30-06

[Aaron bosley]

what grain should i use for deer and elk with my 30-06?

[mossback91]

I use a 165 grain...

[Aaron bosley]

what brand?

[mossback91]

I reload my own....

[wrangler]

look. what you need to do is do some research on your own. determine what type of hunting your doing, figure out what are the likely ranges of the shots you'll be taking and look up the ballistics on a number of different bullet weight/design/brand combinations. EDUCATE YOURSELF on all the types of bullet design and construction because they're all different and all have advantages as well as disadvantages. narrow it down to a few brands/weights and head to the range and see how the different loads will group. pick the one that groups the most consistently and has the ballistic capabilitys that meet your needs.  you won't be using the same bullet for deer as you would for elk.  

[mossback91]

 you won't be using the same bullet for deer as you would for elk.  

why not?? 

[270Shooter]

 you won't be using the same bullet for deer as you would for elk.  

why not?? 

What about Accubonds, Partitions, Sciroccos, Interbonds, X-bullets, A-Frames. Or any other tough bullet?

[jackelope]

you won't be using the same bullet for deer as you would for elk.

i will.

you need to grab a few different bullets and go shoot them and decide what your gun likes and shoot them. 165-220 grains will all work. different styles of bullets to choose from serve different purposes.
there's lots of bullets to choose from and odds are by asking this you'll get about a dozen different answers.
i shoot federal premiums with 165 grain barnes triple shocks and my gun likes them and shoots them well.

[wrangler]

well i don't even use the same caliber for deer as i do for elk so thats where im coming from. to each his own, i guess you could use whatever you want. i look for a bullet that won't come apart and with more penetration in my elk loads, tsx's or partitions are my number one choice. for deer, penetration is not so much of an issue cause you're dealing with a much smaller animal and any bullet will most likely pass through anyways. a good bonded bullet that may fragment a little bit is fine with me. i would surely hope you wouldn't be elk hunting with ballistic tips? it's important to understand what your dealing with in bullet construction. but i suppose you could shoot a coyote with a 300 mag and it would still die... i choose to be a little more refined i suppose.

[GEARHEAD]

try the Hornady light mag, i would choose the 165 grain interbond. this round will work for everything you are shooting at and gives you 3000 fps. this is premium ammo, at half the cost of the federals, maybe $22.00. i use it, and it works. same round for both animals, assuming your gun likes it.

C'mon now guys, take an easy, asking the question is part of research, this kid is 18 for cripes sake. ya make it sound like he needs a degree first in bullet engineering and design. everybody has an opinion, and i think his question merits an experienced knowledgeable response.

find the round ya like kid, stick with it, and fill the freezer for peta.

[Bofire]

"Stay away from the 180's too inconsistant"  huh??? You telling me a 180 grain sierra is less consistant than a 165 sierra??(or any other brand?)
yarite.
Carl

[Curly]

I'd try the federal premiums with 165 grain barnes triple shock like Jackelope suggested if I were you.  If they don't shoot well in your rifle then do like Gearhead suggested and try the Hornady's.......but I would try the 180's instead of the 165's if the bullet isn't a Barnes.  I'm not saying the 165's won't work, but for elk I'd rather use a 180 grain in a lead bullet (even if it is bonded).  Nothing wrong w/ the 180 for both deer and elk either.

[BULLBLASTER]

well i don't even use the same caliber for deer as i do for elk so thats where im coming from. to each his own, i guess you could use whatever you want. i look for a bullet that won't come apart and with more penetration in my elk loads, tsx's or partitions are my number one choice. for deer, penetration is not so much of an issue cause you're dealing with a much smaller animal and any bullet will most likely pass through anyways. a good bonded bullet that may fragment a little bit is fine with me. i would surely hope you wouldn't be elk hunting with ballistic tips? it's important to understand what your dealing with in bullet construction. but i suppose you could shoot a coyote with a 300 mag and it would still die... i choose to be a little more refined i suppose.

whats wrong with b-tips for elk? 5 elk have been killed with them from my 7mm. 3 were me the other two were my cousin.
of teh ones that didnt go all the way through, and i found, the lightest was over 90 grains. thay started at 140. teh b-tips are good bullets for me.

