Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 30-06- 1 Bullet for Everything

So, I've been looking for one bullet to do everything out of a 30-06. My everything will include whitetail, mule deer, elk, and maybe the occasional black bear.

I like heavy bullets, especially 200 grain. I wouldn't object to shooting down to a 165 either.

Played with some 200 partitions today. Best group was all 3 bullets touching in one big ragged hole. Velocity was right at 2500 fps. This is a 22" barrel.

What do you guys like, for a one bullet in the ole 06'?

The 180 Partition in every '06 I've owned.

Big- what rifle?

Good arguments for the 200 and 165 grainers, but I still gotta go with the 180 gr Partition...........


Casey

Just one bullet is about as depressing as just one rifle....

DF

Just one bullet is about as depressing as just one rifle....

I totally agree with this.^^^^^^^^^

Remington 700. Its a 1963 model.


Also, have a Tikka T3 SuperLite in same caliber.

165 grain Hornady Spire point. I doubt many people have killed more game with one bullet...

180 Partition seems to get the nod so far.

Is there an advantage over the 180 Accubond?

I even have a few of those in the cabinet.

None that I can think of. The 180 NPT is the shizz....

Beating a dead horse here:


180 partition

Every 30-06 owner should have some of those in the cabinet. Along with 200gr. partitions....

I'm going to be trying the 180 gr Accubond in my new '06 but am also considering the 165 gr Swift Scirocco. There are so many great bullets out there it is hard to decide sometimes Think I'm going to order up a few 165 gr Hot Cor's as well for practice.

My favorite is the now defunct Hornady 190 gr. BTSP. The 180's aren't too shabby either.

165 grain interlock

I did this 20 years ago. I use a 180 grain Hornady interloc spire point. Bullet #3070----killed everything in the lower 48,---moose, elk, deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, mtn goat, cougar and antelope. I sight it in 2" high @ 100 yards and go hunt.

That makes too much sense.


Turn in your Loony Card.

Plan on using it on a little piggy in a couple of weeks.

If we can find little ones we are having a Pig Dink-a-thon

Barnes 168 TTSX is where I landed

180 Nosler Partition until I got old and cheap and started using 180 Core Lokt. I know the Core Lokt is a dirty word here.

I have taken Whitetail up to Elk using 168 TSX have not tried it on black bear but would not hesitate to do so.

With the .30-06 it's hard to make a bad choice.

Along with bigger stuff, I've killed whitetail and pronghorns does with the 200-grain Partition, and my my wife and I have killed much bigger animals with super-bullets down to 150 grains. Then there are 150-180 grain Hornady Interlocks, which also work if you put them in the right place, though they might (note the "might") not work as well for shots from one end of an animal to the other.

That'd be a real good spot!

If I had to pick one it would be 165 grain partition.

I am wondering though if a 150 grain TTSX wouldn't be a better choice.

Dink

Make it a 155 Scenar for me. But, I am slumming some 168 E Tips right now at 2850..

So the 200 Partitions work well as an all around bullet. How fast were you pushing them on average?

Not if you have more rifles than you can count...... simplifies life

Mice is...... 165 Nosler partition 57 gr H4350//2880 fps

Barnes 168 tipped TSX gets you that elk bone breaker when you need it, keeps the trajectory pretty flat a long way out there for a hunting rifle and expands well at a little lower velocity than the other tsx weights. It performs like a stout 180 and still flies like a sleek 165 grain bullet. I think there are better deer bullets but it does just fine on deer and excels on bigger boned animals like elk, boar, moose etc. where the structural integrity of a hunting bullet is tested.

The only drawback is that they are expensive to shoot for practice and so I substitute Speer or Sierra for practice and use the Barnes for hunting.

165 Hornadys and 165 TTSX for me. My 700 likes them both over 4064.

big swede,

I've used 200 Partitions in several .30-06's, usually with around grains of H4831 or H4831SC. Muzzle velocity had usually been 2650-2700, depending on barrel length, brass, primer, etc.

