Has anyone shot a deer with a 180 grain copper bullet out of their 30-06? I just picked up a box of the Federal Trophy Copper 180gr for my 'O6 and was curious if it blew through whitetail without expanding enough. I am new to all copper bullets.

I can't say it won't do well, but it looks like a hammer for elk shoulders to me.

The stuff is tipped, so you should get some expansion. The question is... is it needed for whitetail? No. Will it work? Definitively, yes.

I haven't shot whitetails with that round, but I did shoot a Scimitar horned oryx bull with it, and terminal performance was admirable.

I will say this about the Federal Trophy Copper loads. The stuff has proven to be exceptionally accurate in just about every rifle I've tested them in to date.

Will they expand? Yes. Down to 2100 FPS anyway.

Too much for deer? No, but a 130 grain TTSX will work just as well and you'll likely never stop one of them in a deer either. Why soak up the extra recoil unless it buys you something? If you have to shoot in a lot of wind, the 180s may be worthwhile. In the woods with most whitetails wind is not likely a problem. They just don't like to move at all when they can't hear.

A 180 cup and core out of a 06 will work for anything!

If the copper bullet gives the desired accuracy it will kill any deer on the planet if you put it in a vital.

Economical wise I would shoot a 180 or 165 Hornady Interlok BTSP.

Don't plan on finding the bullet, but you should have little trouble finding the animal.

It wouldn't be my first choice, but it would work in a pinch. On whitetail sized game, a .30 cal 150 grain Premium bullet is usually all that's required.

Obviously they would kill a deer heck deer have been killed usin surplus fmj ammo. I would however be a little concerned about them shooting through w/o enough energy transfer and ending up having a longer tracking job. I would also have the same concern with 180 gn c&c bullets lets face it deer are just not that big . For deer I think the 150 gr c&c is the best bet in 30 cal. Unless you are using a magnum case.

And the two deer standing behind it.
Personally, I like the lighter for caliber mono's but that's just me.

I run 180 grain barnes TTSX in a 350 remington mag for whitetails. Might be a bit overkill. I want a bullet caliber combo that will run the bullet into the vitals from any possible angle. I am a meat hunter so I will wait to punch a doe through the ribs. If I ever have the chance at a big buck I will take any shot that will eventually run the bullet through the vitals. I am sure I get very little expansion on a broadside lung shot but it works just fine. Don't see why you would not see similar results in the 06 and give the ability to take the less than ideal shot as well. Only drawback is the heavies in 06 drop fairly quick and may limit your range.

A photo that I stole from someone else on this site a while back. Bullet on the left is a 130 gr copper bullet, right is a 180 gr conventional bullet.



A stout cup and core bullet will still lose about 20-25% of its weight and end up at around 130-140 gr. The copper bullets will retain near 100% of their weight. The end result is about the same.

Everything I've read about copper says 180 gr bullets are best used at magnum speeds. A 30-06 may not shoot them fast enough to open up except at pretty close range and on tough animals.



180's in a 350 mag are a light, fast bullet, just what you are looking for in copper. A 180 in a 30-06 is a heavy, slow bullet. Everything I've seen and read indicates that you get best results with at least 3000 fps at the muzzle. I've loaded some 130's @ 3050 in my 308 and 150's just over 3000 for my 30-06. I think those are the optimum weights for those calibers, but the 180's should kill a deer. It just wouldn't be my first choice.

Here is a good article talking talking about copper bullets. Some good photos showing how important impact velocity is. Below about 2400 fps at impact doesn't offer much expansion.

http://www.thediyhunter.com/big-gam...bullets-tsx-ttsx-243-wssm-270-wsm-rifles

It will way over-penetrate.

When I started deer hunting in the early 70's I was loading a 180 gr. Hornady RN bullet in my .308 as were lots of other hunters in .30-06 as well. I shot the biggest whitetail of my hunting career with that bullet, a massive northern whitetail that field dressed 254#. I have since gone to 165 gr. bullets in my .30 cals., somewhat less recoil and just as effective.

Any bullet in the 30-06 will kill a Whitetail Deer , but this bullet wouldn't be my first choice , but I'm sure it will work fine. One of the best Whitetail bullets i have used in the 30-06 is the Hornady 165 gr SST, they can't stand it .