Max hunting range of 30-06?

[jski]

Let's first stipulate you're hunting elk. And let us further stipulate that you're hand loading your rounds for max performance, bullets, powder, primers, cases, the whole 9 yards.

How far can you push the 30-06 for the aforementioned elk ?

 

[Jluck]

Let's first stipulate you're hunting elk. And let us further stipulate that you're hand loading your rounds for max performance, bullets, powder, primers, cases, the whole 9 yards.

How far can you push the 30-06 for the aforementioned elk ?

It depends. 30-06 Springfield or 30-06 Creedmoor?

 

[Pulpwood]

Depends of the shooter , in capable hands a long ways

 

[shooter7]

683 yards.

 

[jski]

Springfield !!! Pray tell, what the hell is a 30-06 Creedmoor ?

 

[jski]

683 yards.

That seems mighty specific! 683?
Care to elaborate?

 

[Pulpwood]

I was going to say 600 yds in capable hands but bullet choice and load naturally comes into play

 

[Wolf76]

Ballistic tables suggest about 550 (assuming 180gr bullet, .5bc and 2800 fps). Bullet will be traveling at 1950 fps at this distance, which is close to the minimum speed for any expansion.

 

[Pulpwood]

30-06 loaded with 165 grain bullets cares about 1075# energy at 600 yds give or take

 

[jski]

30-06 loaded with 165 grain bullets cares about 1075# energy at 600 yds give or take

Don't Berger bullets maximize performance ?

 

[Pulpwood]

i don't know. Haven't tried them yet. You get mixed results when talking to hunters that use them

 

[shooter7]

That seems mighty specific! 683?
Care to elaborate?

Well, first I thought, "what would I load to try to maximize the effectiveness of the .30-06?". From there I decided that the Nosler Accubond LR 190gr would probably be a good bullet. I then threw a hotter handload from the Nosler manual into the JBM ballistics calculator. Then I enter the elevation I routinely hunt at, and see where it drops below the the generally accepted 1500ft/lb "required" to cleanly harvest elk. According to the calculator that happens somewhere between 650 and 700 yards. I just spitballed the 683.

 

[Pulpwood]

I started hunting with a 30-06 in the 70's and later thought it wasn't cool enough , I still have 2. I hunt with all other calibers but in the real world the 30-06 is all most of us really need . But don't tell my wife that . In experienced hands a 30-06 is dangerous a long way , just saying

 

[Pulpwood]

Jski , I never heard of it either . Guess I getting behind due to birthdays