30-06 ammunition recommendation

[Velo Dog]

Norwegianwoods,

Very sound advise.

And you are right, I really should try TTSX bullets before discussing them, instead of relying on any of my friends opinions.

Don't tell my favorite PH I said that, he claims that if they impact large animals at less than perfect angles, (especially if they are caked in dry mud) that; the tips sometimes bend, causing them to zip through like a military FMJ spitzer.

One of these days, I will try them in whatever rifle I am tinkering with at the moment (rifle range is only about 3 kilometers from my house).

I will honestly do so with an open mind.

One of my other friends here (not a PH) swears by a Barnes bullet called the "Tripple Shock" in his .260 Remington.

We discuss rifles, cartridges and bullets endlessly

I was disgusted with the original X-Bullet when I tried it (180 grain), back many years ago.

That fellow will be delighted when I tell him that I am trying such a design again (new and improved, as usual).

In the meantime, I will stand by my recommendation to the hunter who asked about .30-06 loads for antelope hunting, up to and including wildebeest.

He should take the Remington factory live ammo in 180 grain Swift A-Frame.

That is my grumpy old man opinion.

My Best Regards,
Velo Dog

 

[enysse]

The TSX is the triple shock bullet by Barnes. TTSX is a tipped triple shock bullet, the tip initiates even expansion greatly improving bullet performance in my opinion.

 

[Frozen6bt]

Charlie-

FWIW, this first timer is booked for a PG hunt at the end of July this year. Gonna take my trusty Remington 700 in 30-06 loaded with the Barnes VOR-TX in 180gr. Everything I can come up with says it's an excellent bullet and will do fine. And the leftovers are destined for Alaskan moose, Caribou and the like.

Of course, I've taken huge moose with the same rifle shooting the Remington Core-lokt as well with out issue and would do so again without hesitation. In fact, I was planning on the core-lokts for the PG if i couldn't find the Vor-tx before I left. Ammo up here is hard to come by unless you are at the store the day/hour/minute it hits the shelves.....

 

[charleslabounty]

Frozen6bt,
I'm looking at the Barnes VOT-TX TTSX if I can't get the Fed Prem Trophy Bonded Tips that I want.
I see Buffalo Bore loads up a "super load" with Barnes TTSX 168 gn.
I bought some 44 Mag Buffalo Bores in a gun shop in Soldonta a couple of years ago for a lot less than was on Buffalo Bore website. You might ask a local shop if they have the 30-06 Super charge Buf. Bores in the 168 gn TTSX. It looks like a heck of a load -- 2900 fps with a 22" barrel. And that is a fact because he chromos all his loads.
Just a thought.
Good luck and travel safe.
Charlie

 

[Frozen6bt]

I kept an eye out for the Federal trophy bonded as well and have no doubt they would have worked just as well as the Barnes I picked up. About the same price too IIRC. I'll have to look into the Buffalo bores. They might be a good round to keep an opertunistic eye out for.

 

[BWH]

The Buffalo Bores are great as well. I use them practically interchangeable with the Barnes Vor-Tex brand. Same bullet, just different Company loading. BB has always been a solid outfit, as well as Black Hills. I think it is as close to hand rolling as you can get. If you want or need any pics or data, let me know. I have a box of each on me.

 

[rnovi]

My buddy used Federal Premiums with 180 TSX's for 5 one-shot kills from Zebra to Impala. I ran a few of those factory loads across the chrono and found them at 2,650 fps. The loads did just fine and the one TSX that we recovered (Zebra, 120 yards) looked just like the advertisement.

 

[Velo Dog]

Just when you thought you were safe, old Velo Dog starts howling again,

I notice a fair bit of reference to Buffalo Bore ammunition, in regards to the .30-06.

Not sure if their rifle ammunition is loaded to the red line or not.

However, when I worked in a gun shop part time (2002) for a little less than a year, we had two revolvers (that I was present for) carried back in to the shop, by unhappy customers, cylinders stuck shut, from their first shot each of Buffalo Bore factory ammunition.

One was a Taurus .44 Magnum (don't worry, I'm not a Taurus fan either).

The other was a Smith & Wesson Model 66, .357 Magnum (2.5" barrel which, you'd think would be a bit easier on the chamber pressure than a longer barrel).

Hopefully, Buffalo Bore rifle ammo is not loaded that crazy or perhaps they have turned down their flame a bit on all their ammunition, since those days.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[tarbe]

Fun reading in this thread...thanks to the OP for starting this debate!

I had thought about starting a thread to discuss my options for June 2015; My 300 H&H with 180gr TTSX vs 220gr Nosler Partition on the one hand and my 375 H&H and 250gr TTSX vs 300gr Nosler Partition on the other. Handloaded of course, for everything from Impala to Eland.

I am afraid if I started that thread, the internet might crash!!

I appreciate all the shared experiences here!


Tim

 

[Norwegianwoods]

I am no fan of Nosler Partition and I like TTSX a lot. So there you have my answer
At slower speeds, I would use a heavy for cartridge round nose cup and core bullet and not the Nosler Partition.

