I'm planning to use my .30-06 for deer hunting this fall. I'm inclined to use 180 grain Remington core-lokts because this is what I have been shooting through this rifle at the range and it shoots them well enough. I suspect these bullets are designed for bigger, tougher game and won't expand well on deer. At the same time, I'm thinking the deer will die pretty quickly anyway, whether the 180 grain bullets expand properly or not. In my hunting ground 300 yard shots would be very uncommon, and at ranges less than 300 yards (ranges from 30 yards out to 150 yards probably covers 85% of the opportunities) I don't think the greater bullet drop of the 180 grain bullet will matter.

Comments?

In the past I have used my .25-06 and .243 for deer hunting, but want to give the .30-06 some field experience. Also, I'm hoping to use the .30-06 on a cow elk hunt in the not too distant future -- maybe 2006? -- and it occurs to me it might be a good idea for me to get some experience with it in the field not just at the rifle range, and I'm liable to use the 180 grain core-lokts for the cow elk. (I've tried some other rounds, for example Federal Premium using 180 Grain Nosler Partition, but in my rifle the groups opened up undesirably. Barring my starting reloading, which is a possibility, I'm liable to stick with the Remington Core-lokts for cow elk.)

the 180 grain core lokts work just fine i shot a deer last season with the same round so for deer thats fine. but as for the elk i dont know, someone else will have to comment on that, but my guess is it will work just fine

That's what I use in my .30-06 and never has it let me down. Last deer I shot with it was a whopping 10 yards, bullet liquified everything in the chest cavity, deer went about 20 yards stopped and tipped over. He was the first one that didn't drop in its tracks.

it would definately work on deer. for cow elk i would think they would work also as long as you didn't take too long of shots and make sure you use good placement as always.

thats what I used when I used my 06, worked good. I switched to all slug guns. Seems to drop them quicker in this thick terrain

The -06 bullet question comes up alot on these boards... I'm partial to a 168 Gr. Nosler ballistic tip have also used 150's up to and including 180 Core lokts. They all drop deer - in their tracks if the shot is made right. Find the bullet that shoots best in your gun then have the confidence to put it right smack dab in Bambi's boiler room

I've used 180gr Corelokts and 180 gr Premiums in my 30-06 and I haven't had a deer go over three steps after I have shot them with those.

the 125's drop 'em pretty well too. i used them last year and the buck i got didn't even take a step. but of course i didn't shoot it in it's "boiler room" neck shots will drop them just about no matter what you shoot them with.

150 grain nosler ballistic tips are my choice. I used em this year and took 4 deer. Not a one of them ran a step after being hit. Zoomer is right, you put that bullet where it belongs and that deer isn't going anywhere but to the skinning rack and freezer.

Man I have seen MANY deer die from the guns of dad and Grandpa with this load!!!!!!!!! Couldnt go wrong IMO!!!!