Load to use for a 30-.06 hunting whitetails

millerir · 09-23-2007, 02:22 PM

I have never hunted before and I intend to hunt white-tail deer in Michigan this fall. I own a .30-06 that I am going to use and wondered what load/bullet/amount of what powder you would recommend. I would prefer a lighter load just because I don't like the kick. I intened to handload my own rounds so keep that in mind.

Connman90 · 09-23-2007, 04:23 PM

I don't load my ownLoads so i can't help youthere sorry. Buti will tell you theloads iuse are the Winchester Accubond CT 180 GR. This will be my Second year using these and they work great. Theyears before that iused the Winchester Failsafes 168 GR. I also livein Michigan and these two Loadsaregreatwith alot of knockdown power.

PS. the Kickof the 30-06 is just part of thegun

Champlain Islander · 09-23-2007, 04:25 PM

I like 180 grain with Barnes TSX or Nosler Partitians for northern deer. I use Federal factory loads and find them more than adequate

270 bdl · 09-23-2007, 05:38 PM

I've shot a lot of deer with a 30-06 and 180 gr. bullets. I like 180 gr. speer's or core lokt's.

thndrchiken · 09-23-2007, 06:04 PM

150, 165 or 180 gr bullets are all fine for deer. As far as bullet construction goes any standard construction bullet will do just fine. For handloading you'll need to develop the load your gun likes best. That means finding the bullet and weight your gun likes best. 4064, 4350, 4831, RE 19, RE22, 748, 760 are all great powders. That's the great thing about handloading there are all kinds of variations that you can try. Buy a reloading manual and follow published load data and you'll find a load your gun likes.

leehop · 09-23-2007, 06:05 PM

I've hunted deer the past 35 years using 150 and 165 grain Hornadys and 4064. Look the loads up in the manuel, your gun may not shot the same as mine. Only killed two deer with any other load. First one was with a .44-40 with factory loads and the other with a .30-40 Krag using 180 grain factorys. The 180's were the only ones to exit. All the deer droped in ther tracks except one which went about fifty yards. These were all Columbia Blacktails.

millerir · 09-23-2007, 06:43 PM

Thanks for the help. I guess what I needed to know the most was how heavy the bullets you were using were, and you have been very helpful. Thanks.

millerir · 09-23-2007, 07:22 PM

I was just going through the handloading stuff I have with my dad, and I noticed I only have about 60 of the #210 primirs I need. But several hundred #200 primers. I need to load about 100 cases, so would you recommend I use the #210s which are the ones that are supposed to be used, and do the rest with #200s. Or buy more #210s or use all #200. And will there be any performance issues if I use 200s.