Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Absolute best 30-06 Deer loads

Now that we have decided the ole 06 is not too big for deer let's figure out the best deer load. In my two 30-06's I like 57.5 grains of IMR 4350 under the 150 grain Speer Hotcor spitzer. This gives around 2800 fps I suppose and solid deer performance. However I have used the 165 grain Sierra BTHP and the 165 grain Rem. PSPCL on the same powder charge with outstanding success also.

I would like to know how you got a cup core bullet @ under 3000 FPS to actually kill something!

All jokes aside, pretty much anything that goes "bang" in a 30-06 is a "good" deer load. But finding / arguing the Absolute Best, wow. I am just going to set back with some popcorn and listen to the fireworks. lol

I hope the Factory Federal Fusion 150gr load I am going to try this year is high on the list, my rifle just Loves them, like .5" loves them...

I'm not into handloading yet but I'm hoping to get into it very soon. My '06 really loves the 150 grain Hornady Interbonds. That's my factory round of choice and once I get into handloading that's going to be my first bullet of choice too.

Glad we've decided the '06 isn't too much for deer because that's the only rifle I own right now

57 gr. of IMR 4350 under a 165 gr. bullet. 2850 fps in my rifle, according to PACT. My preference in bullet for deer goes to the Nosler Ballistic Tip, when I go after elk it will be the same load, but with a 165 gr. Nosler Partition. For those of you who don't like the Nosler Ballistic Tip, pick YOUR favorite deer bullet and put it on top of 57 gr. of IMR 4350 and go kill deer!
Selmer
PS This is a MOA load in all three .30-06s I load for, all different brands.

I don't load for the .30/06, as I don't shoot them all that often, and they are really more than I need for Florida Deer.
When I do take my Remington 742, or my 700 BDL hunting, I use the Remington 165 grain CoreLokt factory loads.
Those have been consistant killers for me for many years.

Before I'd offer an opinion, I'd want to know more about your hunting location/style. Woods hunting (e.g. Oregon's Coast Range or Michigan's Upper Peninsula's timber) might merit a different answer than hunting over open fields or sage flats or across canyons.

I've loaded Hornady 180 gr. RN bullets down to about 2500 fps for my woods hunting. There'd be a lot better choices for more open places.

I loaded my friend's .30-06 with 150g E-Tips(2nds) with IMR4064 to about 3050fps. We will see how it works in 57 days hopefully.

56gr of H-4350 under 165gr Hornady SPs is what I use now. As for "the best" I believe so such load exists.

165-gn Accubond loaded to 2900 fps or so...

I'd say the "best" 30'06 deer load is the one that works best for your style of deer hunting.
Most people find that a fast opening 150 gr. load is more than enough for any deer. They, for instance, have been known to put down and kill a buck at ranges up to 250 yds. even when hit too far back.
Personally, due the the closer ranges, seconds to shoot conditions where I hunt and the possibility of hitting some sort of brush with the bullet, I prefer a premium like a TSX, either the 150 gr. or the 168 gr. weight. Not the fastest, or widest opening bullet, but it does open very well at any range, and above all, will hold together. Something I've found important if the bullet hits brush on the way to the buck.
You should understand that some of the 180-220 gr. bullets are not designed to open nearly as fast as the lighter 150-165 gr. bullets. If you insist on a heavier bullet, I'd look at either the Remington Cor-Lok or the Hornady,Speer or Sierra 180 gr. bullets in a round nose form. E

58 grains of H4831 or H4831sc. Federal 215 primers. Either Hornady 165's or Nosler Ballistic Tips or Partitions. You can cover the groups at 100 yards with a Nickel. And the Deer drop dead. Elk fall pretty hard as well.
Never checked the speed.

T

Super post. Ill Be BAK as Arnold says. I havent loaded for the 30-06 yet, but planning too. Still contemplating dies.

DID pick up some Winchester Gold Partitions C H E A P, I thought.

Anyone shot anything with these to be able to comment or should I shoot em at targets and reload.

OFF TO WORK. Back in the AM......YUCK!

Thanks in advance for all the replys here and anyone that can tell me about the above.

SKR

I bought a couple boxes of Hornady Custom ammo with 165 Gr Interbonds a few years ago. Very accurate in my Finnbear and they have been deadly: 4 shots - 4 deer.

I bought a box of Federal Fusion 180gr 30-06 just to use as foulers for my reloads....they shoot so darn good (well under one inch and several times 3 touching) that I am thinking about scrapping the reloads and just shooting the $25 a box Federals...

My favorite 30-06 deer load is 55 grains of H4350 under just about any 180 grain bullet that shoots well in my rifles. Solid, dependable performance.

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for me personally, 57 grains of imr 4350, 150 grain barnes tsx for elk, bear, or deer. i also use 150 nosler accubonds, and ballistic tips. all of them average between 2800, and 2900 fps, and all kill equally indescriminantly for me, and shoot well under an inch in my ancient mauser.

i just want to say that you can probably reload those cheaper than buying them. you may also tinker a little and find a more accurate load by messing with the seating depth. i got way better results when i loaded my barnes tsx bullets farther out than in.

150gr Nosler Partition in front of 59grs of IMR-4350. Killed a [bleep] load of stuff with that.

Mark - I have to agree on the accuracy of the 150 Fusions. They shoot better than either my rifle or I are capable of shooting. Best, John

+1 on these loads. They are very close to MOA in my two '06's.