30-06 ammo for deer and elk

[Three_Oh_Eight]

I've used the 30-06 quite a bit and I'm also a reloader.  I've found that there are elk bullets and then there are deer bullets.  If you use the same load on both species, don't use the light jacketed deer bullet or the super-tough elk bullet.  You'll pinhole deer with a bullet that is too tough and you might not penetrate far enough through an elk with the light jacketed stuff (especially at odd angles).

There are good combination bullets that often rapid expansion while still retaining weight.  You want fairly rapid expansion because deer are fairly narrow and the bullet is going to have to open up and do some damage in that small window.  You also want the bullet to retain enough weight to make it through a much thicker animal like an elk.  Here are some of my favorites that are offered in factory ammo:

Nosler Partition: The bullet has a copper belt separating the nose from the shank.  The nose will expand fairly rapidly causing a lot of tissue disruption (which is great for deer) and the rear shank will drive through the animal (great for elk).  I'd stick with the 180gr version because it gives me more weight to shed during a close impact and the trajectory isn't much different than the 165gr version.

Nosler Accubond: This is essentially a solid-base jacketed bullet where the jacket is bonded chemically to the lead core.  This is supposed to prevent the bullet from coming apart like a Ballistic Tip.  The plastic tip will speed up expansion of the front half of the bullet (tissue disruption, great for deer) and the bonded core will stick together allowing it to drive through the animal (great for elk).  As with the partition, I prefer the 180gr version for the same reasons.

Barnes Tipped TSX: This is the plastic tipped version of the Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullet (TSX).  The plastic tip opens the bullet faster than the standard TSX which really helps on deer-sized game (especially at long range when the bullet is slowing down).  Since this is a monometal bullet (no lead, just copper), weight retention will be superior.  Because of this, I prefer to go down in bullet weight and up the velocity so I have plenty enough speed to open the bullet up.  You can drop bullet weight because you aren't going to lose nearly as much.  A standard 180gr bullet retaining 70% will weigh only 126gr.  The Barnes is likely to retain 95 to 99% of its weight.  Because of this, I like the 150gr version of the TSX in the 30-06.  I'd even go with the 130gr version if it shot well.  I've seen the 130gr 30 caliber TTSX shot through an elk with a 300 Win Mag and the internal damage was incredible.  It also still exited!

Swift Scirrocco II: Pretty much same as Nosler Accubond.  Maybe a smidge tougher.

Hornady Interbond SST: Same as Accubond. 

[Special T]

I've used the Federal tophy bonded bearclaw on elk and deer @165 grain and it worked well . i have yet to get the new polimer tiped nickel plated bullet, Is that the nosler bullet?

[Three_Oh_Eight]

The silver bullet with the orange tip is the Trophy Bonded Tipped Bear Claw.  I believe this is actually made by Federal/ATK.  A good tough bullet. 

[Sporting_Man]

My rifle likes those mentioned 165 grain Trophy Bonded orange tips. However, I found that Hornady Superformance 180 grain with InterBond bullet is fairly affordable and most accurate to date. Try that too.

[sticky]

165 grain btsp Fed/Rem/Win/Hor for deer, 180 grain for elk.  If you're paying more than a buck a bullet, it's for the pretty graphics on the box. 

[Fishnclifff]

180 gr remington corlokt softpoints. inexpensive too

   I have 1 bullet missing from my 6 yr old box. It killed my bull 6 yrs ago.

[Sneaky]

180 gr remington corlokt softpoints. inexpensive too

   I have 1 bullet missing from my 6 yr old box. It killed my bull 6 yrs ago.

Have harvested 11 deer with this setup in the 150gr variety. I have since switched to 130gr hornady SST's in .270 and the deer don't seem to go as far.

My advice for an all-around deer elk bullet would be to buy a couple different types of ammo and find what your rifle likes. my 30-06 preferred 150gr. bullets over the 180's. You can't really go wrong with core-lokt.

[bobcat]

My advice for an all-around deer elk bullet would be to buy a couple different types of ammo and find what your rifle likes. my 30-06 preferred 150gr. bullets over the 180's. You can't really go wrong with core-lokt.

Yeah, I guess you can't go wrong as long as you only take perfect broadside shots on elk. Don't try going through a shoulder.

[Bob33]

I believe that accuracy in elk loads is overrated.  If a load shoot 2" groups at 100 yards, that's plenty good enough.  At 500 yards it will still hit a 10" circle.  Elk are big targets, but they're tough animals.

I rate bullet performance much higher than accuracy for elk.  All bullets do just fine if you hit an elk broadside and punch through ribs and lungs. If you hit a large bone, or have to go all the way through an elk lengthwise, a good bullet will earn its keep.  Don't scrimp.  Saving $1 or $2 on elk bullets is just plain foolish.

Deer: different story.  They're smaller, and therefore harder to hit and easier to kill than an elk.  Accuracy becomes more important.

If I had to pick one bullet for both, it would be a 165 or 168 grain Barnes TSX or TTSX.  The Hornady Interbond is another very good bullet: I've killed several elk with the 165 grain and they all retained about 95% of their weight.  The Accubond is a good bullet if your gun likes it: about 70% weight retention.  Partitions retain around 65%.  Once you get into the 70% retention range, you should probably be using 180 grains for elk.

[ebusa]

I use Winchester Supreme 180 grain Accubonds!  Perfect for Elk, Deer, Bear, or anything else!

[wadu1]

my oppion is brand and grain doesn't mean a whole lot if your rifle doesn't like them. my wife spent days at the range last year and probably $300 tring to find what shot best out of her 30 06 and ended up with a 150 grain federal spend alittle money and time. find what shoots best out of your set up. 

One of my 30-06 likes 165 Barnes TSX and the other does not like them and is fine with Federal but groops great with S&B Spice 150s. My .308 lokes the 165s as well and does even better with the 150 Barnes TXS. Bottom line try them all and see what your rig likes. 

[Jingles]

I use a 30-06 for Mulies, whitetail and bear and am a reloader and in my rifle I have had excellent results with the 180 grain spitzer boattail pushed by 58 grains of IMR4350.  Yes it is a HOT Load but it shows no signs of excessive pressure and provides 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards.  But that is my rifle and what it likes.  I couldn't get the same groupings with Nosler, Speer or Hornady.  As was mentioned above it all depends on what your particular rifle likes and just how good you are and placing the projectile where it actually needs to be

[MackPrince]

My '06 Ruger likes Winchester 180's. Silvertips penetrate a little further than the Powerpoints before expanding, but both have filled my freezer with venison.