30.06...Wyo Elk trip...need load ideas

[Northwoods Hunter]

I have my custom 30.06 rifle back from the gunsmith...26" bbl 0n a Wbthy mag action...B&C Medalist stock(pillar bedded) in gray spiderweb. I'll post some pics ASAP on the rifles forum. I topped it with a 3.3-10X44 Zeiss. She will be my western(Elk/Muley) rifle.

I haven't loaded for an 06 for a long while...and not for Elk. I will have two pref points for my 2008 trip to Wyoming. The 26" bbl should help my ballistics a lot. 8)

I'd appreciate your favorite 30.06 Elk load ides. I am pondering various 165-200gr loads. Accubonds or Partitions? I am going to be realistic on a 350yd shot range limit. I have never shot an Elk.

Thanks Guys! :grin:

 

[FOTIS]

60 gr or so with Reloder 22 and 180 Partitions or AccuBond.

 

[Eagleye]

60 gr or so with Reloder 22 and 180 Partitions or AccuBond.

X2.... Or If Your rifle prefers them, you could step up to the 200 grainers with 58 grains of the same.

 

[Guy Miner]

Pop just listed my all-time favorite .30-06 hunting load, 60 grains of Reloader 22 and a 180 grain Nosler Partition. I'd have no hesitation taking that load for elk. Or most other big game come to think of it... I haven't tried the AccuBond bullets yet, but will do so, once my stock of partitions runs a little low. Regards, Guy

 

[Northwoods Hunter]

I also have lots of 180gr early era Partitions. We used to think of that as the Premo Deer 30.06 load! I will say that overall the accubonds have produced tighter groups in my rifles...especially out at 300 yds. But my gut tells me to stick with the NPTs. :roll:

 

[FOTIS]

Pending on your barrel you might break 3000 fps with that load and a 26" tube. Basically a 300 Win mag.

 

[R Flowers]

Good responses here already, to be sure!

I agree, whatever powder you choose with a 180 grain Nosler Partition and go for it!

While I have gotten some really great velocities with RL 22 and 165 grain bullets in some 30-06 rifles, I would go for the 180 grain bullets.

I have way too many rifles already, but I have a Remington Limited Edition CDL on order in 30-06 just because.

While I am having good luck with the Accubonds recently, I just do not know how you can beat the darned old fashioned Partitions. The last two six point bull elk I have shot with my 300 Wby Mag and 180 grain Partitions went down for the count, right now!!

 

[Northwoods Hunter]

I know some might not care for a long barrel but in this application it comes very close to turning my 30.06 into a .300 Win Mag. 8)

 

[Tom1911]

Northwoods Hunter,

I would think that just about any Partition/AB from 165 grains on up will make your '06 one hell-of-an elk rifle! And it appears as though you have your range just about right. You might be able to extend it if you have a decent rest and your target is stationary.

For mountain hunting, I prefer a 22" barrel for non-magnum calibers & 24" for my 7MM Rem Mag. But truth is barrel length is nothing more than personal preference! If you're content with a 26" barrel, then that is with what you should hunt!


Good huntin',

Tom

 

[JD338]

Go with RL22 and either the 180 gr PT or AB. 26" tube should get you to 3000 fps which will make a deadly elk load.

JD338

 

[Bigcat_hunter]

61 grains of Reloader 19, 165 grain partitions, cci lr primers . I get great accuracy with this combo. I dont know the velocity but I have killed two elk and a couger with this combo out of a Win Model 70 30-06.

 

[Occunknown]

In my past days when I lived in Utah I used a 168 HPBT with 52 gr H4895 and Rem. 9.5 primers. This was in a 22-inch tube on a 700 BDL, which was best for that particular gun. This was before I found the world of Nosler and better bullets to use. Always went for the heart lung shot. A rib would just enhance the work of the HP bullet.

 

[jjmp]

what , pop and jd338 said, congrat''s on that 26 inch pipe smart thinking there,i''m haveing a 30-06 built myself and i went with a 26 plus Hart # 5,its almost done and ive got 233 reloads ready 4 testing :wink: regards jjmp

 

[elkslayer308]

If i was going for a combo deer and elk hunt I would say use the 165 Partition and 57.5 grs of h4350 but for elk only i would say use the 180 Partition with 55.0 grs of either h or imr 4350 with a Fed 210m primer. I have shot sub-moa groups with both these loads on several occasions in my model 70. It sports a 24" barrel and a leupold 3x9. My only dilemna is deciding whether to stick with 165's or 180's as they both shoot excellent. One shoots flatter the other hits harder. The AccuBond is for real though, a sweet big game bullet for both the long and short of it.

 

[hunting1]

57grs H4350 and a 165 NP and go hunting! :grin:

 

[JD338]

jjmp,

You are really going to like the Hart #5 barrel. Is it flutted?
With the right loads, you are going to be pushing 300 Mag performance with the 26" tube.

JD338

 

[Murphdog]

Your new rifle sounds great. I use 60 grains of RL 22 and 180 grain nosler partision. I have taken a lot of elk, deer, and black bears with this load. Two elk were killed at very long range. If the load is lacking it is at point blank range (inside 75 yards) where the bullet doesn't always exit. I am a shoulder shooter and even on a mature bull said load will break both shoulders. With both shoulders broke the exit would becomes mute. It is the rear angling shots that you have to watch. Not much blood and a little hair. The good news is that they don't go far. Becare full not to write off a shot as a miss. I am toying with the idea of loading some 180 fail safes to place in the chamber when I am in the lodge pole jungles on those north slopes.

Good Hunting

 

[Murphdog]

Your new rifle sounds great. I use 60 grains of RL 22 and 180 grain nosler partision. I have taken a lot of elk, deer, and black bears with this load. Two elk were killed at very long range. If the load is lacking it is at point blank range (inside 75 yards) where the bullet doesn't always exit. I am a shoulder shooter and even on a mature bull said load will break both shoulders. With both shoulders broke the exit would becomes mute. It is the rear angling shots that you have to watch. Not much blood and a little hair. The good news is that they don't go far. Becare full not to write off a shot as a miss. I am toying with the idea of loading some 180 fail safes to place in the chamber when I am in the lodge pole jungles on those north slopes.

Good Hunting

 

[kiddekop]

Sako Finnbear in 30-06 Bullets:Sierra Game Kings in 165 & 180gr,Nosler 165gr PT , SB & BT.Powder IMR 4831,H4831,IMR4895 & Ball C2.Friends were former WW2 vets who used 06's for everything and explained that the best all around bullet for the 06 is the 165gr but they loaded 180gr for Elk.