Optimum bullet for 30-06?

[Dusty Miller]

I'm told that (all other things being equal) the 30-06 prefers 150 gr. bullets.  Is there any truth to this or is it pure nonsense?

[Thomas Krupinski]

That would be true for an M-1 Garand service rifle, but others will varry with the twist rate.  Overall I find I do better with the 165's.

[Lawdog]

Both of my .30-06’s, in fact most all of my .308 caliber rifles, prefer bullets in the 165 gr. class.  My bullet of choice is the 165 gr. Nosler Partition.  Small groups and tight lines to all.  Lawdog
 

[longwinters]

I have had very good luck/accuracy with both.  If I could pick only one it would be the 165 gn.  But I tend to reload for both and pick what I am in the mood to shoot.  I would try both and then you will find out what works for you.  

Long

[Dand]

My old Win 70 seems to do best with 180 grainers - Horn, Speer and Nosler.  I spent quite a bit of time with 165 grain bullets and eventually found a load that works.  Don't mess with 150s much here in Alaska so can't say for sure on them.  But it sure was easy to find a 1"-1.25" /100 yd load with the 180s -  54-56 gr IMR 4350 and standard rifle primer.  Its been so good for so long I rarely try anything else.

[oso45-70]

Gentleman,
I have had the best results with the 180gr bullets on most of the game that i have shot, Have used all weights in the past, Next to the 180s would be the 165 gr noslers, The 180s will get there with more umph and the accuracy seems to be better in the long run..........Joe.........................

[Drilling Man]

The 30-06's i own now, and the ones i've owned in the past have pretty much shot well with what ever weight and style of bullet i prefered to use in them.  Of course, i'm talking about hunting accuracy, not "match winning" accuracy.

  Here's a target from the "all around" bullet/load combination i use in my 30-06 drilling.  This load works well for all of the big game hunting i do with this gun.

  Drilling Man

[oso45-70]

Drilling Man,
Thats a good looking target, What happened with that wild flyer Hmmmm.
All joking aside nice shooting, What are you useing for sights, Don't tell me you were shooting open sights,,,, If you were i'm going to ask GB to
Delete my post. LOL Have a good day SIR...........Joe....................

[Drilling Man]

45-70,

  The first 4 was from the bench, the 5th shot was from standing!!  hee  he  heeee  (jokeing)

   Anyway, here's a 200 yard target from the same gun and load.

  That drilling has a Zeiss 4x on it, in claw mounts.  I was shooting with the scope on it.

  Most of the time i hunt with the scopes off, and only snap them on if needed.  But, as i get older they are needed more and more!!  :>(  .... If i'm sitting and watching, i almost always have the scope on, as i sit where a longer shot is possible.  These days i only hunt my own place, so i know where to watch ect,.

  Drilling Man

[oso45-70]

Drilling Man
I thought you might have been rideing a fast horse when you took that shot. And i do know about the eyes not being as sharp as they used to be.
My glasses get thicker every year, I've lost almost all the vision in my left eye,,Macular Degeneration, But can still do pretty good with my right one.
My pistol shooting is suffering, Which hurts because i used to love to compete with the hand guns,, Oh Well Thats the nature of the brute i guess.  Well you are still looking pretty good from the 200 yd. mark now
get back to the bench and try one more time, This time sit down and take your time, Aim sqweezzzz, bang *&*^ Missed again, shoulda listened to old Joe. Have a good day Sir and stay safe...........Joe....................

[dwl]

To Dusty;

I've had very good success with Hornady 180gr Spire Point Interlok #3070 over RL19 or H4350.  It shoots into almost 1" from a customized Springfield hunting rifle (only reciever and bolt are left).  Nosler 180s do nearly as well, about 1.25".  

The Hornadys are not the toughest bullets ever made but they have completely penetrated elk on broadside, 150 yard shots so far.

Local SWAT shooters are recommending RL22 for the '06, which I will try next.  They say that it is slower but more consistant and better accuracy.

DWL  

To Drilling Man;

My hat is off to you.  Superb shooting.  I will have to order a box of Nosler 200 grainers to see they'll do.

DWL

[hillbilly]

i've been using the nosler ballistic tips in my 06 165gr. excellent acc. and a qualitiy bullet, a muzzle velocity of around 2850fps  and once again killer group drilling man

[Honay]

I have tried all bullets from 110 gr hornadys to 220 grain round nose, and I fianally settled on the 180 gr nosler partitions. This load has amazing stopping power! Has worked on over 10 animals all but one were one shot kills and that was my fault. Moved up to a 300 win mag this year and the bullet selection is still the same (just about 500 fps faster though)

Just my :idea3:

[firstshot]

My 30-06 likes 180Grn bullets best, specifically the Sierra Game Kings on top of IMR-4831

The dark squares on both targets are 1/2" diameter.  The two groups on the right are 4 shot groups.


firstshot

[stork]

dwl's load of a Hornady 180 gr Spire Point Interlok and RL19 is also very accurate in my rifle.  It will shoot 1 inch 5-shot groups.

I have also had very good sucess with a seirra 150 gr Pro Hunter and IMR 4350 which will put 5 shots under an inch.

[firstshot]

Got out to the range this weekend sighting in some 165 Nosler Partition handloads.  I'm very pleased with the results.  Up until now my BAR 30-06 has only shown a preference for 180Grn bullets.  Glad to have found a 165Grn that she likes.  I'll be hunting with the partitions this season.

Dark squares 1/2", lighter squares 1/4"


firsthot
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