I've hunted with the 30/06 for the past 50 years. I started out with Remington Core-lokt. The 180's grouped better out of my Model 700 than the 150's. So I went with the 180. Killed everything from mule deer, elk , antelope and black bear. Found several bullets in elk----they were perfect mushrooms---just like the photos in the magazines. Then I drew a bighorn sheep tag & my reloading buddy said I needed to shoot reloads for accuracy. I tried both Hornady interlock & Nolser solid base. Interlocks were a little more accurate. FYI----I used up the 180 Nolser solid base on a couple cow elk----they worked. I used my interlock reloads on bighorn sheep, mtn goat and WY moose. They worked just fine---everything died. I never found any bullets. I decided that reloading wasn't for me and I went back to factory loads. I tested Federal, Winchester & Remington in wet phone books. The Winchester PP was a perfect mushroom & weight @ 140 grains--if I remember correctly. The Federal & Remington really didn't mushroom----they both weighed about 100 grains. So I choose to use Winchester PP & they worked great on black bear, elk and mule deer. I've never recovered a bullet from an animal. I've lost only 1 animal. A cow elk that I tried to break her spine----only shot I had & have regretted it very since. Young & dumb.
I site my rifle in 3" high @ 100 yards & go hunt. Everything is 180 grains in everything---factory or reloads.
I try to get a couple boxes every fall when there is a $5 rebate per box.
In all honesty any of the Big 3 in 180 grain will work in a 30/06 for anything in the lower 48. For AK grizzly, I would up it to 220 grain & use a Nolser partition. That's what I'm planning on using this June on my AK grizzly hunt. But many a grizz has been killed with 220 grain Core-lokt factory loads AK natives.
Colorado Bob
Nice write up Bob. Good info and advice. Mirrors what ive seen as well. One thing I can say is ive had mule deer catch the solid base noslers. One reason for switching to the 200gr partition for elk now. I have a ton of those 180gr powerpoints though and they work very well and are surprisingly very accurate. One of my favorite cc bullets. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. 50 years with the grand ol 06 is good stuff. Ive only been using one for 35 years and have shot pills ranging from 55gr up to 250gr. Critters the size of a lizard up to elk. The 30-06 just works.
