30-06 Ammo options

[Waterbuck2008]

Any of the combos listed will consistently drop deer and pretty much all other North American big game. If you still want an opinion, start with seeing how the Federal/Nosler shoots, and stop there if it's good enough on paper.

 

[dailordasailor]

What I can get easy is the Nosler and the Hornady interlock so going to try this weekend at the range. Have a “new” 30-30 I’m going to shoot some different boxes through as well

 

[ChrisG]

Lucky for you, the .30-06 is one of the most, if not THE most diversely loaded calibers available. I personally would shoot a 180-200 grain bullet, not the 150s. Sure they work on deer, but penetration is far more important than "energy transfer". A 220 grain solid that pokes a .308 diameter hole through the heart and lungs will kill a deer a lot quicker than a bullet that comes apart on a quartering shot and blows a pot roast sized hole that is only 5 inches deep. I would rather ensure that my bullet gets to where I am pointing it from any angle on the animal (with the exception of a texas heart shot) than have the fastest most explosive bullet I can buy, and have to turn down tons of deer because they didn't offer me the perfect shot angle. Or worse, losing a wounded animal because my bullet lacked penetration but it had amazing ballistic gel results. But.... if you must use a 150, I am not saying cup and cores don't work (I used them for years) but any of the following bullets would give you more insurance:

Barnes TTSX
Woodleigh Weldcore
Nosler Partition
Federal Fusion
Remington Bonded
Speer Grand Slam
Swift Scirroco
Nosler Accubond

(Purposely excluded the TSX and the GMX because I don't fully trust them)

this list isn't exculsive but it s the best I could come up with off the top of my head.

Find a manufacturer that loads one of these and you'll be golden. Double Tap and Buffalo Bore load a lot of different projectiles.

Ordering Ammo online is a great option if you can do it. I live in New York State so I cannot mail order ammo anymore thanks to Cuomo. I feel so much safer . Anyway, check the ammo your buying to insure that it is a premium bullet.

I know people are probably going to razz me for recommending a premium bullet for whitetail but the fact of the matter is that they work better in all situations as long as your not shooting a bullet that is too tough for the game or a bullet that is too slow that it will not expand.

 

[dailordasailor]

I’m from NY and moved south right after the Sandy Hook shooting...

I shot the Hornady interlock and Federal Sierra Gameking Saturday at the range and both shot rather well. My 243 and 30-30 love the federal fusion ammo but am I really undermining myself with the Hornady (shot a little better) in 150? Looking at maybe 300yds max on antelope or mulies and most of my whitetail is under 50 yds

 

[ChrisG]

I’m from NY and moved south right after the Sandy Hook shooting...

I shot the Hornady interlock and Federal Sierra Gameking Saturday at the range and both shot rather well. My 243 and 30-30 love the federal fusion ammo but am I really undermining myself with the Hornady (shot a little better) in 150? Looking at maybe 300yds max on antelope or mulies and most of my whitetail is under 50 yds

Of the two you mention, the hornady is by far the tougher bullet. Sierra almost universally shed their jacket. Especially the Gameking because it is a boat tail and there is really nothing holding the core in place. The prohunter is a little better and is a little more accurate in my experience due to the flat base. The Hornady is still cup and core but at least it has a mechanically locked core.

 

[dailordasailor]

I will be testing the Hornady on hogs/javelina in couple weeks. Between reviews, recommendations and then those hogs, I’ll feel real comfortable come October for pronghorn and mulies.

Sidetrack a little, I just picked up a savage 308 I’m putting a 2-7x scope on purely for local deer/hogs. Can’t see over 100yds anywhere in these woods. Best option for that? It’s mostly swamp so knock down/large blood trial is crucial because it’s very hard to track in water/mud.

 

[lcq]

An old Hornady tech once told me "deer don't take much killing". Any bullet will work if placed well. If you want an exit wound then Federal Fusion or Hornady American whitetail are inexpensive bullets that generally shoot well in most rifles and hold together if not pushed at magnum velocities. You may also try corelokt Ultras but they are more costly

I shot a bushbuck with 150gr corelokt out of my 7mm mag and there was no exit and only one drop of blood on the entrance. Velocity and soft bullets kill fast but generally are not conducive to an exit wound

 

[dailordasailor]

Reason I’m searching for ammo is the lack of blood trail. First hog I ever shot dropped a quarter sized blood spot and no blood ever again. Ran 75yds and couldn’t find him until next day. No blood where he laid dead either...

I’ll pick up some fusion to try in the 308. I’m very novice to ammo choice/bullet characteristics. I know some are better suited for close range and long which is why want to get 308 set up for 75yds or less only and the bullets to match

 

[Hogpatrol]

My 2¢, Buy three to five boxes of whatever is easiest for you to procure and take the one that is the most accurate in your rifle.
This horse has been beaten beyond death but saying it again, with proper shot placement, the animal will die within a reasonable time and distance.