A 180 gr Partition might overpenetrate a bit on a chuck or a TX whitetail but it'll certainly take down anything in the Lower 48. You can often get them as blems or overruns for 1/2 price from shootersproshop.com.

180 grain Partition.

The 30-06's 'big bullet' is "all around" because it's big!

Those who make topics that say:

"What's the best bullet for the (223)" or some such tiny one are fighting their fundamental failure.

It's too small to be all around!

175 LRX adds BC and increases lower terminal velocity window. If your gun shoots them well you can't go wrong. If you value your meat or shoot something small, they go easy there. If you shoot something big, they penetrate plenty.

One for everything means off the rack loads for me. Kinda where I'm at with my 270. Ran some American Whitetail this morning and wasn't impressed. Something will shine though.

That's the one I picked. 62gr of H4350 did the trick.

168TTSX.

DumbAss Don and his non-hunting stupid ass shows up yet again.

If I were topping out with smaller large game like caribou, I wouldn't go any heavier than 165, and a stout 150 would be more than enough 99% of the time. However, since I often use the 30-06 for moose, I prefer the extra weight of the 180 Partition.

180 Partition and 30-06. Match made in heaven.

That load right there with a 165 AB opened my eyes to how well a 30-06 can work. I'm too chicken to try it for myself, scared I might like it

Tough to beat this. Though I've tried quite a few others. One of my best was a 180gr Woodliegh Weldcore PP over H4831 or IMR4350. Great shooting bullet, incredible on game.

165gr sp This is a great alround bullet for 30-06, I have taken many mule deer, whitetail, and Moose with this bullet, its cheap too. Its boring though, so I like a 150gr sp for deer size game, it shoots flat too, and a 180gr for Moose size game, out to 300yds.

I like 180 grain Remington core lokt.

Nosler ETip 150
Ramshot Big Game

Best you're going to do for a true all-around. Flies like a Scenar but hits like a Barnes.

Thought real hard bout that combo, still may give it a whirl, the E Tip looks like a very well designed bullet.

165gr TTSX. As long as it shot good.

My choice as well.

Superformance to push them to just under 2,900.

I've also seen what the 165gr Trophy bonded bearclaw does on a lot of game from black bear (lengthwise penetration with exit) to mule deer. Excellent bullet and my favorite along with the A-frame for lead core bullets.

For a boring old, plain vanilla cartridge, sure seems that there are a few people who still use it.

I'd say if 200gr Partitions shoot that good, you have answered your own question...if that isn't enough bullet(and I would sure think it would be), you probably need a bigger rifle.

A RELATED Question -

For those of you who have USED both the 165 NP and 180 NP,

UP TO Elk - is there any OR much difference in these 2 ?

I have 165 HBTSP for deer and 180 NP for Elk (hopefully).

Jerry

Nope. Ive used both on both. the elk didn't seem to notice the difference. Trajectory is very close as well.
Likewise deer seemed to die OK with the 180 run through them...

We settled upon the Barnes 165 TSX or TTSX

for the 30/06 loaner rifles we have, we now use only this bullet. Over the years we have used all sorts of combinations. However for the last 8 years or thereabouts we have only used these.

Seeing quite a lot of game harvested seasonally really begins to show the gap between the success of this projectile compared to the others we have used. It's just as dependable as possible. When the hunter makes the proper shot the anime is typically found easily and close by.

I know that this is in regard to African game, however if we are shooting everything from 20lb Diker to 2000lb Eland with this cartridge then shooting deer elk and bears should not be any problem either.

There are a lot of good bullets that we have used over the years. For smaller species the Hornady interbond and Nosler Accubond were great, as were the Partitions. When the game begins to get heavier and bones bigger then I feel the Swift A frame and the Barnes TSX begin to shine.

The advantage to the 165 is that they get down the barrel about 2900 plus with a 24" barrel which puts this speed darn close the the 300 win mag using a 180 bullet. I would almost always default to weight over speed, and this is no different. Even thought I'm choosing 165 over 180, the time spent in transit is not were the weight is critical. The weight becomes important to me once impact is made. Using a 165TSX, the weight stays at 165 grains, using 180 of almost any other design the weight quickly becomes lower as the lead and copper begin to separate and crumble apart.

