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30 '06 TN Whitetail load.

OldFart

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2000
Messages
2,052
Location
Aurora, CO 80012 USA
For more years than I like to admit (because of my age), I used Sierra 165 boat tail pointed soft points with DuPont 4350. Moderate load with good results. Excellent accurate load. But the last few years, I have noticed the deer don't always fall on the spot or shortly thereafter. So, wanted to try another bullet. Any recommendations?? I just tried Nosler 165g Ballistic Tips and didn't like the results.
 
I use
R-P brass
150 grain Accubonds or Partitions
60 grains of IMR4350
Federal 210M primers
COL is 3.310 P and 3.345 A

Rifle is a Browning A-Bolt from the 1985 batch, Leupold 3.5 x 10 x 40 glass.

Will shoot 1 moa all day long. Yes, I see some slight signs of overpressure.

This is an old pic but nothing has changed and still shooting MOA
on this day air temp was 101
Dadstargets076.jpg
 
I have not run them in an 06, but very happy with the 30 caliber 178 gr eldx in .308. Bang flops on the deer I have shot with them. I use the 143 gr eldx for 6.5cm with 4350 and have had great results with those too.
 
I am with you on the Sierra's. I got a soft lot of 165's several years ago and the bullets started blowing up on the skin using a proven .30/06 load. I am using Noslers and some old Speer 150 Grand Slams with most excellent performance! Good luck in your search and let your rifle tell you what it wanta.
 
165 Accubonds and one of the 4350s. My recipe uses 57.5gr I4350. If they don't drop immediately then they don't go far, and they leave quite the blood trail
I've got virtually the same recipe using the 150 NABs, 57.4 gr AA 4350 IIRC. Shot three nice bucks with that load so far and they dropped where they stood. Longest shot was at 130 yards.
 
For deer, I've shot Hornady Interlocks for many years from my 280 and 243...always with excellent results. For moose and elk I've wanted a more heavily constructed bullet so I've shot Partitions with great results...I did also just buy what I imagine will be a lifetime supply of Accubonds to test out if I ever get the chance to go again!!

My son has a new 30/06 and will be using it for antelope, mule deer and elk. Based on results I've seen from a few other 30/06 rifles, I'm going to load 165 grain Accubonds over about 58 grains of H4350 (@ 2850-2900 fps) and expect it to be a great 'do it all' round for him.
 
165gr Sierra GKs have always performed well for me. Elk, deer, pigs all hate it. I'd say I've got pass through 50% of kills.
 
I like IMR 4350 in .30-06 but, am out of it and won't pay $55.00 and up for a pound of it. So.... I've been using IMR 4895 this season. Not a great powder in .30-06 but decent. Pretty much makes it a .308 load.
 
Since my shots are 100yds or less I don't use full house 30-06 loads.

48.5grs h4895
Hornady 150 flat base
or
Nosler 150 ballistic tip


Next year I'll probably use 37.5grs of imr4198.
 
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For more years than I like to admit (because of my age), I used Sierra 165 boat tail pointed soft points with DuPont 4350. Moderate load with good results. Excellent accurate load. But the last few years, I have noticed the deer don't always fall on the spot or shortly thereafter. So, wanted to try another bullet. Any recommendations?? I just tried Nosler 165g Ballistic Tips and didn't like the results.
Great Choice of bullets and IMR 4350 for the 30-06. I have always excellent performance with 165 BT but maybe just switch too 150gr using the same bullets and 60gr of IMR 4350. You should get alittle faster velocity and bullet expansion on deer.
 
I like IMR 4350 in .30-06 but, am out of it and won't pay $55.00 and up for a pound of it. So.... I've been using IMR 4895 this season. Not a great powder in .30-06 but decent. Pretty much makes it a .308 load.
The IMR 4895 was used in the 30-06 long before IMR 4350 was introduced. Military M1 ammo and Match ammo all used IMR 4895. I started reloading the 30-06 in 1972 and my uncle was a avid Reloader science the early 60's. IMR 4895 was the powder of his choice at 50.0 with 150gr until the day he died in military brass. I cannot count how many deer he killed with the Speer 150gr Spitzer Hot Cor bullets and Mag Tips.
Match load attached is with 174gr bullet in the 30-06 - M72 Match data I use the 47.2 load with a 175gr Barnes LRX in Military Brass for Alaska hunting.
 

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