Best 30-06 Deer Round ?
what grain, manufacture and bullet type ?
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180 partitioned 0 -
Barnes Triple-Shock in 165 or 168gr 0 -
Pardon my ignorance (I don't hunt), but given how large and powerful 30-06 is, won't any of 'em do? 0 -
quote:Best 30-06 Deer Round ?
.270 Win.! (sorry, couldn't resist[B)])
I would agree with EMM on this one.
Any 150-220 gr. pill will do the job quite nicely.
I'd make my choice depending on the expected range I'd be shooting!0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
Pardon my ignorance (I don't hunt), but given how large and powerful 30-06 is, won't any of 'em do?
Yes, IMHO, any 150g and up. As always, shot placement is the key.0 -
"Pardon my ignorance (I don't hunt), but given how large and powerful 30-06 is, won't any of 'em do?"
Nein!!
I have killed over 40 deer with a 30-06. German made Mauser sporter, what a beautiful rifle.
I was hunting with this rifle in the eighties, and as late as '94.
The only bullets available to me were the Winchester Silvertip, and the Remington Core Lokt. I used 180 gr. There was no internet for me to ask questions about bullets on, I used the ammo that was available in my little town.
In the dense Georgia woods, I was usually taking shots under 50 yards, although the last deer I shot with that rifle was at 195 yards, and I got him in the heart.
I was dismayed with the performance of these bullets. I would get a .30 entrance wound, and a .50 exit. Very little mushrooming. On the straightaway lung shot, a deer would go over 100 yards. Boy, that can be a long way in those thick Georgia woods, especially if you fired right at dusk.
I always took a flashlight with me, and I got real good at blood trailing.
I also started taking the "high shoulder shot" whenever possible. Essentially this is a spine shot. If the deer was less than 50 yards, and not moving, I took this shot 5 or 6 times, the deer dropped in its tracks every time.
This was my "wonder rifle" because every time I fired at a deer with it, I got the deer. I won't get into the shots I screwed up with that Winchester and the Enfield.
I was so dismayed with the performance of these two bullets that I tried making hollow points. I sawed off the end 1/8 inch of the slug, and drilled into the slug 1/4 inch with a 1/4 bit.
Still pretty accurate. Didn't mushroom worth a damn.
So, I understand there are some nice new bullets out there that will mushroom well on the whitetail. Give 'em a try, and stay the hell away from the Silvertip and the Core Lokt.0 -
I gotsa disagree with ya, Allen. After the last couple of years, I've been converted to the Remington Core Lokt, specifically the 165 gr flavor. This past year I made 2 heart shots and one spine shot with a 165 gr Core Lokt on top of 55 gr of IMR 4350 goin' out of an 18 1/2" barreled 742. All deer dropped within 50 ft. All 3 were shot within spittin' distance.
Huntin' southeastern whitetails, I wouldn't use anything bigger than a 180 gr pill designed for thin skin game. The 150 is made for deer. The larger (200+ gr) are made for heavier, thicker skin game. If buying factory ammo and shootin within 300 yds, I'd buy the Remington Core Lokts or Winchester SilverTips. Leave the more expensive rounds for the others.0 -
Well, Corvers, our experiences are very different, aren't they.
Now, I never shot anything smaller than the 180, so maybe the smaller Core Lokt would perform better.
I made many heart shots with those bullets, and the deer usually ran about 90 to 100 yards. How a deer can go that far with a blown up heart, I don't know.
As to the spine shot, of course, our experiences are the same.
Now I use a Savage muzzleloader. I shoot a .45 caliber slug at 250 grains, leaving the muzzle at 2,300 fps. A little more energy than the 30-06, however, the mushrooming is beyond belief. I shot a deer last year in the lungs, and got a 4 inch ENTRANCE wound. Knocked the deer for a back flip and she hit the ground dead, NOT a spine shot, just lung.
Now that is bullet performance.
What size exit wound do you get with your 165 grain slugs?0 -
My vote would be the 150 grain or 165 grain ballistic tips.
Allen, the 180 grain pills are, IMHO, too heavy for deer. The reason that you didn't get optimum expansion on your bullets is due to the fact that even though they are "low-end" bullets they are still designed for a combination of penetration and expansion. At 50 yards with an ought-6 the bullet wizzes through the deer so fast that it really can't reach full expansion before it exits. It is a testament to those bullets that they didn't blow up all together. Your experience with your muzzleloader is an excellent example of hydraulic shock. Rapid expansion of smaller bullets or regular expansion of very large bullets (like your .45) will cause a lot of hydraulic shock. That is why I recommend one of the ballistic tip bullets.
To answer your question about how far a deer can go without a heart, the answer is a very long way! I have had deer that were bow shot that got both lungs, and the top of the heart go 250 yards before crashing down. It is different for each deer.
I know a lot of people that like the deer to be DRT, but part of the hunting experience is blood-trailing. There is nothing wrong with having to do it, as long as the deer is recovered.0 -
Almost any 165 gr. pill will work. On a deer I see no need to shoot a "premium" bullet unless you just feel like it. 0 -
I've had deer go a good distance after being heart shot and both shoulders busted with the '06. When your'e hunting in 2 feet of water, that is bad. My experience with my Marlin 44 Mag is different. The deer goes no more than 50 foot before dropping graveyard daid. That 240 gr bullet traveling at 1700+ fps at the muzzle simply knocks'em in the dirt (or mud, or water).
I'm with Handgun on the lighter bullets giving better expansion on deer. The heavier bullets are made for heavier game. Kinda goes against our conventional thinking, but it's the truth. But......I don't buy into the "ballistic" tip hype. Dem ol' Core Lokts get the job done just fine and for 1/2 the cost.0 -
quote:Originally posted by HandgunHTR52
My vote would be the 150 grain or 165 grain ballistic tips.
