30-06 loads for Elk

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Thanks for all the help. I am going to have to hit the reloading bench to brew up some loads. I am going to try both 165 and 180 grain bullets and narrow it from there. It doesn't look like I can go wrong with either weight.
 
I have killed a several elk with a 180 gr Barnes TSX under a max load of H4350 or RE-22 for a velocity of around 2750 FPS. I've been very happy with the results. I hit a big cow a little forward at 233 yards and the bullet broke both shoulders and exited. You really can't ask for more than that from a .30-06 load.

I think your 165 would give similar results. To me the extra 80 to 100 FPS you get out of the 165 simply doesn't offer enough extra velocity for me to bother with it as I am sighted in for the 180's and know exactly where they hit out to 500 yards.
 
220s are great for deep penatration. Mabey a tad excessive for elk, but me persoanly I like a little excess :) 240gr Weldcores are even better, they are taylor made for the 30-06 at 2400 fps within 200 yards. Way excessive for elk but suitable penatration for brown bear, bison, and moose, which some would argue are beyond the .30 cal limitations but that depends on who you ask.
 
I haven't found any .30-06's that have the twist rate to accurately shoot 240 gr bullets.
 
^^^ Yeah, from all I've read 220gr is fine with typical velocities through typical .30-06 1:10 twist barrels. But 240gr is just outside the range of being stabilized and 230gr is at the upper limit. That stated, I'm sure "some" rifles can accomplish it at limited range using RN bullets with flat bases.
 
Supposedly the standard 1:10 twist will stabalize those monster 240s, I am not speaking form experence here but I have read many a review for them without anyone griping about bad accuracy. I was kinna supprized too.
 
Speaking from experience I can't get 240 gr bullets to shoot out of a 1 in 10 twist. In fact a lot of 220 grain solids won't either especially if they are monolithic as they are to long for the twist rate. I loaded up a batch of 220 gr solids for an Africa trip once upon a time and they were key holing at 25 yards.

With 240 gr Barnes originals I wasn't getting any key holing but I was not getting very good accuracy out of three different .30-06s. 220 gr Noslers however and Remington SPs did great.
 
No Fedral also loads a 220 gr. Or did a few years ago anyway. Like I said I don't have any experence with 240 Weldcores, but everyone (say one) was bragging about their accuracy. Not everyone mentioned their twist rate, but you would be hard pressed to find a stock 06 that was not a 1:10 twist. Several of the 300 Win mag guys also claimed to stabalize them, though at much higher speeds, around 2750fps. (yes that makes a difference) Please also remember that not all rifles stabalize the same, some do a little better then others with the same twist rate, I have yet to find a detailed explanation for this, but I have always assumed it had somthing to do with barrel ridigity, and smoothness of the rifleing since those factors can create an initial vibration. Please correct me if you have a better explanation for that.
I suppose the only way I could tell you for sure is to load up a batch when I get my new 06, I am keeping my eyes open for a new Winchester 70 Sporter. I am a Tikka guy but that is a sexy rifle :)
 
Kachok said:
No Fedral also loads a 220 gr. Or did a few years ago anyway. Like I said I don't have any experence with 240 Weldcores, but everyone (say one) was bragging about their accuracy. Not everyone mentioned their twist rate, but you would be hard pressed to find a stock 06 that was not a 1:10 twist. Several of the 300 Win mag guys also claimed to stabalize them, though at much higher speeds, around 2750fps. (yes that makes a difference) Please also remember that not all rifles stabalize the same, some do a little better then others with the same twist rate, I have yet to find a detailed explanation for this, but I have always assumed it had somthing to do with barrel ridigity, and smoothness of the rifleing since those factors can create an initial vibration. Please correct me if you have a better explanation for that.
I suppose the only way I could tell you for sure is to load up a batch when I get my new 06, I am keeping my eyes open for a new Winchester 70 Sporter. I am a Tikka guy but that is a sexy rifle :)
Click to expand...
I have a Beretta Tiki 3 and have used 125 grain to 220 grain and on paper at 100 yards they all hit the bullseye. Can't tell he difference in accuracy or recoil.
 
Yeah I have a T3 in 6.5x55 that is a dream rifle. Zilch for recoil, DEADLY ACCURATE with every single load I have tried. Nothing has made it more then a few feet after being hit (120gr BTs, and 140gr SSTs) I am in love with that gun. That said ever since childhood I have had a love affair with Mauser actions. My Grandfather was a hardcore collector 300+ firearms no kidding! Every major battle rifle used by every nation from the late 1800s until Vietnam (except for a few full autos). He got me hooked on Mausers and the 6.5x55, 7x57 amongst others. I want a modern Mauser and the new Model 70 seems to be the top of that short list, though I woud not turn my nose up at a good deal on a CZ or Ruger.
 
I have shot over 30 elk with several different calibers. When using the 30-06 I used 150 and 180 gr CoreLokts and didn't experience any problems. We normally use a high shoulder shot disabling the CNS which will drop the elk where it stands. The areas we hunt normally gives us shots at elk at under 75 yards. It is relatively easy to get good shot placement at that range.
 
Smokey in PHX said:
I have shot over 30 elk with several different calibers. When using the 30-06 I used 150 and 180 gr CoreLokts and didn't experience any problems. We normally use a high shoulder shot disabling the CNS which will drop the elk where it stands. The areas we hunt normally gives us shots at elk at under 75 yards. It is relatively easy to get good shot placement at that range.
Click to expand...
That is the brand Remington Coreloks in 220 grain bullets
 
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