Elk bullet suggestions

[loneguitar]

I'll be taking my first elk hunt this year, and I will be carrying my .30-06. I know I need a 180 grain bullet. What i have been looking at buying is the new Hornady Light Mag ammo. Is there going to be a substantial improvement over a regular 180 grain. anybody who has experience with the .30-06 and elk feel free to chime in.

 

[Chuck Dye]

My '06 turns in its best groups with the Federal High Energy 180gr Nosler Partition load and the Hornady Light Magnum 180gr load. According to ballistics programs, both are ±3" to 286 yards, farther than I am likely to shoot, which sure helps with my less than sniper quality range estimation skills. I would test both and be happy with either that provides sufficient accuracy. I think that shot placement, which is easier with tighter groups and flatter trajectories, will far out weigh bullet choice (within the high end 180 grainers.)

As to actual on-elk performance, I have yet to gather any personal data but doubt that, among the major manufacturers' 180 grainers, the elk will ever know the difference.

 

[dakotasin]

you should buy about 4-5 different types of 180 grain loadings and choose the one your rifle is most accurate with.

if, by some stroke of luck, you also find some loads that feature 200 - 220 grain bullets, might as well try a couple of those.

i have not shot factory loads in any serious rifle of mine for years, but i do recall in a couple of guns they either shot the light mags well or they shot the custom well, but rarely did they shoot both well.

i can tell you, though, that chronographing many of the manufactured loads, hornadys loads run very, very close to 'as-advertised', and the federal loads were, quite simply, false. however, if a federal load shot well in my rifle, i would still use it, but i most definitely would not rely on a generated ballistic chart (which you shouldn't do, anyway). zero your rifle at 200 or 250 yards, and practice and you will be golden.

for my picks on factory ammo to look for: hornady (both custom and light/heavy mag), federal (premium and standard), winchester (supreme and super-x). from there, you will find one that you and your rifle just love.

also, since this is an -06 and you will be heaving 180's (or more) do not feel compelled to use partitions or barnes bullets or the like (unless they happen to shoot better than the standard fare - which is quite unlikely). game kings, pro-hunters, and interlocks have a fantastic rep for shooting well, and i can tell you they will put a whoopin' on whatever needs it - and they are relatively inexpensive.

best of luck to ya - i'll be chasing elk this fall and can't wait, either!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My '06 turns in its best groups with the Federal High Energy 180gr Nosler Partition load

That's a hard-to-beat combination, accuracy and the Nosler Partition Jacket.

 

[Water-Man]

You should also test Black Hills ammo

 

[skinewmexico]

I'd try some Swift A-frames.

 

[HankB]

I'm a believer in good bullets - I like the 180 Nosler Partition in my .30/06.

I invariably shoot handloads, but after haven taken many deer, as well as large African plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, kudu, and gemsbok with my '06, I'd have no hesitation about using it for elk.

My load recipe is:

Bullet: Nosler 180 spire point partition
Case: Winchester, once fired
Powder: 61.0 grains ReLoder 22 (Max in Nosler's manual, 1 under max in Speer's)
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle

My rifle has a "slow" barrel but this load still clocks at around 2750 out of my Model 70's 22" tube.

If the Federal HE load shoots well in your rifle, I'd suggest using it.

 

[Art Eatman]

I had some emailing with a guy in Australia who claimed that the Federal Premium High Energy 165-grain loads did indeed match the claim of 3,150 ft/sec from a 26" barrel. I found these loads to be sub-moa in my rifle.

It might have been a barrel-length issue, but I have read claims that the Hornady ammo doesn't meet the claimed velocities. But, no first-hand knowledge.

I got extreme accuracy with the Sierra 180-grain SPBT and 54.0 grains of H414. Justin used my rifle with that load to kill an elk, this last season.

FWIW, Art

 

[Chuck Dye]

When I settled on the Hornady Light Magnum and the Federal HE loads, I sighted in at 100 yards, then shot groups at 200 and 300 yards. While I did not break out the calipers and plot each bullet hole against point of aim or plug data into any statistical program, I am satisfied that the real world trajectory matches the printout well enough that the critters will never know the difference. Think of the process as a field expedient chronograph. (I was going to write "poor man's chronograph" but remembered what I spend on the ammo )

Though I have not shot at elk yet, the Partition has been fine on deer and jack rabbits, and I have no reason to doubt that the Hornady works well, too.

 

[Harve Curry]

Constructed bullets like the Barnes, Nosler, Swift, others pay dividends. They can make the difference between a stopped elk and a wounded got away elk. But I don't always listen to myself either.
, Bill Weddle