Factory 30-06 rnds for deer
- Thread starter Jetman
- Start date
Tabacco Brook
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Most of the deer I have shot with the 30-06 has been with the cheap 150gr Federal blue box ammo, it's plenty accurate out of both my 06s. When shot through the ribs kills are very fast, deer goes down within 30-40yrds.
I have also killed 1 deer and 1 bear with the 168gr Winchester Ballistic Silver Tips,.. I'm not going to downgrade this round because of my limited experience using it, but, I do not recommend this ammo at close ranges, such as 50-75yrds, from an 06 or any faster 30cal. The bear, (150lb dressed), was shot through the ribs and travelled 50-60yrds,.. entry hole was .30cal, exit hole was atleast 2",.. the bullet continued on for another 8' where it hit a large Maple and sunk well out of sight in the tree,.. After seeing all this I was quite impressed and thinking wow these 168 Silver Tips really perform, severe internal damage to the animal and great penetration. Later in the season I shot a small, (120lb dressed), 6 pointer in the same spot that I took the bear, the shot distance was exact, but performance from the ammo was not,.. I shot the deer through the ribs as I did with the bear, but this time the bullet went to pieces like a grenade, the entry hole was as big as a Loonie and no exit hole, I found just part of the copper jacket in the meat under the hide on the off side, all the damage was on the entry side, 1 piece of the bullet went forward and came out at the front of the shoulder on the entry side, other pieces punched back out through the ribs, but didn't go through the hide, on the entry side,.. plus the front shoulder was broke on the entry side,.. all this damage was caused from the inside out,.. I could maybe understand the bullet blowing to pieces if it had hit major bone going in but it only nicked the side of a rib. The internal damage was minimal, only destroying part of 1 lung, and, of course, a fragment had to find its way to the paunch,... yes, after 75-80yrds the deer was dead, but I was/am no longer impressed by this ammo and will not be shooting it any more, or atleast not at close range,.. if your shoots are 100yrds or more they may work perfect, but not at the 50yrds I was shooting.
I have shot 1 deer with my hand loaded Sierra 180gr round nose but I shot it in the butt of the neck, so I can't say how it would work on a lung shot, but it performed very well on the butt of the neck, good penetration, broke the spine, and lodged under the hide on the off side in a nice mushroom.
I think the Remington 180gr round nose Corlokt would be a good round.
I have also killed 1 deer and 1 bear with the 168gr Winchester Ballistic Silver Tips,.. I'm not going to downgrade this round because of my limited experience using it, but, I do not recommend this ammo at close ranges, such as 50-75yrds, from an 06 or any faster 30cal. The bear, (150lb dressed), was shot through the ribs and travelled 50-60yrds,.. entry hole was .30cal, exit hole was atleast 2",.. the bullet continued on for another 8' where it hit a large Maple and sunk well out of sight in the tree,.. After seeing all this I was quite impressed and thinking wow these 168 Silver Tips really perform, severe internal damage to the animal and great penetration. Later in the season I shot a small, (120lb dressed), 6 pointer in the same spot that I took the bear, the shot distance was exact, but performance from the ammo was not,.. I shot the deer through the ribs as I did with the bear, but this time the bullet went to pieces like a grenade, the entry hole was as big as a Loonie and no exit hole, I found just part of the copper jacket in the meat under the hide on the off side, all the damage was on the entry side, 1 piece of the bullet went forward and came out at the front of the shoulder on the entry side, other pieces punched back out through the ribs, but didn't go through the hide, on the entry side,.. plus the front shoulder was broke on the entry side,.. all this damage was caused from the inside out,.. I could maybe understand the bullet blowing to pieces if it had hit major bone going in but it only nicked the side of a rib. The internal damage was minimal, only destroying part of 1 lung, and, of course, a fragment had to find its way to the paunch,... yes, after 75-80yrds the deer was dead, but I was/am no longer impressed by this ammo and will not be shooting it any more, or atleast not at close range,.. if your shoots are 100yrds or more they may work perfect, but not at the 50yrds I was shooting.
I have shot 1 deer with my hand loaded Sierra 180gr round nose but I shot it in the butt of the neck, so I can't say how it would work on a lung shot, but it performed very well on the butt of the neck, good penetration, broke the spine, and lodged under the hide on the off side in a nice mushroom.
I think the Remington 180gr round nose Corlokt would be a good round.
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Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
This^^^
Or Norma Oryx 180gr
Though it's not a tube magazine, so OP can use whatever he wants.
I second the motion to buy 150's 165's and 180's - see what shoots best in that particular gun.
Folks here are not wrong that most bullets will work. I personally like bullets designed to hold together, I use mainly nosler accubonds, they expand kinda slowly (comparatively speaking). For me, they provide adequate wound channel without spoiling too much meat.
Frangible bullets CAN give devestating terminal performance, but they can be inconsistent. Silver tips and nosler balistics tips would fall into this category, though the latter have been re-engineered with thicker jackets to penetrate a bit better. I like predictable results, and I like exit wounds. Trophy bonded bear claw, swift a-frame etc. Premium bullets are not necessary for deer, but especially if you don't shoot the gun a lot, why not? You'll be ready for whatever crosses your path, and down the road if you choose to hunt elk or moose you are already sorted. As long as you stay away from FMJ's and match ammo, you'll be fine, OP.
