The Barnes 180 gr TSX BT, or TTSX BT will do the job for you. Good luck.

I think you are in for a nice suprise with the barnes bullets. Since I bought my first box, it would be hard to change as they are very accurate and you can drop the weight and still get deadly penetration. Some manuals have special loading for the barnes, I think because you don't want to run them hot but I like the mid range anyway. The length is slightly longer so even better bc. Good luck on your hunt!

I have used the Barnes X in my 35 Whelen Improved, it shot well after I really cleaned the barrel.  You definitely a can go for the lighter weight and get equal performance on your game.  I am presently using the 225 grain and bought a supply of the now discontinued 200 grain.  These will be my bear load.

Thanks to allof you that provided their knowledge and experience. I will let you know how things go once I have a chance to load some and take them to the range.

John have you ever tried the Hornaday FTX 200 gn in your 35 whelen

If you have to use non lead bullets go with the Hornady GMX for your 30/06 because you can load it with standard data like, I did .. I have been loading my own ammo for over 30 plus years and know alot about it.. I loaded the GMX 150gr in my 30/06 with 51gr of H-4895 and they shoot great .. Fps at 2976 and c.u.p. at 48,000 .. but you can also use H-380 and get more fps and still keep the c.u.p. down.. So if you need more info for non-lead or anything else Please feel free to ask me.. Good luck and good hunting.... Retired USMC Sniper..  Keep them in the X not the Ten ring..

I haven't tried the Hornady bullet, I used the Nosler Partition until that bullet became difficult to obtain and I was heading for a Nilgai hunt and wanted a tough bullet.  For lighter weight animals I have used Nosler Ballistic-Tips or the good old Remington Core-Lokt.  I do have a supply of Barnes 200 grain in addition to the 225 grain, but haven't tweaked my load yet.

Barnes bullets are ok but some of there data that they post is not going to make the bullet expand enough inless you load the max charge on there loading data.. alot of us at the National Match shooters Assc. have tested alot of there bullets and sent the info to barnes and they just haven't posted it yet.. Now if you are looking for liter bullets you mite want to look at what Hornady has to offer in the caliber that you shoot.. You can go to there web page or get one of there new bullet book's for free.. If you liked the Nosler partition you mite like the Hornady A-MAX in the same cal.. just remember that with the honady bullet's you can load with the normal load data .. you can talk to there tech's and they will tell you the same thing.. As long as you stay within the SAMMI spec's you will be fine.. If you have any more question's on loading please feel free to ask me.. I will not tell you something that will hurt you or anybody else but, I don't have any control  on how you reload your ammo.. so be safe not sorry.. have a good one..

I HAVE SOME BARNES BUT HAVEN'T TRYED THEM YET THE REMINGTON'S DIDN'T GROUP WELL BUT THEY WHERE FACTORY LOADS I DO LIKE THE NOSLER PARTITIONS  USE THEM IN MY 8MM. WITH THE HORNADYS  I'M GETTING 1 IN GROUPS AT 100 YR, THE BULLET WOULD BE GOOD FOR ELK OR BLACK BEAR DO YOU THINK. WITH THE RIGHT BULLET AND LOAD I THINK IT'S A GOOD ALL AROUND GUN GOOD FOR ALL NORTH AMERICAN GAME AND MOST OF THE REST OF THE WORLD .

I have found the Barnes TSX and TTSX bullets to be easy to get to shoot well in a number of rifles. Ihave loaded 150, 165 and 180's in the 30-06 with good results. Just be open to trying several powders to find what works.

Like, I said the Hornady bullets are very good and they will all work for you on what ever you hunt.. As for the last post about the barnes bullets with reloading they have there own loading data on there web page!! don't try to use anything that they don't use because they have tested all of there data for there bullets.. That is where, I say BE SAFE NOT SORRY!!! when it come's to barnes bullets, I have sent them data from some of my loading and they have tested it and sent me many thank you's ..  so it's up to you what you want to load by something tested or somebody's bulk reload's.. I'm very experenced in reloading all typ's of ammo and would not ever tell someone something that would injur them or others.. So if you have any more question's  please feel free to ask me.. Retired USMC Sniper, LM National Match Shooters Assc.

