Ballistic Tip for Elk and Mule Deer - 30-06

[stevelsd]

Hi Reloading Rocket Scientists!
I am reloading for a hunting partner come this Fall '25 in Colorado 3rd season for a first time for his 30-06. I have reloaded for 30-06 before with standard Hornady bullets and the friends took their Mule deer one shot. I want to work with Nosler for this caliber.
I already have purchased some 180 gr PPT Partition.
I am also looking at the 180 gr and the 165 gr Ballistic Tip in the 30 caliber but I read some mixed results. Both bullets are avail in "seconds right now". I would like if practical, one BT bullet for both Elk and Deer alongside the Partition.
Some say good for Elk, as long as one does not hit the shoulder bone, the BT is good. Others say no problem even when hitting the shoulder bone? Some say got with heavy bullet for elk? Range will be at the longest 400 yds but more likely inside 300.
I open to all opinions, suggestions and recommendations.

Thank you all
Stevelsd

 

[JD338]

The 165 gr BT will get the job done on elk and deer. The 180 gr BT does have a heavier jacket and will definitely work from your 30-06 out to 400+ yards.
If it were me, I would lean towards the heavier 180 gr bullets to ensure you reach the vitals from a quartering shot.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

30-06 and the 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip go together very well, as does the 180 grain Ballistic Tip.

Mule deer - the 165 Ballistic Tip has brought me several mule deer with no problems. Consider H4350, Ramshot Hunter and StaBall 6.5. 2900 - 3000 fps from a 24" barrel is possible.

I also took a large cow elk with one shot through the shoulder at 340 yards with the 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip loaded to 2940 fps via H4350. However... for bull elk or closer encounters I'd prefer the 180 grain version.

BTW, I provided 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip ammo for my pard's 300 Win Mag when he went to South Africa for plains game. He and his PH were more impressed with the performance of the 180 gr Ballistic Tips than they were with the 180 gr Nosler Partitions I also sent him with! That surprised me.

The first Ballistic Tip bullets were indeed "soft" and expanded too quickly. That was back in the 1980's. During the 1990's they were toughened up with thicker jackets and became better big game bullets. I like the heck out of them. Very reliable. I use them often in 6mm, 25-06, 308 and 30-06 for mule deer, bear, and once for elk.

Regards, Guy

 

[Blkram]

Frankly, for one bullet for mule deer and elk, you would better served with the Partition, the AccuBond, or the E-Tip in the 30-06. While the Ballistic Tip is a fine bullet, and great for deer; it isn't designed for the maximum weight retention, but for more rapid expansion, as compared to the other bullets mentioned. The bonded bullet designs retain their weight more efficiently than even the Partition design does. And the E-Tip being a monometal bullet will retain even more.

I would also recommend the 180 gr bullet for the extra mass and penetrating capacity that it brings with its higher sectional density; important for penetration. The Nosler 30-06 180 gr AccuBond ammunition starts out at 2750 fps and carries 1998 ft. lbs of energy to 300 yards and 1483 ft. lbs of energy at 500 yards.
(The old recommendation of 2000 ft. lbs of retained energy at the animals was recommended for elk. Today most recommend 1500 ft. lbs of energy for elk. I believe that this is due to our better bullets, including the monometal bullets which provide better penetration. Personally, having taken more than 20 elk over the years, and helped several others take their elk, I have found I prefer the higher energy figures as the elk taken with more retained energy and proper bullet placement, whether due to decreased shooting distances, or increased caliber and bullet weight.)

Elk have the densest bone of any animal in North America, and as such, it is recommended to stay away from the onside shoulder bone, in particular, the heavier section closer to the elbow joint. A study conducted in the 90's by a gunwriter for a popular magazine found that to reliably break the heavy elk shoulder bone and still penetrate to the vitals required a 250 gr bullet from a 338 Win Mag. I have not read of anyone repeating this study with bonded or monometal bullets of today.

