I was wondering what you guys recommend for an elk or deer load for my .30-06. This Fall will be my first time hunting out West (WY) and have only used 150 grain bullets for whitetail in Midwest. Thanks for your inputs!
Ammo advice-.30-06
- Thread starter outdoornut
- Start date
Grantbvfd
Active Member
Nothing wrong with your weight. Lots of good bullets out there. What 150 grain bullet are you using?
hoshour
Veteran member
I usually shoot 165 grains. That seems to be the sweet spot for ballistics but you'll be fine with 150.
bdan68
Active Member
The weight doesn't really matter but for elk you want a good quality bullet. You might try Nosler Accubonds, any weight from 150 to 180 is fine. Barnes are also a great elk bullet. The most important thing is to find a bullet that your particular rifle likes. You want to be able to shoot tight groups out to at least 300 yards.
Traditionally, in the 06, 150 gr. was a deer bullet, 180 gr. for elk. The reason is weight matters, as it relates to a bullets SD, meaning penetration, doubly so in standard cup and core bullets. Elk are large animals. Modern bullet construction has changed the old rule to a degree. You can use very tough bullets, as bdan suggests, and be fine with a 150 gr. pill, but know the limits if you are using a light for caliber bullet, like the 150, in terms of shot angle and bullet placement. In my 06, for deer and elk, I shoot the 165/168/175/180 gr. etc., premium type bullet it shoots best and go hunting for game up to elk in size. Elk are easy to kill if you do it right, wound one and all bets are off.
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
Good replies all. All I shoot in my 30-06 is 165 gr. bullets, either the Partition or the Accubond. If you are using a well built bullet that will penetrate it it shoots really well in your rifle I wouldn't change.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Powder_Burn
New Member
- Aug 18, 2014
- 2
- 0
I'm a flat lander who shot my first cow elk a few years ago in Colorado. I was shooting factory 180gr Hornady Interbonds and the cow dropped instantly with one hit at the spine/neck transition. Plan for longer shots than you are accustomed to and practice. I practiced shooting from field positions at home and during the hunt the closest we could ever get belly crawling was 280 yards (without getting busted by all those eyes). Good luck!
luckynv
Active Member
If you are looking for factory ammo, Buffalo Bore makes some pretty good stuff using the Barnes TTsx. You just need to find what works in you gun and know your limitations. An 06 is plenty of gun for Elk. Accuracy on your part and shot placement are far more critical than having a super magnum killer that you cant shoot. Good luck and God bless
Mule3006Elk
Active Member
- Jul 3, 2013
- 264
- 82
I've had good luck with reloads using 168 grain Barnes TTSX, H4350, Winchester primers, Lapua brass. Shoots 0.75-0.9 MOA, on a consistent basis, out of my old 30-06 Savage 110E. Barnes like speed for good opening. I like to keep my impact velocities > 2200 fps. Just my preference. I understand Barnes will tell you 1600 fps or 1800 fps depending upon TTSX or LRX but I don't want a pencil hole at long range. I wouldn't be opposed to using 150 grain for deer or elk. I would check ballistics tables out to your maximum shooting range. There should be a winner. Try it out. If it shoots well, per your standard, call it good and start practicing field shots in different positions. If it doesn't group per your expectation then I would try the other weight. My 2 cents.
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PlainsHunter
Active Member
I've shot a bunch of deer with the .30/06 150gr Sierra Game Kings/ loaded by Federal. They group well and I've only recovered one of them. The rest have passed through. Most shots between 100 yards out to 330 yards. Shot a deer quartering away and bullet didn't exit (330 yard shot). Wouldn't use them on an elk- but for deer I really like them. I don't think they are built to hold together like a partition or something similar.
Thanks for the tips! I haven't shot the rifle in a few years (was Overseas) but believe I was shooting Winchester Silver tips. I've only shot factory ammo out of the rifle. I plan on doing a lot of practice with a few different rounds this Spring...
Eberle
Veteran member
If your shooting factory ammo, I'd recommend going to Powder Valley & buying Nosler in the 165 grain accubonds. My expierence with factory ammo is that Nosler is hard to beat. I've also had great success with Barnes TTSX. Mid-South Shooters is another good place to buy ammo.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
As mentioned, the Sierra game kings, Nosler accubonds , Barnes ttsx are good bullets, don't overlook the Hornady GMX either.
I loaded some for my 30.06 and have gotten a bit better groups with them than I get with the Barnes bullets that I love. That's in one particular rifle though. Your mileage may differ.
I loaded some for my 30.06 and have gotten a bit better groups with them than I get with the Barnes bullets that I love. That's in one particular rifle though. Your mileage may differ.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I have been shooting a 30-06 for many years. I have taken elk with a lot of the different bullets on the market. Any bonded bullet will work if you place it where it needs to go. Several were taken with 180 grain Remington corelocks- they did just fine.
For the last 10+ years I have been shooting Hornady 165 grain interbond in Hornady factory superformance loads. My rifle likes them and I don't have any issues shooting antelope to elk with them. My bull this year was taken with one shot at 477 yards. My rifle shoots the 165 grains very accurately and they fly relataively flat for the 30-06. In most rifles you will get close to 2900fps with them which is a little faster than your typical factory load. My good friend shoots the superformance with the GMX bullets. His last elk was also a one shot kill.
Again I don't believe it really matters as long as you find a bonded bullet that your rifle likes. I have taken many antelope with 180 grain bullets. It doesn't "blow" them apart with the extra few grains of weight as long as you are using a bonded bullet.
For the last 10+ years I have been shooting Hornady 165 grain interbond in Hornady factory superformance loads. My rifle likes them and I don't have any issues shooting antelope to elk with them. My bull this year was taken with one shot at 477 yards. My rifle shoots the 165 grains very accurately and they fly relataively flat for the 30-06. In most rifles you will get close to 2900fps with them which is a little faster than your typical factory load. My good friend shoots the superformance with the GMX bullets. His last elk was also a one shot kill.
Again I don't believe it really matters as long as you find a bonded bullet that your rifle likes. I have taken many antelope with 180 grain bullets. It doesn't "blow" them apart with the extra few grains of weight as long as you are using a bonded bullet.
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
Kill my 1st Elk in Colorado using 30-06 and 180 grain bullet, one thing about the 30-06 you have a wide selection of ammo !
Elkfitness
Member
I like the Barnes 168g ttsx. I'm going to try the hornandy superpergormace gmx this summer to see how they group. I believe most if not all of the eastmans hunt winners were given a 30-06 as well. Maybe Scott will chime in on the ammo used. As others mentioned, 180g is the common weight for the 30 calibers.
NDHunter
Veteran member
I would shy away from silvertips for elk and instead go with the other recommendations that you have gotten so far.