.30-06 150 grain Accubond on Elk

That impact spread is something I need to figure out. One thing is for sure, even bullets of the same weight don't always shoot the same direction from the same sight in. Case and point the 165 ABs and BTs each shoot different zeroes even with the same kind of powder charge, primer, and case etc.

Thanks for the input fellas. For a simon pure elk load a 165 or 180 are hard to beat. I use my .30-06 mostly for mule deer though and some of our deer and elk seasons overlap.

Was mostly curious, I bought some more the other day and will load them up soon.

Any other comments or suggestions?
 
filmjunkie4ever":1h876zin said:
That impact spread is something I need to figure out. One thing is for sure, even bullets of the same weight don't always shoot the same direction from the same sight in. Case and point the 165 ABs and BTs each shoot different zeroes even with the same kind of powder charge, primer, and case etc.

Thanks for the input fellas. For a simon pure elk load a 165 or 180 are hard to beat. I use my .30-06 mostly for mule deer though and some of our deer and elk seasons overlap.

Was mostly curious, I bought some more the other day and will load them up soon.

Any other comments or suggestions?
Click to expand...

All things being equal some rifles will put 2 same weight bullets of different make very close and other won't. I've seen 2 different bullet weights of the same brand with almost identical POI. My friends 7mm puts 160 AB and 140 TTSX bullets pretty much in the same holes. Just have to try and see.
 
I may have to just quit messing around. The old "don't fix it if it isn't broken" mentality.

Stick with what I know works and go with that.
 
filmjunkie4ever":3jaywzbc said:
I may have to just quit messing around. The old "don't fix it if it isn't broken" mentality.

Stick with what I know works and go with that.
Click to expand...


Seems like sound logic that is at times easier said than followed. My whole life I have sold my elk rifle once I kill a bull then buy something different. Sometimes just a new new caliber same brand of rifle other times a different rifle same caliber. I'm getting better though as I still have my 300 Rum. :mrgreen:
 
The 150 gr AB will work but I would want a 165 gr or 180 gr to ensure penetration
on a quartering shot.

JD338
 
FJ,
I own a 30-06 as well, I do believe a 30-06 will kill most big game in North America given the proper bullet and shot placement.

I have loaded 150 Accubonds and Partitions using w748. I got 2950-3000 fps with a 22" barrel. :shock:
I get what your saying about the recoil thing. But as Dr Mike referred, today's bullet selection has been a Game Changer. Nothing wrong with your choice with the AccuBond or the Partition either.With that being said I would suggest you take a look at the 150 E-Tip bullet. It will give you the penetration needed for Elk. There are several powders that could aide in getting the velocity needed if you investigate them.

My only experience with E-Tips was with the 180 grain in my 300 RUM. It proved to very accurate after I got the seating depth and powder selection it liked.

Good luck with your bullet selection, the 30-06 can do it. Make the shot count!! :wink:

Don
 
A friend and his wife killed several elk, including some decent bulls, with a 30-06 and 150 core-locts before he switched to exclusively longbow and she quit hunting. His opinion is that that was more than enough bullet. I don't see why a 150 NAB wouldn't work at least as well...
 
People kill elk with .243's also but not me! There is no reason to shoot a .30-06 loaded with 150 grain bullets, except maybe E-Tips to hunt elk. Personally, I will not shoot at an elk with any bullet with less than .270 SD and less than .308 caliber.

Most of the people on this forum own rifle calibers over .30, so, unless you are an expert and only shoot elk standing broadside from less than 200 yards, why would you? Most hunters shoot whatever piece of elk they can see and without discrimination about what they hit. That is my basis for this statement.
 
Being as I have had such good luck with even 165 cup n core bullets I thought that a 150 bonded would be just as good.

But after all this talk I will probably just stick to my 165 grain ABs as an all-around going 2750-2800 fps for both deer and elk.

If I need to pick up some speed I will switch to my 25-06 for deer and my 300 WSM for elk.

Thanks for all the advice fellas.
 
like everyone else has said- My experience with elk- I think a 165 or 180 is a better ideal for elk.
 
