I am shooting federal premium seirra gameking btsp 165g in a remington model 700 30-06 and was wanting to try a different round this year. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Ordinary Remington 165 grain CoreLokts group extremely well in my 700 BDL. I bought some 165 CoreLokt bullets for handloading and plan to try them on hogs late next month.

If your hunting deer, I would try the 150 grain Nosler partition. For Bigger game try the 180 grain Sierra Grand Slam. Are you having trouble with the 165 Game King or do you just want to try somthing new. Good Hunting

One reason I am wanting to try something new is that when I shot a buck last year I hit the shoulder. which upon impact the bullet expanded. The hole in the shoulder was about 2 1/2 inches across. It was app. 40 yard shot. I am wondering if the bullet should have penetrated a little more before opening up. Any advice ?

Hitting bone with a thin jacket bullet at a high MV meant to expand at lower velocities will produce big holes and limited penetration in most cases. Not a bullet failure but by design. If your shooting close distance and/or bone then James B suggestion of a Nosler Partition is a good one 150-165gr would work just depends on what your rifle likes better.

However if the shot was just a slight pull or shooter error than the BTSP you currently use on the ribs will work just fine. Only you can make that call.

If just want to try a different bullet tons to choose from! A good deer load the Hornady SP 150-165gr maybe worth a look. Being flat based this bullet should hold together a bit better than a boattail and opens up pretty nicely on deer for a good wound channel..long range accuracy may not be quite the same as a taper heel bullet but they seem to fly pretty good to average distances.

Just pick the bullet your rifle likes and fits your model(shot length and aim point)

Good Luck

dt I grewup in the 80s learning to deerhunt with the EXACT same load you are asking a bout. I killed around 50 deer with that load at ranges from 15 steps to a shade over 400yds. Typically that load is about as accurate as you will find for "over the counter" stock. The bullet isnt the best performer but it isnt the worst either. I would MUCH rather shoot the Gameking than any CoreLokt.

If you are just wantin to change for farts n giggles (and there is nuttin wrong with dat) then try the new Federal Premium Vital Shok in the 180grn Barnes Triple Shock. That bullet wouldve smashed thru BOTH shoulders at 40yds. By shooting the Gameking at such a close range its still had a sizeable head of steam on it (velocity). The Gameking will bust shoulders and shoot on thru at longer ranges (100-200) as a result of lowered velocity which keeps the bullet from opening.

Another great performer that is friendly up close and still awesome on the otherside of 200yds is the Hornady SST Interlock offerings. As is the Scirroco loadings. Trophy Bondeds are INCREDIBLE bullets as well if you keep the shots under 300yds, they arent very aerodynamic so they shed alot of velocity after that range.

Good luck,
RA

When i shot factory ammo in my 30.06 i had great results in both accuracy and performance on game with the Hornady 150gr Spire point. I also used the Rem 150gr Cor-lokt with good results.

I shot an '06 for years and liked the performance of the corelokts, but my gun preferred the 180 grain bullet over the rest. I shot deer from ranges of 15 yards to 75 yards, and they performed very well for me. The farthest I tracked a deer was 75 yards, she was hit a little too far back.

you might want to check out federal premium high energy load using 180gr Nolser partition. It shoots great out of my encore 30/06 barrel. It makes your 30/06 perform right there with most 300 win mag loads. I have decided to use it for all my hunting here in alaska with the 06.