Favorite .30-06 Deer Ammo

sparkysteve · March 26, 2006, 04:41 PM

I currently use 150 gr. Winchester Balistic Silvertips. I am VERY pleased. I used Remington Core-Lokt in the past and wasn't impressed. What are some other whitetail loads you guys like? I'd like to get into reloading my own sometime. Beats paying $30 a box for the factory stuff.

biglabsrule · March 26, 2006, 05:09 PM

i have always used remington corelokt,... I love remington guns, have 7 off them in the house, but will admit having trouble with their ammo, problem ive had was with .410 sticking in the chamber, the ammo was produced a near nothing over the .410 inches but yet enough to stick, corelokt have always worked fine for me, they claim to expand to twice the bore... the truth be told most any round, other than fmj, will work fine if properly placed...

Fal 4 Me · March 26, 2006, 05:09 PM

I've actually only used to Remington Core-lokts in my 30-06. My Savage will put three shots touching at 100 yards with these. Only needed one shot per deer while using this ammo. IMHO they've worked just fine, so I'm going to stick with using them.

jamaica · March 26, 2006, 08:34 PM

The Silver tips are deadly, but I have seen too many of them separate and mess up a whole lot of meat. Guess that doesn't matter if you don't want to eat it?

swampdog · March 26, 2006, 08:43 PM

150 gr winchester power point
Cheap, accurate, reliable and readily available.

Smokey Joe · March 26, 2006, 09:11 PM

The best ammo for my '06 comes from Smokey Joe's Ammo Shop. It doesn't cost me anything like the Win, Rem, or Fed ammo at yr friendly local sptg gds sto. And my quality control is 'way better!!

For deer I use 165 grain Sierra Gamekings or 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, in front of IMR 4350, touched off by CCI Lg Rifle primers. The Gamekings work great, but the Ballistic Tips are just as good--mebbe even more accurate--and the plastic tips don't deform like the lead tips on the Gamekings. (NBT's are pricier, though.)

You can get much the same ammo if you invest in Sparky Steve's Ammo Shop. Then you can also load up, or down, or use FMJ bullets which are cheaper, for practice, and lots of other cool things that Gander Mt. or Bass Pro Shop just don't carry.

Seriously, the sooner you get into reloading for yrself, the happier you'll be with yr ammo.

Diesel65 · March 26, 2006, 10:40 PM

I'm personally not a fan of the Ballistic Silvertips, except for the accuracy advantage they provide. I didn't like the way they seemed to explode on deer and not hold together well. I prefer the core lockt and the powerpoints on deer.

BIGR · March 27, 2006, 09:45 PM

In my Browning Bar MK II I use the Federal Premiums 180 GR. Sierra Gameking BTSP P3006L). They have done well for me. In my bolt guns I work up my own medicine with a 180 gr. Sierra bullet.

Fremmer · March 28, 2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

For deer I use 165 grain Sierra Gamekings

Me too, loaded by Federal in their premium line for the .308 (the .30-06's big brother

). Excellent performance and accuracy.

I'll use Smokey Joe's ammo shop when a chain store opens here in Nebraska!

gunslinger1911ACP · March 28, 2006, 08:51 AM

150 grain Remington Core-Lokt and Winchester Super X Power Point. Both work just fine in my Weatherby Vanguard. But the Winchester tends shoot a little bit tighter groups.

Guyon · March 28, 2006, 02:29 PM

I've got a very similar thread running concurrently over at The High Road. Have a look for a few more opinions.

Art Eatman · March 28, 2006, 11:29 PM

I've used both the 150- and 165-grain Sierras; I prefer the 150 because it's just as effective and a tad less recoil.

the 150-grain Remington Bronze Points work quite well, as do the 150-grain Hornady Spire Points.

Regardless of bullet performance, it you shoot'em in the neck, you don't have to worry about spoiling meat. Or tracking, for that matter.

