Mule Deer ammo choice

[skippertwo]

Hello all,

I am planning a Mule Deer hunt in Idaho and looking for some recommendations on choice of ammo.
I will be using a 30-06 and I have at least 2 boxes of each of the following.

1. Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range, 190 gr Accubond LR.
2. Lapua Naturalis 170 gr.
3. Sako Super Hammerhead, 150 gr Bonded Soft Point.

All of these shoot well in my rifle, Any recommendations would be appriciated.
Thanks

 

[lancetkenyon]

Take them out to 600 yards, and see what shoots best.

 

[26Reload]

No deer in Idaho....maybe better in..............arizona....yeah..yeah..that's the ticket......hunt with lance.....

 

[LVJ76]

Take them out to 600 yards, and see what shoots best.

This

Stretch it out and see what works best at longer ranges

 

[Charles Keethler]

You mite try 165 SGK.

 

[Jon Bischof]

I agree with suggestions above and let the rifle choose the ammo it shoots best; although if heavy bullets group as well as lighter bullets, I would use the heavier bullets if it is a good expanding hunting bullet.
The 3 you listed--which one groups best?

 

[Mike Matteson]

Shoot some 500 & 600 yards targets to see which group better. Then there you round. Also note your drop, and wind movement. I don't know if you have a range finder or other equipment that goes along with longer ranging shooting. When getting beyond 300 yards the bullet begins to really drop. Being it's a 30/06 it has a lot of drop. Nothing wrong with that, just need to know what that bullet is doing. Unknowing what type of scope you are using. That can help depending what scope is being used. Good hunting!!!

 

[xsn10s]

Hello all,

I am planning a Mule Deer hunt in Idaho and looking for some recommendations on choice of ammo.
I will be using a 30-06 and I have at least 2 boxes of each of the following.

1. Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range, 190 gr Accubond LR.
2. Lapua Naturalis 170 gr.
3. Sako Super Hammerhead, 150 gr Bonded Soft Point.

All of these shoot well in my rifle, Any recommendations would be appriciated.
Thanks

I think out of the three the Winchester 190 ABLR will give you the longest reach. But as Lance says see which one performs out to 600 yards. I don't think the BC on the 170 Lapua will be effective at 600 yards.

 

[skywag]

None of the above. Everybody knows the only way is with a 6.5 Creedmore.

 

[jordanrw23]

I would take it out to distance that you're comfortable with. I always take a bowhunting approach when it comes to rifle hunting. Here in Montana like Idaho we don't always have that option of getting close either. One other thing I would do if you have access to one is, Chrony the factory ammo you listed so you can input to a ballistic calculator. A lot of the factory ammo I used to use (Barnes, Hornady, Winchester) all had different MV that was listed on the factory ammo box. This might help getting a better idea of what your bullet will do at say 500-600 when and if your matching data into a rangefinder. As always perfect practice makes perfect, not practice makes perfect.

 

[066wally]

150 grainers

 

[FEENIX]

Hello all,

I am planning a Mule Deer hunt in Idaho and looking for some recommendations on choice of ammo.
I will be using a 30-06 and I have at least 2 boxes of each of the following.

1. Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range, 190 gr Accubond LR.
2. Lapua Naturalis 170 gr.
3. Sako Super Hammerhead, 150 gr Bonded Soft Point.

All of these shoot well in my rifle, Any recommendations would be appriciated.
Thanks

How well and at what range?

 

[xsn10s]

How well and at what range?

Yup what range will play huge into factoring in which round. What range is the OP comfortable shooting at?

 

[del2les]

No deer in Idaho....maybe better in..............arizona....yeah..yeah..that's the ticket......hunt with lance.....

Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it. Actually a few decades back, I used one while hunting Southern Whitetails in swamp thickets (I had that whole survival thing going then), and I made one for a friend who used dogs for wild hog catching. Prior to the lance, he would approach the nose or ear caught hog from the side and slash its throat with a Bowie knife. I told him he was going to lose some fingers from an angry hog, so he allowed me to make him a 6' lance with a 1' blade instead.