I also recommend finding the best load with one bullet for the rifle, as most will not shoot two different bullets to the same point of aim, requiring re-zeroing the rifle when switching loads. This would be an inconvenience on a hunt!

At the end of the day, it is not what which bullet can do under the perfect conditions, it is what which bullet will do if the shot does not hit the animals as intended, because the hunter pulled their shot, or the animal moved as the bullet travels to its intended point of aim and strikes that heavy shoulder bone instead of that shot through the ribs into the heart/lungs.
Set them up to win!

 

[flyingagg]

I use 150 BT in my 30.06 for whitetail harvesting in Texas. I used to use 180 BT in my 1959 300WBY. I would tend toward 180 for Elk, BT or AB

 

[SJB358]

My opinion is the 180 BT is a heckuva great elk or whatever bullet. Compared a few of them in jugs and couldn’t ever see any difference from those or a AccuBond.

Quick story, I used to load for a buddy in Idaho. 300 Wby, 180 BTs and a full charge of 7828. He used that load I loaded for him for years. Last count was a pile of deer, elk, black bear and an Idaho moose. When I thought I learned more I offered to load him a better bullet. He said Scotty, I’ve never recovered a bullet yet from anything and everything has pretty much fallen straight on its face, why change. From then on, I’ve use more and more heavier BTs and found they are tough, yet expand well and in some cases I think they penetrate better than an AB of the same weight in the 180 bullets since the front end of the BT erodes a bit while the AB stays a bit wider. Neither is a bad bullet in my book but that 180 BT is a beast in my opinion.

 

[RL338]

I already have purchased some 180 gr PPT Partition.
I am also looking at the 180 gr and the 165 gr Ballistic Tip in the 30 caliber but I read some mixed results. Both bullets are avail in "seconds right now". I would like if practical, one BT bullet for both Elk and Deer alongside the Partition.

Since you already have the 180gr Part. in hand , that will cover the bases.

 

[salmonchaser]

I have taken a number of mule deer from my favorite cliff side perch at about 200 yards straight through the spine between the shoulder blades. The spine tore the Ballistic tips apart which gives me pause using them on elk as that upper leg bone of an elk is the densest bone in the animal kingdom. So Ive been told. To be honest that was some years ago and I was using 150s out of my 06. I’ve only been elk hunting for 56 years so my data set is kinda small, but I’ve always had good luck with partitions (180) out of an 06 or 300 or 8mm mag or a 338. When the accubonds came out, that’s all I’ll use on elk.
I don’t for a minute question Scotty and Guy’s experience and wisdom. A neighbor of mine in Alaska is one of the most highly regarded bear guides in Alaska. He told me Guy is one of finest hunters he’s ever guided. With that in mind I have laid in a supply of the 180 ballistic tips to try in my 300 HH. In the crease they will certainly work just fine.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

When the accubonds came out, that’s all I’ll use on elk.

I don’t for a minute question Scotty and Guy’s experience and wisdom.

Ditto the Accubonds. I have used them in my .30-06 extensively for deer, sheep and elk. They are all I use in the .30-06!!

I have no doubt (and the experience of well seasoned hunters like Guy and Scotty back this up) that the BT’s will perform admirably at the distances you described.

 

[FOTIS]

You've been given some really good advice here. In my 3006 I used the 165 ballistic tip with 57th gr .of h4350. I got about 2,800 ft per second and that load has a couple of elk to it's name. Never recovered a bullet always an exit

https://imgur.com/rZNa2ub

 

[salmonchaser]

And there you have it

 

[SJB358]

Thru the years, a few less than Don I have seen the heavier BTs work so well I don’t question them much. The 95 BT in a 243, 115 BT in a 25-06, 140’s in the 264, 150’s in the 270’s, the 150 in the 7mm and 180’s in the 30’s. They are much more than a cup and core bullet with that heavy base and thick jacket down low. Just my experience but they have been excellent bigger game bullets and honestly the 140 264 and 150 270 bullets were too tough in my opinion for deer compared to the lighter weights of the same caliber. They worked fine but if I was strictly deer hunting I’d like some more expansion.

