What bullet should I try in my 30-06

[toxophilist]

I have a similarly finicky early model Browning x-Bolt with a 22" - 10" twist barrel. That will consistently shoot Sierra 200 gr. Game Kings into about 1 moa or better. My load is 54 grains of H4350 for 2650 fps that still has 2075 fps and 1912 ft lbs of energy at 400 yds. Shoots 200 gr Nosler Partitions equally well.

 

[cajun]

I'll repeat this again. It's not the ammo. Your rifle has an issue. No way it should be that finicky. Call Begera.

 

[Ronald W Schaefer]

We shoot 165 gr Barnes TTSX in three different rifles, adjust the powder charge a bit for each, but after lots of testing with new powders we went back to 57 grs of "plain jane" I-4350, CCI BR-2 primers and Lapua brass. Deadly load, very accurate and mighty easy on the rifles...~2820 fps and anywhere from 1 MOA to about .7 MOA depending on the rifle.
I haven't tried the RL-17 in that yet but RL powders routinely give me about 70 fps more velocity over IMR and Hogdon so may give it a go. Also thinking of tryin' RL-19/22 in 180 BTTSX...

 

[Ronald W Schaefer]

Depends on how you look at it. Is an easy to load/tune-accurate bullet that will smash elk & deer worth the $1.25 per?

Yessir...you track 1/2 way around the world to Africa on a $40K trip or 1/2 across US on a $6K Elk trip, $1.25 ammo is of low concern (to me) if it shoots right and does the job. "Premium" ammo is **** sure worth the cost when it comes to gettin' 'er done in the field. That said, had some pretty good luck with Sierra Game Kings and the new Game Changers if you just gotta be price sensitive!

 

[Blacktailer]

I'll repeat this again. It's not the ammo. Your rifle has an issue. No way it should be that finicky. Call Begera.

Been down the same road. Threw a lot of lead and copper downrange trying to get rifles to shoot. No load is going to cure bad bedding, barrels or scopes and mounts. This is not a bullet problem, it is a rifle problem.

 

[Bravo 4]

I'll repeat this again. It's not the ammo. Your rifle has an issue. No way it should be that finicky. Call Begera.

And it may not be a rifle issue, other than being finicky. The OP says it meets Bergara's accuracy guarantee, just not with the ammo/bullet he wants to use. Here is their policy (even has recommended bullets, may be what they test with...):
https://www.bergara.online/us/accuracy-testing/

I'll repeat this: Hammer bullets calmed down my finicky rifle, and it was probably worse.

Op,
I still think the Hammer bullets will give you decent accuracy and way better terminal performance than the match bullets that have shot best for you in this gun. I am TDY for a little longer but will check to see if I have any of the 166 Hammers at home for you to try. If you don't want to wait on me give Steve a shout as I think he started selling smaller batches for testing purposes...I think.

 

[Joefrazell]

I'll repeat this again. It's not the ammo. Your rifle has an issue. No way it should be that finicky. Call Begera.

I here what your saying but it does shoot 1 bullet well under moa so it will shoot many groups around 1/2". It's been very consistent with that one particular bullet. Bergera will be getting the rifle back for accuracy issues after my elk hunt. Looking back through my targets it shot the 178 eldx and rl16 hovering moa but I was looking for better. I stillh some 178 and rl16 and may give it another try. Moa would be acceptable for this hunt. Using imr4350 with that 178 was absolutely horrible. 2 plus inches at 100. I picked up some 180 gr ttsx to run through it and see if it will group worth a darn.

 

[hangfire]

I use Berger 185 classic hunters with Vit N150 and rem 9 1/2 primers gives great results in my 30.06

 

[cajun]

When it comes to factory mass produced rifles there are usually hummers and bummers. The hummers just seem to shoot everything well the bummers just struggle. As a last resort I would try the tubbs final finish. If it's a rough bore, throat issue it will help. Also bedding, action screw torque can be an issue.

 

[Joefrazell]

I'm pretty sure I found a very small imperfection/Burr on the crown. Tried the cotton ball swab and it catches in a certain area and I can see an imperfection where it goes from a land to a groove.

 

[Vol1975]

Found this guys research on bullets and performance on cartridges to be pretty darn good. Take a read on the various cartridges.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.30-06+Springfield.html

 

[greenejc]

Found this guys research on bullets and performance on cartridges to be pretty darn good. Take a read on the various cartridges.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.30-06+Springfield.html

Yes sir, he is very thorough, and methodical in his research.

 

[Oldschool280]

Even the worst shooting rifles i have ever owned always tightened up with sierra game kings. The speer btsp is very similar and 20 bucks for 100

 

[308stillbrass]

I have had good luck with Winchester power points, 150 gr. Been shooting them for years with no problems.