Art

CowboyEngr · March 29, 2006, 10:28 AM

Almost anything of 150 gr. to 180 gr. will work fine, IMHO. My only problem with 150 grainers is that they can be a little too explosive. That, along with the fact that I also hunt elk, has made me into a "use 180 grs. for everything" guy. My point of impact stays the same and the 180's tend to be a little less destructive on light game. If I were to use the 30-06 for bigger than elk stuff, I might move up to 200-220 gr. bullets. For the 100-120 lb. whitetails we have in Oklahoma, the 30-06 can almost be too much gun.

bclark1 · March 29, 2006, 12:51 PM

all i've used on deer is remington premier accutip boattail 165gr. i'm pretty new to deer hunting, so i figured i'd lean to the heavy side, and it works like a charm. i'd checked out a few kinds of ammo, the 150gr sciroccos, core-lokts, some comparable winchester and hornady ammo... but out of my rifle, i just got great 100yd groups with the premier, and the deer i took this last fall went down so fast i initially had thought i'd missed and it had run off quicker than i could see. small hole in, exit wound wasn't bad, didn't blow up much tissue... all in all the effect i'm looking for.

buckster · March 29, 2006, 01:21 PM

I personally use Fusions in 150 gr. Many good range reports and they are predictable at short range and they are not moly coated. They fully mushroom on impact. They have their own web page, not on Federal's page.

Mannlicher · March 31, 2006, 08:03 PM

Remington Core-Lokt 150 grain works for me. I don't hunt long range, and for Whitetails, this old timer load seems to perform about as good as you would want. Sure kills deer.

Pointer · March 31, 2006, 08:53 PM

Mule deer here...

The Barnes TSX 150gr from Federal Vital Shok

Elk...
The Barnes MRX 180gr from Federal Vital Shok

JR3149 · April 11, 2006, 08:37 AM

I use a 165 grain Hornady Interbond. Smooth, fast, flat, accurate. I took two deer last year using this bullet combined with IMR 4350 and Remington magnum primers.

Single shot kills with no movement from the deer on impact. The first was laser ranged at 110 yards through heavy brush in a forested area. Probably the best shot I've ever taken. I slapped the rifle up to my cheek and shot like I was using a shotgun on pheasants. I was VERY pleased with the Hornady bullet.

remjeep75 · April 11, 2006, 01:08 PM

165 hornady interbonds

rem33 · April 12, 2006, 10:47 AM

Remington cor-loks are very good for sure. buncha years ago we ordered 1000 of em in 150 grain. Been loading them in 30-06 and 308. Several of us have killed 40 plus deer, dozen or so elk and a couple of antalope.
We do all our own processing so I see how much damage is done to the meat.
I have only recovered two bullets and one was a second shot to a elk that had stood back up. I shot it again around 150 to 200 yds. it was shot at a angle thru the neck, took out a few inches of back bone on thru the upper shoulder blade and stopped against the hide. I weighed it but don't remember for sure what it weighed but it was around 50 to 60% left. Kept that bullet on a shelf for years till I got a divorce and lost it in the shuffle or i go weigh it now. Another was a deer shot very close straight into the chest.
I have seen deer shot with 180 grains that tore up way too much, I remember who made em but not what bullet it was so it's not fair to say company X's bullets are no good.
IMHO it's a lot more where ya shoot em than with what ya shoot em with. I cut up over 60 deer one fall for a small country store long time ago and OMG ya shoulda seen how some of em where hit. One was shot right thru the hind quarters hitting both leg bones, and the guy thought he had been cheated no more meat than he got back. We should have saved the mess in a bag and gave it to him.
I wouldn't recomend it but saw a deer killed with a 222 Contender that jumped and only ran 50 yards or so, heard of em being lost after hit with magnums.
You can argue bullets and bullet weight, this caliber or that all day but unless you hit em where they live it don't matter what your shooting is what I am getting at I guess.

March 26, 2006, 04:41 PM	#1
sparkysteve Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2005 Location: Byron Center, Michigan Posts: 418	Favorite .30-06 Deer Ammo I currently use 150 gr. Winchester Balistic Silvertips. I am VERY pleased. I used Remington Core-Lokt in the past and wasn't impressed. What are some other whitetail loads you guys like? I'd like to get into reloading my own sometime. Beats paying $30 a box for the factory stuff. __________________ I have ADHD........Attention, Defficit, Hey there goes a squirrel! Dont tread on me.

