Hunting Forum

Planning on hunting deer and elk with my 30-06, I have winchester super x in 150 gr power point, 165 gr pointed soft points, and 180 gr power points. I haven't shot the rifle in 8 years ( bowhunter). The last time I shot it was to site in the scope shot the 165 gr psp and sited it in at 2" high @ 100yrds, last three rounds shared the same hole. Need to know the best round for the job, do I stick with the 165's or the 180's need to take out to the range to check everything over, just looking to get some input thanks.

Stay with the 165's, but go to the range anyway. It probably is still on but it never hurts reacquaint yourself with an old friend.

For deer. either the 150's or  the 165's will do the job just fine.  My 06 likes the 165's over the 150's.  For elk.  Step up to the 180's.  More bullet weight will give you better penetration on them.  They are a tough animal as you probably already know.  Unless they are hit hard.  It'll take them awhile to go down.  I shot one a couple years ago that we had to go back and get him the next morning.  I shot him the morning before.  Yea,  I made a bad shot.  He initiially went down.  But, got up and ran. I shot him with  30-338 magnum.  And, lastely.  Yes, it's a very good idea to get to the range to reaquaint yourself with the rifle if it's been awhile since you've fired.  Try out the Federal Vital Shock line of ammo for elk.  I have the 180 grainers.  I like them.  They are a bit expensive.  $35.00 a box.  But,IMO worth it.  they are loaded with the Barnes Triple Shock copper bullet. They are very accurate and consitant.  I'm talking clover leaf holes at 100 yards with 3 rounds.
Dennis;  It's been awhile. Catch you on the Az web.

I would not use a Winchester Power Point on elk. I would go with a 180 gr. Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, E-tip, Barnes TSX, or Trophy Bonded Tip. Good luck.

Agree with bigrig and handloader...Barnes TSX for Elk....whatever grain your rifle likes best from 165 up......they will work...taken out several Elk size critters with 162gr TSX in Africa with a 7mmMag....

BTW, 2" high at 100 is probably good for Elk but I site 2"-3" high at 200 with a 7mmMag...

Gopheer1:

I have a friend that hit a Bull Elk in the shoulder with a Winchester Power Point, and the bullet blew apart. The bull was then killed with a Nosler Partition. Good luck.

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the input. Will look into the Tsx

Also be sure and checkout Federal Gold Match loaded with 175gr Sierra Game King bullets.

Rib cage just behind the leg is where those fast expanders are meant to go.

shoot anything in the 170 to 200 grain that will give you the penetration you need and knock down for elk on 30-06 i have seen elk hit with all kinds of rifles and get up and run off its all about pratice and sot placement. Good luck

I like to hit them right in the shoulder blade.  They go down hard with that shot. My speedgoat went down hard with that shot.  The only animal I have hit that ran with that shot is deer.  As far as bullet weight goes.  Tom is right.  The 165 grain TSX will perform as well as a 180 lead core bullet will penetration wise, and shock wise.

Howdy All,

It has been a long time since I’ve been on the forums here.

OK, let me stir the terminal ballistic pot a bit.

I understand all the hype and marketing behind solid core / all copper / other "Premium" style bullets. But really, what's wrong with the basic conventional copper jacketed lead core bullets such as the tried and true Remington CoreLokts?!

Everyone wants a better "widget" or in this case bullet. We want a bullet that under any and all conditions will cleanly kill and drop that trophy animal right there in its tracks - like it’s been struck by Thor's hammer itself.

I say hooey, and poppycock (bet you haven't heard that in a while :-)

My contention is; use a basic conventional jacketed lead core bullet in a weight and caliber appropriate to the animal hunted - hit that animal with said bullet in a vital area and it will be just as dead as if it has been hit with the newest latest Super Duper Game stopper Bullet.

And to try and somehow stick with the topic. In my world its a coin toss between 165 and 180 grain bullets for Elk. Personally I love the 165's. And while bullets such as the Nosler Partition's may be a 60 plus year old design, I content that they will work as well if not better than most of the much newer and sexier stuff out there. I would use the 180's if they shot more accurately through my gun, but only in that instance. In my experience 165 grain bullets have consistently shot more accurately through my .30-06's than the 180's.

Best Regards,

Rob

Factory wise.  They all (150's, 165's,and 180's) shoot well through my -06.  Reloading wise.  The 165's, and 180's shoot the best.  For some reason.  It doesn't like after market 150's.  I went for the Federal 180 grain TSX for the added penetration.  In the 30-338.  I still use lead core.  I load 180 grain Speer's and 190 grain Hornady's.  The 180 grain does a good job.  The 190 does it better.  I have found that the Hornady Corelokt holds together better than the Speer bullets do. I tried the 190 grain Speers.  But, the gun doesn't like them.