Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 200 grain choices for .30-06

Greetings, I'm noodling around with manuals and a ballistics program to see what all can be done with a .30-06. One type of load I'm looking at is a 200 grain load for elk & moose. I assumed a muzzle velocity of 2600 fps and a 200 grain Partition, and came up with about 2080 fps and 1920 ft-lb at 300 yards, and only 9 inches down from a 200 yard zero. Pretty damned good for a centenarian! KE-wise it looks like the old aught-six should be good for 325 yards on elk, but those low velocities are worrisome. Dropping down to a 180 would be OK, but a heavier bullet & lower MV is very appealing to me, so I'd really want to make a 200 grain load work.

I rather like the idea of using a super-premium bullet for super-premium prey, but maybe a bit skeptical about reliable expansion at an impact velocity down to 2000 fps (which may be quite optimistic since it uses published BC for the Partition). I have the impression that of the premiums, the Partition probably has the softest nose and ought to perform under those conditions. But how about TSXes, North Forks, A-Frames, etc?

p.s. I tried doing a search here but strangely came up with no hits on "30-06" and "200 grain".

i believe that your thinking is on the right path, i would just add the 200 accubond into the mix.
i loaded a 160 accubond (.284) for a friend last year and he killed an elk at 342 lasered yards and the elk didn't move out of his tracks. the bullet did not have a complete passthrough bu according to my friend he died very quickly.


bounty

30 cal screams 168 TSX.I'd go that route because the extra range and the fact the TSX ain't gonna lose any weight.Thats the great thing about Barnes is the weight retenion.Also won't be as ignorant when touching off a shot.

Yeah, I'd go with the TSX too, but you said 200gr. The 200gr Accubond is a great bullet, but also take a look at the 190gr Hornady Interlock SPBT. I push them about 2725fps out of my 30-06 and they work extremely well at at this MV. I've shot one elk w/ this combo @ 175yds and he dropped like a rock!

+1 for the TSX. You can go to either a 168 or a 180 TSX, get more initial velocity, better ranging qualities, deeper penetration. You do NOT need a 200 grain bullet to kill a moose. I've killed plenty and seen more killed with the lowly 165 gr Hornady BTSP and the 180 version of the same. The 165 chronied at 2800 fps, and the 180 chronied at 2750 fps. Of the two, strictly for moose and elk (though I've never shot an elk) I would use the 180. Make it a solid copper, and you get the speed of a 180, the weight retention of a 200, and great penetration. Can't see a down side to it.

If a single bullet is what you have in mind for "close to far," The 200 Partition is what I'd probably choose. The 200 Hot-Cor will likely be a ballistically identical practice eqquivalent. The Partition is certainly a known performer and I'd prefer any lead nosed bullet aroun that weight for expansion at long distance lower speeds. That's the single place where I've had issues with Xs. Perhaps they've got that fixed but.....

I have had very good luck with the 200 grain Speer Grand Slam and 59 grains of H4831sc. I have shot a few elk with this load and it has made me a believer.

My current pet 30-06 really shoots 200 grain Nosler partitions and Sierra spbt's. I will use the Sierra's for practice and small Texas deer and the Nosler's for anything bigger and tougher. After using 165's and 180's for decades I am looking forward to hunting with something different. On the Elk Hunting forum there is a thread from Nov. and Dec. about 200 gr. bullets in the 30-06.

Not my choice, but if you want to shoot 200s at 06 velocity, then the Partition is certainly the pill of choice IMO.

I'm right there with you CouchTater. I just loaded up some 200gr Accubonds and 190gr Hornadys for my '06. Enough people tout the lighter TSXs that I believe they probably get the job done, but they are not something I care to try right now. My '06 is a 1968 Ruger #1 - to me that asks for old fashioned lead. That's what it will get. Long story short - I'm heading to the range this week with an '06 that already shoots 165gr Hornadys very well. If the 200gr Accubonds fly well, that with the Hornady will be my deer and elk combo. If the 165gr Accubonds I have loaded fly better, I'll use that for deer and switch to the 200gr Partition for bigger critters (don't want to confuse myself with all white tips). If the 190gr Hornady out shoots everything, that will be my do-everything load. All should open up just fine for as far as I care to shoot (350 yards and in).

The 200 grain Accubond looks enticing, but I'm a little leery of it since its a new thing. By the time I have the money, and time, and experience to go after elk, there should be more than enough field data to evaluate the Accubond pretty thoroughly.

I'm not sure about them either. I would go lead tip, but like I hinted to before, if I'm going to use two different loads, I want them to look different enough that I don't grab the wrong ones. One thing interesting about the Accubond, I've had the tips broken off of them twice now. I was pulling some 140gr Accubonds from a .270 case using one of the kenetic pullers. Whe the bullet came loose and hit the end of the puller pocket, the tip broke off. If the they break at maybe 40fps, imagine what they would do at 2900 or more. Maybe it doesn't matter. And, while loading the 200s over the weekend, I reached in the box and pulled one out with a broken tip. Again, maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe I'll call Nosler about this...

If I were to use a 200 grain bullet I would use the 200 grain partition. It has a high BC so it won't give up much at all to the Accubond. I've used the 180 and 200 partition on moose for many years, and they have always worked great.

I would also use the 200gr. partition. If it weren't for the 168 TSX, I would be using nothing but the 200 partition in my '06's and 300 WSM...