I know its not a 30-06 but I like Core-Lokt in my 7x57. They group MOA when I do my part.
My uncle runs a 165gr in his 30-06. Brother seems to have boxes of 150gr, 165gr and 180gr. I believe he uses the 150gr for deer.
My uncle runs a 165gr in his 30-06. Brother seems to have boxes of 150gr, 165gr and 180gr. I believe he uses the 150gr for deer.
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So far a lot of votes for core loct and federal fusion.
How much difference will it make shooting on paper at 100yds . between brands if I stick with 150g
What about 150g to 165g or 150 to 180
Are they going to be way off of what I originally use to sight in or simply need minor adjustments if I switch between brands.
Example- if I can shoot 1” group dead centre with 150g and then switch to 180g is it going to 8 inches low/high or just off by bit ?
How much difference will it make shooting on paper at 100yds . between brands if I stick with 150g
What about 150g to 165g or 150 to 180
Are they going to be way off of what I originally use to sight in or simply need minor adjustments if I switch between brands.
Example- if I can shoot 1” group dead centre with 150g and then switch to 180g is it going to 8 inches low/high or just off by bit ?
I'm no expert in this, but I'll give it a go. My understanding is that it should be a 1-10" twist rate since it's a Remington chambered in 30-06.
Shape of the bullet in a given weight could make a difference. For example, Remington makes the Core-Lokt in both soft point and pointed soft-point. These bullets have different nose shapes. Some bullets are have what's called a boat-tail while others don't. Every manufacturers bullets are slightly different while they might fly just fine, it could be they don't as well. Some guns will be MOA or better all day with one brand/projectile shape and never shape up better than 2" with another brand.
Heavier bullets in the same caliber are generally longer. Some rifles will seem to prefer a heavier bullet over others. Anything between 150-180gr would be perfect for deer. A heavier bullet would be better for larger game. My uncle loads the 165gr as a sort of middle of the road bullet weight since he hunts white-tails, mule deer, elk and moose with the same gun
It's always better to find the ammo your gun likes and setup for that. My rifle isn't a 30-06 but that doesn't matter for this point. I have it sighted in for 140gr Core-lokts with a 50 yard zero. Hornady 139gr Interlocks hit up and right 1/2-1". Priv-partisans are 1/2-1" higher but centered. I suspect the variance won't be massive but the further away the target the more that variance matters.
Shape of the bullet in a given weight could make a difference. For example, Remington makes the Core-Lokt in both soft point and pointed soft-point. These bullets have different nose shapes. Some bullets are have what's called a boat-tail while others don't. Every manufacturers bullets are slightly different while they might fly just fine, it could be they don't as well. Some guns will be MOA or better all day with one brand/projectile shape and never shape up better than 2" with another brand.
Heavier bullets in the same caliber are generally longer. Some rifles will seem to prefer a heavier bullet over others. Anything between 150-180gr would be perfect for deer. A heavier bullet would be better for larger game. My uncle loads the 165gr as a sort of middle of the road bullet weight since he hunts white-tails, mule deer, elk and moose with the same gun
It's always better to find the ammo your gun likes and setup for that. My rifle isn't a 30-06 but that doesn't matter for this point. I have it sighted in for 140gr Core-lokts with a 50 yard zero. Hornady 139gr Interlocks hit up and right 1/2-1". Priv-partisans are 1/2-1" higher but centered. I suspect the variance won't be massive but the further away the target the more that variance matters.
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In my experience changing bullet weights in the .30-06 resulted in a drastic change in poi, usually several inches at 200 yards. If you're hunting close range you don't need the light, fast 150's. That will just result in a lot bloodshot meat. Zero for 200 yds with 180's, and that will get you to 300 with a line-of-back hold.
I once thought I'd try that advice of buying a box of everything and letting a 30-06 pick what it liked. It soon became apparent that that wasn't going to happen; but I did go home with a bag containing all
of the cheap and lots of the common. Cost 700 dollars and I wasn't anywhere near all of it. Ended up handloading anyway of course.
A somewhat more likely scenario than trying it all and using what shoots best is trying some
of it and using what shoots good enough. For the stated purpose of putting the occasional deer down fast I'd start with 150 grain Federal blue box, Corelocks or grey box Winchester in approximately that order.
of the cheap and lots of the common. Cost 700 dollars and I wasn't anywhere near all of it. Ended up handloading anyway of course.
A somewhat more likely scenario than trying it all and using what shoots best is trying some
of it and using what shoots good enough. For the stated purpose of putting the occasional deer down fast I'd start with 150 grain Federal blue box, Corelocks or grey box Winchester in approximately that order.
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
Before I started reloading I used 150 gr Remington core lokts. Very deadly on deer.
ninepointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
Another vote for Remington Core Lokt. This kind of soft-point lead bullet is about as perfect as it gets for deer. Entry hole like your baby finger, exit hole like a toonie.
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
P.S.P I used but as supercub said either will work just fine.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Rem CoreLokt or Fed BlueBox
