Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 30-06 One Bullet for Lower 48

For a very good standard bullet, check out Speer Hotcores. I've used them a lot out of a 270 with excellent results. They have very good weight retention and have been quite accurate in my rifle. I haven't tried them in a 30-06 but I have in a 300 WSM. They worked great in that one. The problem is finding them. Right now Midway has a few selections in 165 and 180gr.

Exactly. About time someone mentioned this exceptional bullet. The op is looking for "one" bullet for shots from 100 to 200 yards. Damn if I can't think of any other bullet that would work as well as the 200gr partition. I've tried so many like the 165 and 180gr Hornady sp interlock, 180gr ww powerpoint, corelokts of various bullet weights (from 150 to 220) and even the touted 180gr partition (which I've had elk catch by the way). The 200gr partition always pokes a hole through the critter, no matter how big and it puts them down fast. Its also damn accurate out of every 30-06 I've shot it in. I'm with you gunner. My vote is for the 200gr partition. The best bullet for the op's application..

Jerry,

I suspect the same reason is why aoudad have the same reputation for being tough to kill. Maybe 3-4 years ago a good friend and fellow gun writer had booked an aoudad hunt, as I recall one of the free-range hunts on public land in West Texas. His guide, like many Texas guides, recommended a .375 H&H.

But my friend had a beautiful "traditional" custom rifle, based on some sort of short CRF action with a fancy walnut stock. It was a .250 Savage, and shot very accurately with 100-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. He asked (1) if the bullet would penetrate sufficiently, and (2) if it was enough for aoudad. I told him my experiences with the and he decided to take the .250.

They found a big ram about 250 yards away, and my buddy shot it through both lungs. The ram ran about 50 yards and fell over dead.

And here is an Aoudad shot with a .30-06 and a downloaded ( to .308 levels..) basic 150 gr. Hornady spire point. This one went 10 ft.

Were I to pick one bullet for the lower 48 it would be a 180 Gr. Hornady...but lots of others would work..

This is what I’ve been using the past 2 seasons on deer, elk and antelope. The factory Barnes vortx shoots sub moa in my rifle.

Ingwe, what rifle is that? It looks like a 700 but I don’t recognize the stock. It has nice lines . Thanks.

It IS a 700 ADL that I converted to BDL and put in a Mountain Rifle stock...a Remington original . I added the English Red pad.

It IS a 700 ADL that I converted to BDL and put in a Mountain Rifle stock...a Remington original . I added the English Red pad.

Sounds like Johnny Cash's Cadillac, but it sure looks nice. I've got an older ADL that shoots great but I'm lukewarm on the stock. Now you've got me thinking. Thanks for the info.

I have lost track of how many moose either on my own or with bullets I have loaded for hunting partners I have seen drop to my 30-06 Tikka M65. I started out with 180 Winchester PP and 54 grains of IMR4350. They shot well and killed well at the ranges I usually shoot stuff at -- typically 150 to 300 yards. then I found the Barnes TSX and their dope said tio drop one bullet weight so I went with 168 TSX and 57 gr of H414. That load gives me 2900 ft/sec and consistently shoots between 5/8" and 1.25" at 100 yards.

My wife gets "pink bullets." 150 grain TSX with a light load of IMR3031 which pushes 2800 fps in her Tikka M65. She has shot deer at 200 yards. She also shot a nice bull moose with the same rifle and load. Range was 60 yards. Bull died on his way to the ground. She loves heer 30-06 and those custom pink bullets.

My hunting partner likes my Hornady 165 gr BTSP interloks chased along by 57 gr of IMR4350.

180 gr Partition. Soft up front for expansion on deer and 'lopes; but will penetrate for elk.