Picking a hunting bullet for my 30-06

[carbineman]

I might try my Handi 30-06 for whitetail hunting next season and would like to go with either a 150 or 165 grain conventional lead core bullet like the Hornady, Sierra, or Speer. Maybe a Remington/Winchester if I could get some. Plastic tipped bullets don't trip my trigger so I won't probably try them. I reload so I picked up 60 RP once fired brass from a buddy who helped at the range this past year. I use ball type propellants and Rem 9 1/2M primers.

My criteria is that I'm going to run these a bit under published load maximums and would like a wide range of velocities. I noticed the Hornady manual I have (4th edition) shows a useful range of 2200-3300 fps on velocity for the 165 grain while the 150 grain is 2700-3400 fps useful range. Both of these bullets are the Interlock. This would have me leaning toward the 165 grain. Shots would be 300 yards maximum while 100 yards maximum would be the norm. I have a Redfield Revolution 2-7 scope with accu-range on the barrel.

In these weight bullets I have not loaded Sierras or Rem/Wins and have limited experience with the Speer line. Seing as how I haven't any of these bullets I'm open to which ones I'll use.  What are your experiences with any of these in the -06? Any info would be appreciated.

[Slufoot]

I have been reloading the Remington Core-Lokt bullets for the 30-06 for the past several years for my dad's gun as well as my various 30-06's. Between the two of us we have taken several whitetails and the bullets have always performed flawlessly. We have mainly used the 150's but I have used the 165 on one and it worked as expected, full penetration along with good expansion.
I shoot alot of Nosler, Sierra, Speer, Hornady and Berger bullets throughout the year but when deer season is getting near I always start looking at the Core-Lokt bullets. These are a no frills, Git-R-Done, been around forever bullet that has never let me down.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[Darreld Walton]

The load that I have had the best performance, both on the target and the chronograph is a 165 gr. bullet, and 'around' 57 gr. of IMR 4350.  I bought a thousand of the Remington 165 Core Lokt bulk bullets from Midway a couple years ago, and have them all loaded up in a mix of commercial and military cases, and they shoot as well as anything else I've tried.
I note that you prefer ball propellant, but I've just not had good success with them in the .30-06, and my best .30-06 loads use 4895, 4064, and Varget with bullets up to 150, and 4350, 4831, and RL22 with 165 gr. and up.
With the shooting I do, I'm coming to appreciate Varget more and more, as it is not nearly as temperature sensitive as other powders, meaning my shots don't climb up the target in the rapid stages of the Garand and '03 matches I've shot, and it doesn't lose anything on days like today where the thermometer dips to around -5 degrees with a breeze.  I've not used it with bullets heavier than 150 gr. though, as the slower burners give better velocity with less pressure, at least in my experience.
Your results may vary........

[cwlongshot]

I have two '06's and load them differently for different purposes.

The first is a beloved Mauser '98 custom. I shoot nothing but 180Gr RN bullets mostly Hornady but sometimes Speer bullets. My powder is IMR 4350 and its a near max load, but safe with excellent accuracy.

The second is a rifle my Grandfather left me. Its a sporterized Springfield. I load it with Sierra 220Gr RN bullets. Its shoots them into a ragged hole and is sited dead on at 100 yards. Just the way he liked it.

The 165 is an excellent choice as well. For me I have a 307/308 for the lighter 150/165Gr bullets, so that's what I do. but the Ole' 06 will shoot them mighty fine too!!

CW

[rickt300]

You might try the Sierra 165 gr. BTHP. Awesome accuracy and premium bullet performance. I too use the 165 gr. Corelokt and find it a good bullet. In my most used 30-06 I push the Speer 180 gr. Mag tips at top velocity and this bullet does it all on game up to elk and black bear. Not a pointy bullet but a very well designed bullet none the less.

[shot1]

The standard 06 load for 150 gr bullets that I have used for years is 51.2 grs IMR 4064. Extremely accurate in about any rifle and the Sierra bullet is hard to beat for deer. If you want a really good drop them in their tracks bullet, load up some 125 gr Nosler ballistic tips with 53.1 grs of Varget. Much lighter recoil and this bullet is a real killer. I have used this bullet in many different calibers and it just plain drops deer in their tracks. Just keep it 3100 fps or under muzzle velocity and it will really do the job.

[3006softpoint]

Are whitetail season started on nov. 20! I use the hornady 165 btsp or the nozler boattail ballistic tip! Good expansion from both, but I lean tward the hornady as my go to now (165 btsp)! I use IMR 4064 and push it on the lower end at around 2500 fps but boy is it accurate! Put 2 deer in the freezer! Its great when you can build your own load and put it to work!

