I know most elk hunters, if given a 30-06 and their choice of ammunition, would pick up a box with 180 gr premium bullets and go hunt.

My 30-06 shoots 150 gr bullets very, very well. And I tend to load them a little under max velocity because with less kick I can shoot that rifle a little closer to its potential accuracy.

So figure a 150 gr .308 cal bullet at about 2750-2800 fps. Such a combination has worked well with the 7x57 using 140 gr and 160 gr bullets for all kinds of game and it's nearly as fast as a factory 270 Win with 150 gr bullets.

Of course, compared to the .277 or .284 diameter bullet, it's giving up sectional density, that property that in part, determines penetration depth of any given projectile.

Now, I like to hunt elk. Up to now I've been putting up with the greater kick and reduced accuracy of 180 gr loads when I pursue the great wapiti. But is there a particular bullet that would compensate for the lighter weight and lower sectional density of the 150 gr .308 bullet at a slightly lower than factory velocity?

Partition, TSX, or Northfork.

Plus, with all the attention and claims the Noz BT's are getting, maybe the 150gr is tough enough........


Casey

TSX or TTSX...

Killed them with a 150 NPT....so that'll work too...

+1

I would want more weight, have you tried the 165's? For a 150 then like those above the Barnes TSX or TTSX.

I have shot two bull elk with 150 grain Nosler Accubonds out of a 300 H&H -- worked great for me. Distances were 120 yards and 275 yards.

TSX. Copper rules when you are on the light side for bore.

Drive Mono.

Mule Deer (JB) has written at least a couple times on this forum and the Elk Hunting forum here in the past year that the 150 grain Nosler Accubond has become his go-to bullet for the .308 Win (for pretty much everything you would use a .308 Win for was my impression when I read his comments). The velocities you're talking about are basically the same as .308 Win loads.

Here's a quote from October:


Do a search for posts by Mule Deer for Accubond for 2011, and you'll find some of his opinion on the issue (good stuff). Look particularly for one on 6/12/2011.

GI AP.

This doesn't speak to "best" among a passel of 150 grain bullets, but I think it offers something of value, given the source:

There you go!

I'd go 150gr TTSX

I think that GI AP was 165gr.

155gr Lapua Scenar, one sailed right through the elk I killed this year dropping it on the spot.

150 gr. tsx , have taken many with that one in a 30/06

A few hunters I know make dead elk every year or so with the 150 rem core-lokt. Be it 30-30, 308 win, the ol'-06, 300 mags of different sizes.

I was hunting with a senior fellow elk hunter and watched as he killed a lead cow, broadside shot threw the slats, 90 odd yards away with his 300 win. with a 150 gr. core-lokt. Bullet did not make it all the way threw, but the cow BARELY made it 20 yards and tipped over stone dead. The destruction of the lungs/heart was very good.

I like the piece of mind having a premium projectile for elk, noslers, barnes and such...

I have shot half a dozen bulls with 150 grain Hornady Interlocks at the exact velocities you are looking for. It dumps them in a hurry. This was my go to bullet for years. As Muledeer states, it really puts them down.

I have shot a couple with 150 grain Hornday GMX's at 2,800 fps as well. Complete pass throughs and dead elk, although much smaller wound channels and the elk stay on their feet for a bit.

My favorite has been the 165 grain Nosler ballistic tip at about 2,800 fps. Again, lots of dead bulls and they go right down with no fuss or muss. Never had one blow up, or anything close to it. I have recovered half a dozen or so under the offside hide, perfectly mushroomed.

I've shot a couple of others with the 165 grain partitions and they exit every time, but leave really skimpy wound channels and caliber sized exit holes. You don't need premiums for the .30-06. It is easy on bullets. Flinch

I'd happily use a 150 Ballistic Tip or Partition.

Pick something your rifle likes... the world is full of good elk bullets for the 30-06.

Or a 150 gr. Accubond...They are good performers too. If your barrel likes them.

Accubonds do what they're supposed to do. Been using them in .284 140 gr, & loading .308 165 gr for a friend exclusively since 2005. They are predictably, routinely, reliably, terminally effective. I have never seen them perform in any strange manner.

I wish Nosler would make them in .284 150 gr.

Any 180 Gr. cup and core would kill any elk you shot as dead as they get.

Hey Flinch,
I bought a bunch of 168 gr NBT seconds. Do you see much of a difference between the 165 gr and 168 gr?
What difference do you see if you push them faster, say 2900 ft/sec?

Thanks,

P