Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I'm looking for something new to try out in my .30-06 for deer hunting. Does anyone have any suggestions on what has worked for them?

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I like the 3033 Honady , Its a 150gr spbt .

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

What maker do you have? I have recently narrowed it down to Federal Nosler Ballistic Tip 165 grain (P3006Q), or the Hornady 150 grain SST Interlock (#8109). Still need a couple of trips to the range to lock in one or the other. I havea Browning A-Bolt LH w/o Boss.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I used to shoot Hornady 180 gr. spires. Several years ago I switched to the 150's. I got dependable results with the 180's. I get dependable results from the 150's, but with less meat damage and better trajectory.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

Economicly speaking, since deer are not that hard to kill, I would start outshooting the lower price tier ammo like Federal Power Shock, or Remington Core Locks in 150 grain and see how they perform out of your rifle. Last year using $11.00 per Federal Power Shock ammo in 150 gr., I shot a 260 pound buck in the vitals at75 yards, and he dropped dead on the spot. My opinion is you really don't need premium ammo for deer.

See attached photos of the buck.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff75/huntingthenorth/DSCN3862A.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff75/huntingthenorth/DSCN3878.jpg

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I shoot 180 core lokt. I have killed deer at 20 yards and killed deer at 245 yards one shot BF done except the gutting. I hunt a mix of brush and strip minesusing der drives or tree stands. I also shhot a pump 06' and am very happy w/ the core lokt.

Only other bullet i like was the 180 grain Black talons, but then gutting was part of that bullet package.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

i have used the hornady 150 and 165 grain sst with wonderful results. i reload and have been able to get match grade accuracy with both of these bullets. as far as thier preformance on game. WOW!!! thats the best way to put it. they are comparable to the nosler ballistic tip at half the price. the important thing is to find a round that your rifle likes to shoot. you can buy the best bullet that money can get, but if your rifle doesn't like it, its not worth a dime. if your gun likes the buget ammo. thats what you should shoot.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

How big are your deer? But in any event any bullet in the 150 - 180 gr weights should suit your needs. Deer do not require the use of premium bullets like Barnes, Swift, etc. The most important thing is to shoot what your rifle likes best. I taken lots of deer using various cartridges and the old Hornady Interlock bullets.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

Any of the plane jane bullets in 150 grains will kill any deer alive. Such as Remington core lokts, Federal Power shock, Winchester power points, Hornady inner lock SP.

The simple construction bullets like thesewill generally give better accuracy than the bullets with more complex constructon.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I found that the ballistic tips were extremely accurate, but too fragile for my liking. I have had excellent success with the Hornady's and the Speer hotcores.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

Any quality bullet in the 165 gr. range will work fine on deer. I would not go heavier than 180 gr.

Many, many good choices. Any of the newer bonded bullets will work fine as well as the old stand-by's like the Sierra Game King, Nosler Partition, Hornady Spire Point, Remington Core-Lokt, Winchester Power Point, etc.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

150 gr rem corelokts. Don't waste your money on premium loadings in the 30-06 if you are just going to be whitetail hunting.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

Try the new winchester E-Tips or Federal Accubonds cause with the 150-165 grains yuor getting speed and with the 180-220 yuor getting Knockdon power so try some winchester 165 Grain BT's or XP3 or Federal Nosler Partions all good:D

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I've taken mulies without a problem in one shot kills with everything from 125 gr SP up to 205 gr SP. Anything will work so long as you hit them right. Best all around is 150 - 165 gr.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

Over 300 deer kills and my vote goes for the Winchester 150 Ballistic Silver Tip.Still as many have said shot placement is still biggest factor in killing and I would try the SST's and all BT's until I found something that was accurate in my gun.I have had kills from 8-330+ yards with the 150 BST's,most bang flops.From about 5-50 you may not get pass thru's but you will have a dead deer.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

180 speer or core lokt. 220's are good in the woods.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

If you reload i go with Nosler BT 165 or 150 or Hornady sst 150 - 165 those have been very reliable on deer from 70 pounds to mule deer 350yards away and 270 pounds just what ever your gun likes. I do prem ammo due to if the buck of a life time walks out i want the confidence that i had the best i could get to take him down clean. Just my oppinion.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I have tried many loads, but keep coming back to the 180 grain Core Lokts too as many others have already stated. I use them for whitetails mainly in a cedar swamp with all shots less than 50 yards, so I don't have experience with them at longer ranges. But at the less than 50 yard shots I have made, I can't even begin to think how many were Artie Johnson kills (that was on 37 buck kills). Just instant tip overs and maybe a few leg muscle twitches. Some of the exit holes have been nothingshort ofhorrendous. I have never tracked a deer shot with one these loads over 50 yards.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

theballistic tips were very frangible in the early days of production. They are made a lot stouter today and should hold together well. The best B.C for a leadcopper bullet is 165 grain. Although if you can get your gun to shoot x nullets you might go a little heavier.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

If you don't want to beat yourself up, try the Remington Managed Recoil loads. I've been using them for the last couple of years and love 'em. They're designed for shots out to 200 yards, but where I hunt I don't have shots over 50 or 60, so I decided to give up the full-power loads to make it easier on my daughter, son and myself.

Also, my '03 Springfield likes the plain ole Federal Classic 150 soft points. I was able to get nice groupings just shooting with the iron sights @ 100 yards. I doubt that for most hunting applications any of the premium ammo can justify the extra cost.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

Iwant the best performing bullet thatgroups well from my guns. I use 2 different 30-06 guns for different hunts and have settled on the Federal Vital Shok 180 gr Barnes TSX bullets. I use them on elk, deer and caribou with great success. They retain almost 100% of weight with devastating results and shoot very well on my Ruger 77 UL and Remi 7600. In my opinion they out perform NP’s which was my old load and certainly are more accurate from my guns.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I have used a Ruger 06 for years. The Federal Trophy bonded works well for me and i guess in a few months Federal will come out with an improved 165 gram. we shall see.

Dr. JlLee Andrson

I hunt in Daggett< Michigan and Coleman, Wisonsin

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

I agree with "Bigbulls". Any well made factory ammo with a mushrooming bullet designed for thin skinned game will drop any deer in NA at any reasonalbe range ... no problem. I would suggest that you beg, borrow, steal (well maybe not steal) or buy as many different brands and bullet types that you can manage. The one that groups the tightest is probably the best choice. I say that because "group" size can also depend upon the "Lot". Don't get hung up on "Premium" ammo. If one of the "standard" grades hits well, use it. There probably have been a gazzilion tons of game meat put in the freezer with Winchester Power Points or Reminton Core-Lokt bullets. But I must say that my favorite for deer sized game has been Federal Premium with the 165 gr. Nosler Partition.

RE: Bullet Suggestions for .30-06?
 

i would say give winchester a shot, i use the 180 gr. silvertip, not the balistic silvertips. they have worked great for me since i started hunting, knocks them down good, and my gun likes them.

worth a try