Quilly...to be honest with you i've never used anything heavier than a 150grn in my 30.06 when i was shooting factory bullets and they performed well so i never went with anything heavier. I do have several friends who use the Sierra 165 grn bullets. When i started handloading i started using the Hornady 130grn Spire points and they group very nicely and perform excellent on deer. I've shot a lot of deer with that 130grn bullet and have never lost one with it and have complete confidence in that bullet. Let me add that the deer around here aren't really that big and if i were to go on a paid hunt maybe in Canada after a really big whitetail i would go with a heavier bullet no doubt. I started using a 25.06 several years ago and now thats about all i use for deer. I'm thinking of working up a good load for my 30.06 to use as a woods/brush gun where shots will be 100yds and less and i may go with a good 165grn bullet for that, maybe even a round nose.

As someone else mentioned, you have to try a few out to decide.

My 700 BDL wood 30-06 liked the $9.99 180 Grain Rem core lokt
MY 700 BDL stainless synthetic 30-06 likes $19.99 Federal premium boat tails in 165 grain.

The 165 grn Federal premium ballistic tips didn't shoot quite as weel, but look pretty cool.

This year I want to try the Remington Accutips also.

In WI 165 grain is about the best bet. Some guys prefer the 180's but it's not worth the extra recoil and if you look at ballistic charts you will see that the 165 has almost identical energy as a 180 grain bullet out to approx. 200 yds. and then it actually has more energy than the 180.
Cybersniper

Cybersniper

Remington Premier 150 grain ballistic tips. If I do my part it drops’em where they stand.

I use Rem 180gr corelokts, why I use these is that they shoot real well from my rifle and my father shot them and it rubbed off on me. They shoot about 11/2 inch groups @ 100yds and where I hunt any shot over 200 yds is very rare. A few years ago a shot a 140lb doe, I hit it just behind the ribs and the bullet went foreward and ended up in the offside front leg. The doe went about 20 yds, when I recovered the bullet it had mushroomed amd looked like it was from an ad. I trust that round so why change.

im having a mind-lapse so i cant remember which brand makes it but I have always used Ballistic Silvertip ammunition

For whitetailed deer, 150grns is about perfect, stout enough to deliver a "killer blow", but light enough to stay flat shooting.

My rifles prefer Winchester Supreme 150grn Ballistic Silvertips for accuracy, I can get huntable groups out to 600yrds with these, impressive for factory ammo...they're a very explosive bullet though, so they aren't really good for shots under 60yrds, at that range (or less) the bullet is travelling too quickly and you may experience severe bullet failure, I have, as have many others on this board.

Although they aren't as accurate, 2" groups at 100yrds avg., Winchester Super-X softpoints and Supreme powerpoints are great stoppers. They are typical whitetail bullets, awesome killers and accurate enough to do the job at typical hunting ranges...I've used these for years now, made 13 or 14 one shot stops with them on deer everywhere from 4yrds to 280yrds.

Rem Corelocts aren't worth the gas it costs to drive to buy them, let alone the sticker price on them (and they're pretty cheap-you get what you pay for or less with them). The bullet is a good design, but they don't fly straight and quality control is pretty pathetic, I noticed my accuracy was TERRIBLE with them, bad groups, keyholing, inconsistant groups, etc...I chrony'd a box, I had a range deviation of over 500fps!!!! It wasn't one VERY fast one and one VERY slow one either, they were pretty well spread out on that range evenly, it was ridiculous...I'll never hunt with them again, I'll only shoot them if I'm looking for some cheap plinking ammo, which I can reload for cheaper.

I never use anything but Federal. I idnt have much luck with the 165 Ballistic tips with deer but they grouped great. I stick to 180's....never tried a 150 but I'm sure they would do just as good.

I am reloading mine with Nosler Ballistic Tips is 150 grain.........

I use the Remington Core loct in the 150gr. pointed soft point. They are deadly on deer. Most of the deer I shoot drop in their tracks.

I used the Rem Core-Loct 150 on deer. Shot well from the gun, and killed deer dead. Just a note that the Core-Loct 165 and 180 grainers also shot well from that gun. I handload now, so don't buy any factory ammo, but still have a box or 2 of each left. I wouldn't hesatate to use any of those weights on deer, but I think that the 150's upset inside the deer better and thus transfer more energy to the deer. I'm sure there probably isn't really that much difference and if you put one of them thru the vitals, any will work.