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Picked up a 30-06 ruger skeleton today and am planning on it being my main rifle this season. I dont have time to reload this year so ill be useing factory ammo. The hard thing for me to figure out is whats a good starting spot on what to get. I know it depends on how the gun shoots with a given load and i will test out accuracy with a few diffrent loads. It will have to cover a variety of diffrent ranges from 30yards in a swamp up to 325yards in a beanfield. What ammo should i try that will perform ok at those diffrent ranges? I was thinking about trying 168gr ballistic silvertips by winchester but i had a nosler BT Explode on a deer once at close range from a 708 so im kind of not sure about them.
Last edited by Nate40; 07/26/16.
Rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
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Campfire Ranger
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The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
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If you want to go cheap, either Remmy 150 gr. Core Loct or blue box Federal. If you want to go a bit more money, Federal Fusions. If you want to spend the big bucks, Barnes Vortex or about any other "premium" load. My last deer was with the Vortex and I was impressed.
Last edited by ryoushi; 07/26/16.
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Remington 165 gr core/loct. I haven't personally tried the Hornady Whitetail Classic loads, but have heard nothing but good reviews; and it's about as inexpensive as any factory load out there.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Find the flavor that groups the best, and then hunt away.
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Campfire Outfitter
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_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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The 168NBT is not a very explosive bullet. I've actually found that it is about 40-50% jacket. It's a killer.
As others have mentioned, Fusions are never a bad choice either.
Now with even more aplomb
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I like the Fusions. Not too pricy, shoot good in anything I have tried them and not hard to find. I haven't found that white tails are all that picky about what you shoot them with as long as you put the bullet where it will do the most good.
Harry
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150s or 165s. 180s and up are designed for bigger game and may not expand on deer as well as the lighter stuff. Find what your rifle likes and run with it.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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I dont mind paying for quality but if i can get good 300yard performance with the cheaper loads ill do that as well. Ive thought about 165gr fusions but didnt know if they were a good choice for shooting over 200yards. Ive shot several deer with them in my rem 700 270 out to about 200 yards and they worked well at those distances
Rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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They will work just fine, as long as you do your job.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I've put several people onto Fusions with similar questions for several cartridges and the reports have been uniformly good.
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I'm wondering what you think will happen past 200 yds? Will the bullet's bounce off?
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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Yeah, I like the Power Point the most for 'cheap' factory bullets.
Core-loss the least.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Campfire Tracker
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It would be easier to list what won't work. Anything FMJ. Lighter (like 130gr) hollowpoints. Probably throw tracers in there for good measure although that may depend on how you like your venison cooked. Just about any other bullet (and probably the above but they are not first choice) would work fine.
Last edited by Blacktailer; 07/26/16.
I am continually astounded at how quickly people make up their minds on little evidence or none at all. Jack O'Connor
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Campfire Ranger
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The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Campfire Outfitter
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Congrats on the skeleton Ruger. Had my .30-06 at the range last weekend and it was grouping 168g TTSX under an inch. I've used that bullet on mule deer (.30-06 and .300WM) and it worked well - as in end-to-end penetration with an exit at about 400 with the .300WM.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Used Core-Lokts and Fuzions. Either will do.
Me
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Used Core-Lokts and Fuzions. Either will do. How much of a pita were the used core lots to reload
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
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Corelokt has killed a many but I like the Fusions over the corelokt and they are about $18 a box.
The QC on the corelokt has been shoddy the past few years. Ive bought boxes and found some with the worst looking tips on them. Lead with tip bent over and overage from the casting off of one side.
Never found any bad like that with Fusions or HAW.
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I have a .30-06 in a Ruger UL boat paddle that really likes 165 grain Game Kings.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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165gr. corelokts... Or 180gr. Winchester power points..
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Campfire Outfitter
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Used Core-Lokts and Fuzions. Either will do. How much of a pita were the used core lots to reload
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Federal Premium with 150 grain Sierra's.
Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms should be a convenience store; not a government agency.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Let your rifle make this choice for you
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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168 or 150 ballistic silver tips.
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I've taken a handful of deer with the 180 TTSX. They never failed to have a complete pass through with extensive tissue damage. Most fell within 0-20 yards of where they were shot.
Last edited by whitebread; 07/27/16.
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Thanks everybody. I got some 150gr winchester powermax bondeds and some nosler custom 165gr accubonds to try. Figured id try some from both price points
Rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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My 77 Hawkeye .30-06 groups the 165 Winchester power points right at an inch at 100. They're 19.97 a box at Wal-Mart and I'm sure they'll kill deer.
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I'd suggest Federal Premium 165 grain Sierra GameKing. They'll most likely shoot well in your rifle and can attest to their effectiveness on deer.
Only a fool would sell an accurate .30-06
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I've dropped quite a few with a bone stock Winchester 670 and blue box Federal 150 grainers.
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Pick a round, do your part, the round will do its part. Deer ain't hard to kill.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Pick the one your rifle shoots best. For me, I prefer Power Points.
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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150 blue box Federals. At 500 out of a .308, a heart lung shot left a nickel size hole in and a half dollar going out. Not much difference at closer ranges.
"Do not blame Caesar, blame the people...who have...rejoiced in their loss of freedom....Blame the people who hail him when he speaks of the 'new, wonderful, good, society'...to mean ,..living fatly at the expense of the industrious." Cicero
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Pick the one your rifle shoots best. Great advice. Unless you can't afford the time and money to test several ammo brands and bullet weights I'd pick a 165gr or 180gr bullet weight. The heavier bullets seem to work better for me at close range than a 150gr (less meat damage) using cup and core bullets. YMMV
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Federal Fusion Ammunition 30-06 Springfield 150 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail $22 Midway USA
Remember, not everyone has a happy ending, so be happy when you can
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I would get a box of 150gr and a box of 165gr of Federal Fusions. Fire a few groups and hunt with the one that shoots the best, though I'd bet it's the 165's.
Camp is where you make it.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I dont mind paying for quality but if i can get good 300yard performance with the cheaper loads ill do that as well. Ive thought about 165gr fusions but didnt know if they were a good choice for shooting over 200yards. That's a chip shot for an 06.
Camp is where you make it.
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Campfire Savant
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I load 150 accubonds in my 06 and 300 win mag. Kills deer pigs right fast.
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Campfire Tracker
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Deer, Are a pretty soft target for a 30-06 class cartridge. All of the major brands of 150 - 180 gr C&C loadings are used by millions every year with good results. I lean more to the 150 gr. and 165. Actually you got two good answers 1 pick the one your rifle likes best,and 2 your first response I'd start with the federal blue box as they are usually low cost and very good. If your rifle doesn't like them I'd move to power points and core locts.
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