When using the bonded bullets the mushroom does not lose much weight, but the diameter increase frequently reduces the penetration with the much greater diameter bullet. I can say confidently that the TSX exits more then twice as often as the Swift Aframe. Depending upon the species both of these situations can be a benefit, when uncertain species, and uncertain conditions and ranges are concerned, more penetration and two holes is our preferred desire.

Thanks Ingwe. I appreciate the experience of those who have used them.

****270 Win ALL THE WAY****

Jerry

I plan to do the same thing when my 30-06 is complete and I will be starting with the Barnes 168 TTSX and the Nosler 180 Accubond.

They did shoot good. I was just hoping for another 50-100 fps. I've tried 3 different powders. Just don't get much past 2500. Some of them shot horrible too. I'm sure I could do worse than a 200 partition at 2500.

I had this same mission a couple years ago and settled upon the 168 gr NBT over a near-max charge of Hunter.

They retain weight like a partition and a great BC.

Great stuff in my book.

This thread should help ya:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7219652/30_cal_bullet_test,_cow_femurs

efw,
Some good reading.

Do you know if the 165 BT is the same construction as the 168?

150gr TTSX @ 3040
180gr Accubond @ 2750

My two favorite -06 killers. Currently into the 150gr TTSX.

My choice has been the 150 e-tip if the rifle will shoot it well and consistently (my Tikka will, others haven't done as well). If the e-tip doesn't shoot as well as you'd like, the 150 TTSX almost always will.

With these bullets I've not seen any reason to go heavier, and for me that includes moose and grizzlies. The 150s will shoot a little flatter, with a little less recoil, and typically penetrate -at least as well, if not better- than any of the cup-and-core options.



This was the work of a 150 e-tip at 30 yards.

A blue suit looks better with black shoes.

180, then a 165/68, but I ain't picky - anything that shoots and performs well. Currently using 150 for caribou out to 500 yards. , but they work on moose too.

180 Partitions with 180 Accubonds on deck - whichever one is more accurate.
If you get bored, try the same in the 200's.

Wow nice bear!

I agree w/Bobin NH! Smokin nice beat!

When I first got started reloading, I wanted to use 180 Partitions in my 30-06 BAR but didn't have any luck accuracy wise. I loaded up some 150 SSTs, got 1 inch groups and called it good. Screwed up and got a chrono. Found out I'm only getting 2775fps so I'm going to do a little more work on it soon. Gonna give those Partitions another try too. I may not have have ever gotten them up to a speed where they needed to be in order to be accurate.

Thanks on the bear. Stalked into a couple day old moose kill and caught him carrying off the moose jaw in the foreground. He apparently figured something was up, paused and faced me. Fortunately the something was probably my safety coming off. Dropped where he stood, though I shot him a couple more times until he stopped moving. 30 yards is probably an over estimate.

Tried to do the same this year on my moose kill. A bear had buried the carcass, but I didn't find him this time. Stalking though the brush when you know a big bear is there somewhere, and maybe not too happy you're messing with "his" kill is a good way to get the adrenaline flowing.

I'm lucky as hell to be able to walk out my front door or hop on the 4-wheeler and hunt like this...

Count me IN as well.

Gorgeous bear -- BIG head.

Sweet

Jerry

Beautiful bear! Congrats on him.

Ant details on the 150 ET as far as bones struck or overall internal damage?

Unfortunately I didn't have time to check inside for bullet performance. It was getting late and it was all I could do to get him skinned out.

I did shoot a black bear this year from above at about 350 yards with the 150 e-tip. The shot passed through the back and all but took off a rear leg other than a little bit of hide left. After using this bullet for the last three years, I can't think of much that it won't break.