Allen, the 180 grain pills are, IMHO, too heavy for deer. The reason that you didn't get optimum expansion on your bullets is due to the fact that even though they are "low-end" bullets they are still designed for a combination of penetration and expansion. At 50 yards with an ought-6 the bullet wizzes through the deer so fast that it really can't reach full expansion before it exits. It is a testament to those bullets that they didn't blow up all together. Your experience with your muzzleloader is an excellent example of hydraulic shock. Rapid expansion of smaller bullets or regular expansion of very large bullets (like your .45) will cause a lot of hydraulic shock. That is why I recommend one of the ballistic tip bullets.
To answer your question about how far a deer can go without a heart, the answer is a very long way! I have had deer that were bow shot that got both lungs, and the top of the heart go 250 yards before crashing down. It is different for each deer.
I know a lot of people that like the deer to be DRT, but part of the hunting experience is blood-trailing. There is nothing wrong with having to do it, as long as the deer is recovered.I only partially agree with you. From a humane standpoint and for optimum meat quality, I want them dead when they hit the ground.[xx(] Chasing a wounded deer around the woods does nothing to improve the meat quality.[:)]0 -
Never hunted deer with an 06 (Ohio doesn't let you use rifles, only shotguns and muzzleloaders and handguns- and let me say a 585 gr .58 Minie will whack them down!) but would think that were I to do so, I'd also recommend a 180 gr as a good intermediate weight bullet, personally my 06 guns shoot Hornadys well but your mileage may vary. 0 -
Always had good experiences with 200 grain Norma Vulcan. 0 -
I would say the answer has to be, the weight of bullet and type of ammo that your particular rifle likes best. I'd try a few and see which it shoots better. I use 150 grain in my 700 bdl. Good velocity and plenty of knock down. 0 -
Remmington core-lokt 150 gr.. We started with winchester but the remmington is more accurate in our rifles. 0 -
All rifle slugs are a LOT better made now days. 0 -
Remington 180 gr. core lokt round nose. the psp doesn't expand soon enough and the bullet doesn't do enough damage to stop a deer without it running off. the round nose will make a hole you can put your fist through. my second choice is winchester 165 Soft point. not the power point again the soft point expands quickly making a large wound deer doesn't go but maybe 10 ft at the most. power points are for bigger game like elk where penatration is needed more. 0 -
Used the old 06 many times on deer. 150 gr is plenty for deer, IMHO. 165s are good, also. Most 180s are likely a little tough to get ideal expansion on a deer. 0 -
30.06 is too big for deer, IMO. ....243[;)] 0 -
All my deer have been with a 30-06. Were talking mule deer. 35+ years. I agree if shooting a small doe maybe a bit to much caliber. Shooting a buck or large doe then it is perfect. I use only 165gr. now for it seems to perform the best in my opinion. Also use it on all antelope and elk. Have used mostly Remington but Winchester and Federal no problem either. Look for best price. 0 -
...My Browning Medallion like Federal Premium 150 grn...[;)] 
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Any good quality 150 or 165gr bullet is good for deer. I load my own and use a 165gr Speer bullet on both deer and moose. 0 -
mmmmmm .243 struggles sometimes...30-06 wow!! destruction...[:0]
6.5x55 niiiiiiiiice [;)][:)]0 -
I'm a little surprised that so many folks think the best deer bullet is one that leaves an exit wound you can drive a truck through.
Just one man's opinion, but I'll gladly trade that 10-15 lbs of bloodshot, ruined venison in exchange for the opportunity to practice a little fieldcraft and follow a blood trail for a hundred yards.
Maybe I've spent too many years as a bowhunter, but I've never lost a deer with gun or bow and every ounce of venison is precious to me.
I've also never noticed a difference in the taste of the meat from a deer that dropped DRT and one that ran 100 yds. with an arrow or a bullet through the heart.0 -
The cheapest PSP from 150 to 180 gr you
can find, in Federal,Remington or Winchester.
Anything more for NorthEast whitetails at ethical
ranges is a waste of money.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rsr1950
Remington 180 gr. core lokt round nose. the psp doesn't expand soon enough and the bullet doesn't do enough damage to stop a deer without it running off. the round nose will make a hole you can put your fist through. my second choice is winchester 165 Soft point. not the power point again the soft point expands quickly making a large wound deer doesn't go but maybe 10 ft at the most. power points are for bigger game like elk where penatration is needed more.
A+ 10 -
quote:Originally posted by jwb267
quote:Originally posted by rsr1950
Remington 180 gr. core lokt round nose. the psp doesn't expand soon enough and the bullet doesn't do enough damage to stop a deer without it running off. the round nose will make a hole you can put your fist through. my second choice is winchester 165 Soft point. not the power point again the soft point expands quickly making a large wound deer doesn't go but maybe 10 ft at the most. power points are for bigger game like elk where penatration is needed more.
A+ 1
They also are excellent in the .3080 -
quote:Originally posted by mond
mmmmmm .243 struggles sometimes...30-06 wow!! destruction...[:0]
6.5x55 niiiiiiiiice [;)][:)]
It's actually not too bad mate! Minimal damage and dropped them dead on their tracks.
Taken in 2003, me 2nd from left with 180g Core Lokt SP in .300WM and my son, 2nd from right with 180g Core Lokt SP in .30-06.
BTW, I too love my 6.5 x 55 (Carl Gustaf Carbine). Cheers!0 -
The one that finds the target[:)]
Have heunted for years with a Marlin 30-30 with varying degrees of sucess...never used an '06 for anything but paper punching (03A3)0
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