What bullet should I try in my 30-06

[rem7600_2]

by by the way you could really bite the big bullet and just buy a factory core lokt.

each gun has its likes and as Daryl put it check your gun

 

[Longbow1]

Hornady InterLock 165 Grain Spire Point with 55 grains of IMR 4350 has been my go-to load for 30.06 for 40 years. Out of my rifle I consistantly shoot .5" or smaller groups at 100 yards with it.

 

[FlyGuy11]

Step 1: Ensure the action screws are properly torqued
Step 2: Check to ensure the scope, scope rings, and scope base are properly secured
Step 3: As previously posted pick a bullet that will work with you twist rate and use a seating depth test. This is the best guide I have used.
https://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/

 

[LongestShot]

Based upon what you've tried so far, I'd recommend the Hammer Hunter in 166 grain. I've had good luck with RL17 using 156 grains and I tend to set my bullets touching the lands. You should start seeing signs of pressure at 156.6 You should achieve 2875 FPS, I've found the Hammers very easy to find a good node.

 

[rugers]

I use the 165 gr hornaday sst it works fine. My go to load is 57 grns of imr 4350 at a vel of 2870, have never had a 30 /06 that did not shoot that combination well with almost any bullet, you may want to check action screws and scope mount, give it a good cleaning and see what happens. Not that this will work but I have had a few pre 64 winchesters that I put a little built up area in stock about 8 to 9 inches in front of action just barley touching barrel and it took them from a 1 moa gun down to .5 moa cant remember who told me to do it but it was 40 some years ago but I think that just was a fix for the winchester , but dosent hurt to try it. Especially in a # 2 or 3 contour barrel.

 

[fmuguira]

Try a 180 Sierra Pro Hunter and if you like a 180 Sierra GK.

I had a 300 WM that shot 165, 180 AB s and BT s and 200 AB s all sub MOA. After 1200 or so rounds it s barrel was wasted. Re-barreled and it was an 1 1/2" shooter with all the AB s and around an inch with BT s.

Friend had some Pro Hunters and GKs so thought why not; both shot 5/8" with same old powder charges!!

BTW, Pro Hunter is a little stouter than GK.
Good luck

 

[John Polk]

Hey guys I've got a bergera b14 Hunter in 30-06 that is super finicky with ammo. I've tried 165 gmx, 165 interlocks, 180 ballistic tips, 178 eldx. Tried them with imr 4350, h4350 and the heavy two with h-4831sc. Also tried rl16. Anyways the only bullet I've been a able to get to shoot was a 190 gr nosler custom competition with h4831sc. It shoots around .7 moa. It's not a hunting bullet but my wife shot her black bear and deer with it last year and it killed them both very well. Both shots were around 250 yards. Anyways its looking like I'm going to be borrowing her rifle for an up coming elk hunt I've got. I was really wanting to use a bullet I'd have more confidence. Are there any other bullets that you guys know of that I should try? Maybe something similar? Would an accubond be worth a shot? I was hoping the 180 ballistic tips would be build close to them but they didn't shoot well. All these other bullets are around 1.5-2" at 100 yards. Should I just go hunt elk with these target bullets?

Hey guys I've got a bergera b14 Hunter in 30-06 that is super finicky with ammo. I've tried 165 gmx, 165 interlocks, 180 ballistic tips, 178 eldx. Tried them with imr 4350, h4350 and the heavy two with h-4831sc. Also tried rl16. Anyways the only bullet I've been a able to get to shoot was a 190 gr nosler custom competition with h4831sc. It shoots around .7 moa. It's not a hunting bullet but my wife shot her black bear and deer with it last year and it killed them both very well. Both shots were around 250 yards. Anyways its looking like I'm going to be borrowing her rifle for an up coming elk hunt I've got. I was really wanting to use a bullet I'd have more confidence. Are there any other bullets that you guys know of that I should try? Maybe something similar? Would an accubond be worth a shot? I was hoping the 180 ballistic tips would be build close to them but they didn't shoot well. All these other bullets are around 1.5-2" at 100 yards. Should I just go hunt elk with these target bullets?

 

[John Polk]

Nosler 190 gr. accubond long range. Good luck.

 

[Blacktailer]

Nosler 190 gr. accubond long range. Good luck.

If your rifle will not shoot a variety of bullets well, your problem is not bullets. Go over the rifle with a fine toothed comb and swap the scope for one that is known to be good. If you have a bad crown a flat based bullet will help because they are less susceptible to crown imperfections than boattails. Good luck.

 

[rem7600_2]

Good suggestion

 

[Alibiiv]

Never shot a lot of the ttsx in 30-06. Could get 100 Hornady for the price of 50 TTsx. Shot them in a 300 I had because the velocity was higher and I new it would expand quick. Quit using them when I found the 215 Berger. The ttsx had a tendency for me any way not to open up on longer shots when speed was down.

I "hunt" with Barnes bullets only, and....I have nothing but total confidence with their performance; TSX or TTSX bullets. As for "Could get 100 Hornady for the price of 50 TTsx", yes that is correct; however, how much is a trophy of a lifetime on a trip of a lifetime worth to you??? And....if you do have that shot of a lifetime at that trophy of a lifetime and that animal is lost because of bullet failure, what would you be willing to spend on a bullet to ensure success if you could replay that shot??? We'll spend thousands of dollars on the best rifles and glass, what is the cost of a premium bullet worth? For me I and my son plan for our annual hunt with a lot of thought and preparation put into our trip. It is annual, we don't have a lot of money, or time, so we make the best of that trip when we go. The cost of the bullet really does not matter when one considers the outcome of such an adventure to us. This year our trip was not a great success in the game department, we did not harvest any game due to hunter-failure; yet, we made some great laughs, experiences and made some great memories that will last forever.

As for accuracy, I know that rifles are/can be finicky, however I have never really had a Barnes bullet that I could not get to shoot if I worked on it. I believe that cleaning helps (although there are different schools of thought on cleaning), however ladder testing with various loads and powders will usually get the job done. Also I have not personally tried them, however Hammer makes a very interesting bullet that I would not hesitate to try if Barnes bullets became unavailable. There is a forum member, RockyMtnMt, who manufactures Hammer bullets, I am sure that if you contact him (PM) he would be more than willing to provide you with some direction with his 30 caliber bullets for your upcoming elk hunt. I too just built a 30-06 and I too am looking at a good bullet for whitetail hunting. Good luck with finding a good bullet that shoots in your rifle and good luck with your elk hunt.

 

[edwells69]

midway has a core-lokt sale.

 

[rem7600_2]

while I have one rifle that while I have one rifle that likes the ttsx I can't agree with the above post at short range they just don't perform as well as a lead bullet.

Even the interlocks or the locked bullets don't perform as well at Short ranges they do it let's say a hundred yards

been there done that reloaded been there done that reloaded for almost 40 years now

My 338 will drive up 180 ttsx just as fast as it will probably go my 300 Winchester short has killed many,

546 yards with my 338 it worked lost my hearing. Oh BTW that range was taken with a pro grade GPS after the fact.

I've a few Elk under my belt and they were all less than 45 yards with a bow

 

[cajun]

If it won't shoot a ballistic tip over 4350. Sell it. It's just going to be a source of frustration.