recommended grn bullet from a 30-06?

[istahill]

Hey guys,
So I put in for my first antelope tag this year, have to wait and see if I'm successful or not. But if I am I'm curious what would be a good bullet weight to use. I've pretty much exclusively hunted elk in CO for the past 10 years so all I've been loading is 180 grn loads for my 30-06. I know that's gonna be way too much bullet for these guys so what are your opinions? I do load 165 for mulies as well but still same question, wondering if those would still be a little too much and mess up a lot of meat.

 

[Hilltop]

I have used a 165 grain bullet for Elk, Deer, and Antelope for 16 years. Before that, I shot the 180s for everything. IMO a controlled expansion 180 will do less damage than a rapid expansion 130. I see no practical reason to change ammo back and forth as one bullet will work great. I personally use Hornady Interbond but there are numerous bullets on the market that are controlled expansion. One advantage to shooting the same bullet for everything is that you do not have to continually sight your gun in. I went with 165 because I feel it is the perfect bullet weight for the 30-06. Just my opinion...

 

[PlainsHunter]

I'm with Hilltop. If you shoot a controlled expansion 180 gr bullet it will probably do less damage than a rapid expansion lighter/faster bullet. Really depends on the bullet construction you are using.

 

[480/277]

Barnes TSX 165 or 168 grain
Antelope to moose go forth and kill

 

[Musket Man]

I agree with Hilltop too. If you have a bullet and load you and your gun like stick with it. I doubt you will be able to tell if you hit an antelope with a 180 or 150. Meat damage has alot more to do with shot placement then anything else. I put a 170gr bullet through an antelope last year and didnt damage any meat at all hardly.

 

[istahill]

Well it sounds good to me. If I don't have to buy different tips and re-sight in my rifle I'm all for it. Thanks for your opinion guys, more than likely I'll just stick with my mulie rounds 165 grn Nosler Ballistic tips then.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Well it sounds good to me. If I don't have to buy different tips and re-sight in my rifle I'm all for it. Thanks for your opinion guys, more than likely I'll just stick with my mulie rounds 165 grn Nosler Ballistic tips then.

Just stay off the front shoulders! Put it straight through their ribs and you won't waste any meat.

 

[Hilltop]

Well it sounds good to me. If I don't have to buy different tips and re-sight in my rifle I'm all for it. Thanks for your opinion guys, more than likely I'll just stick with my mulie rounds 165 grn Nosler Ballistic tips then.

Those bullets are one of the rapid expansion bullets I was mentioning. They can cause significant meat damage unless your shot is perfect on smaller animals. They are also not ideal rounds for elk. Take a look at Barnes TSX, Hornady Interbonds or GMX, Nosler Accubonds or Partitions, or any other round advertised for thick skinned animals.

 

[istahill]

Ah I do use the nosler accubonds for elk in 180, so you think it would be better to use those rounds even though they are the heavier of the 2 round s I like to load?

 

[Hilltop]

Ah I do use the nosler accubonds for elk in 180, so you think it would be better to use those rounds even though they are the heavier of the 2 round s I like to load?

I think so. There is really very little difference in ballistics between the two rounds. The accubonds will hold together better for the elk but yet expand enough to kill all your other game. If you can find the 165s you might try them in your gun... you will gain a few yards on your point blank range.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Whatever you choose, DO NOT use ballistic tips on antelope (I wouldn't use them on anything). We're talking softball-sized exit wounds. I think the 165 grn is a good versatile bullet out of the 06, but I would chose something more tame than an exploding missile.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Whatever you choose, DO NOT use ballistic tips on antelope (I wouldn't use them on anything). We're talking softball-sized exit wounds. I think the 165 grn is a good versatile bullet out of the 06, but I would chose something more tame than an exploding missile.

You are right about BT's.

 

[goathunter]

150 would be more than enough for antelope. I would think 125 would be sufficient but I have never shot them. I have shot several antelope with a 115gr nosler partition in my 25-06. For the 30-06 150gr hornady interbonds would be a good choice, as would 150 gr nosler accubonds. just my opinions.

 

[xtreme]

I use 168 Bergers without complaint. BC helps in high plains wind. I have shot bear and mule deer, DRT.

 

[istahill]

I think so. There is really very little difference in ballistics between the two rounds. The accubonds will hold together better for the elk but yet expand enough to kill all your other game. If you can find the 165s you might try them in your gun... you will gain a few yards toon your point blank range.

Yeah I think either way will work and since my rifle is still sighted in with the 180s I'll probably leave it alone. Thanks a bunch for the info. Now all I gotta do is get lucky in the draw and go from there.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Yeah I think either way will work and since my rifle is still sighted in with the 180s I'll probably leave it alone. Thanks a bunch for the info. Now all I gotta do is get lucky in the draw and go from there.

If your gun likes those 180 accubonds stay with them, unless of course you want to experiment with 150/165's to see if your rifle will shoot them as well as the 180's. I use Barnes 165 gr.TTSX in one of mine, it likes barnes bullets.

 

[6mm Remington]

If your gun likes those 180 accubonds stay with them, unless of course you want to experiment with 150/165's to see if your rifle will shoot them as well as the 180's. I use Barnes 165 gr.TTSX in one of mine, it likes barnes bullets.

I wholeheartedly agree. The 180 gr. Accubonds will open up nicely on antelope and expand very well without ruining a bunch of meat and making a mess. You are just fine with them.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The problem with the 125/130 gr bullets in .30 cal is that the BC is pretty bad. I tried them many years ago trying to work up a light ground squirrel load. After 150 /200 yds, the performance really drops off. Use 150s as my standard 30-06 deer load. Should work well on goats too.

 

[BleuBijou]

I would stay away from the NBT unless you want a complete mess with a bad shot.

 

[MWScott72]

Due to windy conditions last year, I used a 180-grain Barnes TSX out of my Sako .300, and there was minimal meat damage when shooting them behind the shoulder. Just about any bullet weight is going to do more extensive damage if you hit bone whether it's a cheap 100-grain soft point or a souped up, premium bullet. As has been stated, I'd stay away from the BT's due to the expansion / exit hole issue. Antelope are thin skinned and go down easy - no reason for a soft-ball-sized exit wound.