Hunting white tail with 30.06 -- Bullet recommendations?

LWBudd

I am new to reloading and having a blast (no pun intended and blast IS a relative term).
I have been reloading for my pistols with good success. I am about to launch into reloading for my 30.06 which I use for hunting (white tail deer, mostly).

I just bought RL 15 for powder. I am looking for the ability to develop my loads in Florida (usually hot and humid) and going hunting up north in the winter. RL 15 was recommended to me as a temperature stable powder.

I am now looking for the "right" bullet for the job. I usually shoot at fairly close range (<200 yards).

Recommendations?

wiersy111

I live in central Minnesota so think that would qualify as up north. I have hunted with a 30.06 about 25 years. I have always prefered a 150gr bullet, I have use many types over the years. Most of my best loads were with a Sierra 150gr Boat tail, it does a very nice job on whitetails. I am currently working on a load using the new Hornady 150gr SST boat tail. I have always used IMR 4350 or IMR 4831, I do know a few guys that have used RL 15. But I don't know how it worked for them.

wncchester · Member Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 160

Any common hunting bullet weighing 150-165 grains will do you nicely.

I know you would like a specific choice but, fact is, it ain't all that big a risk; they all do very well on deer at moderate ranges. Find one that shoots good in your rifle and hunt with conficence.

Varget is very temperature tolerant.

Bushmaster

Probably no help to you , but I load Sierra 165 grain BTHP for my Browning A-bolt. Hard to beat. My powder is H4831SC...wncchester has the right idea. For .30-06 and white tails at 200 yards +/- a few 150 to 165 grain bullets are quite fine. You might want to look at reduced loads too. At the range you are talking you might want to slow the bullet down to maybe 2500fps.

Welcome tho this fine site. I see you have pulled up a stump. Did ya get one of Vince's beers while you were at it?

chambered221

Welcome to Hunting Nut !!! Cool

I have always favored 165gr. bullets in the 06 !!! 150’s and 180’s will also work well.
The 06 is one of those calibers that seem to like a wide variety of bullet weights.
Bushy makes a good point about possibly slowing them down some. I know guys that went to the 180’s for this reason.
Nosler Ballistic Tips will work the best at reduced speeds. (IMO)
I wouldn’t hesitate to use any brand name bullet on the market for white tails with an 06.
I always used IMR4350 with 165 grain Ballistic Tips when I was loading for my 06. I never had to deal with extreme temperature changes though.
If it were me, I’d probably develop 2 loads if it were possible.

fnuser

me too on 165's mine likes the horn spires

DKAllen

I personally use 150 Gr or 165 Gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, but most any major mfg has good ones, I just got comfortable using Nosler. I like IMR 4350 Powder. The 30 06 is probably one of the most versatile rifles on the market. So many differeent loads and bullets work well with it.

Arizona Hunter · Member Joined: Jul 22, 2006 Posts: 275

A few years ago I found that 180 Barnes XLC's (now discontinued) shot great in my 06, so I use it onm Javelina, deer, black bear and elk.

One great thing about the 30.06, it's easy to load for and there are lots of great bullets available. Most 150's or 165's should be perfect for you.

Oh, if you don't already have one, get a good reloading manual-or two. If you happen to settle on a bullet from a company that also has it's own reloading manual (like Barnes, Hornady, Speer, Nosler, Swift) get that book even if you have to order it online, you'll be glad you did.

Arron

Well according to alot of the "known" whitetailed deer hunting "experts" they are the hardest animal on earth to kill and are apparently covered with body armor so they seem to recommend that you get the heaviest meanest bullet and push it as fast as you can get it to go and then you will be able to cleanly take one of the thinnest skinned game animals on the North American continent! Sorry I just could not resist that one. HA HA HA!!!! That is one of those little things that really ticks me off about the "experts" out there. Power at any cost over skill is all some seem to know anymore.

Everything that has been suggested will be PERFECT for any whitetailed deer, or any of the other thin skinned deer in North America.

Although I am curious as to what you mean by up north? There are different meanings to "up north".

chambered221

Arron wrote:

Well according to alot of the "known" whitetailed deer hunting "experts" they are the hardest animal on earth to kill

I often wonder if some hunters believe this to be true !!!

SingleShotLover

As most have offered, any decent bullet in the 150 to 165-grain range will do quite well. Whitetail aren't bulletproof (as Arron pointed out) and really don't take a lot of killing if the shot is placed where it should be (regardless of whether it's in the north or south). I lean toward 165 to 180 grain bullets at moderate velocities in the '.06 simply because I use my .280 for weights up to 150 grains and can't see any reason for an overlap.

I have shot whitetail with 120-grain Hornady Single-Shot Pistol bullets (not known for being particularly tough bullets) from my 7mm BR and they have sailed right on through with nice expansion at distances up to 160 yards. The point of all of this is that you really don't need trick or magic bullets...well-constructed common cup and core bullets will do you just fine.

Bushmaster

Most of the "exotic bullet" is just hype anyway...

If a 140 grain SJHP Remington from a 4 3/4" Colt SAA at 30 yards can put a Blacktail down. Most anything (including a sharp stick) will do it...Most poachers use a .22 LR (less noise) for the job...

pth1947

I use Hornady 150 gr. SST with 47gr of IMR4895. Where I hunt most shots are under 200 yds 90% of kills have been one shot with deer dropping in its tracks or going less than 50 yds.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Remember that a 223Rem with a bullet meant for larger game will kill deer. Only animal I really worry about is moose cause they are about 4 or more times bigger then a deer.

A crossbow with 110-120 foot pounds of energy will drive that 20-22" bolt through a deer and half way out the other side at 40 yards.

Dimitri

moose2

I've had very good results on whitetails with my 06 using 150 gr. Sierra Prohunters behind H414 powder. Good Luck to you. Smile