Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada What do you use for a bullet to hunt Canada?

I guess the Header says it all. Rather than ask for a recommendation on a bullet for large Whitetails I will just ask the question this way. What bullet do you use to hunt Canadaian whitetails? I have a 30-06. Thanks Buckfever1

Winchester Power Points 150gr
150gr Nosler Part and E Tip.

Really anything up to almost throwing rocks will kill deer.

150 gr rem core locks

The same one I would hunt deer in CT with...Nosler Partition.

CLB

In 40 years of big game hunting using calibres from .22 to .338 I've only used one bullet (except for one animal) and that is Sierra Game Kings. I reload for 2 or 3 buddies and they get what I give them. Lost one animal in 40 years and found out that if you hit them in the knee they can get away. The one exception was a Nosler Partition on a cow elk, was very unimpressed, pulled the rest and have never used them again. They blew into tiny pieces on contact.

Something between 150 and 180 grains, and something you have confidence in. Whitetails with a 30-06 only require a standard hunting bullet. Stay away from target bullets, don't use super tough "premiums" either and you'll kill our deer just fine. It's far more important to practise shooting quickly from all sorts of realistic hunting positions, and after some physical activity that gets your heart and breathing going. I'm not saying you're one, but many hunters can't shoot very well except off a bench rest with lots of time.

150 or 168 TSX. Love 'em! They're laser accurate, and kill like the plague!

Shoot 180 gr Nosler Partitions in my '06.

All the bullets mentioned in this forum will work very well for all classes of game in North America. It is all a matter of personnel preference. I live and hunt in the interior of northern B.C. When I hunt I like to load a heavy for caliber round 200gr and up. I live in grizz country and I usually carry a 300 Weatherby Mag or a 375H&H. My personnel likes for bullets are Speer SP SPZ (non premium) Barnes TSX, and Burger VLD. All are accurate out of my rifles and they will all get er done without a doubt. I roll my own ammo so I have a wide choice of bullets and powder to choose from.
Cheers & Tighter Groups: Eaglesnester

Like Eaglenester said - In B.C. - you never know what you are going to run into, so - because of that, TSX's are at the top of the list. My 30-06's both like 168 grain bullets.

30-06 Hornady Light Mag 165 SST.....wacks the tack.

338win 225gr Federal Premiums loaded with Nozler Accubonds.

Another Hornady shooter here.... both the InterLocks and SST's are excellent !

I shoot a 140 grain SST in my .270, but for the '06 a 165 would be perfect.

Great big buggers.

I also use Sierras for most of my hunting bullets, and have done so for 40+ years.
I use the 140 grain game Kings in 6.5 for my 6.5X55 and 6.5X284 and the 165 HPBT's in 30 in all my 30 cal guns
Cat

Mr. buckfever1;
While we don't have extremely large bodied whitetails in our part of Canada, the mule deer can push 200lbs carcass weight on occasion.

As 7STW so aptly put it, deer aren't that tough to kill- in our part of BC anyway.

Specifically using an '06, I've shot more deer with 165gr and 180gr Hornadys than any other bullet.

I believe I'd shoot the bullet that your '06 likes the best, shoot it often enough at various ranges to get to know it well and then just go deer hunting.

Good luck with your hunts and Merry Christmas to you.

Regards,
Dwayne

I've used a lot of Hornadys Interlocks myself, and at normal speeds, they work real fine. Killed lots of moose and deer with an '06 and either a 165 or 180 gr Hornady IL.

Lots of those factory loaded Federal Classic Hi Shock softpoint bullets used too.Guess it's called Power Shock now.

About any bullet that will fit snugly down an 06 barrel should work just fine.

Now THAT will preach!

Canada is a BIG place! It's more than the Rockies...

In Ontario and east, big buck whitetail can go 300 to 400 lbs! And Saskatchewan holds some world records. So, it depends where you hunt whitetails, obviously. That also means the possibility of woods-range shots to open medows, to hill country with dense woods (where I hunt), to clear cuts, to farm land, etc. You get the picture...

The 30-06 cartridge is perfect for any and all shooting of "Canadian" whitetail since it has been successfully used on moose. BUT, OTOH, if I were using a .30-caliber for whitetail in thick brush (which often happens)at least a 180gr of premium quality would get the call. From a 30-06, a Hornady would certainly be adequate. But I did use a 180 Hornady Interloc FB at 3000 fps from my 300WM and the buck showed up at 35 yds. One shot, one very dead buck! The hole going in between neck and shoulder was .30-cal. When the hide was pulled off there was a 3" hole through the ribs, taking out three of 'em. The bullet never exited and was never found. No external blood, but one very dead whitetail. After that experience I've used Nosler Partitions because I like an exit!

Just some thoughts to consider.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca