Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06. 180gr and up

I'm a 270 Win fan ... But I have ised a 30-06 in the past..... Im semi- working out a deal on a older Model 70 with this fellow ... Im thing of maybe using it as my black bear rifle .. And Im planning on useing 180 gr ammo .. But I Have thought about 220gr RN ..
Just checking to see if you guys have used 200 - 220 gr fodder ?

I've used every weight you can think of, even the 55gr. accelerators. I'm on a 200gr. partition kick right now...:



They penetrate like nobody's business and trajectory is surprisingly good for a heavy pill...

I used 180 grain factory loads out of my 30/06 for my Colorado black bears. It's the same load that I use for elk & deer, Winchester "power-points" or Remington "Core-lokts".

I tried to find 220 grains but I live in a small town. Locals stores didn't have any.

If I were still hunting black bears over bait--I would go with the 220. Bigger is better IMO.

I have used 220 GR RN in my .06 for years. If I know I will be hunting more open country,I will stuff some 180's in. However, because time did not permit I have killed a few elk in the 300 yard range with the 220's and they sure did the job.

I started to use the 220's a long time ago before all these super premium bullets were on the market.Shooting most of my elk within 50 yards,I need something to stay together better than regular lighter weight cup and core bullets.

Since it wasn't broke,I never tried to fix it.

Try 220 grain Hornadys over some where between 51 and 54 grains of I4350. You might be amazed at the accuracy you get.

Jim

When it comes to the 06 for hunting, I'm a 220 gr RN fan myself... with first alternate being the 180 grain RN...

especially handloaded, you can get another 200 to 250 fps out of the MV, with 4831 SC...

I was reading an older Finn Aagaard article a while ago. He tested a bunch of 30-06 loads for penetration and the 200-grain Partition beat all of the 220s. The 180-grain Partition was just behind it. Can't say that I'd give up the 180's trajectory for the 220's weight...


Okie John

I have always had luck with 150 gr RN in my 270 Winchester....
Im leaning toward RN in the 06 .. for sure most likely 220 gr Remington ....
I remember meeting a fellow 30 + years ago that had taken several large Brown Bear with a 30-06 and 220 grain Corlokt..
Im never planning to hunt Brown Bear but , large Black Bear maybe in the future... ( 400 lbs + )

A 200 grain AccuBond and a case full of RL22 has shot well in several 30-06's

Im looking at getting a older Savage/ Stevens birch stocked 30-06 .. Hopefully with sights .... I always like back up sights

Not a ton of experience with the 30-06 but my Featherweight shoots 180 Accubonds real well. I can't think of anything I wouldn't hunt with this combo.

30/06
180gr eTips
IMR 4350 (mine liked 52grs)

Call it day, all day long.

I killed my biggest black bear with a 180 partition and IMR 4831. My only brown bear fell to a 180 interlock. If I wanted a dedicated bear '06 load, I'd opt for the 200 partition behind a good dose of RL19.

Ive seen my buddies kill lots of bears with their 760's and 150 grain cor-loks, I just like the heavier bullets for the penetration. Bears dont bleed well.

180gr partition, 57-58 gr of H4350 at 2700 fps, done for every big game animal in north america

I'm enjoying a 200 grain bullet in a couple .30-06's right now. An ancient brass 200 grain NEI mold that was Fred Sinclair's favorite lead .30 bullet, which I got from him a couple years ago when he cashed in his chips. 20 grains SR-4759 drives it at an even 1700fps.

Ive been using my win 70xtr featherweight 30-06 with 200gr Partitions for all my big game hunting (moose deer bear) in my neck of the woods, northwest ontario. Ive got quite a few recovered 200 gr partitions from moose, not that this means anything (I'm not sure how to post pics). A case full of h4831 at one time got me a bit over 2600 fps with the 22'' barrel on my rifle and accuracy at 100 yds was about 1.5''. I haven't checked this load for velocity in a while just because i haven't changed anything and the bullets aren't bouncing off the moose yet.

That should be strong deer medicine! I'm using 24 grains of the same powder pushing RCBS 30-180FN for 1735 fps. I only have 2 cans left.:-(

If you talk to the guys who guide Black Bear hunts they will tell you straight up.....a Black Bear ain't a Deer. They are built differently. Way Differently.

They want bigger bore diameter, because a bear is NOT built like a deer !!! Heavy muscle, thick fur, add fat = no blood trail.

Just because you may step up in bullet weight doesn't necessarily make it a better bear cartridge.

I like 180 partitions in my 06 and 300 Win mags

I like 180's. At least in C&C, They penetrate better than heavier, according to Finn Aagard - an African hunter who did tests on wet newspaper. But truth to tell, IDGAF.... I just like 180's. If you like 200s or 220s, go for it. They will work.

Accuracy is generally more important than bullet weight.

Black bears die easy, with good bullet placement. Like moose, they just may take a little time at it...

I've taken them in .270 and .243. Not at stand/baiting hunts.