I’ve heard the 200 grain 338 bullet is another very good, tough bullet as well. No experience as of yet though to report on animals.

 

[xphunter]

I have taken one cow and one bull with NBT's. I have killed more elk with Partitions.
I prefer the AccuBond's more.

Since you have the 180 Partitions, I would just go with them.
Since your max distance is 400, with more likely 300 yards, use the Partitions and enjoy.
IF, you have someone who is recoil sensitive, and there is going to be a lot of practicing, you might jump down into the 165 class bullets.
I have even killed one very large cow at 300ish yards with the 150 NBT (Double Lung) at 3001 fps from the muzzle. She never knew what hit her.

 

[salmonchaser]

Mt. Emily with Snow on it Scotty, just to get you thinking about elk.

 

[stevelsd]

Wow! Thanks to everyone. I was asking about the BTs for a backup bullet and also as some practice bullets but just incase they are needed for the Elk as well.

I was surprised and happy to see that BTs for the 7mm 08 was mentioned since this is my backup rifle at camp (4 hours+ too long of a drive to go get it left at the house). I have 7mm 08 loads built with both the 150 Partition and the 160 Accubonds. Scotty and JD338 might remember from a while back my primary rifle is a Vanguard S1 338 Win Mag that I use AccuBond 225 exclusively. That 338 adores those 225 Accubonds.

 

[Joec7651]

Seeing as you already have the Partitions, I’d say your search is over for your bullet. If you simply want to try the 180gr BT have at it too. It’s a tough bullet in its own right. You’ll be fine with either.

 

[PJGunner]

Steve, do you know what your velocity is from the 7-08 and the 150 gr. Partition? I've been working with that bullet in the 7x57 but using 7-08 data. I get 2880 FPS on average which is a hair too hot to use on hot days (110 to 115 at the range) so dropped back for general use to 2800 FPS. I think the slightly hotter load should work just fine on the much cooler days during hunting season. Accuracy from my Winchester M70 Featherweight has run mostly one half inch of slightly less. Anything larger is my fault.
I've only shot one elk with the 165 gr. AccuBond. A heavy cow el that ran about 30 yards after the hit, collapsed and was given a finisher. Bullet did not exit but was never recovered. I think it may have been buried the the mess that was her left lung.
I did run some of the early 140 gr. Ballistic Tips in my 7x57 on a deer hunt. The bullet looked like it blew up on the shoulder blade and that deer was lost due to me blowing up my right knee in loose rock tryng to get to where I could spot that deer. They were the early bullets that came in 100 bullets to the box. Very accurate but I think I'll not ever try them on a game animal ever again.

I am in agreement that one should use a 180 gr. bullet for elk in the 06 and while I started early on using the 150 gr. Sierra Pro=Hunters for deer, when I switched to the Sierra PH bullets for deer in the 06 that's where I stayed. FWIW, I run the 200 gr. Speer Hot Cores in my .300 Win. Mag. and they took an elk way out yonder. An honest 530 yards as determined by a range finder. I've been thinking about trying that bullet in the 30-06. The late gun writer Finn Aagard was actually using the 220 gr. Sierra round nose to cull whitetail deer on a ranch in Texas. hey left an impressive exit wound.
Paul B.

