Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles All-around weight bullet for the '06

brad,
You are correct and it was no oversight on my part I can assure you.
I have killed more animals with X bullets than most writers but if I only promoted or endorsed the Barnes X bullet for the very true reason you outlined, then I could be offing favortism and close mindedness to other bulles so my answer was deliberately generic and did not take into account bullet design or construction.

The fact is, I still use other bullets for the also very real reason that the manufacturers change them, more often than not, without any announcements.

Because of that reason, I have always included that fact in my ballistic seminars in the past. It still raises some eyebrows when you show a slide that demonstrates mechanical differences for two supposedly identical bullets.

AGW

I love the 180gr TSX BT. Flat shootin' and hard hittin'. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Years ago I used 150-165 gr bullets pretty exclusively in the .30-06. I settled on the 165 gr Hornady SPBT as an all-around weight, and it worked great. Recently, though, I've switched to 180 gr Sierra ProHunters. They are more accurate, and I think they are better suited to the true "all around bullet" role than the 165s for me. I now have lighter rifles that shoot bullets up to 160 grs or so (I didn't in my 150-165 gr days), so by going to 180s in the '06, I eliminate overlap. (Like it matters...) That said, it seems silly to argue that a 165 gr partition or X, or even a some non-premium bullet, is a bad choice in the .30-06. My personal choice is based on a compromise between accuracy, price, terminal performance, ballistic performance, and availability. I can shoot a whole lot of commonly available and accurate Sierras for the price of many fewer X bullets or partitions. Lots of shooting makes me more confident, and a better, more reliable, shot. Let's face it though, most of us wouldn't use an an all around load for all species from antelope to moose anyway. (Even though, IMHO, there are many good reasons why you might choose to.) Many of us tailor our ammunition to the game we are planning to hunt right now, and unfortunately, for most of us, the range of game ends at deer. If you are luckier than that, then good on ya!

Josh,

I had good luck with the Federal Classic load with the 180 gr Grand Slams as well. Took several deer and one moose with that load. I don't see them listed in the Federal catalog any longer. That is part of the reason that I am looking for a new load.

While I do have larger calibers available, my '06 is one of my few stainless all-weather guns, so it gets the call if the weather promises to be nasty.

Another vote for the 168 TSX!! I have taken 2 elk now with them, and only my 338 has been more decisive (and not by much).

Huntr

duckster-for what it is worth I've shot the new Federal Fusion a bit at the range. It has clocked well and it has shot extremely well. ( the 180 stuff shot extremely well and the 165 pretty good in my 2 06's)

May be one for you to try out.

Mark D

And another. Five shots right around an inch any day I'm up to it from my 1948 vintage M-70.

After having tried quite a few different bullets, I keep coming back to the 180 partition.

It just works! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Ted

MRD,

Good thought about the Fusion loads. I have not tried them but have both read and heard good reports. A bullet like that at '06 velocities should handle most jobs appropriate for the .30-06

I have relooked over this question a few times and keep coming to the conclusion that I have never had he worng bullet loaded and everything I shot with the .30/06 fell over. Never lost a single animal with this cartridge.

Maybe that says something right there???

AGW