150gr BT or 150 gr AB in 30-06 for Antelope?

[Scott Spencer]

Both of these have the same BC so I was wondering which might be best for antelope? I'm leaning to the BT as I am not sure the AB is really necessary for an antelope.

I'll be shooting it in my Win Mod 70 featherweight with 22" barrel

Thanks!

 

[Richracer1]

You can't go wrong with either, so my suggestion would be which ever onr shoots the best out of your 06.

 

[FOTIS]

Flip a coin!

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I"ll second your thoughts as to NOT needing an AB for antelope.

The BT's will work awesome. They'll probly shoot better and there cheaper anyways. Plus the green tip is way cooler then the white!!

You cant beat the BT for a antelope/deer bullet.

 

[bullet]

On deer down here a BT is the best. But as POP said since he hunts them, either would do the job, I am just partial to BT on thin skinned game.

 

[1Shot]

I would go with the 125 gr ballistic tip. I have been using it to shoot deer with for a few years and man it does the job. Run it around 3100 fps and it shoots much flatter than the 150's and in around 20 deer shot with it not a single one has even taken a step after being hit. I have been using it in a 308 and 30X47 HBR and it is bug hole accurate.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

BT, unless I was going to use the same load to shoot elk, then I'd go with the AB. BT's usually shoot better, and they are much cheaper. :grin:

 

[Scott Spencer]

Thanks everyone. I'll try the BT's in 150 and 125. Anything around 3000 fps should give me an excellent load for antelope in my '06.

 

[JD338]

Scott Spencer

You might want to consider the 165 gr BT. It will have a higher BC which will help you with the wind. The 165 gr will actually catch up to the 150 gr speed wise and hit harder. Something to think about..........

JD338

 

[Scott Spencer]

Scott Spencer

You might want to consider the 165 gr BT. It will have a higher BC which will help you with the wind. The 165 gr will actually catch up to the 150 gr speed wise and hit harder. Something to think about..........

JD338

Dang you, JD!! I figured it would be you to throw a curve ball in the mix!!

 

[bullet]

:lol: :lol: JD338 can do that every once in a while, but he is right on this one for sure.

 

[JD338]

Scott Spencer

You might want to consider the 165 gr BT. It will have a higher BC which will help you with the wind. The 165 gr will actually catch up to the 150 gr speed wise and hit harder. Something to think about..........

JD338

Dang you, JD!! I figured it would be you to throw a curve ball in the mix!!

Scott,

Not trying to through curve balls, I used to play 3rb base! :lol:

Nothing wrong with the 150 gr choice but the 165 gr would be better because it will offer better down range performance.
The wind can really throw bullets around and its much easier to adjust for elevation than playing the wind. :wink:

JD338

 

[Coyote Hunter]

I've started using 165's for all my .30 bolt guns - .308 Win, three .30-06's and a .300 Win Mag.

Took an antelope last fall with the .308 Win and a 165g. It wasn't a Nosler, but it was a good bullet, the same one I'll be using for elk, and it did the job.

 

[YoteSmoker]

Another vote for the 165 in 308/30-06. I'd load a 180 in 300 WM and bigger.

 

[Colin]

I am no expert, but in my mind it works like this.....

125-150gr bullets are reserved for the smaller .30 caliber cases like the .308.

150-180gr bullets are for the .30-06 (and similar cartridges), but the 165-168gr bullets really shine.

165-220gr bullets are for cartridges similar to and above the .300 Win Mag. The 180's really impress me in my .300 Win Mag.

Not that you can't mix them up, but that's how I see it. If I ownded a .30-06 I'd shoot mostly the 165's for the longer range stuff and the 180's for the big animals.

I've shot 2 coyotes with my .300 Win Mag. One at 40 yards with the 180gr AccuBond and it punched a clean little hole in the chest and another little one out the back side. The other I shot with a 165gr Ballistic Tip (quartering to at 150 yards) and it punched a softball sized exit hole in the opposite ribs. This indicated to me that the Ballistic Tips open much faster than the Accubonds (not that I didn't know that anyway) but I like to see things first hand.

Go with the 165gr and you wont look back.

 

[Scott Spencer]

I really need reasons to get out and shoot, and buy bullets, so I'll be shooting the 150 BT, 165 BT, and 165 AB to see which one shoots the best in my '06.

Since I can't locate any 225 gr AB's for my .338 WM I have gone to another bullet (sinful, I know) and plan to try the 225 gr SST in it. Maybe one day the 225 gr AB will be available so until then.....I'll try something else just because I want to go shoot it. :grin:

 

[Scott A]

I used the 150 BT at 3030 fps in my .30-06 last fall on a large northern whitetail doe. I shot her high at about 200 yards. The bullet smashed her spine before leaving about and inch and a half exit hole on the other side. Everyone knows this bullet opens well, but I was very impressed with its penetration.

When I draw a Wyoming antelope tag, I plan on using this rifle and load.