Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 30-06 and 200 grain Partitions....too much for deer.

I was digging through my ammo box yesterday and found 32 loaded rounds of 30-06 200 grain partitions that I loaded two years ago for black bear and sort of forgot about. I figure on using them on deer this year or do think they may be a bit much. Past experience with any partition tells me they will expand but may "over penetrate." Anyone use a 200 gr partition on deer and have any "bad" luck?

Never done it but imagine it would work very well.

180 Partition/300 WSM combo is quick and clean. I'll take that anyday over a light, soft mach 6 bullet.

I'd use them...no such thing as "overdead"

Overdead is fine, overmess sucks.

It will way overpenetrate, just make sure you don't have other deer behind the one you are shooting because you might just take them all out
I'd use them without worry otherwise. A slower 200 will do less meat damage than a screamin fast 150 using the same bullet type (partition).

A 200 grain partition through the heart/lungs should be clean. Just don't hit a shoulder...

I know they work wonderfully on elk.
Wouldnt be my first choice for deer, but if they're loaded up you might as well use them. I cant imagine there being a difference in meat damage from 180's to 200's IMO.

It'll work but there's no reason to use anything heavier than a 150 gr out of a 30-06 on deer IMHO.

Partitions are designed to work on deer -- for certain, every time.

The front portion will open up fine.

No worries.

BMT

Use them up. I will take two holes in a critter over one every day of the week. Either that, or save the ammo for another black bear hunt.

nobody would try to talk you out of using a 338 Federal with 210grn Partitions loaded up and ready to go. Or, if you were using one of the classic "woods" cartridges like a 358 Win, people would applaud that choice. Just because a 200 grn Partition isn't anywhere near the top of anyone's list for deer doesn't make it a poor choice. On deer, there isn't much difference between these. I would expect a pass through and a ripe mellon sound when the bullet strikes.

The 200gr Partition has considerably more core behind the partition than that of its lighter stable-mates, the 180 and 165, which have the same amount of lead in the "shank." That bullet will still open up well below 2000fps. I don't shoot the 30-06 much any more, but I always have a few boxes of 200 grainers loaded and a couple of boxes of bullets at the bench.

I shot a whitetail last year at 400+ yards with a 300WM flinging 200 AB's. Dropped like a rock!

Thinkin' it'll way overpenetrate, but work well anyway.... grin...

It sure ain't gonna do a buck any good.....I suspect it'll kill him.

Yar.

My next trick is messing with RL17 and 200-gn Accubonds in my '06. Thinking there's 27xx fps to be had there.

There's nothing wrong with overkill but Sam said it best, overdead is better than overmess. A 200-gn in a 30-06 interests me way, WAY more than say a 130-gn. going warp speed.

With all that said I doubt it's the best deer load a guy could cook up for a 30-06.

I have hunted deer with .30 caliber (.308 & .30-06) since the early '70's. I used to be a dedicated 180gr. man as were most of my hunting buddies, I too had an interest in 200 and 220gr. bullets. But over the years have found from range testing and field experience in harvesting deer that the 165gr. has yielded the best results for me. The 165gr. is a reliable bullet that does not do excessive damage and result in a lot of spoiled venison.

Mule Deer used to shoot them quite a bit and I believe even used them
on antelope a time or two.

Flatter shooting than you expect, they should work with no problems.

For deer you should stick with the 165 or 180 grain Core-Lokt. They can't be beat.

Now Swampy is spreading nonsense using 2 different handles!

Isn't there a rule against that?

Binky,

Ya got 'em, ya might as well use 'em. They dang sure won't bounce off.