30-06 110gr V-Max "Black Bear"

[Greg Duerr]

My son is new to reloading. His Grandfather died and left him his old 30-06. Now my son last year wanted me to teach him to reload so I walked him through reloading for my .243 and told him to just do the same with his 30-06. Pick a good bullet and you wont have any problem when you go Bear Hunting this fall.
He called me and sent me pictures of the nice Bore Black Bear he shot. Of course I asked him where he hit it and how far it ran. I asked what bullet you used and he just told me the Hornady one with the red tip. Come to find out it was the 110gr V-Max. I told him that was Hornady's Varmint bullet. He said "They make a Varmint bullet for a 30-06??

So for Christmas Im giving my son 100 165gr Nosler Accubonds all loaded up with 58gr of H4350. I hope he notices a difference next year.

G

 

[g0rd0]

good gift. Along with it maybe a few more lessons on reloading you know the part about bullet selection

 

[roverboy]

I'm glad it worked out for him. The gift of the 165's should be a good gift.

 

[Greg Duerr]

It will be a good Christmas Present.......................and when I see him next I will give him a little lesson on Bullet Selection. However, I have a feeling that from now on when he does reload again for his 3006 it will be with the 165 Accubonds.

 

[sbhooper]

He is not the only one that has a bullet selection problem. Forums are full of people that flat make you say,"*** were you thinking?!".

 

[Greg Duerr]

Your so right.....................My son thought that only Varmint Cartridges shot varmint bullets had no idea that you could buy varmint bullets for the 30-06 For years my son shot his .223 and 52gr Calhoon Bubble Butts. He never hunted big game not until he got older. .

 

[ArchAngelCD]

So for Christmas Im giving my son 100 165gr Nosler Accubonds all loaded up with 58gr of H4350. I hope he notices a difference next year.

G

My favorite 30-06 load is a 165/168gr bullet over 58.0gr H4350. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone. I have not shot game with those 165gr Accubond bullets yet but I will soon... Good present alright!

 

[Greg Duerr]

My son just got back from Deer Hunting with his Father-in-Law in Northern Nevada. Caleb did not have a Deer tag but he came home pretty excited. I guess they saw lots of Deer and lots of Bucks everyday. He said that his Father in law did not want to hunt in the higher rimrock country where the bigger bucks live, to much hiking. So between his love for Black Bear Hunting and his new excitement for Mule Deer Hunting the 165gr Accubond's will come in handy.

 

[Clark]

I have not tried it a 30-06, but the 110 gr Vmax in a 308 with light powder charge will typically the most accurate load in an unknown 308 rifle.

Some high master at Camp Perry may say 155 gr Palma or 168 gr match king, but for the average shooter, the 110 gr Vmax will make the best group at 100 yards.

 

[Greg Duerr]

And took a really nice Black Bear Boar........................

 

[Bullet bumper]

We all have to start some place . It could have been worse , a 22 cal bullet in a 30 cal sabot

 

[Greg Duerr]

Years ago on my first Mule Deer hunt in the Monitor Range of Nevada one of the guys up there used a Custom 22-250 and shot a really nice buck. The next two years the same thing and Im sure he never felt under gunned. Years later I shot a Buck with my 22-250 and then shot a really nice 4x4 with my .222 46gr Calhoon bullet and on the First shot down he went. If I had not said anything I would guess that my Son would have used the 110 for Deer and another Black Bear. My Step Dad used a 110gr in his .270 for years and harvest a lot of Bucks..........................You just never know. Harold used what worked for him, however on an Elk Hunt he was talked into using the 130

 

[ChrisA]

My first experience with the 110 vmax was on a medium size boar raccoon I trapped in my barn. I had just gotten my MRC1999 in 300 WSM built and decided to try some varmint bullets just for kicks.

I took the coon outside, stepped back about 15 yards and shot it behind the front shoulder with a full house load expecting a red mist type result. Instantly a cloud of dust formed around the critter much like kicking a full vacuum cleaner bag as the coon's pelt was full of barn dust and dirt. To my surprise, the bullet didn't exit and I had a hard time finding an entrance hole.

I had a good hoot over my new found fur load. I'm sure the 110 vmax will drop a deer or black bear with a broadside lung shot but I think you are right in recommending a more traditional bullet weight for medium game

Chris