I've been shooting the 200 gr partition for some time now as a one and only '06 bullet I'm a still hunter though and my shots rarely exceed 200 yards anymore and I can count shots out to 300 on one hand in the past twenty years. But it will do that range and then some. And, will arrive with authority. If you have longer shots presented often or the chance of them I would go with a 165-168 BTSP style bullet I shot crop damage back in the late eighties and used 150 gr BT's and 165 gr Hornady FB interlocks. The Hornady's were fantastic. I still have a couple hundred on the shelf and my load notes. As a side note, I have only used one mono metal billet in the '06. 150 gr Barnes XLC. The funny blue ones. They were super accurate and I never recovered one. I never thought the '06 needed a mono metal bullet though for it's velocity range

I love that bear! You are blessed to bable to walk out your front door and get after it. This whole thing has me thinking about a TTSX in my .270 also. Congrats

I have often thought about one bullet for my 30-06.
Here are some loads I have worked up.

200 grains Partition 2755 fps
180 grains NAB 2850 fps
168 grains Barnes TTSX 2965 fps
150 grains Barnes TTSX 3060 fps

Gee, what is a guy to do.

They all shoot really well.

Have a great day.

I'd be interested in your load data for the 200 and 180 grainers. You must be shooting out of a 24" barrel.

Yes, I can't imagine a much better place to live. The scenery sure never gets old!



Sorry for the slight thread hijack....

Tried out some 165 Accubonds out of my Tikka 30-06 this afternoon. 2800 fps plus and a nice little group.

PM sent.

There are many great choices in 30 cal...I would choose a 180 something that shoots best in your gun...most bullets will preform fine on game in the 06

Why look any further? There you have it in a nut shell.

I would recommend the 180 partition, except it doesn't shoot well in my main 3006. Instead I use a 165 hornady flat base, which works extremely well, but I haven't shot anything big with it. I do use nosler partitions in other calibers and they live up to their reputation

I don't shoot an '06 at the moment, but for anything I'd hunt I'd start with the 130 ttsx then try the 150's if the 130's were left wanting.

F0r me it's been a 165 SGKBT.

Does Hornady not make the .308 190 Interlock any more?

Expat

Over 25 years now almost every deer, elk, or antelope myself, and most of the family I have supplied reloaded 30-06 or 308 to, has been killed with 150 grain core-lokts.
This would surely be somewhere on the up side of 100 animlas. I see no reason to change as the premium bullets I see pictures of on the net, that have made kills, tell me it is unnecessary.

They use it because, even though it is boring and vanilla, it has stood the test of time and continues to be one of the most versatile, effective cartridges ever used by the American hunter. The availability of loaded ammunition virtually everywhere ammunition is sold and the great variety of bullets available for it has also contributed to it's continued popularity. I currently have 4.

All that being said, I still want to try the .270 and hope to have one before the year is over.

Were I limited to one bullet in the '06 for everything, including bears, I would go with the Nosler 180 partition if it shot acceptably.

Only thing I've put in my 30-06 in over 30 years is a 180 NPT. If I need more I use my 338 WM. If I need more I use my 375 H&H. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

170gr Lapua Naturalis or the 185gr Lapua Mega, consistent expansion. unbelievable accuracy QC that is more likely to been seen with comp targetbullet.

try em on game and you'll never go back.

Been using both for a decade in 9.3x62, 6.5x55 and 260 rem.

will be loading up som for my Husky 30-06 as soon as I shoot off some factory Norma ammo

THIS...IF your rifle shoots it.

I only own garands in 06... but this is likely where I would start and stop in 06 land.... It works really well out of my 308 already...

Damn, I'd swear I have pictures of that glacier... Can't recall where it is though, if its not the same, it sure looks awful close...

200 gr Partitions and RL-22 have ran a very accurate 2700 fps in a couple 24" barreled '06's I've owned over the years, it or the Accubond of the same weight are very formidable in the old Warhorse.

If I were ever limited to one bullet for any gun or any caliber it would be the Barnes TTSX.

In the 30.06 it would be the 165 grain TTSX. Can't imagine any better performance or penetration.

165 Bitterroot.

Careful, the "BC" Police doesn't chastise you....

Grin....Jorg they work good when they hit something..

I even sent some to John LOL!

This I'm planning to find a load (hopefully) with 165 TTSX for all my hunting and loading up 165 SST to match for practice. It's nice they have the SAME BC.