30-06 ammo suggestions?

SerbSniper

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Hey All...

Slowly getting ready for the moose hunt.

I've hunted with Winchester fail safes in my Ruger M77 MarkII 30-06 for the last few years and my dad has used them in his Remington 700. We've been happy with them, although I've read mixed reviews on them.

Well... I'm out of them and time to go with a new factory round.
Been debating between the Remington Scirocco or the Nosler Accubond.

I'll be heading out to a range this weekend, so maybe I'll grab a box of each, then see which ones my rifle and my dads rifle like best.

The funniest thing is, my Ruger loves Core-Loks. Much cheaper than some of the "premium" ammunition.

Oh, and for those shopping Remmington rifles and ammo.... they have some mail in rebates available: http://www.remington.com/library/promotions/2008_load_up_on_savings.asp

Close to the bottom you can click on the "Canadian coupon" in English or French.

Cheers,
 
this year i m taking a 30-06 for moose, i usually like to take a 300wm or 300wsm, but anywho. i loaded them with with 180 nosler partition. i m confident that a well placed shot would bring the animal down.
 
If you can keep getting hold of Fail Safe's like you have been then you're totally set. Personally I love them, and I wouldn't take anything else over them if I could always get them. There are tons of good .30 cal bullets out there besides them however; Nosler Partitions and Accubonds, Barnes TSX bullets, Sierra Gamekings etc. Everybody has a favorite, but as long as you hit bullwinkle where it counts with your '06 you'll fill your freezer.
 
I'd try the Accubonds or the TSX in 165gr. If they don't work well enough for you, try the Partitions or the Core-lokt Ultra...
 
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For my (1974) Parker Hale 30-06 I go with the ones it likes to shoot. I like nosler accubonds and partitions but my gun doesn't. I am only going for deer this year and I get really good groups with Fusion out to 200 m so that is what I am using. They are also slightly less $:D.
For moose I would go with federal 180 psp. I have to try the Remington core locks next to see if the PH likes them.
Good luck with your hunt.

Paul
 
Anything in 30-06 will do the trick if you do your part. My go to bullet for moose in my 308 was the 180 Gr Silvertip from winchester,, before I started reloading. I convinced a few guys in camp to do away with the fails safes and buy the cheaper silvertips ($20/box) and practice more.

The standard remington core-lok has been killing moose for decades.
 
I'm a little cool on the accubonds right now - i saw some questionable performance out of them (but admittedly i haven't seen them out of a 30-06). Mind you that was a dead animal i was looking at, so there's that :)

I'd say if you're not sure - partition. They tend to shoot well out of most guns, and they kill moose dead.

I've had good luck with triple shocks. But the partition or the scirrocco are great bullets - go with what shoots out of your gun well and don't worry about it.
 
The 30-06 does not need "premium" bullet to kill well, it just needs enough bullet weight. If your rifle likes the Remington Core Lokt, buy a case of the 180 gr. and be happy.
 
If you go with non premium ammo, Winchester Super X 180gr Silvertips do the trick. I switched to Barnes TSX because I got tired of tip deformation on the silvertips when they got bumped. None the less the silvertips are effective.
 
I would use the Corelokts. The premiums are not necessary at .30/06 velocities and the traditional jacketed bullets have been killing big game quite efficiently for generations. Still, the cost of a bullet, even a premium bullet, compared to the other costs of a hunt is a very minor concern, so if the premium bullet in your chamber makes you feel better, then by all means use it.

Partitions have been the choice of discriminating big game hunters since the 1940's. They were the first truly premium bullet, and they kill big game with boring regularity. Now there are better choices IMHO, and given a choice I would not choose a bullet that was designed to loose mass as it penetrated, particularly if I was paying the price for a premium bullet.
 
The 30-06 does not need "premium" bullet to kill well, it just needs enough bullet weight. If your rifle likes the Remington Core Lokt, buy a case of the 180 gr. and be happy.


Ditto,

Moose don't care what they get shot with. A good ol' fashioned 180 gr pill will work just fine.

Hakx
 
My '06 likes 180 gr NPT over 55gr or IMR4350 and CCI 250 primers. Shoots little wee groups. That's what I'd try if I was going to shoot handloads. If you want factory, shoot whatever groups best. Personally I'd stick with a Nosler Partition even in a factory load, but that's me. I've shot all my NA game with 180 Partitions and they keep on doing the trick.
 
I have 2 30-06's. A Parker Hale I bought in 1968 and a Ruger 77 Stainless I bought in 1995. I have found that Federal Classic 180 grain work well in both. Just as accurate as the best handloads I was able to create, even after many experiments. These two guns have harvested at least 30 moose, at ranges from arm's length all the way out to 450 yards. No problems. Winchester ammo has failed me miserably. Misfires from Winchester ammo cost me 2 moose many years ago, I have not used it for over 20 years.
 
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