remington_nc

I have been using a 30-06 for years and if you want the best accuracy you need to reload. Hornady has always been the most accurate factory loads for me and are capable of 1in or less groups at 100yds. I handload 165gr boatails in my 30 -06 now and they are very accurate , but i feel the 150gr pointed soft point hits harder. The 165 gr is better suited for accuracy but in my opinon the 150gr is better for hunting.

Quilly

noway..

as i have found and mauser06 will verify are you getting sierra gameking HPBT that are factory? only ones i see are from reloading.

on the other note. i have had awsome success with winchester 180gr. power points, sierra gameking SPBT 165gr. and rem core-lokt' s 180gr. out of my guns in the 30-06sprg.

without spending a ton of $$$ decide what grain size to use and the three or four top kinds of bullets you want to try. then from there you will have the best out of the bunch and use the rest as practice ammo.

noway

Quilly,
Oops on my part, I was referring to the Sierra Gamekings as well.
Just put in HPBT instead of SPBT.
The Gamekings have been the most consistently accurate bullet in several calibers for me. Excellent terminal performance on deer and antelope as well.

Stump_MN_Hunter

Noway....you are correct. I don' t do any off season shooting. In fact, this will only be my second deer hunt with a rifle. So therefore I really don' t know much about the ammo at all. That' s why I came to the experts. I mainly deer hunt with my bow, but I have an opportunity to go to Canada for free. So what the heck. I' m jumpin on the chance. I don' t feel the need to get ammo that will split a buck' s eyelash at 200 yards, but would like to make sure that I get an ammo that I feel confident in. I appreciate all of your help!! Thanks

clearanceman

I just want to say the 30.06 is a terrific round. I have a 30.06 and .308 and both are similar. But 30.06 ammo is dirt cheap and you can get weights from 125 to 240 grains for it. It can work for almost everything and is a terrific deer round. I picked up some Hornady factory ammo in 165 grain for $14.00 per box. It shoots .5 inch at 50 yards. The same ammo in .308 is $2 more per box with 150 grains. 30.06 will be around as long as cartridge rifles are around.

skeeter 7MM

Stump, 150 to 165 gr will be fine. Most of the guys I hunt with that have 06 buy factory ammo and 150gr Hornady' s are probably the most populat in spirepoints and the SST. I have 2 buddies who use Federal 165 Seirra Gamekings as well. I would suggest trying either the 165 Federal Seirra BT or 150SST Hornady' s in factory, my guess is both will perform well.

I personally shoot Ballistic Tips for deer here in Canada and never had a game issue with them. They have always out performed the seirra' s in my guns for accuracy, it really depends on you and your gun.

clearanceman

Just my opinion, but most guns are more accurate with 165s and it hits them a little harder anyway. Since either bullet will exit on whitetails you might as well go for the heavier more accurate one. Eiter weight will work ok though.

thndrchiken

Really depends on how much you plan to shoot. As far as bullet selection goes what are your normal shooting conditions. Thick brush and woods goe 165-180 gr, for clearcuts and the powerlines 150 gr. I prefer Hornady Interloks for hunting many others would say Nosler. Pick a bullet and have your buddy work up a load. Accuracy will definitely be better compared to a factory load once you find what it likes. For the 06 just about any weight bullet between 150 and 180 would perform well.

eldeguello

You don' t need varmint-rifle accuracy for what you plan to do. A number of factory rounds in the 150, 165, or 180-grain weight range should be fine. Test ' til you find one that groups well, and buy a case of the same lot number. Then you' ll be set for a long time!!

Nomercy

Try Winchester Supreme 150gr Balistic Silvertips, they are premium ammo at a price barely more than " vanila" loads ($16 a box instead of $12). They shoot extremely well in every rifle I' ve shot them in, from rems to encores to Garands to rugers. My Ruger likes them so much I can get .25MOA out of them at 400yrds!! (1" groups at 400yrds).

Reloading isn' t for the guy that doesn' t shoot a lot, for what you need it, any ammo will do, even surplus U.S. 30cal, but for the best accuracy, I always turn to winchester (if not to the bench!!).