220gn 30-06

[DGY]

Just wondering what’s everyone take on that? I mean I like the idea, but is it really worth it? Would it be better in a 300wm(or similar)? What do you really gain?
P.s. I know some of the answers already, just want to learn what others have experienced with them!

 

[hoytcanon]

This is probably in response to my post in the other thread?

I added a follow up there.

I have used the 220's on bears and moose for decades... last spring I had a group of bear hunters arrive and all were shooting light frangible bullets in .30/06's, while those would work, I was not a fan and offered to load up a batch of the 220 RN's and get them set-up... they jumped on that and all took good bears with perfect results, ie. Rapidly dead bears, with little meat and pelt damage, never found any of the bullets, the lead was released into the wild.

 

[patricksbb391]

The 220 and 200 grain '06 loads perform very much like a light magnum load to about 200-225 yards if you go to ballistics tables. Jack O'Connor's wife apparently used an '06 to take an elephant and some other of the Big Five in Africa, so either she could shoot, or those loads work, or some combination of the two.

The 200 and 220 grain loads for the '06 are almost a forgotten offering. I have one box of Federal 220 grain, for that rainy day....when I cannot reach my other rifle that would be better suited to the task at hand.

 

[ShrtRnd]

This is the way I look at it when evaluating Cals

If I’m on the upper end of grain range in said caliber, I start looking at Cals above it to achieve the desired results.

Ie; If you’re considering 220gr 30-06, why not jump into the 180-200gr .300 something realm? Pick up better/flatter trajectory and ft/lbs of energy at the same distance without pushing the 06 to it’s upper limits of bullet weight.

This is what I did by putting a .300Wby into the fold. While I’m confident in the 06 at any of the reasonable distances I would normally cover, having the extra punch of the .300Wby avail when and if required is always appreciated.

 

[156821]

I have shot 220 grn Hornady interlocks that proved to be very accurate. I didn’t shoot any game with them but on paper they grouped better than anything else I was trying.

 

[boxhitch]

deja

www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/220-grainers-in-30-06.479976/

 

[pounder]

Not wanting to hijack , but anyone loaded these ?

 

[ashwood]

May be out of favour now but back in the 70s and early 80s my group used mainly 220s for moose. Thats when we just stopped and bought our moose licenses on the way up, and we got quite a few where we went just south of Cochrane and later near Longlac.

 

[geologist]

The old timer prospectors and geologists with 30-06s had the 220 gr for close range black and brown bears.

More common were .303s, especially No.5s with heavy for calibre ammo.

 

[9.3mauser]

I've never seen the need for them in NA myself. You'll get better penetration, flatter trajectory, and more energy on impact with a good 200 gr bullet and a slow burning powder. It might be different if you were shooting elephant or buffalo with solids, but we don't have that problem here.

 

[DGY]

This is probably in response to my post in the other thread?

I added a follow up there.

I have used the 220's on bears and moose for decades... last spring I had a group of bear hunters arrive and all were shooting light frangible bullets in .30/06's, while those would work, I was not a fan and offered to load up a batch of the 220 RN's and get them set-up... they jumped on that and all took good bears with perfect results, ie. Rapidly dead bears, with little meat and pelt damage, never found any of the bullets, the lead was released into the wild.

Well your response in the other thread made me wonder!

 

[hoytcanon]

The closer the shooting will be, the more I want to slow the bullet down. A good way to do that and keep the energy up is to go to a heavier bullet. If you are hunting for meat and/or pelt, the last thing you want is a high velocity frangible bullet. For baited bears or hunting deer or moose in heavy bush, the 220's in .30 cal are a good option. They are also, IME, very accurate and more forgiving of loading. If you are hunting open prairies or mountain ridges, these "ain't ur boo."

 

[Highwind]

I've downed one large Bull Moose with a 220 grain bullet. Out to an estimated 450 yards out. I had to aim high to make an effective strike on that early morning Bull. One 220 grain bullet; and one Bull moose.

 

[mikeyb]

I tried all the popular weights from 125 to 220 grains over the years and settled on bullets in the 165-180 grain range for everything. Good blend of mass and velocity with generally favorable downrange ballistics.

 

[wheelin_ca]

I considered the same things, settled on 180 for my 30-06... still have some 220s but they would only go in the gun if i was hunting a thicker spot where shots are more likely to be under 100yds..

if i wanted a heavier slug, id go Whelen or 9.3x62

 

[nomad 68]

A well constructed 165 grainer will be suffice for anything i'd be shooting at.

 

[Mikejfh709]

165-180 grain seemed best for us over the years at moose in Newfoundland

 

[mbogo3]

150gr TTSX does 40" of moose and loses about 1 gr on expansion ................................the plastic tip.

 

[Mike Webb]

I've never seen the need for them in NA myself. You'll get better penetration, flatter trajectory, and more energy on impact with a good 200 gr bullet and a slow burning powder. It might be different if you were shooting elephant or buffalo with solids, but we don't have that problem here.

No real need now perhaps but back several decades bullet construction was lacking. Many very rugged 180 grain bullets available now that hold together well on heavy game at higher velocities. Wasn't always so.

 

[Lefty Dick]

Not wanting to hijack , but anyone loaded these ?

If you note the required impact velocity, that on its own pretty much will tie you down to 125-150 yards or less for reliable expansion…..

Pass!