Author Topic: Best bullet weight for 30-06 (Read 2667 times)

Lawndart · « **on:** August 17, 2009, 01:03:11 PM »

With reloading supplies being hard to find....I thought I'd try to save myself some powder and bullets.

Which grain weight bullet do ya'll like the best for the 30-06? I'll be using it on whitetails. I have plenty of IMR 4831 and 4350. I have 165s, 150s, and 180s all in Nosler Accubonds (which I like).

If you have a pet load that you like, please include that as well

krod47nw · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2009, 02:09:31 PM »

the 150s, are more than enough bullet for whitetails, but every 30-06 I have owned prefered 165s.

Any 165 over IMR 4350 is a great load.

Kevin

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2009, 02:45:11 PM »

Personally, I like the 180 gr loads... But I have a number of rifles and different calibers to go to for different weight loads. I don't even load mine with 150s at all. That's what my 30-30 is for. Then the '06 does well with the 165's.. No wait, that is what my 307/308s shoot.. See what I mean? Then I have another '06 that shoots 220gr RN exclusively. Wait a minute... My Marlins in 375 shoot Hornady 220's.

You will find dozens of good answers as the 30-06 does almost all weights very well!!

CW

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2009, 02:57:55 PM »

When I used my .30-06 for whitetails, my favorite loads were with IMR 4350 and either 150's or 165's. In both cases I loaded a near max load, and I believe I got the best accuracy with CCI-250 mag primers.

krod47nw · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2009, 03:43:28 PM »

Quote from: Wyo. Coyote Hunter on August 17, 2009, 02:57:55 PM

When I used my .30-06 for whitetails, my favorite loads were with IMR 4350 and either 150's or 165's. In both cases I loaded a near max load, and I believe I got the best accuracy with CCI-250 mag primers.

I too found cci mag primers to work best.

securitysix · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2009, 03:58:31 PM »

My uncle uses 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and some charge of BL-C(2) out of his .30-06 to hunt whitetails. He says it puts them down like they were hit by lightning. I shoot a .308, so I can't say much about the .30-06 from personal experience.

Casull · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2009, 06:46:00 PM »

My favorite load for mine is 165 grain Sierra GameKing over H414 (at about 2900 fps). It's taken 6 deer so far and all have been 1 shot kill.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:46:51 PM »

I've always used and preferred 180s in the '06 personally. I work up the load for each rifle so no particular personal favorites. I think every such rifle I've owned took a different load.

John R. · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2009, 05:48:57 AM »

I shoot a 150 gr. Accubond, over a near max load of IMR 4064. Shoots 3/4" @ 100 yds.

Swampman · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2009, 06:14:04 AM »

I prefer the 165 grain Core-Lokt.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #10 on:** August 18, 2009, 06:38:57 AM »

Quote from: krod47nw on August 17, 2009, 02:09:31 PM

the 150s, are more than enough bullet for whitetails, but every 30-06 I have owned prefered 165s.
Any 165 over IMR 4350 is a great load.
Kevin

+1 exactly!

The 4350 works fine for the 150's also.

Swampman · « **Reply #11 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:56:04 AM »

I've fired some sub-1/3 moa groups using IMR4831 under a Sierra 150 grain BTSP.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** August 18, 2009, 11:30:10 AM »

Nosler recently dropped me a box of their new E-Tip .308" 165 grain bullets with the plastic tip like the Ballistic Tip. It's not made from copper like Barnes bullets but rather of the same jacket material their other bullets are made from so should at least in theory copper foul somewhat less. Otherwise it should be pretty much identical to the new bullet from Barnes with the plastic tip.

It's fully as long as a normal 180 and maybe a bit longer. I hope to give them a try in my '06 before winter comes. I've really got to stop doing so much farm and yard work and get up to my range soon.

Tn Jim · « **Reply #13 on:** August 18, 2009, 01:47:07 PM »

Quote from: krod47nw on August 17, 2009, 02:09:31 PM

the 150s, are more than enough bullet for whitetails, but every 30-06 I have owned prefered 165s.

Any 165 over IMR 4350 is a great load.

