So which ammo should I get?

[hometheaterman]

For some reason the Federal Fusion 150 grain 30-06 is the most accurate ammo I've tried in my rifle. I don't get good groups from my rifle anyway but I seem to be able to get around 2" groups with it. The next best is around 2.5"-3" groups from Federal Power Shok ammo. This is at 100 yards with a Browning BAR.

Anyway, so now that I see Federal offers a $5 rebate if you buy two boxes I was thinking of picking up 2 boxes since I was low. Now here is what I'm wondering. Should I get two boxes of the 150 grain since I've tried it and know how it shoots or should I try the 150 grain?

Basically quite a few of the bullets I've tried when comparing accuracy have been 150 grain bullets. The only ones that haven't have been Core Lokts which were 165 grain and I may have tried 165 grain Winchester Soft Points. Not sure if I shot them at a target or not.

So should I try the 165 grain or just stick with the 150? On average is there usually much of a difference? Anyone with this particular ammo tried both? I hate to spend $55 on ammo just to try it out. Or even $30 for one box.

 

[Smith357]

I would get a starter press and a set of dies start loading my own. I can reload 100 .30-'06 rounds for 50 bucks and tune them to my rifle for best accuracy. I have a Winchester M70 that was throwing 2-3 inch patterns with full power factory ammo, I found that if I turned the velocity down a notch to about 25-2600 fps it groups right around 1 MOA with both 150 and 165 grain bullets.

 

[hometheaterman]

I've actually been considering that but for right now I think I just want to pick up a couple of boxes of ammo to hunt with. I don't want to have to worry with finding the right load if I start reloading this close to hunting season.

 

[Broken11b]

well, unfortunatly you are going to have to spent the money if you want to see what groups the tightest in your rifle, my spr eats Black Hills 168 moly coated BT and gets great groups at 500 yards, but it i want great groups at 700+ i need to switch over to Federal gold medal 175 BTMK, but it hates hornady tap and will give me horrible groups with it.
theres really no way for anyone to help, other than recomend that you try many different ammo types, just buy a few boxes of different manufacturers and see what gives you the best groups.
I could say go with federal gold medal, it is a great round, but your rifle might not like it, no way to know other than experimenting

 

[hometheaterman]

The most expensive ammo I've tried has been the Winchester Ballistic Silvertips but they also shot the worst in the gun. The rest of the kinds have been soft points or regular silvertips other than the Fusions.

 

[A-FIXER]

hometheaterman, in your post you say you don't get good groups how do you do with a .22 are they better or maybe are you flinching while shooting the .06 just wondering to maybe get the less expensive ones and a 2 moa is still a kill shot within a normal kill zone save some cash and try shooting yourself a .22 just to calm down a bit it helps me out on my greater felt recoil cals I shoot.

 

[hometheaterman]

Well, my groups with the .22 are a lot better but I also don't shoot at near the distances. I usually shoot around 36 yards with the .22 across the yard. I also like the 9x power at that range so as you can guess it's not nearly magnified like that at 100 yards. I also had a friend shoot my rifle at 100 yards but that was when I was trying to use Winchester ballistic tips with grouped about a 8-10" group. He couldn't get it to do much either. That's when I started searching for a ammo it liked.

Here is my group with the Federal Fusions


As you can see they aren't good.

This is the kind of group I get with my .22


Granted that's a lot closer however I'm also shooting off a deck rail and firing a lot quicker. Not shooting off sandbags and taking my time waiting for the barrel to cool and shooting one shot at a time.

Now here is the group I shot with my muzzle loader at 100 yards. Same spot I'm shooting the Browning rifle.



Now as you can see it might not be the best group in the world but it's decent. BTW the one of the far left was when the scope was off. I adjusted it and shot the middle 3 next.

Seeing as how I can shoot groups like that with my muzzle loader makes me think it's not fully me with the rifle.

 

[A-FIXER]

Hmmmm..... yes I see you do well and just maybe the cheek weld is differ on you rifle than on your black powder shots just maybe its a comfort level doe's your friend have a different rifle in same cal if so try the least productive ammo you shot if you have any left over and try his rifle if you do good maybe it the rifle you have and maybe need to trade to a different mfg and your result maybe just as you would like...

 

[dakotasin]

it is too late in the year now to be switching horses for most hunters. stick w/ what you know (150's) and make the switch later this winter or next year or whatever...

 

[hometheaterman]

Kind of what I was thinking. Although, I do have time to switch and try new loads I'd rather not waste the money on it since these shoot good enough to hunt with. It's also cutting it close so time wise but I have a few weeks.

 

[ms6852]

Stick with what you already know your rifle likes. Every rifle will be different because of the harmonics in the barrel. Also as Smith357 suggested if you reload a lot of accuracy can be gained from a slower bullet than a faster speed due to less wind drag or resistance.

 

[TEDDY]

30/06

I reload lead bullets,and use a 1903[1914]it gives one inch groups at 100 yds.
and vel is 1680 with 170 gr bullet.it will kill a deer at 100 yds.