Author Topic: Favorite 30-06 Factory Round for Whitetails? (Read 1574 times)

Crazy Coot · « **on:** April 27, 2010, 06:22:06 AM »

What is everyone's favorite factory round for whitetails in 30-06? By factory, I mean anything not hand-loaded.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2010, 06:32:25 AM »

While I have used a bunch of different rounds from my 06 for deer.
Have not found one that works better in the woods than the 180 grain Remington Soft point. That big round nose knockes deer down and keeps them there.

markc · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2010, 07:23:49 AM »

Currently 165 gr Remington Core Lokt..

BRL · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2010, 07:50:53 AM »

The round that I have 100% 1 shot kills on exotic deer (never shot a whitetail) and hogs is the Remington Cor-lokt in 150 grain. All shots were 55 yards to 165 yards.

Daman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2010, 08:11:00 AM »

I use four listed in order of preference:

150 Grain Winchester Silver Tips (the old kind)
150 Grain Hornady Boattail SP
150 Grain Winchester Ballistic Silver Tips
150 Grain Rem. Core Lokt

Swampman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2010, 08:17:52 AM »

For deer I only use the Remington 165 grain CoreLokt but I may switch to 180 grain CoreLokts for everything. The 180 retains energy and velocity better.

teddy12b · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2010, 08:51:12 AM »

I took my first two deer with 150gr Remington corelokt ammo. Now real reason other than it grouped the best in the TC encore. Did a fine job on the deer, one dropped right there and the other ran 40 yards uphill then flopped.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2010, 09:49:51 AM »

While everyone keeps saying they use the Core Lokts And they are a great loaded round. Many stores carry them and they are about the most reasonable in prices.
Anything will work on a deer from the 125 grain reduced recoil loads to the newest most technical hunting round out there. If you like Winchester, Federal, S&B, Hornady, or someone else I have not mentioned any hunting bullet will work on deer. FMJ bullets work too but not as well.
I would look at your hunting distances and pick a bullet weight and design based on your type of hunting.

Under 100 yards - I would look at a blunt nose and lots of lead showing and as heavy as you can go. Personally I like heavy bullets for close. They tend to make a nice neat hole in and out, and very little meat is turned to jelly.
100 to 200 yards I would look at a pointed Soft point in the 150 to 165 grain range. Only a few inches from 100 to 200 yards in drop and easy to shoot.
200 and more yards I would look at a 150 to 180 grain bullet pointed soft point or a 150 grain all Copper / bronze bullet. the all copper bullets are not as heavy as the lead core type and a 150 grain bullet is physically the size of a 180 lead core. The heavier bullets will still pack a lot of energy.

chefjeff · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2010, 06:24:31 PM »

Fed. prem 165gr.,many kills,rem180gr.SP for bears,5 kills. The venerable '06 is the caliber for me. Feed it what it likes,do your part,watch them fall. Also good luck with the fed. Fusion 165gr. Happy Skinning.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2010, 05:41:14 AM »

165gr Remington Core-Lokt. I've loaded them for years too. I'm using 165gr Hornady flat base at this time but I don't know why I switched. I used 180gr Core-Lokts for several seasons with no better or worse results.

rdmallory · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2010, 06:03:34 AM »

Winchester Black Talon 30-06 Springfield 180 GR FST

Still have a box or so left, one pullet one deer.

Doug

Drilling Man · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2010, 05:54:14 AM »

The only 30-06 rifle that i shoot any factory ammo in, is a semi auto and i generally use Rem. 165's in it.

DM

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2010, 09:32:02 AM »

Quote from: rdmallory on May 01, 2010, 06:03:34 AM

Winchester Black Talon 30-06 Springfield 180 GR FST

Still have a box or so left, one pullet one deer.

Doug

Now how do you get a young female chicken to get a deer?

elmer · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2010, 07:20:31 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on April 27, 2010, 08:17:52 AM

Remington 165 grain CoreLokt

+1

Big Nasty · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2010, 04:21:04 AM »

I don't really have a favorite 30-06 white tail load. I guess the reason for this would be, we don't have any 300 pound deer in Kansas LOL. As for me, and yes I said "FOR ME" I never really thought I needed an 06 or anything that big for whitetail. Normally I use my bow, but if rifle season creeps up on me and I haven't dropped a deer yet I either get out the .243 or the .308.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2010, 04:25:44 AM »

Quote from: elmer on May 09, 2010, 07:20:31 AM

Quote from: Swampman on April 27, 2010, 08:17:52 AM
Remington 165 grain CoreLokt

+1

+1
I don't remember the last time I bought 30-06 ammo, but if I was to that's what I'd get. That's what I handload.

HogFan · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2010, 12:50:29 PM »

My .30-06 is one rifle I have yet to shoot a deer with. Now at the range, I get great groups from 150 BT, and 150 gr. Cor-lockts.

rickt300 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2010, 04:42:03 AM »

I have yet to find any reasonable load using a soft point bullet in my 30-06 that didn't kill deer very well. I like Winchester brass so their Power point in 150 grains is a good load.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2010, 04:59:36 AM »

the last deer I shot with an 06 factory load was almost 50 years ago, and it was taken with a 150 ww power point...since I hav e used reloads...BUT when I shoot my .300 Sava. on deer or antelope, I like 150 grain Rem. CL...since the old Silvertips are out of date in most calibers, I cannot say I would select them...If I were doing any combo hunting deer/bear deer/elk I would step up to either 165 or 180....MC gave good advice on selecting ammo for game....one also has to remember there are little deer and big deer, shot deer in TX. that were hardly bigger than my old golden retriever, and was told it was a BIGONE for that area...have shot mulies in the rockies that we were not able to lift into the pickup...so that is a consideration......also..good luck these decisions keep us busy between seasons....

High Brass · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2010, 09:12:45 AM »

If I didn't handload, my first choice would be Remington 165gr Core-Lokts.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2010, 09:16:10 AM »

The old Winchester 150 gr silver tip not the ballistic silver tip

streak · « **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2010, 09:28:14 AM »

East Texas and N.W. Louisiana whiteails, my daddy, brother and I always used the 180 gr. Rem corelokt in our 30-06 rifles. Shots seldom exceeded 50 yards. Most shots were bang flop!

copter wrench · « **Reply #22 on:** July 02, 2010, 11:49:17 AM »

Speer Grand Slam 165gr. I also shoot this in 300WM. One word WOW! Like being hit by Thor's hammer.

Rock Home Isle · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2010, 09:45:56 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on July 01, 2010, 09:16:10 AM

The old Winchester 150 gr silver tip not the ballistic silver tip

I killed a lot of deer with that load...NICE

schoolmaster · « **Reply #24 on:** July 03, 2010, 05:53:35 PM »

My old 740 Rem Woodsmaster shoots the 165 grain Rem CL into an inch at 100 yards. My son's Ruger all weather shoots the rem 180s also into one inch at 100. We buy our ammo at the local mart and since factory CLs shot so good we just never used anything else. He has taken 5 deer in Wis. with his rifle all one shot kills. I have yet to score but head shot a ground hog at the 100 yard backstop and ment to.