so 30-06, what grain bullet for deer and elk

[Maligator]

There is much discussion amongst my buddies about how to continue to build the arsenal even if they are initially rebuffed by the spousal unit.  Probably a whole new thread there...

Sorry to get off topic but I have to share a story of a shop I heard about at the ATA.

The owner of the shop has a layaway payment program for bows and guns.  Once a quarter he holds a free pizza night with a guest speaker.  At that gathering he has a drawing for free giveaway guns and bows.  Guys who have recently paid off their secret from the spouse layaway bring their wives or significant other.  The shop owner draws their name and tells everyone what they have won!!!  The wives are so proud of their husbands for winning something for free when in reality they've been sneaking ten dollar here and ten dollars there to pay it off in full.  And the drawing is only to keep the husbands out of the dog house!  They do get free pizza and hunting seminar out of the deal

That is genious right there.

I have to agree...Sheer brilliance 

[huntingbaldguy]

My friend killed his elk with a 175 grain core lokt out of a 7mm mag.  He put 2 in it at 285 yards and then it dropped after running 15 steps or so.  I think it would have dropped after the first, because it stopped, took the second shot and started the head bob, then dropped. 

I think i'll try out a few 165's to see if there's an accuracy difference, and go with the best.  I'll try some Hornady A Max, Barnes and the Accubonds.  Can get all of them pretty easy.

[Curly]

The 165 A-max might be okay for deer, but I wouldn't use it for elk. 

[Bean Counter]

As a cheap bass turd, I shoot the cheapest bullets out of my guns and the cheapest arrows from my bow that group accurately. If they group well given my set up, that's good enough for me. My mind is usually geared towards asking myself if I go with a cheaper model, what else will Ihave to spend money on? Like clothing on my kids' backs. There are some noteworthy exceptions: namely optics, truck tires, etc.

I'll let you guys know if a deer or elk ever refuses to die on me because I didn't shoot it with more expensive stuff.Hasn't happened yet.

[Bean Counter]

I have an 06 and i shoot Federal Power Shok.. the blue box stuff. 180 gr for deer and elk. 

[Come Get Some]

I shoot 180 brain Boat tail bullets. Handloads out of my 06. It has killed everything it has ever hit with very little damage. I tried 150 grain bullets. On bad bullet placement there was alot of damage. The farthest shot was an elk at 620 yds. Dropped in its tracks.

[724wd]

shoot whatever you're comfortable with and whatever grain you gun likes.  no such thing as overkill, if you want to go heavy.  big and slow usually means less bloodshot meat. 

but the most important thing is to find what bullet your gun likes.  I had an '06 that HATED 165's.  5 inch group at 100.  150's were an inch and 180's were inch and a half.  go shoot a bunch of different ammo and pick the one that shoots best!

[huntingbaldguy]

I'm handloading so i'll find that sweet spot for the 165's.  Got some Sierra gameking 165's for deer and Barnes TTSX BT for elk.  I'm expecting them to group differently, but hopefully i can find an intersection of load data that puts them both in an accurate range, or maybe i just get lucky and they like the same load.

[coachcw]

I have found corelocks and power points just arn't consistant and can come apart. Id find the best quality round that groups well , the 165 fed premiums in a tbc would be my first choice in a 165 and the hornady sst 180s would be my all around choice for elk.

[RadSav]

I have found corelocks just arn't consistant and can come apart.

Really!  I know some that have complained about them penetrating poorly in high velocity cartridges.  But I've never heard or seen evidence of one coming apart at '06 velocity.  That's interesting!

[coachcw]

hit a shoulder at close range out of an 06. my buddy hit a bull at 50 yards with a corelock and it retained maybe 50 percent wasted the front quarter. I've shoot deer with the .260 and 140 corelocks  with good success but they would not be my choice in the 30-06.

[Curly]

I can tell you from personal experience that 150 gr corelocks can come apart and fragment out of 30-06.  180 gr will probably be going slow enough to not blow up but 165's might be okay. ........

[coachcw]

I've also seen partions blow right through deer at close range with very little damage ,  throphy bonded bearclaws , accubonds and sst's are my three favorite choices . how ever I shoot the berger vlds out of my 6.5x284 because they work at extended ranges and low velocitys .

[RadSav]

I've also seen partions blow right through deer at close range with very little damage

  I can't tell you how many deer, elk and bear I have tracked for people because they shot them with Partitions at close range.  I very rarely ever recommend the Partition.  And you couldn't pay me enough to use the 130/.270 Partition.  I;ve never seen a quick kill with that!

[Halo]

I have  shot a lot of blacktails and elk over the years and almost exclusively with 30-06 180's, mostly core-lokt's or Hornady Light Magnums or SST's. I have a Remington that likes the Hornady's and a Savage that likes the core-lokt's. I've never had anything but good results with those. The only bullets I have used or seen come apart were Federal. Saw a deer a buddy shot years ago with a single Federal 30-06 180 that no kidding had exit wounds in all 4 quarters. And I had a couple Federal, Premiums I believe, come apart. I shot a mule deer at 200 yards, broadside, not even a flinch, shot again and nothing, it just walked off. I went to look for blood and found the deer only 30 yards away. When I skinned it there were 2 bullet holes less than an inch apart just behind the shoulder, both hit a rib. The off side rib cage was not even scratched, I never even found a piece of either bullet but they got almost no penetration so they must have just disintegrated. The core-lokt's & Hornady's would have an exit wound in that situation almost every time. I did get a core-lokt that was a dud a few years back though. It's probably still sitting on a boulder in Wyoming.