Post by: Phantom Gobbler on June 07, 2010, 09:50:42 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 07, 2010, 09:53:05 PM
I usually bought 3 different good quality bullets and picked one that shot best, but there really was not too much difference between them either.
:dunno:
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 07, 2010, 09:58:24 PM
Post by: sako223 on June 07, 2010, 10:00:43 PM
Post by: bobcat on June 07, 2010, 10:03:44 PM
Post by: lokidog on June 07, 2010, 10:08:03 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 07, 2010, 10:12:32 PM
Post by: Bob33 on June 07, 2010, 10:23:56 PM
(1) All bullets work best when they hit where they were intended to hit. An animal gut shot will die a slow death regardless of what bullet it was shot with. Accuracy matters.
(2) Guns have different tastes in what they do and don't like. Just because someone else has good accuracy or poor accuracy with a certain bullet doesn't mean your gun will. This is where you'll get a lot of "this bullet is great" or "that bullet is terrible" type opinions. I have seen very few rifles that will shoot every type of ammunition well. They are extremely rare. My guns tell me what they like, and that's what I feed them.
(3) You don't need to use premium bullets to kill deer sized animals. Lots and lots of animals have been killed with inexpensive bullets. Again, look at points 1 and 2. If premium bullets shoot well in your rifle, go with them if you like. If they don't, then feed your rifle what it likes.
(4) Bullet weight is less significant than other factors. If your gun shoots a 150 grain bullet real well, then use it. Ditto 180 grain. Point 2: feed your rifle what it likes.
(5) No bullet is perfect. If you shoot enough animals with any bullet ever made, you'll eventually experience "bullet failure". Someone else also has, and you'll read about it on forums like this. "Bullet x is terrible. I shot a deer and it ran off and I never found it..." Don't base your decision on someone else's bad experience.
I’m not at all trying to brag but I’ve killed over 100 head of big game with at least 16 different bullets. I can’t recall a single instance of obvious “bullet failure”. Perhaps some animal that I shot at and never recovered would have been recovered if I had just used the “right” bullet; that I can’t say.
In 30-06 a 165 grain bullet is just about ideal. But again, only if your gun smiles when you feed it that ammunition.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on June 07, 2010, 10:29:15 PM
-Steve
Post by: lokidog on June 07, 2010, 10:56:27 PM
Post by: GEARHEAD on June 07, 2010, 11:11:51 PM
Post by: MDGrand on June 07, 2010, 11:22:40 PM
Ballistic tip bullets.. they will drop a good size deer with a proper shot.. they will run farther if not shot well though
Bonded bullets.. do better than ballistic tips if you happen to shoot a little off.. but not that much better
... If I had to suggest one right now.. I guess it would be the Berger VLD 168 grain.. its the only bullet I have seen that actually will penetrate 2-3 inches THEN expand and rupture like a ballistic tip thus giving a massive wound channel.. Properly hit they will litterally drop in their tracks.. many bullet makers say this.. Bergers when placed well I think drop animals more often.
That being said... ANY bullet placed well will drop your mulie.. so find a round your gun likes the best and practice.. not on the bench but sitting, standing, kneeling, on shooting sticks.. and you wont go wrong. OH.. and since its an '06... know what your gun will do at 3-400 yards.. mulies are usually a bit farther out.
GOOD LUCK!
Post by: Bofire on June 08, 2010, 08:54:58 AM
Carl
Post by: rasbo on June 08, 2010, 08:56:56 AM
Post by: predatorpro on June 08, 2010, 10:16:10 AM
Post by: jackelope on June 08, 2010, 10:25:33 AM
125 core lokt remington,took all my mulies with that
I started a thread a few years ago regarding lightweight 30-06 bullets. After reading the posts on there, I have been concerned with bullet stability of those little guys in a -06...can't say I have any experience one way or the other...just what I read.
Post by: bobcat on June 08, 2010, 10:59:17 AM
Post by: rasbo on June 08, 2010, 11:20:49 AM
Post by: ELKBURGER on June 08, 2010, 11:32:40 AM
Post by: rasbo on June 08, 2010, 11:38:39 AM
I'd like to see what the yote looked like after that :chuckle:they buzz right through,quarter size hole out the back,this cat was shot through his eyeball
Post by: GoldTip on June 08, 2010, 02:39:32 PM
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on June 08, 2010, 10:43:26 PM
I shared the following experience on a previous thread: I sighted in my new Tikka T3 lite .30-06 with 150 grain Rem Core Lokts last summer and they performed above my normal capability to shoot tight groups. I like the Tikka so far and it is a joy to carry up the mountain vs. my Rem Model 700 .300 Win Mag. The recoil in the Tikka is very manageable!
I did harvest a small whitetail buck in NE WA last fall, but as I previously posted, the bullet fragmented and I had quite a mess on my hands and lost one of the quarters. The good thing is that I did not have to do any tracking! Maybe too much bullet for the size game and distance (80 yards) that I was shooting at? So this has started me thinking that I need to try a more stable bullet or go to a heavier one. Also this fall I will be chasing Mulies in the high country vs. brush hunting the NE corner of the state.
Post by: bobcat on June 08, 2010, 10:50:31 PM
I did harvest a small whitetail buck in NE WA last fall, but as I previously posted, the bullet fragmented and I had quite a mess on my hands and lost one of the quarters. The good thing is that I did not have to do any tracking! Maybe too much bullet for the size game and distance (80 yards) that I was shooting at?
Not really "too much bullet," but too much speed is what I would say. So either a heavier, slower bullet would help, or more of a controlled expansion type (a bullet that won't come apart.) I think staying with the 150 grain bullets would be a good idea in a light rifle like your Tikka, just to keep the recoil at a minimum. You might try any of the bonded bullets (Accubond, Interbond, etc) or a Barnes bullet, or Nosler Partition.
Post by: Dansk on June 09, 2010, 10:07:28 PM
I always used 165 Barnes TSX federal premiums out of my A-Bolt. You really just got to try a couple and pick what groups best...:yeah: I like the lead free bonus, plus the 100% weight retention in the Barnes.
I usually bought 3 different good quality bullets and picked one that shot best, but there really was not too much difference between them either.
:dunno:
Post by: bobcat on June 09, 2010, 10:23:54 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 09, 2010, 10:26:39 PM