Whats yours???

[30-06 lover]

I am wondering what you 30-06 guys like to shoot bullet/brand wise. As of late, my 30-06 has been shooting Federal's 180 grain Accubond load really well. I plan on using this load for deer, black bear, and maybe elk in the future. Once I run out of my Federals, I am going to try Horandy Custom loads with 165 grain Interbonds for the animal mentioned. So what is you brand, bullet design, and or weight preference for deer, bear, and elk???
-Mike

 

[Freddymac]

My '06

In my '06 I like the 150 balistic tips for deer. For elk or bear i like the 180 partitions. I've had great success with these, so I see no need to go looking for something else. Just find a load that your rifle shoots well and that you have confidence in ang go with it.

Just my thoughts
Fred

 

[critter]

'Nother vote for the 150 gr Nosler BT. They are VERY accurate in my .30 caliber rifles and do a number on 'average size' whitetails and anythinig smaller. No experience with heavier game, but I would probably move up in bullet weight.

 

[Art Eatman]

Most of my hunting has been for Texas whitetail and mulies.

My father always had good results with the 150-grain Hornady Spire Points. I have had good results with 150-grain bullets: Rem Bronze Points and Sierra sofft points in both flat-base and boat-tail.

I've discovered that at close range the Sierra BTs can come all apart; they don't do well if above some 2,700 or 2,800 ft/sec at impact.

Art

 

[MCgunner]

I'm shooting 140 Barnes X on hogs, 150 Nosler Ballistic tip on deer. Mine's a .30-06 short (.308), though. I'm shooting around 2800-2900 fps MV.

 

[Grumulkin]

My 30/06 Likes 165 grain Hornady Interbonds and Nosler 168 grain HPBT match bullets over Varget.

 

[stevelyn]

For meese and big bears it's the Federal Vital-Shok High Energy w/ 180 gr Nosler Partition.
For everything else Federal Game-Shok w/ 150 gr Speer Grand Slams get the job done.

 

['Card]

Another vote for the Federal Vital-Shok High Energy 180's. My preferred round for whitetails and bear.

Remington makes a 220-grain Core-Lokt that I like pretty well, but I pretty much quit using Remington rifle ammo a few years ago after some misfires made me wonder about their quality control. I may have been blowing it out of proportion, but when you lose confidence in your ammo, it's time to try another brand for awhile.

 

[CowboyEngr]

When I lived in Wyoming, the deer and elk seasons were separate, so I shot 150's on antelope and deer then 180's on elk. When I moved to Colorado, the seasons were combined, so I switched to shooting 180's at everything. I think it made me a better, more consistent shooter, so I have just stayed with them.

When I first got into elk hunting, the Nosler Partition was the best game bullet available and it has never failed me. Until it does, I will stay with it, although I'm sure there are lots of equally fine bullets available today.

 

[birddog]

I've used plain old Remington Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Points in 180gr for 2 bears and countless whitetails (and one very unlucky coyote, and a half dozen woodchucks -- ouch!).

My Winchester Model 70 just likes em, so I stick with them.

 

[41 Redhawk]

I'm using Hornaday 165 SSTs or Interlocks in my 30.06. The four deer I shot with it died right now.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'm a reloader so my input might not help.

I use Sierra Gameking bullets in the 165gr weight on deer. Have shot deer with the hollowpoint and softpoint bullets. I prefer the soft point. Less damage and seems to put them down better. The rounds are moving just at 2900fps with IMR 4350 and are under .75" @ 100yds.

Planning on working up a 180gr load for Elk this summer using Nosler partitions and Barnes X bullets.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I don't buy FEDERAL NOTHIN!!!

I've heard too many stories. Seen the aftermath of some guns years ago. Nope, not me. They may have their kinks worked out, but just like Audi's slipped into gear in the late 70's and drove over kids in the driveway, I'll stay away from the newer models too.

I reload, so to start off I'll say that I've tried some of the more expensive bullets a time or two. But I always go back to my Speer 180gn BTSP, or the same in the Grand Slam through my O3-A3, 30-06.

Through my .30-338 magnum, Hornady 190gn BTSP.

But, if I ran out of ammo, (fat chance that'd ever happen), but if I did, and I had to buy factory stuff for the ole 30-06, the REMINGTON CoreLokt Bronze Tip in 180gn is the ticket. Accurate as my hand loads and that Bullet has the design to bust Elk bones.

-Steve

 

[hoghunting]

My vote goes to Hornady's 165 gr Interbond. I have used it on deer and hogs and it just clobbers them. On big hogs it penetrates well into the chest cavity and just tears the organs up. It does not ruin very much meat for the amount of damage it causes.

 

[Duramaximum]

I shoot Remington 180gr Premier Scirocco Bonded tips all the way around. However, I would like to try Hornady's Light Mag in 180 gr.

 

[grizz]

180g fail safes for elk.

 

[elkhunter]

165 gr barnes x for both deer and elk.

 

[FLORES425]

Remington Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Points that I buy at Wally World has never done me wrong. I target practice with these bullets and they work great. I shot a big old mulie this season about 250yards and he didnt do much after a lung shot. I didnt mean to shot high but I had buck fever.150grain has alot of power for deer and 180 for elk.

 

[captdavid]

I'm a deer/pig hunter and reloader. I use 165 Partitions. If, as you say, deer/blackbear are your predominant target I'd use that bullet. It opens fast enough for small deer yet still penetrates. I believe that it is the best compromise for all three. If Elk is the predominate I'd use the 180gn Part HE. Both these are made by Federal, as well as others I believe. capt david

 

[Art Eatman]

You read all these posts, and one thing stands out: If you can seat most any old bullet in the case, it'll work.



Art

 

[PD575]

I've got a Browning A-Bolt that'll shoot anything into very tight groups. I've tried everything from Hornady, Remington, Federal, Winchester and many other "high end" brands. That being said, for the past two seasons I've used very inexpensive PMP 150 gr ammo with amazing results. It is actually one of the best shooting loads I have put through my rifle and it's only $9.99/box of 20 rds. Gotta love that...

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I'm sold on the Remington Managed Recoil .30-06 ammunition. Earlier this year, I took four deer with four shots; three small Texas whitetails and a fallow buck. (My first deer ever.)

For hog hunting, I use cheap Bosnian 185-grain soft nose rounds. That knocks 'em down pretty good.

 

[igorts]

168 winchester for deer, 180 Hornady for hog and up..

 

[Dr.Rob]

While I liked the accuracy of Remington's Bronze Points (in 150 and 180) they blowup on occasion... I had a dismal bullet failure that while still fatal to the animal in question, made me swear them off.

Federal's 'vital shock' (I think is the new term) 165gr Sierra Game King is by far my favorite off the shelf load for antelope/deer/elk.

When I reload that is the bullet I use almost exclusively.