Which Bullet Weight

[ArchAngelCD]

OK, for a 30-06 with a 26" barrel shooting 400 to 600 yards with wind most times.

I usually shoot a 168gr bullet but want to try a 175/178gr8 bullet or will a 200/208gr bullet be better. I'm thinking the 200gr bullets will be too heavy but I'm asking those who might have already shot them.

Which would you work with?

Edit: Not hunting at anything over 400 yards, this is for mostly paper and some steel.

 

[troy fairweather]

OK, for a 30-06 with a 26" barrel shooting 400 to 600 yards with wind most times.

I usually shoot a 168gr bullet but want to try a 175/178gr8 bullet or will a 200/208gr bullet be better. I'm thinking the 200gr bullets will be too heavy but I'm asking those who might have already shot them.

Which would you work with?

what will u be killing paper/steel or animals and what kind 168 with the new high bc should be fine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Not hunting at anything over 400 yards, mostly paper and some steel.

The 168gr bullets I have been using are Sierra MatchKing or Hornady BTHP Match bullets. I'm not against going to a Sierra tipped MatchKing bullet if need be.

 

[troy fairweather]

Not hunting at anything over 400 yards, mostly paper and some steel.

The 168gr bullets I have been using are Sierra MatchKing or Hornady BTHP Match bullets. I'm not against going to a Sierra tipped MatchKing bullet if need be.

midway has the speer match bullets in 168 there pretty good for $20x100

 

[ArchAngelCD]

midway has the speer match bullets in 168 there pretty good for $20x100

Thanks, I haven't tried the Speer 168gr Match bullets yet, only Sierra, Hornady and Nosler.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m shooting the Speer 168’s in my Garands and ‘03/A3. They are more accurate than the 150gr Hornady FMJ’s but not quite as good as a Sierra. Cost about same as bulk Hornady FMJ’s. (Hint; the weights and oal of the Speers aren’t as consistent as Sierra or Nosler, you do get what you pay for.)
However, I’m only shooting the ‘06’s to 200yds (Garand and Vintage Military matches) The Speers are X-ring accurate in all three. No need for better. Therefore cheaper is better...

If shooting at 600yds, I’d go with a 167gr Lapua Scenar, 168gr GameKing, 175gr GameKing, or 178gr A-Max (replaced by ELD-match).

However, at 600yds, your .30cal will get clobbered by a .22 w/75gr or heavier from a 1/8” or faster barrel. My Service/OTC Rifle is a RRA Service/Match w/1-8” twist. I shoot the Sierra 80gr MK at 600yds. 75gr Hornady at 200-300. Hornady’s are $150/1000, the MK’s are $300/1000.

A member here, USSR, has shot F-class with a ‘06, he used a 190gr IIRC. W/RL22 was getting 2,900fps from 26-27” bbl, again IIRC.
An ‘06 with a .308win match “throated” barrel with a 1/8” twist would be a formidable 1,000-1,200yd rifle from a 28”-30” barrel. Would need a 220-240gr bullet.

Rick Jamison demonstrated conclusively about 20yrs ago that the real difference between the .308 and .30/06 accuracy was the cylindrical throat of .308, vs conical throat (ball seat) design of .30/06 chamber...

 

[LoonWulf]

Best velocity i could get out of my 24" 06 and 208s was close to 2600, but not quite. I could easily break 2800 with 178s. Personally id give up some BC for an extra 200fps, and less recoil.

 

[Legionnaire]

168s should do fine out to 600; 175-178s should get you out to 1,000. I personally wouldn't bother with a 200+ grain bullet in a .30-06 for targets; a 190 maybe.

 

[wrench459]

How concentric are your loaded rounds?
I've heard that .0015 is very good.

 

[Varminterror]

For 400-600, you don’t need extreme aerodynamics. Reduce your recoil, get the bullet there quick, run the 168’s.

 

[jmr40]

I wouldn't go lighter than 175/180's. A 165/168 would certainly work, but here isn't any downside to using 180's unless your rifle simply shoots the lighter bullets a lot better. I've had good luck with the Hornady 178 ELD bullets in 30-06 and 308. I get just under 2800 fps with 30-06 and just over 2600 fps in 308.

I think it is possible to show a little better performance with 200's but you're right at the point of diminishing returns with bullets that heavy. With the 26" barrel and some loads that are pushing the envelope it might be worth it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I see most of the replies confirm a 200gr bullet in an '06 is not the best choice.

I just wasn't sure if I could better performance out of a 175/178gr bullet over a 168gr Match bullet. I'm happy with the 168gr bullet but I have never shot them past 250 yards. I wasn't sure if I needed the slightly heavier bullet to buck the wind.

I have an extremely accurate load using H4350 so I might stick with it. What prompted the question on the 178gr bullets was the blemishes bullet sale on Midway USA of Hornady ELD and ELD -X bullets for a very low price. ($25/100)

 

[splattergun]

I'm getting old, and maybe a tad recoil sensitive. I tried 175s in my Howa 1500, but I noticed an increase in recoil but not a great increase in accuracy at 500 yards. I've settled in with the 168s for hunting and target shooting. They work well for me.

 

[Varminterror]

I’ve learned, with the .30-06, if it can’t be done well with a 168, then it probably shouldn’t be done with a .30-06.

The 168’s aren’t better than 178/180’s, but the improvement of the heavier pills is small enough I can’t say it changes anything I can do with an ‘06. The 200-220’s hit a little harder at short range for hunting, but if the 200’s can kill it, the 168’s will just as clean. Stick 30”+ barrel out front, sure, I can get enough speed back to make the 200’s cook, but in going to that much trouble, a guy can swap calibers and get even more out of the rifle.

It’s not a bad cartridge in the least, and certainly not lacking in capabilities, but there are a lot of cartridges which will do any of which the 30-06 can, but better.

 

[RecoilRob]

I'd imagine the 168's would be the choice...but if you have a wonderment...why not give the 178's a try? There might be some weirdness and your rifle might like them better enough to sway your decision...or you'll find out that there's not. Or you might find the increased recoil offsets the bullet performance enough that you do better with the lighter ones. Thinking you'll be staying with the 168's...but there's only one way to know for sure.