30-06 bullet for antelope

[bdan68]

The plan is to shoot a few antelope in Wyoming this year. My 270 will be my primary rifle, shooting 140 grain Bergers. I hadn't considered it until recently, but I've got a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06 that I've not hunted with much, I've only killed a bear with it in the 10 years or so that I've had it.

So anyway I think I'd like to bring it along and shoot an antelope with it. Just need to work up a good, accurate load. I'm thinking I will try some 180 grain Sierra Gamekings. I might load up 15 or 20 rounds tonight with some H4350, and test them out this weekend.

What do you guys think? I can't think of a better antelope bullet in the 30-06. But I'm all ears if you think something else might work better.

 

[Hilltop]

Stay with controlled expansion bullets or you will have a mess. I have taken numerous antelope with different loads in the 30-06. You obviously don't need a premium bullet but I have found that rapid expansion bullets ruin much more meat. My favorite all around load is the 165 grain Hornady Interbond. The 165, IMO, has the best ballistics of all the bullet choices. I use it from antelope to moose.

 

[bdan68]

My thought was the high ballistic coefficient of the 180 grain Sierra would work well in the wind. I could be convinced to go with 165's though. Less recoil is always a good thing. Maybe a 165 grain Accubond? The thing is I already have the Sierra's. Do I really need to buy another box of bullets? I wouldn't think meat loss would be much of a factor with a shot behind the shoulder.

 

[Hilltop]

I don't have much experience with the sierras so I won't comment on them. Nothing wrong with a 180 as long as they aren't rapid expansion. Many of my early antelope were shot with a 180 grain Remington core lock. Those bullets worked great. I just mention the 165 because I have just love them. I reality though there is little difference between them- just a touch flatter but yet still hits very hard out to my personal limit of 500 yards.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I would use 150 grainers, Sierra Game Kings boattail is what I use. Great bullet, I push it along right at 3000fps. Great ballistics at this speed. I see no reason to use anything any larger.

 

[woodtick]

I would use 150 grainers, Sierra Game Kings boattail is what I use. Great bullet, I push it along right at 3000fps. Great ballistics at this speed. I see no reason to use anything any larger.

I'm really starting to like this ole boy!! These are all I used when I use to hunt with a 30.06, great bullet and extremely accurate!!

 

[bdan68]

I'll see if I can get a hold of some of those 150 grain Sierras, and see which shoot a tighter group.

 

[woodtick]

I'll see if I can get a hold of some of those 150 grain Sierras, and see which shoot a tighter group.

I had my best luck with H4895 or Varget around 49.5-50.5grs of either

 

[bdan68]

I had my best luck with H4895 or Varget around 49.5-50.5grs of either

I'll have to start with H4350 as that is all I have, and Varget and 4895 are nearly impossible to get right now. I see Cabelas has the 150 grain Sierra's in stock.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have used Sierras for years (too many to count) . Their factory was in Santa Fe Springs, Ca right next to Downey where I lived.This was back in the 60's way before they moved to the Midwest. Used to be able to buy 2nds by the pound and I shot a ton of them when I was young. Shot lots of deer and antelope with Sierras. I still use them in everything from my .22 Ackley Swift to my 30-06 & .300 Wby.

My pet load in my 30-06 is 53gr 4895 (surplus powder, not IMR or H versions) with a 150ge Game King BT. It smokes out of the barrel at 3150fps on my chrono, with sub moa out to 500 yds. Hard to beat it, in a surplus sporterized 03 Springfield mfg in 1927 & still has military barrel!!!

 

[PointsHunter]

Stay with the 270 for lopes... -06 is overkill.

 

[bdan68]

Stay with the 270 for lopes... -06 is overkill.

I don't believe there is such a thing as overkill. I'd use a 338 or 375 if I had one!

 

[vince]

I have one load for my 30-06 and would use it for antelope if I didn't use a .338 Win Mag. I use a 180gr Barnes TTSX in my 30-06.

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[Umpqua Hunter]

You will be fine with your -06. We have killed them with .223s to .300 WSM. Have fun! They are fun to hunt and great eating.

 

[jlmoeller]

Start with what you have. The sierra 180 gamekings are a proven bullet, they will work fine for antelope in a .30-06. If for some reason they don't shoot well (highly unlikely), I would move to a similar 150 gr bullet.

Jason Moeller

 

[bdan68]

I found a ballistic calculator online and plugged in the velocities and BC's for the 150 and 180 grain Sierra boattails. The 150 did win by a couple inches less drop at 500 yards, but the 180 had several inches less wind drift. With a rangefinder distances will be known, but wind is much harder to judge, and I would think the bullet that is pushed least by the wind would be the better bullet. No?

 

[vince]

I think likewise jlmoeller.
That's why I shoot the 180gr bullet in my 30-06. Wind is a constantly fluctuating variable in WY but always seems to be present in degrees far beyond the norm for other localities.

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[swampokie]

I find this very amusing coming from a man that started a thread on 223 wssm for goats! That one got plenty of air time so maybe this one will too! As far as a goat bullet for tha ole 06 maybe you can still find a box of accelerators!

I don't believe there is such a thing as overkill. I'd use a 338 or 375 if I had one!

 

[6mm Remington]

I feel the 180 will work just fine. The Sierra bullet opens up fairly rapidly and I believe it will work just fine for you. I load 165 gr. Accubonds in my personal 30-06. It's either that or the Partition. Both of those would serve you well also. I use IMR4350 with great success and H4350 would work just as well.

My load is 57.4 grs. and it shoots great. (work up to carefully)

 

[bdan68]

I find this very amusing coming from a man that started a thread on 223 wssm for goats! That one got plenty of air time so maybe this one will too! As far as a goat bullet for tha ole 06 maybe you can still find a box of accelerators!

I'm glad I amused you!

Hey, I'm just wanting to use what I've got on hand. With the possibility of taking up to eight animals, I figure I ought to bring every rifle I own! The 30-06 with the 180 grain could be my long range gun when it's windy. The 223 if/when it's calm and the shot isn't too far. And, the 270 for everything else!

I do have some other bullets I can try in the 30-06 but I don't feel they will be as accurate as the Sierra's. I think all my other bullets are Hornady Interlocks, 165's and 180's. I've loaded those and the best group I got at 100 yards was 1.5 inches. I'm hoping the Sierra's will do better than that, and I KNOW they will buck the wind better.