Reloading 30-06

[Desert Rat]

As the title says, I am looking for an average priced powder. I will be reloading for white tail and elk.
I am thinking of 150 grn for deer and 180 grn for elk. Looking at a bonded bullet or maybe a polymer tipped. Not sure, this is my first attempt at loading this caliber.

What are your suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[cjr]

I have used IMR 4064 and 4895 for great accuracy w/ 150 and 168 gr. bullets.

 

[lostdog99]

Yes. IMR 4895 IS A very flexible powder and was designed for the 30-06.
Varget is also flexible ,and does not change burn rate with temp as much as other powders.

 

[lostdog99]

On the bullet side. Have you considered the Barnes copper bullets ? My cousin has hunted religiously for 40 years. For the last 10 years Barnes 150gr bullets are all he uses.

 

[AZGEEZER]

In mine I stick with IMR 4831 but I mainly use 168gr bullets.

On the bullets: It kinda depends at what distance the target is. Terminal performance has it's ups and downs. Having hit game with Ballistic tips is fun, small entry hole, exit wound you can darn near gut the thing by hand.

Most shots around here avg 150yds, so now I use mostly cast.

 

[Desert Rat]

"On the bullet side. Have you considered the Barnes copper bullets ?"
I have not thought about copper bullets. I will have to look at that.

"On the bullets: It kinda depends at what distance the target is."
Probably around 200 would hopefully be the range. Haven't attempted too much further out.

I will look into the powders. The comment about the temps is good, I had forgotten about that.

AZGEEZER, Do you use the 168 for both game species?

 

[AZGEEZER]

"On the bullet side. Have you considered the Barnes copper bullets ?"
I have not thought about copper bullets. I will have to look at that.

"On the bullets: It kinda depends at what distance the target is."
Probably around 200 would hopefully be the range. Haven't attempted too much further out.

I will look into the powders. The comment about the temps is good, I had forgotten about that.

AZGEEZER, Do you use the 168 for both game species?

Never had the chance to get elk, so I can't say for certain how well that weight will work. Now lets talk deer and coyotes: Goes clean through yotes and deer at just under 200yds, and even cast does the same thing. My cast goes from 170-220grs and if I hollow point them it just makes a bigger mess.

Doubt I'll ever have the chance at elk, getting older and the mrs. needs constant tending too.

Almost had to pull out the rifle, for the past 2 days, just at sunset, deer keep coming in trying to get at my garden. I'm not kidding when I say that the local wildlife think I planted that garden just for them, they think I created an all you can eat buffet just for them.

At 200yds pretty much a 180gr and a little less will do just fine. I got 220gr but I would reserve those for those charging Rhino heards I hear about but never saw yet.

 

[delta6]

I have been using the .308 Sierra 150 grain Game King (SBT #2125) bullet for the last 15 years for elk with good results. I use that bullet in the .308 case, but would assume that the results would be comparable in the 30-06.

 

[shooter444]

I like to simplify my caliber loading options. I load all my 30 caliber loads with 220 grain Hornady soft points, or 220 grain cast lead. I load them from subsonic to supersonic, for my hunting needs.

So I have little advice for your specific inquiry, but to follow a good reloading manual.

 

[airedalex2]

All of the old school powders, 4064-4831-4350-760, work very well in 30-06. I think your choice of 150 grain would be excellent for deer. The 180 grain works for both deer and elk. Shot two mule deer with 30-06. One was 70 yards that was a hand loaded 150 grain Remington corelokt, 1 shot. The other mule deer was 250 yards away and I was using Winchester 180 grain round nose soft point, had an elk hunt a month after deer. Luckily I had shot it out to 300 yards and knew how far it would drop. 1 shot, hit buck in spine. There are much better bullets out there nowadays to choose from. A couple years later shot a spike bull at 60-70 yards with that same 180 grain. Put the bullet in the sweet spot just behind shoulder, all it took was 1 shot. I have also killed a couple of cow elk with a 308 using the 180 Hornady Interlock Btsp. You might consider a 150 or 165 grain Accubond and just stick with one bullet. If you go all copper, I would suggest going light 150 grain Barnes TTSX for both animals. Load the copper bullets with the highest safe velocity to ensure reliable expansion. Just a few more suggestions to get you started. Good luck!

 

[Desert Rat]

Thanks everyone for the input, now I have to keep my fingers crossed for the draw results!!

 

[devildogandboy]

the biggest factor is shot placement. if you can hit the kill zone repeatedly and have confidence, you can use something along the line of the 165-168 grainers for both deer and elk.
for years I used only 165 Hornady bullets in the 06 and had no problem taking down either at 200yds or less. shooting further than that I would go with the 180gr and this would work well for both once again(jmo, I never shot past the 200yd mark).

 

[Pika]

H380 is on sale at bullets.com for 12,95 a lb They are going out of business check the primers also

 

[Desert Rat]

I will have to check it out, thanks.

 

[792mauser]

I get excellent accuracy from IMR-4064 and my 1903a3 and a Sierra 150.

 

[17-21-23]

the 150GR sierra will work fine for elk and deer. I load them with 51gr imr 4895 but am considering making the swap for IMR 8208 XBR.
I have heard really good things about it and am going to test the powder in my Grendel first.