[jackelope]

i've shot both the hornady light mags and the fed's, both in 165 grain, and both shot fine enough. the fed/barnes just shot a little better and i think the bullet itself is a better bullet for big game...it's another ford/chevy discussion though for sure.
the hornady light mags do bump you in the shoulder a little more if that affects your decision.

[buck470]

The Cow I shot 2 weeks ago with 165 gr Ballistic tip only went 25 yards before stopping and taking her last nap?
Some of my own reloads.

[Curly]

B-tips are fine as long as you only take broadside lung shots.

[Moosehunt]

Go get yourself a box of 180 grain Remington core-locks.  They're about $15 bucks.  We shoot these at moose, grizzly's and deer.  I have recovered more than a few of these right on the opposite side of the shot against the skin....cheap, yes, effective, yes, proven time and time again, yes.  at 18 years old, I assume cost may be of issue, if so, you can't beat 'em.  I use them exclusively in my 30-06....oh, and at 100 yards, sited in 2 inches high, I can get three shots to touch......not bad.

Grab some ammo and go out and shoot!~

[C-Money]

Yesterday I posted pictures of my 07 oregon deer, my 07 WA deer and my 06 elk. All killed with 150gr hornaday interlock bullets from my 30-06. I am using IMR 4350 powder. That bullet work's great and has killed A LOT of game for me. Using a 165gr may just be the best all around. The load I am using has worked well for my family for a long time!

[Gobble]

I shoot the Federal High-Energy 180 gr Noslers for everything. The HE rounds are ballistically equal to a 300 Win mag. I feel 180gr is the best all round bullet size. 

[00 aught buck]

I shoot the 150 gran's they work just fine. there a lot faster and flater than any other one's. Are you reloading?

[lazydrifter]

Hey, what you should do here is have everybody that shoots a 30-06 send you 3 bullets of whatever they shoot.  Then go out and see what shoots the best 3 shot group.  I would start this out but I don't have an '06.

[GoldTip]

Go get yourself a box of 180 grain Remington core-locks.  They're about $15 bucks.  We shoot these at moose, grizzly's and deer.  I have recovered more than a few of these right on the opposite side of the shot against the skin....cheap, yes, effective, yes, proven time and time again, yes.  at 18 years old, I assume cost may be of issue, if so, you can't beat 'em.  I use them exclusively in my 30-06....oh, and at 100 yards, sited in 2 inches high, I can get three shots to touch......not bad.

Grab some ammo and go out and shoot!~

Before I started handloading and I hunted exclusively with a 30-06, I did exactly as Moosehunt did, used 180gr corelokts for everything.  A lot of nice bulls and bucks and bears took a dirt nap with those bullets and caliber, sometimes despite the fact my shooting was not as precise as it maybe should have been.   I've killed a plenty of animals now with big magnums and hot loaded premium bullets flying 40,000fps, and even as handloads they cost more than a good old box of 180gr corelokts.  The animals pretty much all taste the same as they did before, and seem to be just as dead.  there is nothing on this continent that I wouldn't shoot with an '06 and a 180gr corelokt.

[bearslayer]

Two of my family shoot 3006. WE have tried everything from 150gr. to 220gr. Like was said before whatever shoots the best in your gun is the one to use.  I have worked out 2 loads for myself, a 150 hornady and a nosler200gr. partition. I make my bullet decision on where I hunt . Here we have had a lot of trouble with grizzly so I want all the power I can get in high camp. around home I just use my 150 s.

[C-Money]

40,000fps!! man, you must go threw barrels like crazy! That is awsome!

[Intruder]

you won't be using the same bullet for deer as you would for elk.

i will.

you need to grab a few different bullets and go shoot them and decide what your gun likes and shoot them. 165-220 grains will all work. different styles of bullets to choose from serve different purposes.
there's lots of bullets to choose from and odds are by asking this you'll get about a dozen different answers.
i shoot federal premiums with 165 grain barnes triple shocks and my gun likes them and shoots them well.

That's good advice.  Develop 1 load that does everything. 
I would suggest trying 2 or 3 premium bullets in 150, 165, and 180 and just see what performance you get.  A 150 TSX has more than enough poop to do the job.

[lamar_hunter]

its weird my guns seem to like whatever is cheapest