at the front shoulders and another at the butt to ensure the rear stays down. And if you only manage to make one of the shots, the advertised blood tracking ability makes them well worth the $102 price per bullet.