Best ammo for 30-06 Tikka t3?
- Thread starter ShootToThrill
- Start date
Base your bullet choice on what you want it to do when it gets to the target. What will shoot the best in your rifle is almost completely random, and price has little to do with it.
It used to be that deer hunters gravitated to 150s and moose hunters went to the 180s. Around 30 years ago it became popular to split the difference and use 165s for everything. You may find that it makes surprisingly little difference.
At a 06s modest velocities standard cup and core do quite well, and the hardest of the designer bullets can start to work against you. I'd start with 165s in blue box Federal, whitebox Winchester, or Remington Corelocks for a do everything load. If you flat out know that you will just be hunting deer, what you're useing may be as good as anything. At your stage of the game you're better off with twice as much ammo than "premium" stuff. If you want designer bullets take up handloading.
It used to be that deer hunters gravitated to 150s and moose hunters went to the 180s. Around 30 years ago it became popular to split the difference and use 165s for everything. You may find that it makes surprisingly little difference.
At a 06s modest velocities standard cup and core do quite well, and the hardest of the designer bullets can start to work against you. I'd start with 165s in blue box Federal, whitebox Winchester, or Remington Corelocks for a do everything load. If you flat out know that you will just be hunting deer, what you're useing may be as good as anything. At your stage of the game you're better off with twice as much ammo than "premium" stuff. If you want designer bullets take up handloading.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
My 20 inch barreled Battue loves:
Federal Premium Vital-Shok 165 Gr Trophy Bonded Tip
Winchester Supreme 168 Gr Ballistic Silvertip
and surprizingly, low priced:
Winchester Super-X 180 Gr Power-Point
Remington Express 180 Gr Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point
My Sako 85 loved:
Hornady Superformance 180 Gr SST, but I haven't tried it in my Battue yet.
I also bought a box of Federal Premium Vital-Shok 200 Gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw for sh*ts 'n giggles, but haven't tried them yet.
Federal Premium Vital-Shok 165 Gr Trophy Bonded Tip
Winchester Supreme 168 Gr Ballistic Silvertip
and surprizingly, low priced:
Winchester Super-X 180 Gr Power-Point
Remington Express 180 Gr Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point
My Sako 85 loved:
Hornady Superformance 180 Gr SST, but I haven't tried it in my Battue yet.
I also bought a box of Federal Premium Vital-Shok 200 Gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw for sh*ts 'n giggles, but haven't tried them yet.
I tried a over a dozen different bullet, mine shoots best with Federal 165 gr Gameking, Federal 165 gr TTSX and 180 gr Norma Oryx. Yours might like something else.
Good Luck
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
165 grain hornady btsp and 165 Speer btsp. These are very accurate in my t3. Using 55 grains of IMR 4350. Shoots 180 same just as accurate. 3/4 - 1/2 groups at 100.
I was also impressed with 180 accubonds. Was unable to find a good combo with 150 accubonds.
I was also impressed with 180 accubonds. Was unable to find a good combo with 150 accubonds.
For hunting:
First, try a bunch of different weights and manufacturers - some rifles are finicky.
180 grains - if going with cheap cup and core bullets, I'd stick with 180's as the velocity of a 30-06 is pretty much perfect for these bullets, and these will do for any big game animals, although for really big stuff (elk, moose, grizzlies) a premium bullet would be a better choice.
150 grains - I'd stay away from cheap cup and core 150's as IME a cup and core at 3000+ fps equals MUCH more potential for meat damage. This bullet weight in an '06 pretty much needs a premium bullet, unless you don't care much about meat damage.
165 grains - I left what I believe is the best for last - with the advent of premium bullets, especially the monolithics (ie. Barnes TSX/TTSX, Hornady GMX, Nosler e tip, etc), the 165 mono performs like 180's of yore and yet provides the trajectory of a 2900+ fps cartridge. Think of a modern 165 mono 30-06 as a 180 300 H&H of old. From the OP's initial post, I assume he's looking at factory ammo - I'd take a hard look first at Hornady's Superformance 165 GMX, followed by any of the other brands that offer a 165 Barnes TSX/TTSX only because I'm not sure if anybody other than Hornady is loading Barnes' in any enhanced velocity ammo right now.
200 grains - I only mention this one if the OP gets into handloading, as outside of a few expensive custom ammo shops, I don't think anybody is putting this one in a factory load. For elk, moose, big bears, this is an often overlooked bullet, and probably the best of them all. It shoots surprisingly flatter than most people would think, and penetrates REALLY well.
