Recommendation for 30.06 - 180 grain

[Tikkamike]

I guess I got started backwards, my first rifle a 30-06 came with 14 220 grain Remingtons. Shot my first coyote with it-made a lasting impression on both of us. First deer also.

No you got started frontwards most people get started backwards! Thats pretty awesome!

 

[Mike027]

The only thing I have ever shot of this gun (Weatherby Accumark) are the 165 speer and 165 Nosler Partition. I can certainly whip up some 180 grainers and give it a try and see what kind of groups I can get. To be honest I would feel a little more comofrtable with moving up on bullet weight.

I have a 7mm RM Sendero that I had purchased specifcally for my Idaho trips. I want to put a Nightforce on it and I just wont be able to make the purchase, load work, and field practice, before mid October. Next year though............

 

[sp6x6]

I have run into a guy hunting up in my neck of the woods w/06, he has a few years on me. I t is big steep country, magnum country as I call it. The '06 has treated him well, he is on the 15-20 6x6 bulls, and I know a grizz in there.

 

[Accushot]

I know I am somewhat new to LRH, but I really have had success Nosler Accubonds. I used a 165 gr Accubond this last year in my 30.06 and it performed wonderfully. 1 shot through the rib cage on a angle and it still busted the shoulder on the way out at about a 230 yd shot. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Tikkamike]

I have run into a guy hunting up in my neck of the woods w/06, he has a few years on me. I t is big steep country, magnum country as I call it. The '06 has treated him well, he is on the 15-20 6x6 bulls, and I know a grizz in there.

I know if you ask my grandpa he will tell you theres nothing he cant do in wyoming with his old 03' 06

 

[Dalebow]

I shot my last elk with my 300wsm, 165gr TTSX, I got him but he didnt go down like my elk last year with 180gr TSX, now Ive got a 180gr TTSX load for my 300wsm's and my blaser 300 Win Mag, I really think there isnt a better round for the 30 caliber say 0-600 yards, past that the bergers give you better flight but for me I like shooting no further than 400 yards but can out to 600 with confidence. My buddy shot his elk with federal Premium 180gr TSX with his winchester 3006, dead elk, one shot 334 yards, complete pass thru.

 

[Mike027]

I see lots of good reviews for the Barnes Bullets on the internet. I may give them a try.

For right now I think I will start off with trying some 180 grain Speer Hot Cors since I had super accuracy with the same but in the 165 grain.

With the 165 grain bullet I was using 57.5 grains of H4350 shot out of my Weatherby Accumark. I was averaging about 2,848 fps on my chrony. Iwas using a CCI 200 primer.

If I move up to the 180 grain Speer (or the Barnes) will it be necessary to use a different powder or do you think the H4350 will be ok? Thanks. Mike

 

[davewilson]

my go to gun for 30 years has been an 06. i've shot everything from magpies to moose, even a snapping turtle a couple years ago, using different bullets, mostly the 165-180 range. i've also worked up loads in 2 other 30-06's and each one worked the best with H414 powder. always get 50-100 fps faster and the best accuracy. my gun shoots the 168 ttsx at 2950 with 414, only 2850 with H4350 which is supposed to be the go to powder for that cartridge.

 

[Mike027]

Dave Im actually packing up to go to the range this morning. I ended up going with the Speer 180 grain Deep Curls. Based on the load data on the Speer website I loaded test rounds using Reloader 19. Today I will test from 55 grains up to 58.5 grains. If all looks good I will test their recommended max load of 59 grains tomorrow. It is cold here this morning in Michigan but we should see 40 degrees by mid afternoon. I have been itching to get out. I only have 100 yards to work with. I wish I had a longer range so I could do a ladder test. As it is I basically test using 3 rounds and then move up in half grain increments and fire another 3 rounds. I try to evaluate by looking at velocity and group size. I hope I see good results. Thanks. Mike

 

[Mike027]

Well Im back from the range. I was surprised that the group sizes were so large. However the bright spot was with the 57. 5 grains of Reloader 19. I must have hit a node because the average velocity for the 3 shots actually dropped to 2617 fps and the group size shrank. Mike


RL 19 FPS Group
58.5g 2767 2.097"
58.0g 2732 1.575"
57.5g 2617 .733"
57.0g 2700 1.250"
56.5g 2655 1.471"
56.0g 2621 1.971"

 

[webs]

Generally with Barnes you can run lighter bullets. Seems like they like the speed for expansion.

 

[Scot E]

One thing I consistently see on many big games animals is guys shooting too far back. Not due to a bad shot but due to an improper aim point. Many guys don't realize that the shoulder angles forward like it does and that the vitals are directly above and in front of the front leg not behind on a broadside shot. If you put a bullet in front of the leg on this picture you will take out the heart, lungs and arteries and he isn't going very far. But just look at what many consider to be the correct aim point, the pocket just behind the leg. You will be lucky to barely hit the lungs. This is the area where elk will suck up a lot of bullets. I think one of the reasons that the high shoulder shot is working so well for guys and becoming so popular is that it is one of the first recommended aim points that actually gets shooters on the correct side of the leg, where the vitals really are.

I hate to even mention what my best performing bullet is on elk when shooting short to medium distances with my 06. A 165gr Hornady BTSP. I have had more 1 shot kills and DRT shots with that bullet than any other.

Scot E.

 

[kcebcj]

I hate to even mention what my best performing bullet is on elk when shooting short to medium distances with my 06. A 165gr Hornady BTSP. I have had more 1 shot kills and DRT shots with that bullet than any other.

Scot E.

I've been shooting a 06 forever. About eight years ago I became interested in long range shooting using the 06 and started using the Bergers and Accubonds because of the better BC's. As I said in an earlier post I'm having really good results with the 190gr Berger.

This is where I agree with Scot E. The Hornady 150 and the 165 grain "Spire Point" bullets are the absolute best for putting a animal on the ground out to 350-400 yards. I have taken more deer and elk with mainly the 150gr Spire Point than any other bullet.

 

[Scot E]

I've been shooting a 06 forever. About eight years ago I became interested in long range shooting using the 06 and started using the Bergers and Accubonds because of the better BC's. As I said in an earlier post I'm having really good results with the 190gr Berger.

This is where I agree with Scot E. The Hornady 150 and the 165 grain "Spire Point" bullets are the absolute best for putting a animal on the ground out to 350-400 yards. I have taken more deer and elk with mainly the 150gr Spire Point than any other bullet.

Jim,

What velocities do you get the the 190gr Bergers out of your 30'06?

Scot E.