WTK - best bullet weight in the Handi-Rifle 30-06?

[ncsurveyor]

In general, is there a specific weight bullet that shoots better in the 30-06?

[PawPaw]

The answer to that question relies on several factors, not the least of which is the rifle itself.  All barrels are different, even two made side-by-side on the assembly line.  Barrel length, barrel twist, powder used, all these things play a part.

That said, most .30-06s will shoot 150-180 grain bullets very well.  Mine likes 150-168 grain bullets and shoots them well enough that I'm unable to see much difference in group size.

[BBF]

I consider 165 gr as the best all around weight.

[ncsurveyor]

edit to add:  specifically in the handi-rifle.  

[petemi]

I'm not a big '06 fan, but I've got to say I believe the 168 gr. BTs work best in my Handi.

Pete

[thejanitor]

For smaller type big game my handi loves 125 Nosler BT, BUT this does not go all the way through a big deer side to side every time (sometimes, but not everytime). Very accurate and will kill the animal but the exit hole you sometimes need for easier tracking isn't there every time. Put it in the lungs and the deer is dead within 100 yds.
The Sierra 125 hunting bullet is a little better on holding together but, in my Handi the BT shoots a tad bit tighter group.
These are the only two bullets I have hunted with in my -06 handi. I have taken Doe whitetail in MT and MN with the BT, I would NOT use it on a large Mulie buck. It would kill him, but tracking and finding could get tricky without a good pass through wound. Just my opinion.
Good Luck! thejanitor

[petemi]

Janitor, I'm Old....not wise....but seriously lazy.  I don't shoot anything that won't do a complete pass through shoulder to shoulder or end to end.  That's one of the reasons I chucked my 6mm.  It might bust a shoulder, but the rest was inside there somewhere.  I'm into big meplat and big holes in and out.  The .22s, RF and CF, are the only things I own that get little bullets.....and I don't hunt big game with them.

Pete

[Slufoot]

I used a handload last season in my ought'6 Handi that used the Remington 165 Core-Lokt bullet. It shot very well on paper and gave a complete pass through and a bang-flop on the whitetail doe I got with it last year.
I use alot of core-lokt bullets and we eat alot of venison!

[Whopper]

I've been using the 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with very good luck. Most of the groups are around 1" @ 100 yards. Puts them paper trophies in the stew pot every time. Have yet to be able to use it on anything living yet, but they should do just fine.

[ncsurveyor]

I've been using 130gr hornady spire points over H4350 and they shot +/- 2MOA with an occasional flier, and that was fine for me as most my shooting was 100 yards or less, but they are logging the woods where I hunt and the end of season will be very open, with 400+ yards a distinct possibility, and I want to tighten it up a bit, and ensure adequate killing power at the terminal end of range.

Just for giggles, I have some old 180gr Winchester ST's I'm going to church up and see if they get an Amen.

If not, I have some Nosler BT's I'll work up.

[ncsurveyor]

Gents,

Using federal brass, regular large rifle winchester primers, and old 180gr Winchester ST's, I am getting flattened primers at 52gr of H4350, which should be the starting load.

Good groups though.

Anyone else have similar problems?  Perhaps I'm crimping the bullet to much?

[lonewolf5348]

I used the last 40 plus years 165 gr. Hornady SP bullet.
I can say not loaded hot more of low to mid range I never had a deer walk away from a well placed shot.
I switched a few years back to the REMINGTON 165 Gr. same excellent result as the hornady bullet

[gomerdog]

As mentioned before, every rifle is different. My 30/06 Handi is most consistently accurate with 220 gr. bullets...either Hornady or Sierra. Have some Nosler 220's I want to try. Late cow elk season begins October 23. The '06 may get the nod with them if they are accurate. Otherwise, it will be the Hornady's.

Jeff

[quickdtoo]

Dunno if it would be considered "best", but my Ultracomp shoots 200gr Nosler partitions real good, it shoots 150gr Fusion ammo even better, so I'd expect anything in between will shoot equally well! 

Tim

[Sourdough]

All my 30-06s shoot well.  The Handi's shoot best.  My two Handi's shoot better than I am capable of shooting most of the time.  Now as for bullets, it depends on what I am going after.  My rifles handle all weights from 125gr to 200gr about the same.  Now that said I have three favorite bullets.  For animals under 100lbs I like the Speer 125gr TNT.  For Wolves, Black Bear, and Caribou, I like the Sierria 165gr Speer Point Boat Tail.  For Moose and Grizzly, I like the Nosler Partition 180gr.  The problem with the 200gr bullet is the range just is not there.

This year I have loaded some Nosler Accubonds in 165gr, in front of Reloader-22.  On paper I really like the load.  It's flat shooting enough, that without changing my scope from the 165 Sierrias in front of 760 (factory duplication load sighted for 300 yards) I am dead on at 400 yards.  I'm shooting a 2 3/4 inch group at 400 yards off a rest.  Have not shot animals with this load yet, but taking it with me to Texas, Tennessee, and Florida later this month.  Maybe I will get some Whitetail and Hogs.