Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Whats a good bullet for Mule and Antelope for a 30'06?

Given the .30-'06 and a search for the proper bullet for mule deer and antelope, I'd default straight to the 150-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip (#39585) or the Hornady 150-grain Spire Point Interlocked (#3031).

Either bullet will do the deed wonderfully. Powder choice is fairly simple; most propellants from WW-760 to H-4350 will give excellent velocity. Personally, I like H-4350.

An extention of this question is ... Would this load be OK for elk? Let me say that, when I was guiding in Hell's Canyon, I killed my 15 or so elk with a dose of H-4350 behind the 150-grain Hornady Spire Point Interlocked. The elk simply dropped at the shot.

A good 150-grain bullet, driven at a decent speed in the .30-'06, is capable of taking all of the big game in the lower-48 states in a most decisive way. It is an awesome combination.

Steve

I have been very tempted a time or six.

Very, very frickin' tempted.

Steve

IMR 4350 and almost any 150 grain bullet seems to work well for me. I've used 60.0 grains with Nosler Partions, Hornady SP's, Speer Hot Cores and Sierra SPT's in a bunch of .30/06's with good results.
John

Work up a load with whatever powder you have and zero the gun and practice. I load 150 Hornady SPs for a bud's 30-06 and he's absolutely tickled on the results he gets on whitetails. I've only seen a few examples but what I have seen so far, I'd not hesitate to use a 150 or 165gr Hornady SP out of a 30-06 on any deer. Good luck on your hunt.

I hope on getting out at least 2x with some steel plates up to 400 yds. I have some 4350 so Ill try that out. I love shooting steel and never tried it with a hunting rifle. My 260Rem Nesika is my steel plate rifle. Cant wait should be a great trip.

I've used 130 Barnes Triple Shock on both antelope and a number of deer. You can get a bit flatter trajectory with a bit less recoil, and of course lots of penetration, if that is something that interests you.

It also uses quicker burning powders (RL15, Varget, H335, 4895) if that is what you have on hand.

I'd get my hands on a box of 168 gr. Ballistic Tips and load them up to nearly 2,900 fps with either IMR or H 4350.

Huntr - That's the kind of attitude that could put you in front of the Rifle Loonie Membership Review Board!

I've never shot a mule, but I've wanted to a few times.......

Having used the 30-06 for years and tried a lot of different bullets, I finally settled on the 180 gr. Nosler partition for everything I hunt with the 30-06..It just works. Did the same thing on my 300 H&H except I opted for the 200 gr. Nosler.

dogzapper: Ohhhh, how I agree with you on both posts! Your info for handloading the 30-06 is spot on of course. Mules huh? Well been tempted![ shhhh, don,t tell PETA!] Tom

bhoges: Had to get back to dogzapper on that. listen to what he and some others have mentioned, and you'll do real good out West. Now go out there and a ball, and let the 'Fire know how you did.[ummm, don't shoot any mules] Tom

Yep, the 52gr of IMR 4064 is a favorite load with the 150gr Sierra. I used a CCI 200 primer, and way back then, I used LC54 military cases because they were plentiful and cheap. That was 40 years ago now. Nowadays, that load is considered HOT in the new manuals. I'm still not sure whether the difference is in the componenets (Powder) or more conservative safety margins in the manuals. As always, start lighter on the powder charge and work up carefully. (my own disclaimer)