Author Topic: Is a 30-06 150gr bullet enough for elk? (Read 6014 times)

teddy12b · « **on:** May 29, 2007, 10:02:27 AM »

Hello Everyone,

My encore 26" 30-06 loves 150gr bullets, and I'm curious if that's enough for an elk someday. It's a sub MOA shooter with the 150's and it starts to open up significantly with 180gr bullets. I've taken a couple deer with the 150 coreloks and they didn't complain one bit, but they were under 100 yards and the bullets passed through just fine.

Knowing that elk are tougher I'd be thinking of loading up some Barnes TSX bullets over the most amount of powder I could SAFELY get. My local range only goes out to 300 yards and that's the farthest I'll be comfortable shooting because I have nowhere to practice shooting any farther. I wouldn't be going this year or even next, but it's on my "someday" list.

Anyway, let me know what you think. I appreciate the help.

corbanzo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2007, 02:10:57 PM »

That'll pass through an elk. I prefer bigger bullets, because I'm more of a shoulder shot guy myself, but if you want to go for the vitals and track him, it'll work.

teddy12b · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2007, 03:25:52 PM »

Granted I literally know nothing about hunting elk, but I imagined a normal point of aim being, just behind the should if not right on the edge of it.

crow_feather · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2007, 05:53:08 PM »

I feel that most 150 grain 30-06 bullets are designed for thinner skinned game. I believe that the minimum bullet weight for elk should be the 165 grain, but the 180 grain is probably the best bullet for the job. If you can hunt every day of the season and can pass several elk by, then you might try the 150 grain, but if you need to put a bullet through the south end of a north bound elk, a 150 grain wont get it done.

Best of luck on your hunt

C F

corbanzo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2007, 06:31:57 AM »

Point of aim depends on your preference and hunting style. Right behind the shoulder is going to go through the vitals, and many hunters hunt that way. I like to shoot them in the shoulder to stop them where they stand, which takes a larger slower expanding bullet to do the trick.

The point of aim on deer/elk/moose is all pretty comparable, just depends on preference.

insanelupus · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2007, 03:50:51 AM »

Choose your shot and it should work fine. My Dad killed three separate cows at 300 yards. All of them were shot with a .308 and 150 grain bullets. It'll work.

That said, I personally prefer a heavier bullet. I'm not looking for a bullet to shoot through the south end of a north bound elk, or anything else, unless the animal has been wounded. Even so, you may see if you can load a heavier bullet in your .30-06 and see how it does. Even if your groups open up to say, 1.25" or so, you've still got a rifle that will put those into a group of less than 4" at 300 yards. That's plenty good enough for whitetail shooting and an elk has an even larger kill zone. I think, at times, we as shooters get too caught up in group size. When shooters become hunters, there is a need to reevaluate the group size and perhaps forsake some bragging rights for a bullet that performs on the game we wish to hunt at the ranges we wish to hunt them.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2007, 12:21:43 PM »

150 grain in a 30-06 is plenty for elk. when i used to hunter centerfire i used a 270 with 150 grain bullet. As for that other remark by the down up above " vital shot if you want to track it"is totally horse crap. You put it right behind the shoulder, taking out the heart/lungs/liver, that elk is down. Never had an elk run. My elk i shot was over 300 yards away and she took 2 steps before dropping. Nothing can run with an exploded heart.

I shot a deer last year right through the shoulder and had to put it down with my sidearm and while gutting it, i found that it missed the entire vitals and only took out its breathing tube and that was it. No organs were touched. I personally think that shoulder shots are not a good thing, but hey,what ever works for you.

NONYA · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2007, 06:47:19 PM »

It worked just fine on the 4 elk I killed with my -06 before i got the 7mag,i killed 1 with rem core lokt 140,1 shot kill.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2007, 08:25:34 AM »

Quote from: NONYA on June 02, 2007, 06:47:19 PM

It worked just fine on the 4 elk I killed with my -06 before i got the 7mag,i killed 1 with rem core lokt 140,1 shot kill.

How does the core lok do? I need to reload some 06 and 270's.

NONYA · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2007, 10:28:24 AM »

They work good,I haven't used them for many years but I wouldn't hesitate to.

SuperstitionCoues · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2007, 06:23:41 AM »

It will work, but you would be better off using a heavier bullet. I would prefer a 165 or 180, such as a Sierra HPBT or a Hornady Interbond. This seems to work really well on both Az bull and cow elk. Remember though, shot placement is always paramount.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2007, 10:06:00 AM »

thats what we've been using for years, Sierra HPBT in 140 and 150 grains.

Turtle · « **Reply #12 on:** June 04, 2007, 10:50:53 AM »

It'll work just fine.

-turtle-

NONYA · « **Reply #13 on:** June 04, 2007, 10:53:56 AM »

At 300 yards or closer and elk isnt going to know the difference between a 150 and a 180,I killed mine with front shoulder shots and most exited.You will notice the difference in drop at 300 yards,thats while I still load my -06 with 150,s for friends and family to use during hunting season.

burntmuch · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2007, 11:01:39 AM »

If your gun likes 150 s thats what I d use? my 06 loves those cheap ol rem corelocs . Them elk aint gunna know the difference. If your gun dont like those try the nosler partitions.

crow_feather · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2007, 06:00:21 PM »

I am just a bit curious. If someone gets on this thread and says that they killed 14 elk with a 30-06 and 125 grain bullets, with one bullet passing through two elk, does that make the 125 grain o6 bullet the best elk killer?

