Versatile 30-06 Springfield

[track]

This past winter I conducted load data for my 30-06, which was most rewarding. Initially I used the Nosler 125 grain ballistic tip, then switched over this past week to the 125 grain accubond. I headed to the range on August 29th, hence, temperatures were cool on this morning. My intent is to use this rifle for whitetail deer hunting this autumn.

DATA
Krico 600 Deluxe
24" barrel, 1-10 twist
57.5 grains of Hodgdon Varget
125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip/Accubond
Lapua brass
Fed. 210 primer
.010 jump
Velocity: 3,291 fps + 10= 3,301fps
200 yard target: .571"

 

[guy329]

30-06 is always a good choice. I'm curious about your selection of 125gr bullets, versus a heavier bullet.

 

[track]

30-06 is always a good choice. I'm curious about your selection of 125gr bullets, versus a heavier bullet.

For the most part, I hunted deer with the 150 grain Nosler accubond and ballistic tip. After reading about Americans utilizing the 125 grain on deer, with lethal results, I thought I would give it a try. I enjoy hunting and shooting with the lighter bullets, because of it's accuracy/velocity/flat trajectory.
If my 240 Weatherby can kill a 375 pound mule deer with a 90 grain accubond, I believe that a 125 grain bullet will kill a whitetail.

 

[boxhitch]

you're not wrong
general consensus says use bullets medium- or heavy-for-caliber in any cartridge on larger game
but any light bullet that is not varmint-class will hold together enough for smaller game too
,

 

[Dogleg]

I did a little 30-06 tinkering last fall. I had a couple case of Suoerformance sitting around, and on average I’m not really enthused by the stuff. Figured I’d try to find some way to shoot it up, and one of my culling guns in 30-06 seemed like a likely candidate. It’s basically a 700 LSS with a 26” Benchmark, and the regular action squaring
,
Bedding and a custom trigger. When the dust settled I was getting 3200 fps with 165 Sierra Gamechangers and the head on my 600 yard IPSC target isn’t safe.

A friend named it my 30-23, since 06 was a long time ago Some
Things have changed a smidge.

 

[bearhunter]

I know a fellow that loaded his 30-06 with the Barnes 130 grain TTSX bullets, for his wife.

They both love hunting, etc and they mostly hunt White Tail and Mule Deer, the odd Bear and if they're very fortunate Moose.

Just before Covid lock downs, the wife got a chance to take a fork horn Moose. She always carried "heavy" for her, extra bullets and knew where they would impact out to 200yds, without changing the settings on her scope.

Good plan, but most game animals seldom give a hunter time for such niceties such as unloading their rifle and reloading with appropriate bullets.

I know this is heresy and being a fan of heavy for caliber bullets, I can fully understand the logic behind the plan.

However, that young bull Moose was on the move, according to her, a sedate walk to the edge of the field, with maybe 20 yards before disappearing.

She used what she had in the rifle, the Barnes 130 grain TTSX, and shot the bull high on the lungs, just below the spine. The bullet broke the rib going in, expanded, took out both arteries and exited through a rib and the hide on the far side.

The exit wound was, by her estimation, 2cm and the bullet was somewhere in the woods.

The bullet had been loaded to 3100fps, and performed exactly the way it was designed to.

Distance to point of impact was 75 yards, which indicates pretty impressive performance for any bullet, as velocities are only a about 100fps slower than muzzle velocity.

I'm now using the 120 grain Barnes TTSX in my 7-08 and contemplating working up a load for the 280 Remington, both in Rem 700 actions.

 

[WhelanLad]

Yeah the good ol 06... ive sort of become a Fan.

they were too popular back when i was selecting my first an 3rd guns..........

now days i call mine a .30-08 an its sweet---

the 06 with those 130 stuff an a good suitable powder makes it hum ding , no doubt!

whats not to like about 3200fps

 

[john-brennan]

Great Calibre no doubt

 

[B]

I have no doubt 125grn AB bullets will be like hitting them with lightning. I have had issues with accuracy myself but didn't try very hard.

 

[DGY]

I love the O6, but I like them with 165 and up!

 

[156821]

I got a hold of a box of big old round nose 220s. They proved to be more accurate than anything else. Inside 200 yards I think just about anything would be in trouble.

 

[Ganderite]

I would be very concerned about the explosive bloodshot meat. I would prefer a 165 or 180.

 

[remington jim]

30-06 is always a good choice. I'm curious about your selection of 125gr bullets, versus a heavier bullet.

270 Win has Killed Deer Bears Moose Elk etc etc for years with a 130 gr - so why not 125 gr with the 06 ? RJ

 

[remington jim]

I’m taking my Tikka T3X SS SuperLite 30-06 on a flyin moose hunt here in another 10 days

 

[bearhunter]

Best of luck to you.

Moose don't grow on trees, for most people, no matter where you hunt them.

 

[remington jim]

Best of luck to you.

Moose don't grow on trees, for most people, no matter where you hunt them.

Thanks Pal RJ

 

[tiriaq]

I would be very concerned about the explosive bloodshot meat. I would prefer a 165 or 180.

I knew a chap who took a smaller caribou with a .30-06 and 55gr Accelerator saboted loads. Hit it more than once. Bloodshot meat didn't begin to describe the mess.
My loaner rifle is a R700 .30-06. It has accounted for 5 deer with 6 shots in the last few seasons. The last deer didn't really need the second shot. 180gr pointed softpoints.

 

[remington jim]

That Chap was a IDIOT for using that ammo on that animal . JMO RJ