Cherokee, if I want to take advantage of the free bullets then I have to go with the Barnes. That being said, I was planning on using H4831SC for my reloads. Do you have any recommended loads using this powder?

Barnes first generation X bullets weren't real accurate. But, They have made major improvements with them. I don't know much about about the now generation of barnes X bullets. I do know that I have. And, obviously, have shot the Barnes Triple Shock bullets.  I really like them.  In the Federal loadings. They are fast.  And, VERY consistant on target. AS was noted before.  You can use a. SAy, a 150 grain copper bullet.  And it will have the same penetration as as 180 grain lead core bullet will have.  With the same expansion and applied shock as a 180 grain lead core bullet. I have a couple boxes of 180 grain Federal Vital Shock loads for my 30-06.  The bullets are Barnes TRiple Shock bullets.  Federal and Barnes have kind of a partnership with each other.  I got these for elk hunting. They are great loads.

If Barnes bullets has no data for that powder than, I would not use it.. Free bullets dosen't make it easy to say that you can't use the powder that you have but DON'T USE THAT POWDER for any barnes bullets reloading because it is not safe.. It is safe for Hornady bullets in 175gr-- 220gr bullets but not in any barnes bullets..     If you are loading barnes 150gr bullets you can load H-4895 at 48.5gr)(2,822 fps)--(51.0gr)(2,975fps) and that is safe loading data for the 30-06.. and it will expand .. I need to know exactley what bullets you want to load .. And, I will tell you what powders you can load what bullets with.. I WILL NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES WITH ANYBODYS LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO RELOADING !!! I have seen alot of people make mistake's and otherpeople pay for it so, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO..  RETIRED USMC SNIPER..LM NATIONAL MATCH SHOOTERS ASSC.                                  AGAIN PLEASE DON'T RELOAD ANY BARNES BULLETS WITH OUT USING THERE DATA FOR THERE BULLETS!!!!!!!

I looked at the Hornady bullets but they only have up to 165 grains in .30 caliber. This bullet is not long enough to stabilize in my rifle. The Barnes bullet is. I was trying to find a load using the H4831 because on the chance I could not come up with a load that my rifle liked I would not have a bunch of powder that I could not use. As it is my rifle shoots sub MOA with a Nosler 200 grain Accubond using 56 grains of H4831.

Ramshot has data for Barnes TSX in 150, 165, 180, and 200 grain weights. Buy ONE pound of Big Game. At about 60 grains per load, that is 116 rounds. That should easily give you enough to work up a load, sight in and have enough left to hunt with. You're hunting big game, you don't have to spend a ton of time or rounds on load development, any combo that will put 3 shots in one inch at 100 will do fine. Practice with something else not the hunting rounds.

Dale

OK.. Ramshot powder DATA FOR Barnes TSX 180gr:  Biggame : (51.5gr) (2,486)-- (57.2gr) (2,762) (58,091psi )  Ramshot powder DATA " Biggame for Barnes TSX 200gr : (51.3) (2,320)-- (57.0) (2,578) ( 55,391psi )         Ramshot powder DATA " Hunter" for Barns 180gr TSX : (54.0) (2,505 )-- (60.0) (2,783) (57,311psi )   Ramshot powder DATA " Hunter " for Barnes 200gr TSX : (51.3) (2,320)-- (57.0) (2,578) (55,391psi)   PLEASE DON'T LOAD HIGHER THAN ( 60,000 psi ) OR YOU WILL BLOW UP YOUR GUN !!!!!!!..         AND THIS IS THE DATA FOR  RAMSHOT POWDERS  FOR ( 30-06 springfield  )...   JUST REMEMBER  THAT MAX PSI IS ( 60,000 PSI ) FOR YOU GUN !!!!!   Retired USMC Sniper, LM National Match Shooters ASSC..  JUST BE SAFE.. Remember that , I told you that , I have been loading for over 30 plus years and reload for National Match shooters .. So HERE IS YOUR DATA GOOD LUCK.. AND BE SAFE..

