Opinions - appropriate bullet weight for .30-06 for deer hunting
- Thread starter bigtallguy
- Start date
heavyBullet
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Just off the island of MTL
Purchased a 30-06 last year, and use 165gr. Sierra SBT's. Very accurate, and all three deer I shot at were bang flops.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Can't go wrong with a 130gr or 150gr TTSX. Plenty of penetration, plenty of damage, fast and flat shooting, and minimal recoil.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
When I was loading for Dad and his 30-06 Husqvarna, what he asked for was 180gr Norma BT. I guess that's in part because he was of Swedish ancestry
. He used those reloads successfully on Moose and Deer for quite a number of years. After I inherited the rifle a few years ago, there were still two boxes of those reloads and that's what I used on my first Alberta Mule Deer draw hunt with my Daughter & Son In Law. I've been changing over to Barnes bullets for hunting in a number of calibers, one of which is Dad's '06. I've pretty well settled my choice of weight of Barnes bullet to use in the '06 to be either 150gr TTSX or 168gr TTSX. As it has a 1:12" twist, I thought just for the hell of it I'd also try something lighter so I also picked up some 130gr TTSX. At the range testing some of the final loads I had arrived at for the '06 and a 7x61 S&H. I was pleasantly suprised by how well the 130gr TTSX did in the '06 but I'm still pretty sure I'll go with the Barnes TTSX 150gr or 168gr.
. He used those reloads successfully on Moose and Deer for quite a number of years. After I inherited the rifle a few years ago, there were still two boxes of those reloads and that's what I used on my first Alberta Mule Deer draw hunt with my Daughter & Son In Law. I've been changing over to Barnes bullets for hunting in a number of calibers, one of which is Dad's '06. I've pretty well settled my choice of weight of Barnes bullet to use in the '06 to be either 150gr TTSX or 168gr TTSX. As it has a 1:12" twist, I thought just for the hell of it I'd also try something lighter so I also picked up some 130gr TTSX. At the range testing some of the final loads I had arrived at for the '06 and a 7x61 S&H. I was pleasantly suprised by how well the 130gr TTSX did in the '06 but I'm still pretty sure I'll go with the Barnes TTSX 150gr or 168gr.
used 150 greain in mg savage 110 for teh looongest time. then 180 was on sale so i grabbed a few boxes. my rifle shoots sooo much better with 180 that i've switche over comepletly. this is my 2nd year hunting with the 180 and it doesn't seem to wreck any more meat than the 150 did. pretty well figure out what grain yoru gun likes. the more accurate your gun, the more accurate you are the less chance you miss and the less meat you waste by having to pump another round into a gutshot deer... YMMV
^X2.
Use whatever gr. shoots well in your gun. 180 gr. is a good bullet wt in 30-06, and probably won't wreck as much meat as a similar constructed 150 gr. But 150, 165, or 180 will all work just fine.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
It's one of those rare instances when studying the ballistic tables carry's over to the real world.
In this case, looking at the tables, you'l quickly decide the 165 is superior. It's the best compromise between velocity, and energy, with excellent trajectory.
Why I say it's rare, because in the real world, it actually works. It's probably the best big game bullet weight out there for most any 30 cal. That includes deer, and moose IMO.
In this case, looking at the tables, you'l quickly decide the 165 is superior. It's the best compromise between velocity, and energy, with excellent trajectory.
Why I say it's rare, because in the real world, it actually works. It's probably the best big game bullet weight out there for most any 30 cal. That includes deer, and moose IMO.
Hello All,
I've been shooting my 06 for years. It is the only rifle I use for big game hunting. I've had really good luck with sierra spbt in 180 gr. It does minimal damage on deer and is heavy enough to take down moose. It also shoots great. I guess it would depend if you have a different caliber for every type of hunt you plan to go on. For me, I prefer to use the same rifle for all. I find I shoot more consistant in the field using the same rifle more often. Just a thought.
I've been shooting my 06 for years. It is the only rifle I use for big game hunting. I've had really good luck with sierra spbt in 180 gr. It does minimal damage on deer and is heavy enough to take down moose. It also shoots great. I guess it would depend if you have a different caliber for every type of hunt you plan to go on. For me, I prefer to use the same rifle for all. I find I shoot more consistant in the field using the same rifle more often. Just a thought.
Darn right, but why waste that neck meat? Personally I like to shoot deer in the eye between blinks so i don't waste any eyelid meat.
Darn right, but why waste that neck meat? Personally I like to shoot deer in the eye between blinks so i don't waste any eyelid meat.
Why take the chance of wasting meat and shoot them at all? I just train them to jump into the back of my truck and then to stop breathing. No meat wasted at all.
seriously? I would never use a 200gn RN on a deer, I use 220's. They even work good on gophers.
