Best 30-06 round for Wyoming antelope?

[Swimmer]

Shooting a 30-06 for antelope this October. Right now, I'm sighted in with Remington Core Lokt 150 gr psp round.
Zeroed at 200yds and an 11" drop at 300yds! Do you have a recommendation for a better 30-06 round?
One person said Hornady 150gr SST would be better/flatter shooting. Any thoughts on that or other rounds?
Thanks in advance.

 

[go_deep]

I've killed antelope with a .223, you'll be just fine. Don't over think it.

 

[JimP]

Just go with what you are shooting now. It sounds like you know where it is shooting so why try and figure out what a new round is doing?

 

[Hilltop]

I'll agree with the guys above. I have killed a gob of antelope with Core-Lokt bullets out of my 30-06. If your set on changing and wanting something a little flatter, this is my all game (antelope-moose) load I shoot now. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjN6LzgyMXVAhXE8CYKHbl1DZkQFggoMAA&url=https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001695636/hornady-superformance-ammunition-30-06-springfield-165-grain-interbond-boat-tail-box-of-20&usg=AFQjCNFXFMx5d1VkDBUUsUJZvjxRqsykpw

This is the best combination I have found and is much flatter than the loads you are currently shooting.

 

[mcseal2]

You will have more than enough terminal performance with your current load. The only thing you may gain by switching is a higher BC and maybe a little velocity for better performance at longer distances and on windy days. If it was me I might try a Hornady Superformance load with a 150gr bullet just to see how they shot. They will be higher velocity and BC if they work. Your gun might not like them, I've found a few that work great in my rifles and had rifles absolutely hate them too shooting 4" groups instead of 1" groups.

There is probably no reason to change your current load unless you plan to shoot past 300yds. I like to experiment so I'd try it, not saying you should. If you are happy with the current ammo I'm not saying you should change. Its cheaper and lets you practice more, probably more important than the performance gain of the Superformance anyway.

Using the factory numbers a quick run on Hornady's ballistic calculator shows:
Remington ammo zeroed at 200yds, -8" at 300yds, -24" at 400yds
Hornady superformance zeroed at 200yds, -6.4" at 300yds, -18.8" at 400yds.

There is a difference but it's not huge at 300yds. Thats using factory ballistic numbers too it will be different from your barrel. Accuracy is more important than the performance difference but this will give you an idea what it is.



https://www.midwayusa.com/product/128904/hornady-superformance-gmx-ammunition-30-06-springfield-150-grain-gmx-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-20

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/884224/hornady-superformance-sst-ammunition-30-06-springfield-150-grain-sst-box-of-20

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If you are comfortable with what you are currently using and it shoots good groups, don't change!

 

[Winchester]

If you are comfortable with what you are currently using and it shoots good groups, don't change!

What CC said ... definitely!

 

[Swimmer]

best 30-06 round for Wyoming antelope?

Thank you gentlemen for your advice. All of you seem to say "stick with what you have", since I know where it is hitting. I hope to find something less than 300 yds (hopefully NOT beyond 200 yds). This Wyoming trip is a first for me and it's on my bucket list for this 80 year old Iowan. Thanks for your input. I think I will "stay put"!

 

[wy-tex]

Bring your rangefinder. The wide open spaces here can be deceiving.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have taken over 50 antelope and I can count on 0ne hand how many have been over 300 yards. That doesn't mean I cou;dn't have shot more at longer ranges, I just worked hard at getting closer.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Bring your rangefinder. The wide open spaces here can be deceiving.

Good advice here. If you're not used to estimating the range in the wide open country where antelope live can be deceiving.
Good luck on your hunt.

 

[RICMIC]

The main advantage of using those Core-Lokt is that they are cheap and readily available. I found that the 165 grain was the ticket for my Tikka 30-06, and bought a bunch when Remington had a $5 per box rebate. I have recruited and brought many folks on western hunts, and it seems that none of them ever follow my advice to practice, practice, practice for the shots that could be. Now if the Canadians ever decide to invade across the border to Minnesota, I can stop them right here.

 

[6mm Remington]

30-06 is a great antelope round. If your rifle shoots well the load you speak of I would just stick with it. It will work just fine. Do some practice at 300 and 400 yards so you learn what the drop is at those distances.

For everything you might hunt it is pretty hard to beat a good 165 gr. bullet in the 30-06. Something like the Accubond, Partition, or E-tip.

 

[HuskyMusky]

If you think you have time to practice sight in etc...

If anything I'd find a faster higher BC 150gr bullet, but I think I'd probably just keep it as is, and try to take some shots at 300 and maybe 350 and 400 if you can just to know where that bullet is going to be.

If you can hit a target at 0-300yds you should be able to get an antelope.

Like most others have said, most shots are probably 200 or less than 300 or 400+


You may look at wind drifts too, if that wind is howling...

 

[480/277]

I never got on board with the long range folk, whose rage of the day is how far they can kill. I always tried to get closer. I'd rather shoot 100 yards then strive for my farthest shot . Which was 265 yards. But besides that exception all the other antelope kills I have been on
Have been under 200 yards. Like most said stay with what you have. Practice to 300 yards. And bring a range finder.

 

[JFox]

Hornady, federal both make free ballistic calculator apps that generate fantastic data, I've used it for several different rifles, most recently a 22-250. It was very precise regarding drop and wind drift. I dont own a chronograph or a method to determine ft/lbs of energy at terminal velocity, but if their data was as accurate as the drop and drift, it was good enough for me.
Having never hunted antelope (hoping to draw in next year), I couldn't tell you from personal experience. But, from most of the research I've been doing, a bonded bullet looks to be the best way to go. Boat tails also did crazy work at terminal velocity inside of 300 yds out of an 06 (on multiple whitetail shot by family, a lot of my kin shoot boat tail out 06s at whitetail and I've seen what they do).

Hope this helps!