AND MORPHINE IS FOR DRUGY'S NOT HUNTERS!!!!!!!

Now Cherokee, I also once made a poke at Dales tag line, in jest!! I do hope that you are also in jest!! I, not only being a hunter, but also a avide  outdoors man. However, I was put on morphine when I broke my knees. Again when I had my fingers pulled off, again when the re-attached those fingers, again when they replace my knee, again when I blew out my lower intestine, had to be gutted like a big ol' buck and have them guts sectioned.   Naaaa, I ain't no druggy!!! Fact is, I'm a real red neck when it comes to drugs!!! However, we have to endure, what ever those medic have to give us, when pain is near to un bearable!!  However, when I see them lil' gnomes, scurrryin' up and down the walls and all them very colorfull birds, zippin' about, I do have to tell them Docs, ENUFF!

IT was a jest poke.. We have had to give it to our own troops that where in bad shape.. Dale will get-over-it..   I just hope that the man that wants to load the Barnes bullets get's the message that you can only use certain " Powders when loading the BARNES NON-LEAD BULLETS.. That was the only thing, I was trying to get through to him or anybody else.. Like, I said , I was in the USMC as a Sniper for awhile and did alot of reloading and shooting of the non-lead bullets from different manufacture's and, I do know what, I'm doing when it come's to reloading ammo be it for rifle, pistol, or shotgun, I have loaded it all for a very long time and was only trying to help the man live through the experence of reloading .. So if Dale can't take a few poke's he needs to not say anything.. I have taken a few poke's my self and, I just look at it as a joke .. So don't take it personal.. Retired USMC Sniper, LM National Match Shooters ASSC. ..              And if they don't want the help then don't ask for it !!!!!!!

Barnes manual #4 has data for 180 gr. and
H4895
IMR4064
IMR4320
AA2700
Big Game
Win 760
H414
H4350
R 19
IMR4831

The story hear is Barnes bullets can use many powders and you can use H4831 with barnes bullets by starting with the IMR 4831 data and working up.
H4831 is a little slower powder than the IMR 4831 and will produce a little less pressure with the same powder charge.

Note ; when you use the IMR data. Start off with lightest charge listed. Then work up from there as you check for signs of pressure. You would think that because the solid copper bullet is the same weight as as lead core everything as far as pressure goes would be the same. Not so. Because the solid has less give than a lead core as it contacts the rifling.

The TSX and TTSX bullets have the grooves so are not as hard to load as the first ones without. I have loaded TSX and TTSX bullets in 6mm. 6.5. 7. 30 and 338 and found they have no more pressure than regular bullets IN MY RIFLES. Always work up as bigrig advised.

I want to thank everyone that responded to my question. I have choosen to use IMR 4831 and will start working up a load soon. I will keep you all posted as to how things go.

Went out this morning to try out the new load for my .30-06. I used IMR 4831 and loded various powder charges ranging from 53 grains to 54.5 grains. Luck was with me when I tried them this morning. First load tested was the ones loaded with 53 grains. The group was about an inch right in the bullseye. That group should be more that sufficient for deer. Now its time to load up some more and start getting some practice in. Good news is that I won't have to sight it in first.

Hey Cherokee, no offense taken about my sig line. I've been on the internet long enough to have a thick skin. The line actually came from a get well card sent by a nurse friend when I tore up my knees in a tumble down the stairs. I got much more active on this board during my recovery from surgery and the line seemed appropriate at the time. I keep it as a remembrance of her as she has since died from cancer.

OP, glad you got a load that works.

Dale

RHOLCOMB, I don't know where you got the idea that your rifle won't "stabilize" a LIGHTER bullet. It's actually the other way around. Twist rate is figured on weight AND length of a bullet. The longer, heavier bullets need a faster twist rate to stabilize them. So a longer heavier bullet will be stabilized LESS.

