Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Heavy Bullets in the 30-06

Thinking about loading some 200 or 220gr bullets for my 30-06 since my 308s cover everything below that. Considering a round nose as well, since most of my shots are pretty close. Anyone have any favorite bullets or loads I should try out?

I have been working with the heavier 200 gr plus bullets in my 30-06 recently as well. I have been using the Superformance powder and getting good results with the Sierra 200 gr Game king, the 200 gr NP as well as the 208 gr Hornady Eld M. All got up to about 2700 fps and into an inch or a tad better in my Tikka 30-06.

Hornady lists 56.7 gr as max for 2650 fps for both 200 gr and 208 gr ELD bullets. I was using federal 210 primers and Nosler brass.

I'm thinking the same myself. Lilja barrelled 0308 covers lighter bullets great (including 180's).

Have a McM stocked pre-64 M70 3006 being bedded right now by Justin Knepper, a shout out for him. (This is the 4th rifle he has bedded for me, work is exemplary, price fair, turn around great)

When it gets back it will get fed a get a diet of 200/220 gr. NPT's., it will become my "new" .338 for griz' country!!!

I have been using Sierra 220 gr RN bullets in my .06 for 20 + years. I have killed elk at 10 yards and have killed them at just past 400 yards (lasered) with no problem. I have probably killed 30 + elk with them. They shoot as well as any bullet I have tried, and some better. About an an inch groups at 100 out of my old Pre 64 Win FWT. Less meat spoilage and instant DRT effect when the bullet goes into the right place. As an idea of how long I have been using them, I started when you could still by mil surplus 4831 powder from less than $1 a pound.

I have met quite a few hunters here in Colorado from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and such shooting2 20 gr RN in Remington pumps or semis.They like them for whitetail, but seem to take a lot of elk home with them.

I do have some 180 gr Partitions loaded up that I got from SPS for $13 a box, but they don't get used much. I can't figure why people use the 200 gr or 220 gr partition in an .06 because you can't push them fast enough to matter and a 220 gr RN C&C will do the job, unless you like to shoot elk length wise. Even then, they would probably do the job, but I have never tried. However, I'm just an old fart set in my ways liking to shoot heavy caliber bullets. Probably someone will come along with good reasons not to

Before being sold on RN bullets consider this. Pointed bullets don't just have an advantage at long range. A while back just for fun I ran some numbers comparing 180 gr RN bullets to some of the higher BC 180 gr bullets. A high BC 180 gr bullet fired from a 30-06 will impact faster at only 75 yards than a 180 gr RN fired from a 300 WM. The same high BC bullets fired from a 308 surpass 300 WM with RN bullets at 175 yards. Not saying RN bullets won't work. I am saying they offer no advantages, but do have some disadvantages. No point in making this any harder than it has to be.

Despite that, I've still been a big user of 220 grain RN bullets, with a stiff charge of 4831SC, giving an MV in the 2600+ fps MV...

I've taken several deer with that bullet weight and style at 300 yds...yeah MV was not that fast at 300 Yds compared to a spitzer, and it had a more arcked trajectory than a spitzer..... but a 220 grain RN has a very big sectional density rating... and even at 1300 fps at 300 yds, that bullet will walk right thru the biggest white tail that every walked...

even when it left a dime sized entrance wound and a dime sized exit hole.... it still made the vitals look like they had been stirred by a chain saw..... and deer have dropped on the spot...

its still around because it just plain works...

Favorite bullets in 30 caliber would include 180 and 200, especially an 06. I think they would actually penetrate deeper than a 220gr.

180gr NP, AB, TSX, TTSX, Hornady IL would serve your well.

If you need 200gr, which the 30-06 does not. AB, NP or mono metal would be fine

I definitely don’t NEED the 200gr bullets. I just want to try them, if for nothing else, because I’m a contrarian.

How much quicker and does it matter? Velocity isn't everything in the equation.

I think I can count one 1 hand the number of animals I’ve shot past 150 yards anyways. In fact, most of the deer I’ve shot have been shot with a 30-30. So I’m not super concerned about the velocity issue with RNs.

I've shot wads of 200 Sierras, Speers, Noslers, and the Woodleigh 240. Mostly used IMR 4350 and R22. I used R15/Woodleigh 240 and it can make it to 2400 in a 24" barrel. I've never killed anything with any of them! ha But I never had a 30-06 that wouldn't shoot them all, and very well!

Try some Woodleigh 240gn PPSN. They are designed explicitly for the 30/06, have a passable BC and work at the impact velocities of the 30/06 (ie fairly slow).
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010569520?pid=458262

Know a few fellows who run the 220 gr Rem factory loads in their .30-06's. Shots on deer around here average < 50 yds and close encounters with brownies about the same.

One rifle and one load does it all. KISS to perfection . . .

I ran the Barnes 250 gr RN (factory loads) in my .300 Win Mag for a few years - this after some unimpressive Silvertip "explosions" on broadside deer shots. Hand loaded 220 partitions aren't a bad way to roll either.