Ideas on 30.06 rounds?

[Matt224]

Hey Guys,
I'm relatively new to AH and was hoping to get some of your guy's opinions. I'm looking for a new bullet to try out on African game. For the entirety of my hunting career I have been using basic ammo. The rifle that I currently own is a Remington 700 chambered in 30.06 (a good all round calibre as I have discovered). The type of cartridges that I have been using is the 180gr, soft-points made by the South African company PMP, as they are not too expensive. However, they are not as accurate at longer ranges. I was hoping if anyone had any ideas on a new type of cartridge that I could try and that would still be effective on medium to large African game.
Thanks a lot!
Regards,
Matt224

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Matt,
I rented rifles from my PH's in Zimbabwe and Namibia this year. In Zim I shot a 300 Win Mag using 180 gr Remington Core-Lokt. Three one shot kills (blue wildebeest , impala and waterbuck) . In Namibia, shot another 300 WM using 220 grain PMP ammo. My duaghter used the same gun. One shot kills on 4 PG animals and two shots on an Oryx.

For stuff I load for my 30-06, 7mm mag and 338 WM, I like the Swift A-Frame.

Dave


Swift A-Frame article: http://www.chuckhawks.com/swift_hunting_bullets.htm

Nosler:http://www.chuckhawks.com/nosler_hunting_bullets.htm

General Big game bullets: http://www.chuckhawks.com/big_game_bullets.htm

 

[Matt224]

Matt,
I rented rifles from my PH's in Zimbabwe and Namibia this year. In Zim I shot a 300 Win Mag using 180 gr Remington Core-Lokt. Three one shot kills (blue wildebeest , impala and waterbuck) . In Namibia, shot another 300 WM using 220 grain PMP ammo. My duaghter used the same gun. One shot kills on 4 PG animals and two shots on an Oryx.

For stuff I load for my 30-06, 7mm mag and 338 WM, I like the Swift A-Frame.

Dave


Swift A-Frame article: http://www.chuckhawks.com/swift_hunting_bullets.htm

Nosler:http://www.chuckhawks.com/nosler_hunting_bullets.htm

General Big game bullets: http://www.chuckhawks.com/big_game_bullets.htm

Thanks a lot for the advice, it is much appreciated. I will definitely give them a try. I am also glad to hear that you had a successful hunt Africa!

 

[Ado]

180 grain Barnes X

A great and lethal round in 30-06

Ado

 

[Pheroze]

GS Customs bullets are developing a great reputation.

 

[Matt224]

GS Customs bullets are developing a great reputation.

I'll definitely check them out, because I went onto their website and it looks like they may be produced locally. Thanks!

 

[Matt224]

180 grain Barnes X

A great and lethal round in 30-06

Ado

I've heard a lot of good things about Barnes but wasn't sure what they were like with the 30.06. Now I do. Thanks!

 

[BWH]

I loved the Barnes TTX 168 gr. The 10 animals (PG) that I shot did not. It is a perfect combination between the 150 & 180 gr.

 

[Matt224]

I loved the Barnes TTX 168 gr. The 10 animals (PG) that I shot did not. It is a perfect combination between the 150 & 180 gr.

Awesome I'm definitely checking out the Barnes. Thanks its much appreciated!

 

[lcq]

You got some good suggestions here. Go for a quality bonded bullet at the very least. PMP stuff is very soft so if you are going to use it keep the velocity down by using a heavy bullet. With stuff like Barnes and GS custom they require velocity to open up fully so most people use lighter bullets

 

[Rob404]

I'm Partial to 180g Sierra Game Kings

 

[joker2400]

Also a big fan of the barnes x

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Another vote here for the 168g tipped triple shock Barnes.

 

[Matt224]

You got some good suggestions here. Go for a quality bonded bullet at the very least. PMP stuff is very soft so if you are going to use it keep the velocity down by using a heavy bullet. With stuff like Barnes and GS custom they require velocity to open up fully so most people use lighter bullets

Thanks for the advice! I didn't think about that aspect.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

You got some good suggestions here. Go for a quality bonded bullet at the very least. PMP stuff is very soft so if you are going to use it keep the velocity down by using a heavy bullet. With stuff like Barnes and GS custom they require velocity to open up fully so most people use lighter bullets

Here's a good example of expansion vs. velocity. This is straight off the Swift website:

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Everyone else in my camp last year used Barnes and did well (2 in 30-06, 1 in 300Weatherby). I used handloads using a 200 grain Nosler partition; I took Gemsbok, Kudu, waterbuck, and impala with that bullet/load. The Kudu was a 250 yard shot, and the bull didn't travel more than 40 yards after a death run.
One thing to remember is that some guns shoot different bullet weights better than others; my 30-06 shoots 200 grain bullets into a 1/4" group at 100 yards.....180's are accurate, but not as accurate as the 200 grain Noslers. It also shoots 165 grain bullets more accurately than 150s (although the 150's and 180's shoot accurately enough for hunting purposes).
You have a good rifle/cartridge there......................you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding a suitable load (and that's half the fun!)

 

[lcq]

Everyone else in my camp last year used Barnes and did well (2 in 30-06, 1 in 300Weatherby). I used handloads using a 200 grain Nosler partition; I took Gemsbok, Kudu, waterbuck, and impala with that bullet/load. The Kudu was a 250 yard shot, and the bull didn't travel more than 40 yards after a death run.
One thing to remember is that some guns shoot different bullet weights better than others; my 30-06 shoots 200 grain bullets into a 1/4" group at 100 yards.....180's are accurate, but not as accurate as the 200 grain Noslers. It also shoots 165 grain bullets more accurately than 150s (although the 150's and 180's shoot accurately enough for hunting purposes).
You have a good rifle/cartridge there......................you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding a suitable load (and that's half the fun!)

a slow hit is always better than a fast miss. feed the critter what it likes

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Here's a great example of finding the right rifle/ammo combination for a given rifle.

http://randywakeman.com/BrowningAB3VideoReview.htm

The video shows a 270 Browning A-Bolt III (the cheaper version of the A-Bolt), and trying out different brands and weights of ammo. The actual target shooting is around the 5 min to 7 min on the video. One brand puts 3 rounds basically in the same hole. I wouldn't believe this if it was a written article, but the video doesn't lie. BTW, Randy Wakeman is one of the few gun writers that will actually criticize a gun. Most gun writers fall into the category of "Never met a gun they didn't like."

 

[Matt224]

Here's a great example of finding the right rifle/ammo combination for a given rifle.

http://randywakeman.com/BrowningAB3VideoReview.htm

The video shows a 270 Browning A-Bolt III (the cheaper version of the A-Bolt), and trying out different brands and weights of ammo. The actual target shooting is around the 5 min to 7 min on the video. One brand puts 3 rounds basically in the same hole. I wouldn't believe this if it was a written article, but the video doesn't lie. BTW, Randy Wakeman is one of the few gun writers that will actually criticize a gun. Most gun writers fall into the category of "Never met a gun they didn't like."

I think I'd be doing pretty good if I shot his 2nd group at 100 yards. Enjoyed the vid, thanks.

 

[ack]

Here's a good example of expansion vs. velocity. This is straight off the Swift website:
View attachment 48268

I just got back from Namibia where wife and I took 9 animals with Sciroco bullets in 30/06..I found them to be very accurate and all recovered bullets looked like the Swift ads..I would not pertsonally want an A-Frame at 06 velocities...They are the finest bullet I have used after many years..Look at expansion at 100 and 200 yds.