The 30-06 is figured around a 180 grain bullet. Also, that means a jacketed LEAD CORE bullet. It will work for heavier bullets, up to 220 grains. 

All-copper bullets like the Barnes, Hornady GMX, and nosler e-tip are longer for any given weight. Length matters more for whether a bullet will be stabilized or not. The GMX and E-tip are actually made of guilding metal, you know the stuff they make jackets out of? Barnes are made of pure copper.

If you have a normal 1-10 twist in your '06, then the lighter bullet could be a bit OVER stabilized.  That CAN lead to problems with getting a---lets say 150 grain lead core bullet to shoot small groups.

As others have noted, using a lighter all copper bullet as opposed to a heavier lead core bullet will give you all the power and  expansion of the heavier bullet. That's because all copper bullets don't shed weight, the weight retention is usually 100% That results in deep penetration.

My rifle does not have a 1-10 twist and I have so far been unable to get any lead bullet under 200 grains to achieve a group under 6". My rifle will shoot 1" or less with the heavier lead bullet. The copper bullet I went with is only .01" shorer than the lead core bullet I was using.

Only shoots 200 grain bullets well? I'd of sent that sucker down the road a LONG time ago.

Anyhow, you seem to have found something that works so good luck on your hunt

Dale

I thought about it when I first started shooting it until I shot a three round group that was almost one hole, all three hole were interlocking together on the grid line of the target. Kind of hard to give up that kind of accuracy. It will still shoot sub MOA groups if I do my part. Unfortunately I don't get to practice as often as I use to.

THANK YOU JTOWNS.. FOR THE SUPPORT.. AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SAME THING THAT , I'VE BEEN SAYING THE WHOLE TIME BUT NO ONE WOULD LISSION..  Remember some of us out here have shot for a very long time and some of us have Killed for a very long time.. Retired USMC Sniper , LM National Match Shooters ASSC , LM DU, LM NAHC..

Really? You don't have the 1in10 barrel. Just out of curiosity. What make rifle do you have? And,what IS the twist rate. Now, I can believe that your rifle likes one weight or make of bullet over another. There are a lot of guns that are like that. My -06 likes 165 grain bullets. Factory 150's shoot well. Reloaded 150's don't shoot well. Go figure.

bigrig, the rifle is a Remington 700 BDL, but it is not all original. I bought it at a pawn shop about 10 yers ago and the first thing I noticed after taking it home and cleaning it up was that there had been a few modifications made. The most noticable ws that the trigger, trigger guard and hinged magazine were not factory. The trigger is a fairly wide target trigger that breaks at aobut 2.5 lbs and the trigger guard and hinged floor plate are parkerized not blued. Whie cleaning the barrel I noticed that it is much heavier than a standard sporter barrel but not as heavy as a bull barrel. The rifle also had a metal butt plate and not a rubber recoil pad. The serial number and all other marking on the rifle put the date of manufacture around 1970-71. when my buddy and I first tookit out to try to sight it in we had a variety of different rounds ranging from 150 grains to 180 grains from several different manufacturers. We were unable to find a round that grouped under 5" until we tried some 200 grains spitzers that my buddy had handloaded for his 1903 Springfield. That round, and every other 200 grain bullet I have tried since, grouped just over .75 at 100 yards. Like you said, "Go figure."

YES.. I have the axis camo in 30/06 and it has a 1 in 10 twist but it dose like every thing from the 110gr- the 200gr that , I load for match shooting at 500-800 yrds and they do just fine it all depend's on the load and , I trim all of my cases and allways use the factory crim die to make all of them the same , I also scale all of my loads to the exact same for each.. Retired USMC Sniper.  And this info is for Bigrig and for RHOLCOMB..

I do the same thing. I use a scale for every load so that they have the exact same weight of powder. I also separate the brass by brands of manufacture.