 

[lcq]

Reason I’m searching for ammo is the lack of blood trail. First hog I ever shot dropped a quarter sized blood spot and no blood ever again. Ran 75yds and couldn’t find him until next day. No blood where he laid dead either...

I’ll pick up some fusion to try in the 308. I’m very novice to ammo choice/bullet characteristics. I know some are better suited for close range and long which is why want to get 308 set up for 75yds or less only and the bullets to match

as others have said accuracy first. At 308 velocities any 150, 165 or 180 gr (hunting bullet) that shoots well in your rifle should have no problem giving you a good exit wound.

 

[Dr Ray]

Try to be short and too the point... I’ve used Corelokt ammo for last 5 years and never had consistent results but things always died. This year was my wives first deer hunt and was a scary moment when there was no blood trail at 40 yd on 100lb doe. Same distance, no exit on a 120lb buck. Then at 20yds blew a hole size of billiard ball on opposite side... I’ve had pretty iffy results on hogs too but assumed was the hogs “toughness”.

Looking for new factory ammo with regular availability. Have 3 hunts planned this year with biggest being antelope/mule deer in Wyoming. I know it will depend on what gun likes but like to have good place to start.

Locally I can get:
-Hornady Whitetail
-Federal Fusion
-Winchester power point
-Winchester extreme point
- Federal soft point
- Federal Premium with Nosler

That’s what I can find at local store, Walmart, and Dicks. Once get gun sighted in, plan to buy a good chunk of the bullets so be good all year.

Thanks
Dale

I would suggest you go to a 150 grain Bullets for deer. How about trying federal vital shok. I’ve used both the corelokt and the Federals.

In the choice of what you presented I would go for the federals but in 150 grain as anything above that bullet weight is very heavily constructed. These bullets may pass right through the animal and not open up/mushrooming.

Too light a bullet for velocity is likely to blow up causing only a non fatal wound. I found 180 grain Bullets were too stiffly jacketed and passed through. You may want a Blood trail and the problem maybe that the bullet placement is not hitting a vital spot for immediate kill. As a suggestion you may want to study the anatomy of the target. Please don’t take offence as I’m only trying to help.

 

[Ernie Shipman]

If your wife is recoil sensitive, go 150's.
Federal Fusion was designed from the ground up as a deer cartridge.
What @ Norma??? Oryx (180's) Or Kalahari (150's)
Hard to go wrong with Nosler....

 

[dailordasailor]

She’s not “recoil sensitive” but she’s not trying to find more recoil either... where we hunt, the 150 shouldn’t be an issue and will try her 30-06 out with fusion this summer. As for me, using Hornady interloc for the year and if no issues, will forever.

As for 308, try the fusions out first and see how they perform in the gun

 

[lcq]

She’s not “recoil sensitive” but she’s not trying to find more recoil either... where we hunt, the 150 shouldn’t be an issue and will try her 30-06 out with fusion this summer. As for me, using Hornady interloc for the year and if no issues, will forever.

As for 308, try the fusions out first and see how they perform in the gun

Remington managed recoil works if you don't reload or H4895 loads if you do. No deer hit at 100yds or less is going to feel the difference

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

I am not surprised to here about OP's inconsistent results with Remington factory ammo. I have observed amazingly bad results with Remington ammo in the last few years. I will not be buying anymore. Your best bet is to roll your own, but if that really doesn't suit you, I have good results with Federal factory cartridges as far as accuracy goes.

 

[jeffpg]

There’s certainly no shortage of good factory ammo out there for the great 30.06. The Hornady SST you mention has worked well for me in a variety of calibers but I’d go with the 165 grain in the ‘06.

If you can’t find what you want here, you can’t find it. https://ammoseek.com/

 

[PARA45]

I've been using a 30-06 for about 18 years, and I've hunted big whitetail, & mule deer, hogs, and a warthog in Africa. I've always used 180 grs bullets with great success, and have never lost an animal. I've used Winchester Supreme (the old black box), and everything has died, and has left a good blood trail when they ran.

Hog not always bleed a lot, and I think it has to do with the fat in their body. So, the fact that you didn't find a blood trail on your hog, is not unusual.

Now that I've ran out of all the factory ammo I had, I'm using 180 grs Nosler Accubond with great success.

I think the 165 grs & 180 grs are a match made in heaven for the 30-06. Like others have suggested, see what your rifle likes and go from there.

Good luck!

 

[Chago]

If you can get your hands on Hornady accurate hunter, do it!

I am heading to Africa for the first time this year. But I have been reloading the hornady eld x for some time. And it has served me well on deer, moose and black bears. You mentioned factory ammo only and I know the Hornady accurate hunter comes with the eld x. It's in a black box.

 

[dailordasailor]

I will take a look! Heard great things about Hornady of course so just want to see what academy has which is not to far away and has better selection

 

[cagkt3]

I shoot the 143gr ELD-X out of my 6.5 Creedmoor and it loves it. I have been shooting the Berger 168gr VLD out of my 06