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best 30-06 deer load ??

Johnny45
okay so now that i know about bullet grain, i was wondering if a 147 or 150 grain bullet in 30-06 would be good for whitetail deer in western montana this fall. i have never been on a deer hunt before but from previous experience in those parts i know the deer are often pretty close, like 150 yeards or less. so would the grain size be enough ?
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10 comments

Date Votes
  • hawaiipighunter
    my first deer was killed with a ruger number one and federal 125 grain bullets. some will say 150 grainers, i agree 150s are good, some will tell you 168s, another good choice...and someone may charm in with the 125s.

    the 06 is a hell of a cartridge. try some rounds and pick the ones that the gun likes to shoot.

    kyle
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  • 101AIRBORNE
    Hello Johnny45:
    I will tell you that my pet load for Mulies are rolled by me.
    Norma or Remington brass-CCI 200 primers-Sierra 165 Spitzer Boat
    Tails and 55 grains of 4350. This is *not* to be considered *safe*
    in your rifle-just for thought. I hunt with an old Model 70 and this
    works for me. Your results may vary. Happy hunting-101
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  • Talking Head
    A 150-165 grain bullet out of a 30-06 is perfect for western Deer hunting, if you don't re-load I suggest buying Federal cartridges loaded with 165 gr. Nosler Partitions, or their 165 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw load.

    Happy_Camp.gif
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  • Snellstrom
    My 30/06 shoots 180 grain bullets the best of all the weights so that's what I shoot everything with, Deer, Elk, Antelope, everything.
    Mine starts off with 180 Spitzer B.T. bullets, WW case, CCI 200 large rifle primers and near max charge of IMR-4350.
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  • He Dog
    What does your rifle shoot best? I would try as many loads and bullet weights (ie. brands of ammo if you are not a reloader) and go with the cartridges that give you the greatest accuracy. If you line up five rifles of the same make, model and chambering and test a pile of cartridges through each, you may well find that each performs best with a different cartridge. Try the premium bullets for hunting like partitions, bearclaws etc. in different weights. It will take some time at the range and cost a bit, but in the end the rifle will show you what you should be using.
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  • ern98
    He Dog and Talking Head offer particularly good advice. Personally I am a fan of the 165g bullet in the 30-06, if I can only pick one. Still if the deer are to be on the smaller side and the range longer, I'd lean toward a 150g loading of like a Barnes X or a Swift A frame. The 165g will shoot most as flat as the 150g and hit most as hard as the 180g, and is why it is so highly reguarded. If we are talking large bodied northern deer, in the thick at closer ranges, then the 180g in any good bullet would be my pick. And as said before, the combo has to shoot well in your rifle. By this I mean something like 1.5" at 100yds for the 150g & 165g. 2" for the 180g.
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  • dcso3009
    I use a 150gr Barnes TSX out of my '06. I would not hesitate to use that round on almost any animal in this country.
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  • sandwarrior
    Johnny45,

    The 150 gr. in 30-06 load will be great for hunting deer out in western Montana. I would say that if you don't reload get some Federal standard 150 gr. loads. You won't need premiums for deer out there. If you were trophy hunting in the breaks it would be a different story.
    I note that you say 147 gr. I don't know who makes 147 execpt milsurp. In Montana you cannot use a milsurp FMJ bullet. Stay with standard hunting loads and you'll be fine.

    Edit:
    I forgot to add that since you seem a little new to the shooting world I would get a few boxes and do some practicing at known given distances. It will not only help your aim but your range estimation as well. -Good Luck

    We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>
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  • apprentice
    I would also say whatever works best in your rifle, deer aren't hard to kill at all if you do your part. Just as a side line, my grandfather used 220 grain load for everything, he sighted in his remington for that and stuck with that load, I wished I knew him, he was a hunting animal from all the stories. He would go to Canada for 3 months at a time and hunt moose, deer, bear with just that one rifle and one load.
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  • Johnny45
    I have a box of PMC 147 gr FMJ-BT and a box of American Eagle 150gr FMJ. I guess they arent made specifically for deer hunting but I was going to try them out for target shooting at least. How much of a difference do you think there should be in the grain size for a Whitetail vs. Mule deer vs. an Elk ?
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