RE: what grain 30-06
 

They'll all work:D

RE: what grain 30-06
 

Whatever shoots the best out of your gun for sure. However, if you live in the south and hunt smaller bodied deer look more into the rapid expansion bullets, i.e ballistic tip, sst, gameking or plain jane core lokts in anywhere from 150-180 grain.Stayaway from30 caliber 125 grainbullets because they are intended for varmints.If you live in an area with larger bodied deer look into some of the tougher construced bonded bullets such as the accubond or interbond. Ive shot a few texas deer with the 180 accubond and while it did the job, it did not do quite as much damage as I had hoped but it designedmore for heavy game or large bodied deer.Personally I am shooting 165 grain Hornady SST's in my 30-06 because they are gettin about an inch at a hundred yards, but I have yet to try them on deer. Good Luck with your choice, but again shoot what shoots the best from your gun.

RE: what grain 30-06
 

180's are preferd but 165's will do.

RE: what grain 30-06
 

150 grn

RE: what grain 30-06
 

I use the 165 GR. Winchester silvertips. I read somewhere that each caliber has a thing called ballistic coefficient. It has to do with the length of the bullet compared to the caliber. I think I read somewhere that in a .30 bullet 165 has the best BC. Anyone heard of that?

Here's a link http://www.chuckhawks.com/bc.htm

Reading this there's alsothing called sectional density. Another factor is the shape of the bullet, specifically pointed bullets. they seem to greatly affect the BC of a bullet. If you look at the figures he's listed he shows the 165 grain pointed bullet has a better BC than 150 grain bullet of the same shape. The difference in longe range trajectory seems to be significant.


GH

RE: what grain 30-06
 

Like what was said shoot them and see which shoots better out of your gun. From the posts it looks like I'm the only one that shoots 220 grains out of my Ruger. Just what I like and prefer. I've sighted the gun in with them when I first got it and that is all I ever shot out of it.

RE: what grain 30-06
 

165 grain Hornady

RE: what grain 30-06
 

I use Hornady or Federal rounds. 165 grain is great for long distance and deadly for short range. Depending on shot placement the meat damage is not an issue.

RE: what grain 30-06
 

Hornady 130gr Spire Point!:D

RE: what grain 30-06
 

The .30-06 will kill deer effectively with any of 150, 165, and 180 grain bullets. Assuming you are not reloading, find the commercial load using one of these weights that shoots best in your rifle and use that.