I have seen two elk killed deader than a doornail with a 257 Roberts using 120 gr partitions.
My son and I both use the 150 grn AccuBond out of our M-1 Garands and the Garands use a mediocre load in the first place, around 2650 fps. We have not shot an elk with it yet but the deer and bears couldn't stop the 150 ab. Stay within your parameters of your load and a 150 AB will work for you. The bear I shot with the M-1 entered right below the bears chin and we found the slug just under the skin on the bears rump.
I would have no problem shooting at an elk at a reasonable distance and a reasonable shot angle.
Good luck with your hunting this year, time is getting short.
 
Thats very true Remmy. Just been experiencing some "magnum headaches" from some of the bigger guns I own and shoot so looking to reduce recoil and still stay .30 cal where I can. But I think I have decided to stick with my 165 grain AB load at 2800 fps in the old '06 for any and all elk hunting.

Thats just been my all-around load for a long time.
 
filmjunkie4ever":1cfio7jn said:
Thats very true Remmy. Just been experiencing some "magnum headaches" from some of the bigger guns I own and shoot so looking to reduce recoil and still stay .30 cal where I can. But I think I have decided to stick with my 165 grain AB load at 2800 fps in the old '06 for any and all elk hunting.

Thats just been my all-around load for a long time.
Click to expand...

What recoil pad do you have on your rifle? A good pad goes a long ways in reducing felt recoil.
 
As far as recoil being heaver with heaver bullets is no excuse to not use heaver bullets. I have never felt recoil and don't really hear the gun go off when shooting at game. It is really funny that if I shot a rifle at a target without ear protection my ears ring for a day or two but when shooting at game they never ring. That is never ring more than they ring all the time from shooting without ear protection when I was young-en. The hardest kicking rifle I ever had was a 30-06. A Remington Sportsman 78 with the wood stock. That thing would stomp you and throw rocks at you for a week. I replaced the wood stock with a Bell and Carlson composite stock and the first time I shot it I thought I had squib loaded the round. It took 50% or more of the felt recoil away. The AccuBond bullets do really hold together and keep on trucking through game though. I have been using the 130 gr in my 264 Win mag on deer and have only recovered one. It was shot almost lengthwise through a 180lb buck from edge of left shoulder and bullet was found against the smashed ball joint of the right ham. Bullet left the muzzle at average 3350 fps and buck was 111 yards away. Bullet still had to be going around 3200 fps on impact. Recovered bullet was a text book mushroom and weight was 87 grs. I have killed a dozen or so deer from 50 to 400 yards with the 130ABs from the 264 and they all have been DRT. By the way this bullet has flown a bit better than the numbers says it should for me.
 
I have tinitis in both ears so I gotta wear muffs when I shoot. I likewise don't feel the recoil when I am hunting but when I shoot 15-20 shots at the range as I occasionally do, even with a .30-06 I get headaches and start to feel the kick. I have a very nice Pachmayer decelerator recoil pad on my .30-06 and that has helped tremendously. I have decided to stick with my 165 grain AB handload for my .30-06 and call it good. I am afraid I didn't do a very good job of explaining myself. I have been experiencing these headaches with several guns I own, the .30-06 actually being the "smallest" of the ones I consider my "kickers."

Thanks for the advice though, I do appreciate everyones input.
 
FJ, if I was in your shoes, I'd probably be thinking the same way. I guess if I was looking for some relief, I'd rather shoot a 180 PT at 2500 or a 165 at 2600-2700. Really it'd still be about like 300 Savage or 308 loads and entirely adequate for 300 yard shooting. When in doubt I always go heavy. It's probably not as common as it used to be. If your only taking good rib shots I'd say rock on. If you are confident in the load it'll mean more that 15-30 grains of bullet weight. I'd rather hunt with that then stay home. That's a fact!
 
Well with that bit of information given I could see why you might want to go with the 150.

Is there really that much difference in the felt recoil between the two?

A good stock and recoil pad can do wonders as well.

Like Scotty said, I'd rather be out hunting either way!!
 
Oh I am not sure if there is enough difference in recoil to notice.

Was just thinking out loud really.

Sticking w my 165s at 2800.
 
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