 

[35bore]

Very good thread, excellent question, and my 2 cents: (this is for the rifles I own) I like the Remington Core Lokt ammo (I know that outfitters in Africa don't prefer to see them) still like them for accuracy and "my" desired performance on game. I only have a few rifles that shoot the Federal Premium TBBC accurately, but I am a huge fan of the way the TBBC performs, even with undesirable angles, they move well through flesh and bone.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello Tarbe,

On my first safari, (Namibia / Mountainous desert, very similar to much of Nevada, Arizona, etc., but dripping with game), I used the .300 H&H and 180 grain Nosler Partition (a tad over 2800 fps / no huge difference over a .30-06 with that bullet except perhaps lower pressure ) with giant satisfaction.

For long shots on the "normal" size antelopes / zebra, etc., taken with same, it worked A+ (I'm still grinning about it years later).

I would happily use that combination again for typical Namibia "plains game".

However, eland were not available where I was and if they had been, I would've at least preferred 180 gr Swift A-Frame and perhaps even a bit more gun, such as the in .375 H&H, with scope and 270 grain A-Frame.

Flat shooter / bone breaker, holds together like some others wish they could.

That .375 load is bit much for springbok but, not over-kill for eland, gul-dang wilderbeests and zebra, etc.

Safe hunting and happy travels,
Velo Dog.

 

[mdbrowne]

I used the 30-06, Remington 180 gr. Swift A-Frame on my plains game hunt. Performance was outstanding. Could not have asked for any better. The old 30-06 is still performing just like it did for T. Roosevelt in 1909. All boils down to shot placement.
M. D. Browne

 

[Velo Dog]

mdbrowne,

I hear the same voices that you hear.

Out,
Velo Dog.

 

[BigSteve57]

My wife and I hunted plains game in Namibia with Federal P3006F 180 gr Nosler Partition with excellent results. Interestingly, the cartridge had the same point of impact as the Remington 180 gr pointed soft point core-lokt. The rifle used was a Browning Bolt Action (9 locking lug bolt) made by Miroku.

REF:
http://reviews.federalpremium.com/7...remium-p3006f-reviews/reviews.htm?sort=rating

 

[charleslabounty]

Steve,
thanks for the report on the Federal P3006F.
I picked up a box of P3006TT1 Vital Shok 180 gr Trophy Bonded Tip.
If I get good groups with them, I'll hold out for the same bullet in their hotter load the P3006TT4 which is rated for 2880 fps.
Problem is Federal is not running those again until early June.
Leaving for RSA, Limpopo early Sept.

 

[BigSteve57]

Steve,
thanks for the report on the Federal P3006F.
I picked up a box of P3006TT1 Vital Shok 180 gr Trophy Bonded Tip.
If I get good groups with them, I'll hold out for the same bullet in their hotter load the P3006TT4 which is rated for 2880 fps.
Problem is Federal is not running those again until early June.
Leaving for RSA, Limpopo early Sept.

I actually tried the trophy bonded tip!!! They impacted about 2 in high and to the left at 200 yds for us, IIRC. I went with the Nosler because it seemed generally more available and printed literally exactly the same way as the Remington 180 gr PSPCL. So I just couldn't resist using the Nosler knowing if I somehow needed the Remington I could use it.

BTW, I bought all my ammo (Federal 30-06 Nosler & Federal .375 H&H Mag Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) for my hunt through Cabala's.
They had the ammo and when I called them to ask if they were willing to try and pick the ammo from the same lot they did so!!!
Since I actually did get the ammo from the same lot in both calibers I'll make a plug for Cabela's while I'm at it.

 

[Areaonereal]

Norma 165 and 180 gr. shoots extremely well in my 30 06 factory stainless. The 165 gr is 2920 fps over the chrony. Now that is haulin it for a 3006. Oryx bonded. We will let you know how it is after out trip to Limpopo in two weeks. Getting .75 inch 3 shot groups t 100 yds.

 

[charleslabounty]

Areaonreal,
I look forward to the details on the performance you experience with the Norma
Oryx, both 165 and 180 gn.
I tried the Federal Prem. Vital Shok TBT 180 gr yesterday.
I had a 1.5" inch group then it opened up to 3.5".
I have only 55 rnds through my new Savage 111.
I'm hunting with Limcroma Safaris in Limpopo early September, so I'll have time to digest your information.
Good luck and safe travels.
Thanks
Charlie

 

[Nicholas Barcomb]

Sorry to bring back a thread from the depths, but....... It has been a very thorough read and interesting to say the least on opinions. I have not hunted Africa yet, nor have I killed anything larger than a small black bear. However, I do load my own .30-06 Springfield and use Hornady 165 gr SSTs for Northeastern Whitetail. I also have some 165 gr Woodleigh PPRNs for moose if I ever get drawn for a tag, as well as for black bear. Another load that I have is a 240 gr Woodleigh PPRN that I would like to take to Australia and use on scrub bulls. I like the Woodleigh bullets and have had great success with them on wild boars in a Tikka T3 Lite SS, 6.5 x 55 SE (SKAN) using the 160 gr PPRNs. I have never been able to retrieve a bullet no matter if it travel end to end on the pig, through the head, or the scrapple plate, all have passed through. The only thing I know is, when I place the cross hairs on the animal and squeeze, they drop right there and don't move. Just kind of interested in what the OP has decided on.