Question about 30-06 bullet weight and accuracy.

[texgunner]

Which bullet weights give you all the best accuracy out of your 30-06 rifles.

I just bought a Remington 700 SPS in this caliber along with a boxes of 150, 165 and 180 grain bullets. I want to see what shoots best in my new rifle and I'm curious what others are getting. Right now the rifle is topped with a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 that was taking up space in my gun safe but will eventually get a Nikon Monarch or a Leupold.

 

[bullzeye8]

I don't have a 30-06 so I can't help u out on that specifically but what bullet weight it eat Will depend on the twist rate of the barrel a faster twist will work better with heavier bullets and a slower twist is better with lighter bullets so if u give us the twist rate of ur barrel we could help u out a bit more

 

[dprice3844444]

try each one to see.each rifle is different as to what it likes.try 168,155 gr also

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Mine does equally well with 165, 168, 175, and 180 grain bullets...have some 200 grain AB's too, but haven't shot any yet.

 

[Legionnaire]

I have done zero load development for my Remington 700 BDL. However, I have tried Remington CoreLokts in each of the three weights you have listed, and the 165s shoot consistently better groups.

 

[rcmodel]

so if u give us the twist rate of ur barrel we could help u out a bit more

He already said he has a Remington 30-06.

So it has a 1-10 twist, just like all 30-06 factory rifles have had since 1903.

It will shoot any bullet weight from 100 grain to 220 grain just fine.

Which factory load the OP's rifle will shoot best is much more a matter of the factory load quality then what bullet weight is.

And the only way for him to find out is to test each one in HIS rifle.
Nobody else's rifle will be exactly the same as his.

Rc

 

[browningguy]

None of the above, I've got a couple of different '06's and all like something a little different, I will say none of my 3 like the 165 gr. bullets I have tried at all, and come to think about it my .300 Winny doesn't like those either.

My HK SLB2000 loves the 150 gr. SST, shoots like you can't believe, and does fair with the 180 gr. SST. My Sako AIII seems to have a preference for 180 gr. SST's, although it shoots the 150's ok. My BAR will only shoot 150's decently, anything heavier is all over the place.

So it all depends on the individual rifle and what it likes in particular. I have found though that most of them seem at least acceptable with 150 gr. SST's, I've tried them in a couple of other rifles also, you may find a load that is a little better in a particular rifle but none I have tried shot them poorly.

 

[Leth]

My Remington 760 30-06 loves 150gn, but that's about it. It's amazing how much it *doesn't* like anything else.

 

[Skylerbone]

I've been satisfied with the performance of 180s from both my 700 and Model 70. I don't shoot much factory ammo, maybe 4 boxes in 23 years but I did work up a few loads with 165s which shot well too.

Best factory load I've tried was Federal Premium, next best was Winchester PowerMax, both 180 gr. I agre with all above that individual testing is the best method for determining what yours will like.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have several rifles in 30-06 and they all shoot well with bullets from 150gr to 180gr but I prefer a 165/168gr bullet in the 30-06. I feel it's the best compromise between weight and velocity and it works well for me.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

165gr. are more accurate for me than 180's but it is a mere fraction. If a hunter it will be academic. If a long range shooter / hunter it may come into play when you get it out there, I said may not will.

Sierra's are the most accurate general purpose bullet I have shot. I hunt Accubond,s which are a shade less accurate than the Sierra's.

 

[Dr.Rob]

165 gr.. but each rifle is different, each load from each mfg is slightly different.

 

[readyeddy]

SGK #2160 gives me best accuracy.

 

[texgunner]

Gentlemen, thanks for the replies, they've been informative. I forgot to mention in my OP that I will be reloading for this rifle. I don't have 30-06 dies yet which is why I bought factory ammo for initial testing.

 

[Cee Zee]

As others have said, every rifle is different. My 30.06 likes 165 gr. ammo for accuracy. But for the job I want it to do most often I put 220 gr. bullets in it. I use it for a bear stopper or I sometimes take it to protect against those critters. They haven't been a real problem "yet" and I don't expect it but I want to be prepared if something does happen.

 

[CApighunter]

My Remington 700 in -06 likes 180 grain, especially Winchester power point. Shoots about .8 MOA out to 300 yards. Haven't stretched it further than that, but it's plenty accurate for me. I'm interested in seeing what handloads might do.

 

[Gtscotty]

165's have been most accurate for me in a few different 30-06's, specifically the SGK and SST variety's.

 

[Ks5shooter]

165 Nosler BT

 

[TRX]

The US Army started off with 1:10 in the Springfield. By the 1960s, commercial '06 rifles were as slow as 1:14.

Hatcher mentioned that they traced a batch of "more accurate than normal" rifles back to a rifling machine setup error at the arsenal, which was cutting barrels at a slightly slower twist; 11.5 if I remember right.

 

[richie]

Sierra 167 grn. Matchking.

 

[Float Pilot]

I currently have five rifles chambered in 30-06. They all like something different.