March 26, 2006, 05:09 PM	#2
biglabsrule Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2006 Location: Adirondack Park, upstate NY north of Utica Posts: 385	i have always used remington corelokt,... I love remington guns, have 7 off them in the house, but will admit having trouble with their ammo, problem ive had was with .410 sticking in the chamber, the ammo was produced a near nothing over the .410 inches but yet enough to stick, corelokt have always worked fine for me, they claim to expand to twice the bore... the truth be told most any round, other than fmj, will work fine if properly placed... __________________ got me a little lady, the gun buying has come to an end, sigh

March 26, 2006, 09:11 PM	#6
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	.30-'06 ammo The best ammo for my '06 comes from Smokey Joe's Ammo Shop. It doesn't cost me anything like the Win, Rem, or Fed ammo at yr friendly local sptg gds sto. And my quality control is 'way better!! For deer I use 165 grain Sierra Gamekings or 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, in front of IMR 4350, touched off by CCI Lg Rifle primers. The Gamekings work great, but the Ballistic Tips are just as good--mebbe even more accurate--and the plastic tips don't deform like the lead tips on the Gamekings. (NBT's are pricier, though.) You can get much the same ammo if you invest in Sparky Steve's Ammo Shop. Then you can also load up, or down, or use FMJ bullets which are cheaper, for practice, and lots of other cool things that Gander Mt. or Bass Pro Shop just don't carry. Seriously, the sooner you get into reloading for yrself, the happier you'll be with yr ammo. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

March 28, 2006, 02:29 PM	#11
Guyon Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2000 Location: Over the Hills and Through the Woods, Tennessee Posts: 1,207	I've got a very similar thread running concurrently over at The High Road. Have a look for a few more opinions. __________________ Gun control should just be about hitting your target.

March 29, 2006, 01:21 PM	#15
buckster Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 674	deer round I personally use Fusions in 150 gr. Many good range reports and they are predictable at short range and they are not moly coated. They fully mushroom on impact. They have their own web page, not on Federal's page.

March 26, 2006, 05:09 PM	#3
Fal 4 Me Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Location: WI Posts: 236	I've actually only used to Remington Core-lokts in my 30-06. My Savage will put three shots touching at 100 yards with these. Only needed one shot per deer while using this ammo. IMHO they've worked just fine, so I'm going to stick with using them.

March 26, 2006, 08:34 PM	#4
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	The Silver tips are deadly, but I have seen too many of them separate and mess up a whole lot of meat. Guess that doesn't matter if you don't want to eat it?

March 26, 2006, 08:43 PM	#5
swampdog Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2006 Location: Dismal Swamp, NC Posts: 338	150 gr winchester power point Cheap, accurate, reliable and readily available.

March 26, 2006, 10:40 PM	#7
Diesel65 Member Join Date: January 6, 2006 Posts: 34	I'm personally not a fan of the Ballistic Silvertips, except for the accuracy advantage they provide. I didn't like the way they seemed to explode on deer and not hold together well. I prefer the core lockt and the powerpoints on deer.

March 27, 2006, 09:45 PM	#8
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	In my Browning Bar MK II I use the Federal Premiums 180 GR. Sierra Gameking BTSP P3006L). They have done well for me. In my bolt guns I work up my own medicine with a 180 gr. Sierra bullet.

March 28, 2006, 08:51 AM	#10
gunslinger1911ACP Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 131	150 grain Remington Core-Lokt and Winchester Super X Power Point. Both work just fine in my Weatherby Vanguard. But the Winchester tends shoot a little bit tighter groups.