For practice:
Buy the cheapest ones you can find at Crappy Tire or Wally World, or wherever else, and get out and practice from field positions - prone, sitting, kneeling, off-hand, standing supported, ie. leaning against a post or tree or a range barricade, and hybrid positions, ie. kneeling with your hand grasping the forend and resting on a stump/blowdown, or on the benchrest at a range (this will probably draw some funny looks from some who only shoot off of a benchrest at the range - funny though, I've never drug a benchrest along with me when in the field), or leaning over the hood of a pickup truck, etc.
The plan:
Buy 2 or 3 boxes of the premium ammo that your rifle likes and use them only for hunting and confirming zero at the start of the season, and practice like above with all the cheap ammo you can afford. Do this, and those 2 or 3 boxes "of the good stuff" will probably last you 10 years or more.
First, try a bunch of different weights and manufacturers - some rifles are finicky.
180 grains - if going with cheap cup and core bullets, I'd stick with 180's as the velocity of a 30-06 is pretty much perfect for these bullets, and these will do for any big game animals, although for really big stuff (elk, moose, grizzlies) a premium bullet would be a better choice.
150 grains - I'd stay away from cheap cup and core 150's as IME a cup and core at 3000+ fps equals MUCH more potential for meat damage. This bullet weight in an '06 pretty much needs a premium bullet, unless you don't care much about meat damage.
165 grains - I left what I believe is the best for last - with the advent of premium bullets, especially the monolithics (ie. Barnes TSX/TTSX, Hornady GMX, Nosler e tip, etc), the 165 mono performs like 180's of yore and yet provides the trajectory of a 2900+ fps cartridge. Think of a modern 165 mono 30-06 as a 180 300 H&H of old. From the OP's initial post, I assume he's looking at factory ammo - I'd take a hard look first at Hornady's Superformance 165 GMX, followed by any of the other brands that offer a 165 Barnes TSX/TTSX only because I'm not sure if anybody other than Hornady is loading Barnes' in any enhanced velocity ammo right now.
200 grains - I only mention this one if the OP gets into handloading, as outside of a few expensive custom ammo shops, I don't think anybody is putting this one in a factory load. For elk, moose, big bears, this is an often overlooked bullet, and probably the best of them all. It shoots surprisingly flatter than most people would think, and penetrates REALLY well.
For practice:
Buy the cheapest ones you can find at Crappy Tire or Wally World, or wherever else, and get out and practice from field positions - prone, sitting, kneeling, off-hand, standing supported, ie. leaning against a post or tree or a range barricade, and hybrid positions, ie. kneeling with your hand grasping the forend and resting on a stump/blowdown, or on the benchrest at a range (this will probably draw some funny looks from some who only shoot off of a benchrest at the range - funny though, I've never drug a benchrest along with me when in the field), or leaning over the hood of a pickup truck, etc.
The plan:
Buy 2 or 3 boxes of the premium ammo that your rifle likes and use them only for hunting and confirming zero at the start of the season, and practice like above with all the cheap ammo you can afford. Do this, and those 2 or 3 boxes "of the good stuff" will probably last you 10 years or more.
I had a Model 695 in 30-06 that loved Federal vital shocks in 150gr!!!!
If I did not reload and relied to utilize factory ammo, I would purchase a box of 150, 165 and 180 grain; the same manufacture, same quality, same bullet, same everything. I would then go to the range and test fire them for accuracy. Guns can be fussy at times, some barrels prefer the short/light bullets, some the med size, and others the long/heavier bullets, for accuracy that is.
I'd say try the different weights of Fusions to start off. I don't see why a 180 fusion wouldn't be sufficient for moose and bear if the old cheapy 180's did the job for years. 150 or 165 for deer. I don't recommend Winchester super X in a 150 for deer, their 150 bullet shoots accurately out of my 308 win but failed too many times for me to be acceptable.
IMO get comfortable with a load and it will shoot good for you and your Tikka. I started with 165 gr. on my inherited Parker Hale .30-06. Found 165s to be too stout for me to get started - had a sore shoulder after 25+ shots at the range. Switched to 125 gr Federals to get used to the rifle. They may look funny at you asking for that kind of ammo but in my case I did not care and my PH liked it while I've been working on heavier loads that suits "us".
I for sure would like to own one of those Tikkas! Keep on giving her
I for sure would like to own one of those Tikkas! Keep on giving her
Stan in Toronto
Member
Since Remington now distributes Barnes factory loads, I would recommend them in 165 or 150 grain loads for deer. I talk to a lot of hunters and this last year all I hear is thanks for telling me about the Barnes. Accuracy and terminal performance are the things they mention most. I've been hand loading for my 30-06 and .300 Win Mag for over 30 years and have tried many different bullets, now I only use the Barnes solid copper.
Edit: My picture shows the performance.
Edit: My picture shows the performance.
