Reliable 30-06 bullet

[Chuck R.]

I feel the pain, if you are plinking with expensive bullets but if I am killing something with each one…well they seem cheap, as well as they work.

The only time I go for something else, is when I reach a velocity they quit working at. I’d probably just go down in weight, if I wanted a “reduced“ 30-06 load.

I just find a suitable substitute "practice" bullet for the off season, and load it to about the same MV/Trajectory.

Record both zero's, and swap back before hunting season starts. I normally practice/plink through the off season, clean my barrel, confirm my hunting bullet zero while fouling my barrel, and go hunting. A lot of loads have only a click or two delta anyway at 200yds.

Post season I switch back to my practice load.

Just no way I'm using $1+ bullets ringing steal in the off season.

I keep a 3x5 card for each rifle and record rds fired, cleaned and current load zero'd for as well as the off-set for the practice load.

 

[entropy]

I loaded 180 Partitons for moose for my .30-06, but then a Ruger 77 .300 Win. Mag. dropped into my life before the hunt, and I loaded 180 Partitions for that caliber.

 

[jmr40]

Nosler got a lot of complaints years ago about the Ballistic Tip's over expanding. They responded by making the heavier Ballistic Tips much tougher. In 30 caliber any BT lighter than 150 gr is still a pretty explosive bullet. But a 150 gr and heavier BT will now pretty much do anything a Partition or Accubond will do. And do it with better accuracy while costing less.

If buying bullets for reloading make sure the box says "Ballistic Tip Hunting" on it. There are still a lot of boxes of the old bullets out there but they don't have the word "Hunting" on the box. Hunters have figured this out and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Partition and Accubond eventually dropped. No reason to pay a premium price for a less accurate bullet.

 

[Chief TC]

I use 180g SST with 53.5g IMR-4831. Instant one shot kills every time (head shots). Groups under an inch at 100 yards all day. In my rifle they are 3.385” touching the lands. I load COAL at 3.370”.

I am using the same bullets getting the same results but with 54.5gr of AA4350.

 

[JmacD]

Thanks a ton guys. Definitely have some good ideas on some other stuff to try. I do have a partial box of 180 accubonds I got at a garage sale a while back I might try and see what happens accuracy wise. As far as hornady goes anyone have better luck with interlock over sst's or vice versa ? I saw Laphroaig mentioned interlock and thought that might be one to try. Haven't heard the greatest results coming from eldx's either, anyone have experience with them?

possibly already answered, but I've watched several whitetails turn of like a lightswitch from an eldx.
I have a friend that tried the new speer bullet, and it wasnt the most accurate(could have been the rifles "personality too) and well, it was a pretty long blood trail, and the bullet came apart and there were two exits and a shotgun pattern in the opposite ribs. I havent run much from nosler in a while, but I've got a test ladder in the making...

 

[Show Me]

Old school name brand150's for white tail. 165 for mule deer and 180's for elk have worked just fine. Speer, Serria and Hornady. What ever bullets are on sale. On top of A 4064. Good vacations when money grew on trees.