[Larry Gibson]

Either the Hornady 150 gr SP, the 150 SPBT, The 165 SP or the 165 gr SPBT will do very well in your '06.  I've shot many a deer with the 150 and 165s and a couple elk with the 165 out of my '06s (I have 4 that I hunt with).  The interlok design is excellent.  I Prefer the 165 gr SPBT over 59.5 gr of AA4350 in WW cases with WLR primers.  It shoots 5 shots into moa or better out of all four rifles (one M70 and 3 Mausers) at 2840 fps out of the 24' barrels at 58,300 psi (Measured in the M70 and one of the Mausers with an Oehler M43). Look at H414 or Win760 for ball powders.  Actually the 150 gr SP at 2700 - 2800 fps or the 165 at 2600 - 2650 fps would fit your requirements very well to 300 yards.  Those are easily achieved with 4895 or Varget in the '06.

Larry Gibson

[Lloyd Smale]

i shot 4 does and a 7 pointer this year with the 150 hornady sp. It did real well. Any of the standard cup and core bullets will perform about the same. I used the hornady because that specific rifle just liked it better.

[carbineman]

Today for the -06 I ordered 165 grain Speer flat base and 165 grain Hornady flat base. Also ordered a box of 170 grain Sierra FN for the 30-30 all from Grafs. Received a free can of Birchwood Casey foam bore cleaner and the $4.95 S&H fee is waved till 11-28-10.

[Dand]

My '06 generally doesn't like 165 gr bullets tho I've tried quite a few loads / bullets. Only load I've found that did well used H414 (ball powder very close to Win 760 I think) and 165 Speer grand slams and Nosler Partitions.  I never ended up hunting with it tho as I prefer 180's.  For  a basic cup and core bullet, the Rems are good but I get better accuracy with Speer Hot cores and Grand Slams. I have had good performance with the 180 gr hot cores on caribou, deer and moose.  I have seen Sierra bullets come apart on caribou when used in a 300 win mag; animals too often needed a second shot.  I think flat based bullets in standard cup core construction seem to hold together better than boat tail.  That excluded the old Nosler Solid base that had an essentially flat base core in a BT overall design.

Recently my 12 yr started shooting the 06.  I loaded up some medium level 150 fmj for practice using IMR 4320 - just to use up the can. Was tickled that my random choice could put 3 shots in an inch at 100 yds.

[carbineman]

With my bullets enroute, all I have to do is choose a propellant. I have BL-C2 and W748 on hand and even though they are not ideal, I might try them to see if I might get lucky with a mid range velocity load. Actually I have a healthy amount of WC846 which is 10% slower than the BL-C2 I have and this might be worth a try as well. I do have some H4831sc from a forgotten project with a 7mmSTW and if I can get some data for that, it might be worth a try. Seems though, that 4831 is better with heavier bullets than the 165 grain.

If that doesn't work out my pick-up is headed to Scheels for a powder run. Decisions Decisions

[cwlongshot]

BL-C2 and 748 will work, but a a tad fast for top performance. Your 4831 is a better choice, but I'm sure you will find something with what you have that will shoot acceptably.

Personally when I'm looking for a new powder I look at load densities. I find that the best overall performance comes form a 100% load density.

CW

[ShootnStr8]

Plain Jane Hornady 150s (#3031 driven) by 50 grains IMR 4064 and CCI primers have always done a great job for me.  They are traveling around 2650.   Some drive them hotter with a few more grains of powder but this load has worked well with a number of rifles including a M1.  Accuracy is sub MOA out of several rifles

Blessings!

Shootnstr8

[bja105]

I tried WC 846 in my 30-06 with 150's, and had bad hang fires.
I'm using H4350 with 150, 165, and 180, Varget with 150's, and Reloader 19 with 180's.

[carbineman]

I tried WC 846 in my 30-06 with 150's, and had bad hang fires.
I'm using H4350 with 150, 165, and 180, Varget with 150's, and Reloader 19 with 180's.

Thanks for all the info. My Speer load info shows H4831sc as nearly the top in velocity and also compressed on the 165 and 180 grain loads, so I'll see how that works. My container is near full and I don't have any other use for it, so I'll be able to use it up. If it works on the 165 grain bullets I might stick with it. Shows virtually the same load data for the 180 grain Speer.

[ShootnStr8]

Carbineman,

If you are going to play with 165s then the words of O'Connor may be useful.  I believe he once said something to the effect: If an '06 won't shoot 57 grains of 4350 with a 165, you need an exorcist, not a gunsmith.  Even if O'Connor didn't say it, there is wisdom here.  In the '06, 4350 and 165s go together like peas and carrots. 

Blessings!

ShootnStr8

[AtlLaw]

If an '06 won't shoot 57 grains of 4350 with a 165, you need an exorcist, not a gunsmith.

   Funny, but true!  That's been my load for years!   

[carbineman]

Shootnsrt8 and AtLaw, Just starting kicking tires on the 4350 propellant. I'm going to use up the H4831sc I have and will start with 4350 of some kind and also may dabble with the 180 grain bullet.

For the most part all I have used is "ball type" propellants for all my loadings. Seeing as this -06 will be a limited use rifle (hunting only) I'll give some 4350 a try. I dislike dealing with it in my RCBS uni-flow but I'll deal with it. and no I'm not buying another powder thrower. Almost can't fit what I own on my bench now.

Thanks for all the info guys.