30-06 Loaded Ammo Questions

Hello Gang,

I'm looking for recommendations on your use of 30-06 loaded ammo. Who makes good quality hunting rounds for the '06? Going deer/elk hunting in Washington state and do not reload (yet). I've checked the Winchester and Remington ammo sites online and have found both 160 and 180 grain hunting rounds available. What about 200/220 grain factory loads? Are they available? More importantly, do I need to use these heavier grain bullets for elk? I'd prefer to use the same round for both deer and elk, but will use two different rounds if need be.

I've read a lot about Nosler Partitions bullets and I think these will be fine for what I need. Both Remington and Winchester offers them in a 160 and 180 grain round. Anyone care to comment on their experiences using Nosler Partitions on deer & elk out to 300 yds? Bullet weights used, factory brand used, distances shot, whether or not one shot kills happened, game position (broadside, standing towards/away from you), bullet penetration/expansion observed, amount of meat damaged, etc.

Some background to these questions here: I'm a new elk hunter, but have hunted deer before using my boyhood Winchester M94 30-30 w/ both 150 and 170 grain bullets. In general, I think 250-300 yds is a long shot. I'm used to shooting both 150 and 168 grain .308 and 30-06 rounds out to 300 yds w/ iron sights (shot a few years in NRA service rifle competitions). I know about and practice getting closer, using a steady rest if possible, and placing that first bullet right in the kill zone are paramount. My intended hunting rifle is a Winchester pre-64 M70 Featherweight in 30-06. I'll be adding a good quality used low power scope to it this summer. Thanks for the info everyone!

Cheers,

Look for Federal; they offer the 180 grain Nosler partition in a factory load. You might also check to see if Remington or Federal offer the Swift A-Frame; it's maybe a better bullet yet. I would stick with 180s.

I second Tom's advise. Stick with the partition style bullet in 180 gr. The Winchester Failsafe also appies here. I would go with wich ever bullet offered the best accuracy whether it be a remington, federal, etc.

Scott

I have had very good success with Nosler Partition 180 grain in the 30-06.........on both deer and elk, also on caribou.

For a factory load, I would try the Federal........with the Nosler Partition bullet in 180 grain.

Lee Carkenord

180 gr. Noslers will do every thing need, and them some.

Richard

Philip, I third Tom's and second Scott's advice. I've all but stopped handloading for my .30'06's since I started using Federal Premium 180 grain Nosler Partitions; it does everything I need a .30 to do. If you want a little more punch for a special hunt - elk seems a fine excuse - try the Federal High Energy with the Nosler Partition or the Trophy Bonded 180's. The two rifles we tried them in years ago didn't care for them accuracy-wise, but they did offer a couple hundred fps over the regular spread. Good hunting! Michael

For elk, either the Federal High Energy Premium or the Remington Safari load will do the job. Either one will cost you $25/20, and the recoil will be surprising the first time you shoot one. Both rounds claim 2700 fps, but the Federal round has been clocked at 2860 fps out of a 22' barrel. That's getting up into 300 Win Magnum territory! It's unlikely you could duplicate either load at home.

For deer, I use a lighter (and cheaper) Remington 150 gr. At under $10 a box, that's what I use for target shooting.

Be sure to test any load carefully before hunting with it. Some guns just don't shoot some loads well, and there is no way to tell in advance which loads will misbehave in your gun.

<SNIP> My intended hunting

Your rifle sounds like a good choice. As you have seen in every hunting magazine ever published the caliber will take anything on North America. I think a variable scope would be a better idea than a fixed power. Get a 2X7 or 3X9 and set the magnification based on expected distance. George in Las Vegas

I have had good success with Remington factory loads in pointed soft point. Most other name brands are ok.

Whichever you chose, I would recommend going to a range and trying them (a couple of brands; a couple of bullet weights) to see which works best in your gun (guns have a way of sometimes preferring one combination over others and you will never know until you print on paper - shoot targets).

I shot two blacktail with 7mm Partitions last fall from a 7mm-08. muzzle velocity was about 2650 fps and bullet wight was 150 grains; I'd prefer 140's from that rifle but it does not like them.

First deer was a spike, quartering away uphill from me about 75 yards away. Bullet went in behind one shoulder and came out in front of the other. Deer spun and died. Meat damage was less than what I saw the year before from a 30-06 shooting Core-Lokt's, but I think that was more to do with velocity.

2nd deer was broadside at about 60 yards. I hit him farther back than I meant to; got him through the back of the lungs. He ran about 150 yards before falling. Bullet performed great; nice big exit hole, etc. I just hit him wrong.

The front half of a Partition is, unless I'm looking at the thing wrong, a pretty darned fast-expanding bullet. That jacket is THIN, and the lead is soft. It really is a near-ideal bullet. My only issue ith them is tip deformation in the magazine from recoil. And, I have heard that they are not necessarily a match-grade accuracy bullet, due to the overall stiffness of the design, although I have handloaded them with darn good results (MOA or so). Great hunting bullet though, a classic.

Man, I'm tired... sorry for all the stilted syntax above but I'm to tired to fix it.

a well placed bullet is worth a ton of kinetic energy.......karl