I'm relatively new to hunting (2 years) and just recently bought a rifle. In the past I've borrowed, and absolutely could not do that again. Anyway, I've got a .30-06 and I'm wondering what grain and bullet type would you recommend for whitetail deer in an area that's thick woods with few openings and almost every shot is under 100 yards? I'm thinking 150 grain, but I have no idea what type of bullet.

I hunt pretty much same conditions you do but I use a .270 win with a 150 grain remington core lokt and it drops em in there tracks. Havent had to track one yet. I hope this helped a little, Good luck.

I personally don't use an 06 but have a some buddies who do and buy OTC ammo. Choices range on what they use anything from 150gr to 180 and bullet styles across the map dependant on their situation. For OTC ammo I'd take a look at Hornady Custom Ammo in the 150 Gr Version - Spire Point or 150 Gr Interbond both should do the job. Stepping up a bit if you wish for the close distance likelyhood in grain size wouldn't hurt anything either something in the 165 gr should get the job done nicely. Lots of bullets to choose both plain jane(if you will) like the corelokt, powerpoint,etc or premium bullets...just find the one that shoots the best for your situation and put her in the boiler room!

Best of Luck

Sounds like I shoot simular conditions as you in Oklahoma but big pastures in Kansas. I've shot a 30-06 for years, it's a good all around rifle. For deer I shoot a Federal Premium 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. It has been a no fail load for me.

For any kind of deer hunting the 150 grain spire point (pointed) is all you will ever need for the 30-06. This would hold true unless they don't shoot well in your gun. Good Luck.

I would go with the 165gr rem. load.
Its a good inbtween. It flys flater than the 180gr by a little and hits harder than the 150gr.
It has a better BC "lenth to weight to bore size" than the 150gr. to

I have a Winchester Mod 70 300 Win Mag 150 Gr ballistic tips, but haven't used it for years. Where I hunt with no long shots, a Marlin 30-30 has done the job for me with 150 Grain Sierra bullets and 28 Grains of IMR 4198.

Minnesotahunter: I've hunted white tail in MN several times in conditions exactly like you describe. I use a 30-06 and I'd say that most (or at least many) of the guys I've hunted with over the years also use a '06.

For white tail, you can definitely use the standard cartridges put out by companies such as Federal, Remington and Winchester. I happen to use Remington (why - see below), so I'm familiar with their standard bullet the Corelokt. This bullet, and the equivalent in Federal and Winchester (whos names I don't know) were specifically designed for deer sized animals - with the size and skin thickness, etc. involved. They have been a standard and highly effective for this sort of hunting for many, many years.

You can go with a "premium" cartridge if you want. But in my opinion (one guy, one opinion), you really can't improve on the standard cartridges, in short distances for this sort of game. Get into longer shots at larger or tougher game, it's a different story.

So that brings us to the weight (grain) of bullet... All I can say is that my opinion is that anything commonly offered in those cartridges - 150, 165, 180 - are all perfectly fine. I *happen* to use 180 pointed soft point Corelokt because I tried several weights among all three brands and this is the one that happened to seem to shoot most consistently out of my gun. You'd be surprised, in some guns there can be quite a difference in accuracy among the variety of different weights in the common, major companies. So, pick one and give iti a try. If it's acceptably accurate (say 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards), you probably don't have to bother experimenting further. If it's not satisfactory, or if you just want to shoot some more and experiment, try a few different types/brands. It can be fun. Good luck with your new gun.

PS: did you see my previous post asking for recommendations for Twin Cities well-respected gun shops? Any ideas in that line? (See Guns forum)

Thanks for the advice. Zekeskar, as far as gun shops, I really don't know of any one with a better rep than another. I do happen to know of a good gunsmith/dealer in the Hopkins area. Let me know if you're interested.

Definitely interested in any recommendation you can make.