March 28, 2006, 11:29 PM	#12
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've used both the 150- and 165-grain Sierras; I prefer the 150 because it's just as effective and a tad less recoil. the 150-grain Remington Bronze Points work quite well, as do the 150-grain Hornady Spire Points. Regardless of bullet performance, it you shoot'em in the neck, you don't have to worry about spoiling meat. Or tracking, for that matter. Art

March 29, 2006, 10:28 AM	#13
CowboyEngr Junior Member Join Date: March 23, 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 10	Almost anything of 150 gr. to 180 gr. will work fine, IMHO. My only problem with 150 grainers is that they can be a little too explosive. That, along with the fact that I also hunt elk, has made me into a "use 180 grs. for everything" guy. My point of impact stays the same and the 180's tend to be a little less destructive on light game. If I were to use the 30-06 for bigger than elk stuff, I might move up to 200-220 gr. bullets. For the 100-120 lb. whitetails we have in Oklahoma, the 30-06 can almost be too much gun.

March 29, 2006, 12:51 PM	#14
bclark1 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,531	all i've used on deer is remington premier accutip boattail 165gr. i'm pretty new to deer hunting, so i figured i'd lean to the heavy side, and it works like a charm. i'd checked out a few kinds of ammo, the 150gr sciroccos, core-lokts, some comparable winchester and hornady ammo... but out of my rifle, i just got great 100yd groups with the premier, and the deer i took this last fall went down so fast i initially had thought i'd missed and it had run off quicker than i could see. small hole in, exit wound wasn't bad, didn't blow up much tissue... all in all the effect i'm looking for.

March 31, 2006, 08:03 PM	#16
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,209	Remington Core-Lokt 150 grain works for me. I don't hunt long range, and for Whitetails, this old timer load seems to perform about as good as you would want. Sure kills deer. __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

March 31, 2006, 08:53 PM	#17
Pointer Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 2,559	Mule deer here... The Barnes TSX 150gr from Federal Vital Shok Elk... The Barnes MRX 180gr from Federal Vital Shok __________________ . "Political correctness is tyranny with a happy face." Charlton Heston 30-06 FOREVER

April 11, 2006, 08:37 AM	#18
JR3149 Member Join Date: February 24, 2005 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 41	I use a 165 grain Hornady Interbond. Smooth, fast, flat, accurate. I took two deer last year using this bullet combined with IMR 4350 and Remington magnum primers. Single shot kills with no movement from the deer on impact. The first was laser ranged at 110 yards through heavy brush in a forested area. Probably the best shot I've ever taken. I slapped the rifle up to my cheek and shot like I was using a shotgun on pheasants. I was VERY pleased with the Hornady bullet.

April 11, 2006, 01:08 PM	#19
remjeep75 Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 107	165 hornady interbonds

April 12, 2006, 10:47 AM	#20
rem33 Junior member Join Date: March 31, 2006 Posts: 1,528	Remington cor-loks are very good for sure. buncha years ago we ordered 1000 of em in 150 grain. Been loading them in 30-06 and 308. Several of us have killed 40 plus deer, dozen or so elk and a couple of antalope. We do all our own processing so I see how much damage is done to the meat. I have only recovered two bullets and one was a second shot to a elk that had stood back up. I shot it again around 150 to 200 yds. it was shot at a angle thru the neck, took out a few inches of back bone on thru the upper shoulder blade and stopped against the hide. I weighed it but don't remember for sure what it weighed but it was around 50 to 60% left. Kept that bullet on a shelf for years till I got a divorce and lost it in the shuffle or i go weigh it now. Another was a deer shot very close straight into the chest. I have seen deer shot with 180 grains that tore up way too much, I remember who made em but not what bullet it was so it's not fair to say company X's bullets are no good. IMHO it's a lot more where ya shoot em than with what ya shoot em with. I cut up over 60 deer one fall for a small country store long time ago and OMG ya shoulda seen how some of em where hit. One was shot right thru the hind quarters hitting both leg bones, and the guy thought he had been cheated no more meat than he got back. We should have saved the mess in a bag and gave it to him. I wouldn't recomend it but saw a deer killed with a 222 Contender that jumped and only ran 50 yards or so, heard of em being lost after hit with magnums. You can argue bullets and bullet weight, this caliber or that all day but unless you hit em where they live it don't matter what your shooting is what I am getting at I guess.