30.06 shells
 

Hi i have just got a 30.06 and i was wondering which grain i should be using for white tailed deer. Should i use the 150 or the 180 grain.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

I would use the 150gr if only for whitetails. I have used them for a few years and never needed anything more.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

Use the 150 gr nosler ballistic tip bullets or in factory ammo,winchester combined tech ballistic silver tips. OUTSTANDING percentage of instant kills regardless of caliber/cartridge.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

I first sighted mine in with 180 Grn Remington CoreLockts and moved to Hornady Customs 150Grn SST's. My rifle seems to like them. I couldnt see the need for overkill with 180grn pills. Once it's dead it's dead.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

Use whatever shoots best in your gun. Our gun likes 165 grain bullets.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

My 06' also likes the 150 gr. Hornady SST's.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

If you want something that will reach a little further you could go with Hornady Light Magnum's I've heard really good things about them too. But I'd still stick with 150grn for deer sized game.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

I use the 165 grain Hornady SST Interlocks. Tight groups....dead deer.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

150gr will work well.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

Use the 150's for sure the 180's on a whitetail may very well just poke a .308 sized hole in the deer and not expand. And that is not what you want at all.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

You are talking about bullet weight here. For whitetails, there's no need for anything heavier than a 150. However, the 165 is also a very good whitetail bullet. But it can be used for bigger game as well, including elk.

RE: 30.06 shells
 

150 is what ive always shot in a 30 06

RE: 30.06 shells
 

Not all 30 cals shoot a light bullet well.

165/168 is a good compromise, plenty for deer, ample on bigger stuff, and generally shoot in most rifles.

If I were seeking factory ammo for an '06 with whitetails in mind, I'd source Remington corelocts on the "cheap" side,or Federal Vital Shok's loaded with NPT's or TSX's on the premium side.

Deer die easy...as a rule of thumb if you are doing your part.

Bullet weightreally is a moot point beyondwhat a particle rifle likes to shoot.