Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 30-06 with Heavies 190-220+ against the medium bores

Yeah, it didn't take much prodding for me either. I was actually wanting to get a 375 H&H pre 64, but then saw how much they wanted for those and quickly changed my mind. This rifle came up locally and I couldn't turn it down. I later fell into a sweet deal on my 375 H&H, so all is well now ..Your 35 newton is every bit as good as a 9.3x62mm though .. Probably a little harder on the shoulder though .

What about the Sierra 200 grain GameKing? This is one we don't hear much about in the 30-06 or anything else; perhaps for a reason. Anyone with experience? Seems it would have a tougher jacket than lighter weight .30 cal. Sierras. Maybe a good elk bullet?

For sure. It is a great bullet. I use the 250 gr. sierra GK in my 338 win mag and it knocks the hell outa elk. I don't see why the 200 gr. 30 cal would be any different.

If you own a Whelen there is no reason to get a 9.3x62.

....and vice versa...Kind of 2 peas in a pod huh Ed. That may not stop my good buddy beretzs though. He's a big time rifle loony . He has an awesome pre 64 Alaskan 338 as well.

How the heck did you take two elk at 350 yards with an 06 and a 220 grain, not knowing what distance they were at? Man, I really suck.

Are you suggesting that people can't hit stuff without their range-finder nowadays?

How so, the 168 loses that much more energy after 300 yds?

No, I'm suggesting I can't. With a 200 grain out of an 06 at 350 yards, it had to be dropping pretty good, one would have to have a pretty good idea how far those elk were. I don't think I could differentiate between 300 and 350, and those fifty yards with a 200 grain dropping I wouldn't think leaves a lot of room for error.

I am prejudice against that bullet.. one of the biggest deer I ever shot went down at that shot, 100 yds away... while I was running toward him, He got half up and shook his head and took off into the swamp.... right as the northern sun was dropping right at the last day of MN deer season....

even with a huge blood splat all over the snow.. including a bunch of hair....Sieera's tech line, told me that bullet was probably flying too fast at that distance to open up.. probably passed right thru the buck....

This was out of a 300 Win Mag, but I have to admit... I haven't used it ever since...

the ammo was Federal Factory "premium stuff"....circa 1988 or so...

I am a fan of a good old fast stepping 220 grain RN...

Is it possible you were just unlucky Seafire?

Example, last Sunday I shot a half size boar pig eating a dead pig next to a ground tank. About a 30kg animal, or the size of a labrador. Hit him under the ribs on the left side from about 50 metres, the bullet exited which was obvious at the time because dust flew up behind.

But he runs doesn't he? Another hit, this time on the run at 70 metres, further back and a little high and he's down.

On examination, the 130g PMC soft point at a chronied 3050fps MV from my 270 has punched through the vitals, exited via the right shoulder and left a 3 inch exit wound, and he still ran! I was lucky the scrub was not thicker around that tank, I probably wouldn't have got that second shot and lost him maybe.

Just bad luck. You might be being a little hard on that Sierra bullet because of your experience, is all I'm trying to say.

Ssshhhhhhhhh!!

Don't tell anyone.... I got a reputation to keep around here...

we'll just keep that between you, me and a few hundred fellow campfire members...

I held slightly above hairline at top of back. It dropped into the lower chest. Both did not take a step. Sorry, it's been a few years and I can't remember the exact shot placement This was the year that CO permitted three elk tags. I had purchased the third tag for the 4th season, but we had to leave as a big snow storm came in. We were north of Vail and almost did not make it out.

I don't think the 220 drops as drastically as you think and you have at least a foot for error in an elk's chest.

A lot of us older hunters are more familiar with our rifle's capabilities and guesstimating distances than the younger set who depend on range finders.

I have shot a lot of NRA matches in the past with the last leg being 20 rounds slow fire, prone, at 600 yards. I pretty much know what a 30-06 will do and what 300yards looks like.
The top photo is what it looked liked weather wise, the 2nd or 3rd day we were there,3rd season.

That's exactly what my best friend and I agreed on in the mid 1990's. The Highpower Matches we attended gave us the confidence to make the shots that otherwise we may have passed up.

There are only three ranges for me when I hunt - Too far, aim dead center or hold high.

OK, I admit I'll parse it a little finer than that, and maybe a little higher than the top line of the back, but those two generalities take care of any range under what I feel I need to laser, and that varies with the gun.

Pretty much if you hit anywhere from the spine to the bottom of the heart, you will have meat.

Yep!!

That was what I wasthinking. And I think many folks don't enjoy the benefits of wide open shooting spaces which also helps develop skills. I can sit on our porch at camp for instance, and my wife can say, "see that ice chunk out there? Let's see you hit it first shot. Or, let's see you hit it three in a row." Not saying any of that is "sure-thing" shooting especially considering that you not only don't know the actual distance, but you also can't know size for sure either.

Another thing that's fun, kind off topic, but shooting the tips of largely submerged rocks as they are exposed briefly between the swells. In that case you can know the distance if you choose, but timing the shot and placing it well can mean a solid "splat" without a splash. Those are trade-offs that make $7-11 gas and $14 milk seem very worthwhile sometimes.

Goes like this , 168gr TSX-BT(BC .404) at 2900fps mv compared to a 200gr Accubond (BC .588) at 2700fps mv, 300yds 1862/2253, 400yds 1543/1984, 500yds 1270/1740, 600yds 1039/1522 ft/lbs respectively. Combination of Ballistic Coefficient of the bullet and speed, down range the higher BC bullet will retain more speed/velocity . So in my 30-06 the 200gr Accubond is the best choice for far away big big game.

With a 100yard zero 168gr TSX-BT/ 200gr Accubond. 300yds -12.67/-13.79, 400yds -28.92/-30.37, 500yds -53.62/-55.14, 600yds -88.57/-88.59 inches. virtually the same flight path with more energy and more bullet to do more destruction. I've killed moose with both and the 200gr NAB does a much more decisive job.

Wow, I had no idea a a 200 grain would hold its fps better than a 168grn. Somewhere along the line I was lead to believe the 168 grain was about the best long range option for an 06, I guess I need to reassess and study that some more.

Of the two loads you mentioned, would you happen to know how the two compare in recoil lbs?

Thanks.