C F

corbanzo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2007, 04:27:40 AM »

Heck as long as you shoot it straight, the bullet weight don't really matter. (to a point of course)

NONYA · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2007, 10:59:30 AM »

the topic isn't what is best the topic was is 150 gr out of an -06 enough.

TribReady · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2007, 11:26:06 AM »

Just like said here and pretty much always when this type of topic comes up....it all comes down to shot placement.
150gr in a good bullet is enough if the shot is true and I'd say within 300 yards. Taking out both lungs with a good bullet will definately get you an elk, if you can break the opposite shoulder will plant him right there or nearby.

At chuckhawks.com he's got an interesting article on why standard softpoint bullets (like the CoreLokt) are best for most hunting purposes.

corbanzo · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2007, 06:37:16 AM »

If you have something that will hold its weight like a partition, using those smaller bullets on large game gets even better.

crow_feather · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2007, 05:29:25 PM »

then a 100 grain full metal jacket is the best elk bullet ----provided you hit the right spot.

NONYA · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2007, 07:10:33 PM »

a FMJ doesnt expand like the partition or barnes triple shock,BIG difference!

burntmuch · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2007, 09:44:28 PM »

Teddy shoot the ones you can afford and the ones your gun likes. Nosler ,corelocts, 150s, 165s,180, whatever. The bullets not the most important part of an elk hunt
Jay

crow_feather · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2007, 11:47:12 AM »

Jay,

Very well said!! The experience of the trip to the hunt area with friends or family, the morning sun rising over the mountains, the sight of elk walking through the timber at a distance, the joy of getting in close to a 6x6 and trying to figure out how he walks through the trees with that headgear on, and if things go well, the satisfaction of bringing home a trophy and good meat for the family. Damn, when does the hunting season start.

NONYA · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2007, 12:10:42 PM »

All that will be quickly destroyed by a wounded animal being lost due to poor bullet choice,doing his homework now and getting advice from they guys who have been there is absolutly the right way to prepare.Your -06 with a 150gr in any of the quality expanding partition type or barnes triple shock type design will ensure that you never have to wish you had made a different choice.

teddy12b · « **Reply #25 on:** June 18, 2007, 03:31:25 AM »

I really appreciate all the advice guys! Thanks!

SuperstitionCoues · « **Reply #26 on:** June 19, 2007, 05:25:13 AM »

Quote from: crow_feather on June 12, 2007, 06:00:21 PM

I am just a bit curious. If someone gets on this thread and says that they killed 14 elk with a 30-06 and 125 grain bullets, with one bullet passing through two elk, does that make the 125 grain o6 bullet the best elk killer?

C F

Nope. It means that a 125 gr. bullet worked well for that hunter in his given circumstance. Every elk, habitat and hunt is different. IMHO, a hunter has to work with what is best for his needs in the environment/habitat that he or she is hunting in. Where a 150 or 165 grain bullet works best for me, a 125 gr. bullet may work best for someone else. In the same circumstance, another hunter may feel the need to use a 180. Nobody is right or wrong, instead they are selecting the best tool to use for their given situation and (maybe most influential) their comfort level.

Me, I like to pay attention to these discussions because they provide the means for me to think in areas and directions that I may not have considered, giving me ideas to try (or reject) as I gear up my loads for a hunt. Others may disagree and become militant about the use of a certain caliber, bullet weight or construction of bullet. O.k., that's fine if that is how they want to work it. The important question is, did the combination that you used kill the animal efficiently, humanely, and most importantly ... in a place where it was easy to pack the animal out?!?

teddy12b · « **Reply #27 on:** June 25, 2007, 02:14:55 PM »

Update on my little 150gr bullet experiment. I got out to the range yesterday with the idea of checking my handloads for pressure signs using 150gr triple shocks and IMR 4350 powder. I started the loads at 57.5 and went all the way to 60.5 in .5 increments. I had to stop at 60.5 because another .5 of powder and it would have been spilling over the edge.

I just wanted to see how much powder I could put in there before I started to see pressure signs. To my surprise I went all the way to 60.5 of IMR4350 before the primer even started to look flat. I physically can't jam any from IMR4350 in the case, and honestly I don't even care to try. I was just amazed that I could fill the entire case with powder and not have a gun blow up in my face! There was only about an 1/8th inch of space left at the top of the case. I've seen factory loads that have flatter primers that the one I got.

Anyway, I'm going to load up the remaining bullets with probably 60gr of IMR4350 (just to have a round number) and hope they shoot well. If they shoot accurately, which I bet they will by my standards, I'll be done handloading for that rifle.

kudzu · « **Reply #28 on:** June 25, 2007, 03:12:31 PM »

If the trips don't work for ya , try the Accubonds, sciroccos, or partitions. All three are great bullets.

teddy12b · « **Reply #29 on:** June 26, 2007, 01:48:23 AM »

I already tried the sciroccos and they were awful in my barrel. Over 1 1/2" at 100. I wished they would have worked out because those are a very impressive bullet.