that's what I do, and even 110gn will work. I use the lightest bullet, in whatever calibre, I can to deliver adequate energy at the ranges I choose to hunt at. Head shots are preferred. Neck shots next. Then broadside shots.
Opinions - appropriate bullet weight for .30-06 for deer hunting
- Thread starter bigtallguy
- Start date
that's what I do, and even 110gn will work. I use the lightest bullet, in whatever calibre, I can to deliver adequate energy at the ranges I choose to hunt at. Head shots are preferred. Neck shots next. Then broadside shots.
- Location
- Beaumont, Ab
I have used from 150 to 180 grain Rem Core-Lock's. I use exclusively 180 Core-lock now as I hunt in Bear Country a fair amount now and prefer the extra weight bullet just in case.
Mother in law uses 165 for Mule, Whities and Moose no problem.
Mother in law uses 165 for Mule, Whities and Moose no problem.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Don't intentionally go hunting deer with 110gr factory loads. Those bullets are not only fast at close range they have varmint jackets designed to break up in chucks or on impact to prevent ricochets into the next area code. Do not use them on the body of a large buck for god sakes.
Theres alot of excellent choices for hunters today in Factory ammo.
When i used a Mod 70 Lightweight 25 years ago i handloaded from different makers because premium bullets weren't avaliable really unless you handloaded. Factory rifle ammo from what i see has made leaps and bounds in bullet quality and type avaliable.
I still have a Rem 7400 '06 and if i used it now for deer i would go with
that superformance in 165, or the xp3 supreme elite in 165. I only put 2 boxes of Remington 180 PSPCL through my 7400, but it seems accurate. Like some have said get the load that shoots accurate. A 165 all around in a premium bullet that does everything well for moose and deer, or if you want economy Remington 165 PSPCL for deer and 180PSPCL for Moose. Both from Lebarons for less than $20 dollars a box i believe.
Thanks for the advice. But you have taken my statement out of context. I quoted a post about shooting in the head for minimum meat loss. And I was making a point that, for that situation, a 110gn would work. Then there was a period. That little dot thingy? Means stop. Perhaps I should have hit the enter key or even put up another post.
I KNOW what to use and where. I have been hunting and shooting for the better part of a month or so now, I think.
And I don't hunt with ANY factory loads, no matter what the weight. So I think I'm good.
Actually, the original cartridge that was designed for the Model 1903 rifle used a 220gn RN bullet at 2300fps. But due to European designs at the time, it was decided to use a lighter bullet, so in 1906 they switched to the "Ball Cartridge, Caliber 30, Model 1906" which was a pointed 150gn bullet at 2700fps, seated in a case with a shorter neck than the '03 case. The cumbersome name was shortened by common practice to the .30-06.
In 1926, again due to European development, they switched to a 172gn bullet (Ball, caliber 30, M1), reducing the speed to 2640fps.
In 1940, the 150gn bullet (Cartridge Ball, Caliber 30, M2) was re-adopted due to problems chambering the 172's in the Garands. Both were kept in inventory, with the heavier one designated for machine gun use. It had a maximum range of 6000yds, versus the 150 which had a max range of only about 3500yds.
So, technically, if you call a round a .30-06, it means that it is a 150gn, pointed bullet, with a muzzle velocity in the 2700fps range. Of course, that is semantics today since I throw 150's downrange at close to 2900fps. And I also shoot 165's, and 180's, and 200's, and 110's, and....etc
If I was a deer hunting with the .3006, I'd use a 130gr TTSX. Would work fine for moose in a pinch, too.
Probably get about 3200-3300fps or so. Any deer from 0-350 would get the crosshairs pointed at it and blammo. No need to "hold high" or anything.
The new 110gr TTSX looks like a good choice, too.
Probably get about 3200-3300fps or so. Any deer from 0-350 would get the crosshairs pointed at it and blammo. No need to "hold high" or anything.
The new 110gr TTSX looks like a good choice, too.
Federal is now making a 110gr TTSX factory load. It will kill the hell out of a deer, close and far.No bust up, except the deer!
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Geez thanks for the grammar lesson as well as the brief intro to the history of the '06. When anyone even mentions varmint bullets on Big game its sends up a Red flag for me. Kinda of as silly as
jumping them from out of a tree and firing a blank with the muzzle inserted 2.24" into their ear and making a one shot stop.
- Location
- Haliburton County, Central Ontario
And gee, let me think, are Barnes TSX TTSX not only the best bullet with near 100% weight retention AND lead-free in your game? Thought so...
but they are 110gn and you said to NEVER to use 110gn because they will fail!! Now you say that you can. Perhaps your blanket statement was premature?
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Federal is now making a 110gr TTSX factory load. It will kill the hell out of a deer, close and far.No bust up, except the deer!
So the 110 barnes in that hard to find factory load would be ballistically superior and terminally stronger than say my Winchester Supreme XP3 180s at say 400 or 500 yds? Wind drift ,sectional density with enough delivered energy behind to insure penetration at these ranges? My load will too kill deer close and far up. It seems the 110 would make a deadly coyote/predator, lower recoil '06 round. What is the main driving factor for the lighter is better idea.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
A smug little reply. Touched my heart. I know i'm having a discussion with other canadian adults, who are open minded and realize their way may not be the only way right? I like the tsx idea , i was debating the weight? And if you payed attention to my first post i spoke of the lightweight because no one had stated it was 110gr TSX type projectile. I've seen alot of light fatory varmint 100-110 class on the shelf in my day and we agree they are not to be used for deer hunting ,right?
Nope, as I said in the post
Any deer from 0-350 would get the crosshairs pointed at it and blammo
The 180gr bullet is going to have a better BC when you get out to 400 or 500, but anyone that regularly engages game at that distance is already going to know about B.C.
My load will too kill deer close and far up. It seems the 110 would make a deadly coyote/predator, lower recoil '06 round. What is the main driving factor for the lighter is better idea.
The light bullet will have a very flat trajectory out to 300-350 yards, and still kill a deer good and dead. Migth have lower recoil,too.
I have shot and/or seen shot deer and bears with bullets from 45gr to 300gr and they all kill pretty good. Use what you like.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Nope, as I said in the post
Any deer from 0-350 would get the crosshairs pointed at it and blammo
The 180gr bullet is going to have a better BC when you get out to 400 or 500, but anyone that regularly engages game at that distance is already going to know about B.C.
The light bullet will have a very flat trajectory out to 300-350 yards, and still kill a deer good and dead. Migth have lower recoil,too.
I have shot and/or seen shot deer and bears with bullets from 45gr to 300gr and they all kill pretty good. Use what you like.
This lightweight(110) is new to me no matter how its constructed so i have to try and see if the '06 wheel as been re invented....lol. Thanks for the reply.
I begin to wonder, now that we are here;and I will just throw this out, ready to take the flaming; why can we accept that a 90gn .243 Hornady standard bullet will kill a deer at 200yds, but a 110gn .308 Hornady standard bullet will not?
Just putting this out. I DO NOT HUNT BIG GAME WITH A 110gn .308 BULLET. But I do hunt big game with a 100gn .243Win.
Just putting this out. I DO NOT HUNT BIG GAME WITH A 110gn .308 BULLET. But I do hunt big game with a 100gn .243Win.
Same reason a 130gr bullet in a .270 will kill a elk but use one in a .30 caliber it's a coyote bullet.
We could get into a discussion about sectional density I suppose...
I go 165grn Fed Premium Boat Tails ---- Kills the hell out of deer and you don't have to change and re-sight in for moose.
