Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Best bullet weight for the 30/06

I don't hunt a whole bunch with a 30/06 but I have owned a slew of them and shoot them a great deal,and I have seen the cartridge work on everything from pronghorn up through elk.I have not loaded a 180 in the 06 for decades. The reason is that the 165's driven at 2850-2950 shot as flat as the 150's,and penetrated very well on anything I saw it used against. Mostly we used the 165 Nosler Partitions,and they worked on everything.

A 165 Nosler Partition at 2900 from an 06(or similar well-constructed bullet) is a no-brainer load in North America. If you subscribe to the KISS principle, it doesn't get any easier than this.

Agreed, I see no need for the 150's for a do all load, 165's are better.

I'm with Robin & ULA, the 165s are the best bang "for the buck" (pun intended!)

Paul

Ditto.

I'd start with 150s, and see what shot well. I'd try 165s, and 130s (TTSXs), and of those three, I'd take whichever one shot the best.

Don't skimp on the bullet. You don't, or shouldn't, skimp on anything else in your hunting, why skimp on the one thing that actually impacts the game?

165 grain works for me in my 06.

I use 180 gr. in my 300 Win. Mag. along with 168gr. TTSX or TSX
Mostly DRT.
HD

Don't skimp on the bullet. You don't, or shouldn't, skimp on anything else in your hunting, why skimp on the one thing that actually impacts the game? [/quote]

Truer words have not been spoken.

I know of people who spend thousands on fuel, gear, travel and tags - and then try and save the cost of a case of beer on a few years worth of big game bullets.

It boggles the mind...

I can think of no reason why not. When I asked for recommendations for a maximum expansion range load for my .308, Mule deer said the 150 gr. Accubond. All of the Nosler Partitions I've used expanded way out there, like over 400 yds. Even those started at a modest 2700 fps. like the 160 gr. .284 NP. The AB is suppose to open, if anything, even more easily.
For heavy cover shots, with the animals running and at bad angles, I'd like more weight and/or a premium. On deer, fast expansion is the way to go. Many cup and core 180 gr. bullets are designed to hold together, not open rapidly like the 150's. But most premiums have no problems with this. E

All three bullet weights of Accubond (150, 165, and 180) run well for me from my 30-06. I have settled on the 165 as my main load after a few hundred rounds of each. Run the numbers and you'll see that it is probably the best on paper, and in my rifle has proved itself out to "way out there" on targets too. However, it's not my elk rifle. Personally I'd load 180's for that.

-jeff

130 grain Tipped TSX.

168 TSX have worked wonders in my 30-06. I may be way off...but wasn't the 168grn bullet the original 06' round??

I like 180's. May even try 200's or 220's, as a 500 yd shot is not likely one I'll take. My personal limit is nearer to 250-300 yds. Under my circumstances, I don't see much difference in the various bullet weights.

165 gr TSX on an 80 lb pronghorn?

Can't hurt, I guess, especially if it is highly accurate. Seems like using a 4 lb hammer to drive inch long finish nails, is all.

I've taken at least a half dozen moose with 180 grain Corelokts with no problem with the kill.

I'll not use a 165 gr Federal Hi-Shock factory load again. Highly accurate in my rifle, but all 4 bullets into game over 4 days time (two into a 330 yard ram, 2 into a 70 yard moose), came apart almost at impact. Killed the critters, but I didn't like it. I have a feeling they were designed for coyotes and pronghorns,,,

180 Partitions have worked well for me on several moose also.

Our moose aren't likely as large as your on average, las, but a Hornady 165 Interlock drops them real dead here. I also used the 180 Horn IL, and I liked it better, but that's just me. 168 TSX should do it fine as well.

Another vote for the 130 gr TTSX, Remember, with Barnes you can shoot a lighter weight class of bullet. My sons rifle gets close to 3300 fps with this bullet and .70 groups out of a Savage. Not bad for a cheap gun. His gun also shoots the 168 gr TTSX very well and it was great on Elk last fall, but I would opt for the faster 130.

Hey some of 'em weigh almost 90lbs!

Really, a 150gr cup and core bullet will be WWWaaaaayyyyyyyy more than enough in an '06.

i use 180gr partitions for everything with my 06'. never had a problem, so see no reason to change. thankfully, we have numerous bullets which work well on everything from yotes to bears. life is good!

The Gov. choose 150 grain bullets or real close for the 06 a long time ago. I did too, and have been killing deer, elk, and antelope with em ever since. Reloaded plane Jane core-Lokts and good shot placement seems to do the job just fine. Only recovered one or two and have yet to recover a bullet on a critter shot where they otta be shot.
Premium is nice but unecessary, shot placement is what matters most has been my experience.
All but a couple have been under 300 yards and one antelope at over 600 that exited just fine.

There is a point being missed. The .30/06 is popular because it is competent. I believe that any load from 150 to 220 grains is adequate for hunting. Sure you may think a little more before placing the shot with some bullets but what is wrong with that?

The .30/06 is one of the wonders of the ballistic world because it is easy to shoot and has a power level that suits 99% of the worlds game. The rest is up to you, if you are a hunter.

JW

Come on, man. Stop making so much sense......

I've done well with 150 grain ballistic tips and IMR 4064. The 165's don't group as well out of my Sako but I buy them for my .300's.