Kevin

What he said.

charles p · « **Reply #14 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:24:47 PM »

You will never need more than a 150 for deer. Recoil will be lighter, tragectory will be flatter, and velocity will be higher at most common ranges. Don't worry about energy as you will have more than is necessary. The 180 is only needed for much larger game.

kwells2006 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:31:20 PM »

what charge of 4350 do y'all use for the 165?

patw · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2009, 01:59:20 AM »

It looks like I may be the only vote for light bullets. West Texas white tails don't get very big, and I have done well with 125 grain bullets and 4831. No problems with killing pigs with that either.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** August 19, 2009, 03:51:53 AM »

K I used an older Speer loading book, it listed some pretty hot loads. So I hesitate to give that load. In those days when they listed a max. load it was hot

But it was max. or near max. with IMR 4350. Bob Hagel gave some pretty good advice for working up max. or safe loads for one's rifle.

kwells2006 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 19, 2009, 06:29:45 AM »

why i ask is because i snagged a 03 springfield and dont wanna blow it up.

BBF · « **Reply #19 on:** August 19, 2009, 06:56:38 AM »

If you hunt nothing bigger then deer a 150 gr. bullet will do. If you go bigger 165 gr is a good all around weight.
Excluding beasts that want to eat you that is.

huntducks · « **Reply #20 on:** August 19, 2009, 09:41:13 AM »

Without a doubt I have the 30-06 from he!! I went throught 13 different bullets 150-165-180grs 5 powders nothing shot well in this md 700 till I tried 165gr TSX with RL-19 and FC 215GM primers it now shoots a solid 1" group rather then 3"-4"

Remember it's where the first bullet goes out of a cold barrel that counts most.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2009, 11:28:04 AM »

Quote from: kwells2006 link=topic=180513.msg 1098873762#msg 1098873762 date=1250667080

what charge of 4350 do y'all use for the 165?

I dont like to post actual charges, but I haven't seen a '06 that can't be made to shoot a combination of IMR4350 and a CCI primer.

CW

MZ5 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2009, 04:50:44 PM »

Like Graybeard, I use and prefer 180s (or 175s) in the '06. To me, firing 150s means I need to pick up a 308 instead. The 180s shine in the '06 as far as I'm concerned, and Nosler's data manual has provided me with outstanding loads using Ramshot Hunter.

Casull · « **Reply #23 on:** August 19, 2009, 08:42:09 PM »

Quote

If you hunt nothing bigger then deer a 150 gr. bulet will do.

But a 165 gr. will do it better. IMHO, the 165 gr. is the best all around bullet weight for the '06, with the 180 gr. a close second.

securitysix · « **Reply #24 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:23:06 PM »

Quote from: charles p on August 18, 2009, 03:24:47 PM

You will never need more than a 150 for deer. Recoil will be lighter, tragectory will be flatter, and velocity will be higher at most common ranges. Don't worry about energy as you will have more than is necessary. The 180 is only needed for much larger game.

Need? No. Want? Maybe. Like I said, my uncle uses 180 grain Nosler BTs for deer because he likes the way it puts them down and keeps them there.

The way he described it, with the 150s, he had a few deer get up and walk 30 feet after being hit. With the 165s, he had a deer lift its head for a couple of seconds after being hit. With the 180s, they just go down and stay down.

AK737FO · « **Reply #25 on:** August 20, 2009, 04:25:10 PM »

180 gr Barnes X with about 55 grains of IMR 4350 = the last 06 load you will ever need

cwlongshot · « **Reply #26 on:** August 21, 2009, 10:55:52 AM »

Quote from: AK737FO link=topic=180513.msg 1098875161#msg 1098875161 date=1250821510

180 gr Barnes X with about 55 grains of IMR 4350 = the last 06 load you will ever need

IMHO, this is the quintessential 180gr '06 load and it sure shoots great in my guns!!!

One thing I want to mention for anyone reading this and wanting to load it. Watch out for pressures using it with a X bullet... The X has a much longer bearing surface and usually required reduced charges from those listed for same weight conventionally constructed bullets.

CW

Tn Jim · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2009, 04:50:22 AM »

What about the Triple Shock CW? I thought the rings cut into it was supposed to fix that problem.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:00:49 AM »

Quote from: Tn Jim on August 25, 2009, 04:50:22 AM

What about the Triple Shock CW? I thought the rings cut into it was supposed to fix that problem.

Yes, that is part of its design. But the fact remains that unless the recipe calls for a monolithic bullet, it was designed for a conventionally designed bullet. If your going to change anything from that orig. recipe, your treading is uncharted waters. Proceed with caution!!

CW

smith85619 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:09:26 AM »

I have found a combo that my Ruger M77 Hawkeye likes pretty good. 165gr Hornady SST over H4350. This rifle would not shoot any factory ammo better than 3in groups. Now it will shoot sub moa.