30-06 grain for deer and elk.
 

I know this has been asked on the net a lot but you guys have nothing better to do, right ;)

So I have a deer and elk tag (both Female) and would like to carry one round for both. I'm thinking 180gr but I've heard premium 165 are an alternative and shoot flatter.

Looking to spend less than $30 for box of 20 if possible. I'd like to get a few boxes and some range time with them. Rifle is the Marlin XL7

So how abut something like this
Ammo .30-06 Springfield Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 165 Grain 2800 fps 20 Round Box

or this
Federal Premium Vital-Shok Ammunition 30-06 Springfield 180 Grain Nosler AccuBond Box of 20

Both <$30 right now.

Any other recommendations?

Its a good round for short to medium rage, for flatter shooting round go with a premium 150 grain round.

How about a Rem cor-lok 180 or Federal counter part .

My buddy who won't put a reload in his rifle and buys as a rule the best for his needs has shot 4or5 mulies from 80 to 200 with the Rem 165 gn spbt core-locks . He shoots those in his 700BDL because they have given him fewer flyers and smaller groups lot to lot in his rifle for 25 years . Personally Id go to the 180 and find 1 that shoots well in your rifle and shoot that. You also don't need the uber bullet or super loads the 06' killed plenty of deer and elk just fine with boring cup an core plain jane round nose bullets the 1st 60 years it was around.

Flat shooting misses the point. You can calculate drop easy, wind drift is harder to compensate for. Anywhere past 300-400 yds, the heavier bullet will drift significantly less and eventually drop less. Closer, the difference in drop doesn't matter anywhere.

If you're hunting elk I'd err towards the 180gr. If you don't plan on shooting past 300 yards it frankly doesn't matter which you shoot as long as you shoot straight.

I've always leaned towards 180gr for elk but I sat in on a seminar put on by a professional caller who shared some of hunting tactic and talked about different calibers. His opinion for 3006 on elk is 150 gr due to the ballistics of it. He has hunted elk a lot more then I have.

I agree with Spaniel. What ever you decide to shoot, practice and learn what the round you are shooting will do at all the distances you plan to shoot.

I use a 180 Hornady BT...like others have said, nothing beets range time to insure proper bullrt placement!
Dan

180 grain bullets. These are going to be more solidly constructed than lighter bullets. You want a solidly constructed bullet for the elk. By the way, 300-400 yards is a very, very long shot to make on a big game animal. It is arguable that if you are skilled enough to be taking this kind of shot . . . you wouldn't be here asking this kind of question. No slam of you or your skills intended. I would not be comfortable shooting at a big game animal at 400 yards. Also, most people do not encourage using the .30-06 for elk at 400 yards. I've read a lot of people suggesting that the .30-06 begins to be marginal beyond about 250 yards for elk. Just repeating what I have read.

Thanks for the info.

I've no intention of shooting at 400yds. I only got my first 30-06 a couple of weeks ago, 200 maybe but not beyond that, not this year. :)

So something like this would be good?
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemD...aspx?sku=66198

At that price it doubles my range time for my ammo budget.

My XL7 LOVES Rem cor-loc 180's. $17.99 a box at Wallyworld.

You are splitting hairs... Use a well constructed bullet like a Nosler partition or a Barnes X ( among others) and shoot whatever weight your rifle groups the best, from 150 to 180 grain... At normal ranges ( point blank to 300 yards) 15 or 30 grains bullet weight isn't going to make a lot of difference...Put the bullet in the boiler room and you'll have meat..