30-06 ammunition recommendation

[BWH]

I went in May 2014 with my 06..... Barnes VorTex 168gr TTSX. Killed 9 animals....everything from Springbok to Wildebeest and everything in between. All 1 shot kills. Only 1 recovery. Rest thru & thru's..... Yardage ranging from 100-250. Performed perfectly. Highest recommendation!

 

[mdbrowne]

Retry. There are a lot of good bullets out there for the 06 and other calibers. What seems to be interesting, is that irregardless of what bullet used, is the satisfactory results everyone seems to be getting with the old 30-06. Perhaps we would see the same with the 375 H&H, the 404 Jeffrey, and the old 450/400. 100 year old rifles still doing what they were designed to do all these years. Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement seems to work every time!

 

[BWH]

I agree.... So much so, I wasn't home a week from my first Safari, of which I over obsessed every factor.... I bought a 375 H&H for my next, I haven't even planned yet. The 375 over there is so well respected, tried & true. I'm not about to argue with the masters. At first I wasn't super stoked to buy a big bore.... But then I started thinking. I shoot about 250 rounds of 3.5" 2 shot every Duck/Goose season.... 375's don't kick as hard. And for the record... I'm 5'8 & 170.... Not exactly a big dude.

 

[gcolvin2005]

What ever bullet you go with, you will need a lot of practice. If you practice on an indoor range, do not practice with bullets containing steel in the projectile. Most indoor ranges do not allow steel in the projectile as it will ricochet and could come back at you and others on the firing line. If you practice at an outdoor range, check with the staff if steel projectiles are permitted. If not, find a friendly farmer that will allow you to practice in his fields.

Note: Hornady dangerous game loads have a steel jacket covered by a copper jacket
Norma African ammunition has steel in the projectile
Some Winchester loads have steel

Always check you ammo with a magnet prior to going to a range to stop from being refused shooting rights, or purchasing ammo that you can shoot on the range but will not use in Africa.

 

[Rob404]

I find this topic utterly facinating,,Iv'e been reloading for a few years and have a Fondness for Sierra Bullets I used them in SA for plains game in 165Gr which 308s seem to thrive one,,but I never see any Love for this brand on AH any reasons?

 

[mdbrowne]

I believe Sierra Bullets are some of the finest, most accurate on the market today. I load them in everything that I shoot, 308 included. They kill like lightning. The ProHunter in any caliber is hard to beat. Of course, I must confess my partiality. Carroll Pilant, Sierra Bullets, and I are good friends. We shoot 3 gun & precision rifle at many matches each year. Besides being a gentleman, he is extremely knowledgeable on all types of bullets and loads. Still, he markets a fine bullet!
M.D. Browne

 

[Rob404]

I have weighed an Measured hundreds of Sierras and found them to be the most consistant Bullet I've ever loaded

 

[Dog Large]

Hi,
I need some recommendations for current proven factory ammunition for a 30-06 Savage 111.
I will be leaving Sept. 1 2014 for Limpopo on a plains game hunt. Kudu, Gemsbok and Wildebeest are the largest on my wish list.
My preferred load would be the Fed Prem Vital Shock TBT 180 gn. @ 2880 FPS advertised. Federal is not making another run until early June.

So I need a back up plan for a premium load if I can't get the Federals.
And I need some time to check out the other load. I hope not to have to go through several loads @ $40-$50 a box to find one that would be suitable.
I'm not interested in reloading for this trip, as I'm not equipped.
thanks
Charlie

My PH gave me 150 grain silvertips for a borrowed 30-06! Shot everything you named to include a Tsessebe. I would have thought 180's were the way to go, but 3 out of 4 critters got a lethal first shot. Only one needed a second because it was quartering away and I had to rush the shot. He then turned to give me a perfect broadside stationary, and the rest was history.

If I brought my own ammo, I would have brought either 180NP's or Swift A frames, but shot placement appeared to be everything, and the bottom line was the 150's worked.

 

[BWH]

The 165-168 Barnes TTSX is awesome on everything from Springbok to Eland. I have 20+ animals to show for it.