Maybe try to find some Speer impact, in .308 they have a couple of weight, 172 and 190 I believe. I heard really good things about the 172 but couldn’t find any so I went with the 190 and they shoot real well out of my husqvarna 1640 20” 30-06 they go out at 2700fps. That said I have yet to try them on game.
30-06 bullet weight
- Thread starter chuckAA
- Start date
IMO, just stick with 180's... no deer or moose is going on with life after taking a 180 grain C&C bullet to the lungs. No need for premium bullets on deer and moose with the ought six... just put it in the lungs.
Having said that, I do have a particular fondness for the 220 RN on baited bears... but you aren't asking about bears...
Having said that, I do have a particular fondness for the 220 RN on baited bears... but you aren't asking about bears...
over 36 yrs - has been my main go toI have been wanting to try the new Speer impact bullets. The 190 would be the ticked for me in 30-06 and 300 win mag range. That 2700fps your getting sounds right on point.
The good old round nose 220 grain bullets. One of my favorite rounds for up close hunting. I run the old interlocks in every thirty caliber rifle I own.
Depends on what and where. A do all is always a compromise.
Near and far big and small I do think it would be hard to top a 168ttsx. (Spendy)
For general 30-06ing it’s very tough to beat a well constructed 180gr cup and core. My preference being the Interlock. (Common)
For anything with iron sites or inside of snowball throwing distance your best bet is picking a bullet weight that starts with a 2 and something about as pointy as an eraser on a pencil. (Fun factor)
That’s how I go about it.
Near and far big and small I do think it would be hard to top a 168ttsx. (Spendy)
For general 30-06ing it’s very tough to beat a well constructed 180gr cup and core. My preference being the Interlock. (Common)
For anything with iron sites or inside of snowball throwing distance your best bet is picking a bullet weight that starts with a 2 and something about as pointy as an eraser on a pencil. (Fun factor)
That’s how I go about it.
I have a bunch of nosler partition in 220gr, I have an old husky coming my way, 24” barrel, pecar fix 4x in claw mounts that will be loaded with those 220gr pils and if she likes them it will be a good moose bison up to 200m rig!
At the other end of the spectrum, 150gr bullet loaded at a starting load(if they shoot well) is an awesome load for a new hunter(my niece) to start out, recoil and good enough to 100m on anything up here but bison. Now she can shoot heavier bullets with out a flinch! Damn that 30-06 thing is awesome!!
At the other end of the spectrum, 150gr bullet loaded at a starting load(if they shoot well) is an awesome load for a new hunter(my niece) to start out, recoil and good enough to 100m on anything up here but bison. Now she can shoot heavier bullets with out a flinch! Damn that 30-06 thing is awesome!!
- Location
- Western Manitoba
DGY - try to look up for the original 1906 loading for the 30-06 - 150 grain flat base bullet at 2,700 fps - today we would expect 180 grain bullets to exceed that speed - with modern powders, etc. - the primers and powder that the US Military used then, are no longer available. I have a number of WWI rifles in 30-06 - so to match the rear sight markings for range, I wanted to duplicate that WWI loading - can't get those primers / can't get that "hot" powder. Modern factory ammo is "too fast" to match the original load - circa 2900 fps with 150's - many hand loaders can go into 3,000 fps with those, in 30-06. So a guy on CGN who has already done so, suggested to use IMR 3031 powder and Speer #3031 (not #3130!) bullets - you want 150 grain, flat base. 30 calibre - 0.308" diameter - Soft Point expanding bullets with an exposed lead tip - not perfectly identical to the WWI bullets, but close enough - reputed to fly about the same. And, of course, I have done nothing about it yet - various Large Rife and Large Rifle Magnum primers on hand - a fair bit of ex-military 30-06 brass (probably not WWI stuff though) - but I should be able to get those sights to work "close enough" on those old rifles.
That won't make the mildest recoil possible with a 30-06 - but won't be the "hottest" either - was what the old time guys used - White, etc. - and what made the 30-06 so famous - I found it actually hard to find stuff about 1906 loading - most chat room posters jump to the M1 and M2 Ball loads used by US Military. But the original load for Enfield "P17" and the Springfield rifles - in WWI and for some years after - was 150 grain FMJ bullets at 2700 fps muzzle velocity.
That won't make the mildest recoil possible with a 30-06 - but won't be the "hottest" either - was what the old time guys used - White, etc. - and what made the 30-06 so famous - I found it actually hard to find stuff about 1906 loading - most chat room posters jump to the M1 and M2 Ball loads used by US Military. But the original load for Enfield "P17" and the Springfield rifles - in WWI and for some years after - was 150 grain FMJ bullets at 2700 fps muzzle velocity.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
One of my favourite old time gunwriters, Jack O’Connor, wrote that there was little reason to use anything but the 130 grain bullet in the .270, and the 180 grain in the .30-06. I agree with him. But I dabble with lighter and heavier .30-06 bullets “just because” and have lately been fascinated by the old Hornady 220 gr. RN propelled by H4831 at 2500 fps. Haven’t hunted with that combo yet but I predict critters shot with it will fall down dead.
