30-06 for Caribou.

[Dusty Miller]

There's a good possibility that I'll get to hunt Caribou in Alaska next year and if it pans out I'll take my Model 70 in 30-06.  My question today is, what bullet should I use?  Is the 150 up to the task or should I go heavier? 

[DakotaJeff]

I haven't hunted caribou (yet) but I'd think 150 grain bullets out of your .30-06 will do just fine for caribou.  If you can't find any of the 150 grain variety that group well, try the 165 range.  As many guys as I've known that have harvested elk cleanly with their .30-06s, you'll have no troubles on caribou.  Just put the bullet in the vitals and you're set.

[NONYA]

I have gone as light as a 140 out of my -06 for elk but I prefer the 150s,a caribou bull is about the size of a spike bull elk body wise,anything from 140 on up should be more than enough bullet.

[Del]

The .30-06 for Caribou is a fine choice, if you are going to use a 150 grn bullet make sure it is a premium controlled expansion type w/a proven track record, like the Nosler Partition, Swift A-frame, Win. Fail Safe, Barnes X triple shock, etc. 

I've seen enough of the typical 'cup & core' design bullets fail on Black Bear, Caribou & Moose, from standard & magnum calibers, so I won't use/recommend them!  I would rather have an off the rack $400 rifle of average accuracy & a box of ammo loaded w/premium bullets VS. a Custom $5000. rifle w/sub MOA accuracy & cheap ammo loaded w/'cup & core' bullets.  The humane harvest & successful end to a hunt all depends on the projectile sent to do the job - buy the best!

I live & hunt in Alaska, in my .30-06 I use one bullet 180grn Nosler Partition for everything, from Sitka Deer up through Grizzly Bear.

Pick some good ammo / bullets, practice a lot from field shooting positions, and enjoy your Alaskan hunting experience!!
Good luck,
Del

[Dusty Miller]

Thanks for the input guys. 

[Dand]

The 4 or 5 caribou I've taken with the '06 all used 180 Hornady (1 or 2 animals) or 180 Nosler Partion. But I was hunting the Alaska Peninsula where big brown bears are part of the background. Also at the time I couldn't find a 165 gr load my rifle liked.  I have switched to a 300 win mag and have taken about 20 -21 caribou with it, a few with 165 Speer Grand Slam but most with 180 Noslers or 180 Speer Hot cores. Again, big bears are around and moose are often on the list too - I'm in the Bristol Bay area these days.  None of my caribou have had any sort of rack to write home about - I'm all about meat hunting and I shoot the first legal animals I find - so most weren't even close to trophy size.

I think  a good 150 would do the work in an '06 but I'd lean to at least the 165 considering the other animals likely to be around.

Keep in mind quite a bit of caribou hunting is done on open windy country so flat trajetory vs wind bucking is a trade off.

I've had some friends who took large caribou at modest ranges that were surprisingly tough, soaking up a couple good hits from 300's or 7mm mags with little reaction. 

A lot of caribou fall to .223, .243, and .270's as well as the '06 so most average 'bou aren't all that hard to kill.

Hope this isn't too confusing - I prefer the 165 or 180 in 30 cal as my bottom line.

[Redhawk1]

165 gr. and up, to help buffer the winds.  I used a 165 gr. Barnes X in my 300 WM. It performed flawlessly at 300 yards when I took my Caribou in Alaska.

[Sourdough]

The 30-06 is my favorite cartridge.  My favorite load for Caribou is a good 165gr controlled expansion bullet.  Shots typically can range from 40 to 250 yards.  So decide which bullet you are going to use and load them up and go to the range and practice, practice, practice.  The 30-06 is a good round, and I will not hesitate to shoot at a Caribou out to 400 yards with mine, but I get a lot of practice shooting at that range, and beyond.  After 400 yards the 30-06 does not have the energy to properly expand a good bullet, so shots should be kept below that.

Since you will be hunting in Alaska, just make sure you have a few 180gr shells in your pocket just in case they are needed.

Also remember you are not hunting Whitetail, and losing a few pounds of meat is not important like with a little deer.  I always take a center of the shoulder shot, yes it causes some meat damage, but it drops them on the spot.  A good heart lung shot can cost you a good animal when it runs off over the hill and disappears.  Also with the shoulder shot, if you are a little off with your range estimation, it is more forgiving than a low heart shot.  I know I've shot under a lot of animals trying that shot, when they were farther than I thought.   

[Drilling Man]

  I've harvested quite a few caribou, includeing with a 30-06...  I like more penetration than 165's give, so if your going to use them something like NP's are in order...  Really i prefer at least 180's these days for animials that size... 

  I harvested 3 big bulls one day (includeing the one in the pict.) with 165's and decided right then it would be 180's from then on...

  BTW, why carry heavier bullets for backup (180 or 200's) when you can just sight your rifle for them in the first place and use them on everything!

  DM

[Redhawk1]

Drilling Man, my question is, what penetration difference do you get from a 165 to a 180 gr?  My Caribou was shot at 300 yards and it went through the shoulder and out the other side if the Bou.  That was 300 yards with a 165 gr. Barnes X bullet.

As far as carrying rounds with heavier bullet just in case, when we went to Alaska we always hunted in pairs. That was our just in case, one guy worked on the animal the other guy was looking out for them big brown guys.  Also nice Bou you got there. 

[Drilling Man]

Drilling Man, my question is, what penetration difference do you get from a 165 to a 180 gr?

  I can't tell you difference it would make in an X bullet, but in std. bullets it DOES make a difference.

  It's NOT just the 15 grains difference in weight, the 180's also have a jacket that's thicker foreward to slow down expansion, so they penetrate deeper..

  Personally, i just load 200NP's for an all around load my 30-06 and the problem is gone.  They expand well on smaller animials and also penetrate deep on the big ones.

  DM

[Sourdough]

The 165gr Nosler partition will bring down a Caribou just as fast as a 200gr Nosler Partition.  Both usually will go right through the animal.  Have never needed a second shot with the 165s, but have a lot more range with them than with 200gr.  When you are on the hunt of a lifetime, you want to be able to take what comes up.  You can't wait till next week for a better shot, range is important.  Sometimes there just is no way of getting closer, and being confident and capabilible of making a 300 or 400 yard shot will make the differance of a good hunt or a total bust.

The only caribou I ever lost was shot with 180gr Remington Core-lokt factory ammo.  The shot hit him straight on in the chest.  The Caribou truned and ran about 20 yards, straight into a Grizzly.  While the bear was busy I quitely slipped off.

My 200gr Nosler loads hit 2" high at 100 yards.  My 165gr loads hit considerably higher (about 3.5") and are sighted to be dead on at  300 yards.

[Moose-Hunter]

I use 110 grain bullets in a different cartridge for caribou. It works.