Looking for a starting point for 30-06. I understand each rifle will be different but looking for suggestions on bullet type and weight for plains game hunt. I am not a re-loader so looking for off the shelf or even going with custom loads. Thanks in advance!
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- Thread starter jb1069
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Depends where you are hunting?....ie species..terrain...equals distances and thickness of bush...flat..hilly ...
NDWoods
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Barnes all the things! TSX, TTSX, LRX, etc.
HookMeUpII
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I agree and this is probably going to get suggested quite a bit.
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I buy 3-4 boxes of different ammo when I buy a new gun and periodically a few others over time when a new bullet I like comes to market. I shoot 3 shot groups with each picking what I like. I also save the other boxes for future guns to test or get them on paper. If I look at my ammo shelf in the garage I bet I’ve got 12-15 different options to pick right now.
My go to starting point for a 30-06 right now based off what I have and like in other guns would be some combo of what’s below.
1) Federal Terminal Ascent
2) Barnes TTSX
3) Federal TSX
4) Federal Fusion
5) Nosler AccuBond/Accubond LR
6) Barnes LRX
SETH RINGER
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Barnes 180 gr TTSX all the way
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These would be my exact recommendations too. 180 gr is a good all around bullet. I think a softer bonded bullet like Fusion, Accubond, or Terminal Assent would be my top choices if I was looking. Buy a box of each to find out what shoots well in your gun for the price you’d like to spend on a box.
roverandbrew
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The 180 grain Oryx loads from Norma are pretty accurate and great on game in my 30-06.
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As @spike.t mentioned, depends on what you plan to hunt and what type of terrain, distance you plan to shoot.
You might try 150, 165 and 180 grain bullets. The 30-06 usually isn’t too finicky, so I wouldn’t over think it. Just go to a local place where ammo is sold and try a couple different brands, Remington, Hornady, Winchester, etc. If you might hunt elk, moose or African PG, I would recommend looking at the semi custom ammo makers. Choice Ammunition in Montana is showing 180 grain Swift A Frames available in 30-06. Hendershots is another good option for selecting a premium bullet.
You might try 150, 165 and 180 grain bullets. The 30-06 usually isn’t too finicky, so I wouldn’t over think it. Just go to a local place where ammo is sold and try a couple different brands, Remington, Hornady, Winchester, etc. If you might hunt elk, moose or African PG, I would recommend looking at the semi custom ammo makers. Choice Ammunition in Montana is showing 180 grain Swift A Frames available in 30-06. Hendershots is another good option for selecting a premium bullet.
Tbitty
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I've had great success with most anything out of the Federal Premium products that have quality projectiles loaded. My current go-to are
1) Federal Terminal Ascent
2) Federal trophy bonded
Hornady Superformance has also been reliably accurate and perform well for me on medium game (deer, hogs, pronghorn).
value priced ammo that works fine for practice or to save $ when Shooting hogs/coyotes/etc. has been Hornady American Whitetail, Federal Power-Shok, Remington Core-Lokt.
Pick up a few different offerings and grain weights to see if your rifle shoots one better than another, then dial it in from there.
Adjacent note: my go-to round in my 25.06 is Hornady Superformance 117gr SST. It is extremely accurate and works for all critters i would shoot with that caliber. But to save some $, I often use the Hornady American Whitetail 117gr soft points with near identical point of impact (slightly less accurate) when I'm not "trophy" hunting.
1) Federal Terminal Ascent
2) Federal trophy bonded
Hornady Superformance has also been reliably accurate and perform well for me on medium game (deer, hogs, pronghorn).
value priced ammo that works fine for practice or to save $ when Shooting hogs/coyotes/etc. has been Hornady American Whitetail, Federal Power-Shok, Remington Core-Lokt.
Pick up a few different offerings and grain weights to see if your rifle shoots one better than another, then dial it in from there.
Adjacent note: my go-to round in my 25.06 is Hornady Superformance 117gr SST. It is extremely accurate and works for all critters i would shoot with that caliber. But to save some $, I often use the Hornady American Whitetail 117gr soft points with near identical point of impact (slightly less accurate) when I'm not "trophy" hunting.
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Buy several boxes of premium 180 grain ammo and see which shoors the best.Hopefully it will be Barnes TSX.
mdwest
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Barnes vor-tx 180gr shoots like a champ in my 30-06…
RedTag
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Federal brand has consistently shown the best accuracy, for me, across a variety of different cartridges and rifles. Their premium lineup has some excellent options such as the nosler partition and trophy bonded bullets among others several others. Barnes can prove outstanding but you must be aware those bullets require high impact velocities for proper expansion, and they can be tricky in some guns to shoot accurately. Remington is okay but overpriced for what it realistically is. Winchester sorry to say has given me more problems than all other brands combined. Hornady is hit or miss but a good value if it’s accurate in your gun and the limited bullet selection is suited for your needs. Nosler is outstanding but you may need to refinance your home if you want more than a box or two! Buffalo bores owner was caught out for tossing poison meatballs in the forest so I don’t give him any money. Foreign brands I have used for target practice but I’ve not hunted with.
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Watch this video, particularly between 5-6 minutes. This is testing various 270 ammo.
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Here we are, the last day of the show in Denver, it's been a good show but expecting a quiet day today. I will be back for-sure to do this show next year and maybe also do the one in Sacramento California.
On Monday I will be hitting the road driving from Denver and eventually make it down to Atlanta for the flight home.
its going to be a good year!
On Monday I will be hitting the road driving from Denver and eventually make it down to Atlanta for the flight home.
its going to be a good year!