 

[stevelsd]

Steve, do you know what your velocity is from the 7-08 and the 150 gr. Partition? I've been working with that bullet in the 7x57 but using 7-08 data. I get 2880 FPS on average which is a hair too hot to use on hot days (110 to 115 at the range) so dropped back for general use to 2800 FPS. I think the slightly hotter load should work just fine on the much cooler days during hunting season. Accuracy from my Winchester M70 Featherweight has run mostly one half inch of slightly less. Anything larger is my fault.
I've only shot one elk with the 165 gr. AccuBond. A heavy cow el that ran about 30 yards after the hit, collapsed and was given a finisher. Bullet did not exit but was never recovered. I think it may have been buried the the mess that was her left lung.
I did run some of the early 140 gr. Ballistic Tips in my 7x57 on a deer hunt. The bullet looked like it blew up on the shoulder blade and that deer was lost due to me blowing up my right knee in loose rock tryng to get to where I could spot that deer. They were the early bullets that came in 100 bullets to the box. Very accurate but I think I'll not ever try them on a game animal ever again.

I am in agreement that one should use a 180 gr. bullet for elk in the 06 and while I started early on using the 150 gr. Sierra Pro=Hunters for deer, when I switched to the Sierra PH bullets for deer in the 06 that's where I stayed. FWIW, I run the 200 gr. Speer Hot Cores in my .300 Win. Mag. and they took an elk way out yonder. An honest 530 yards as determined by a range finder. I've been thinking about trying that bullet in the 30-06. The late gun writer Finn Aagard was actually using the 220 gr. Sierra round nose to cull whitetail deer on a ranch in Texas. hey left an impressive exit wound.
Paul B.

At this time, I do not know till I go back out to the range which might be 3 weeks+. I have been away from hunting and shooting due to some illness so now just getting back into it. If you are still interested, I will let you know right after I come back from the range.

530 yds!
I am not sure i can even see that far lol
Honestly, I have a SFF scope and not sure I have the skill for such a shot.

 

[xphunter]

Wow! Thanks to everyone. I was asking about the BTs for a backup bullet and also as some practice bullets but just incase they are needed for the Elk as well.

I was surprised and happy to see that BTs for the 7mm 08 was mentioned since this is my backup rifle at camp (4 hours+ too long of a drive to go get it left at the house). I have 7mm 08 loads built with both the 150 Partition and the 160 Accubonds. Scotty and JD338 might remember from a while back my primary rifle is a Vanguard S1 338 Win Mag that I use AccuBond 225 exclusively. That 338 adores those 225 Accubonds.

I have taken several elk, with two bulls in the mix using a 140 grain Partition.
It was a 284 Winchester in a center-grip XP-100 pistol, so the performance level was about the same as a 7mm-08 rifle.
One bull with the same XP-100, with a 140 grain NBT at around a 1/4 of mile, prone off of a log.

 

[PJGunner]

Steve said,"530 yds!
I am not sure i can even see that far lol
Honestly, I have a SFF scope and not sure I have the skill for such a shot."

I knew the area I drew the tag for which was notorious for having to take way out yonder type shots so several months I went through some serious practice at various ranges up to the time I was to leave for the hunt. First few times shots were from the bench at various ranges from 100 yards to to 500 meters using the club's silhouette range, Once I had the holds pretty well figured out it was shooting from offhand at 100 yards to sitting and kneeling at 200, 300, 450 and 500 meters.

On opening day I was up before daylight and spotted a herd heading out to the middle of a "park" that was an open spot about a mile wide and a couple of miles long. I did a low stalk then dropped to a hands and knees crawl and bellied up about the last 40 or 50 yards to get behind the last small bush that was good for partial cover. I managed to get into a sitting position without being spotted, lasered the elk and held accordingly. I had a cow tag so I picked the last cow in the line and took the shot. She dropped at the shot. kicked a few times and lay still.

The rifle used was a Winchester M70 in .300 Win. Mag., 26" barrel running a 200 gr. Speer Hot Core over a max charge of Winchester Magnum Rifle powder for 2880 FPS. That load is very accurate in five different .300 Win. Mags from that M70 and four Ruger #1s I have chambered to that round. I do hunt with the #1s but treat them as fair weather rifles. Ruger doesn't seal the interior wood on the #1s or the M77s. At least none of the ones I have were ever properly sealed.
Paul B.