Newbie/30-06 bullet for whitetails and black bear

[ArcherAdam]

Hi!

Newbie here and thinking about getting into reloading. I am currently shooting factory Remington 150 grain PSP Core-Locks out of an early 90's Ruger M77mkII 30-06. When I am on, I get quarter sized groups at 100 yards from the bench.

I am looking to find the perfect bullet for my application and wonder what you guys would recommend. I hunt Pennsylvania whitetails primarily that are usually 150# or less. I also hunt PA bears. Our bears average 150# as well but go to 700# (+). Shots are close. 90% of the time my shots are under 100 yards. Shots over 200 yards are rare for me.

What do you guys think about the 150 grain Partition for my set-up? Do you think it is overkill? At the end of the day I will shoot what is the most accurate but like 150's. Does anybody know any good formulas for my gun to start off with?

Thanks!
AA

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

You don't need a Partition for deer.

150-165gr Ballistic Tip.

Ballistic Tips were made to kill deer, and black bears are not all that tough.

 

[1Shot]

For a one bullet do most anything in North America with a 30-06 either the 150 or 165 Nosler Partition will do nicely. Yes the ballistic tips will get the job done but if I run into a 400 to 800 LB black bear I would feel much better poking it with a Partition than a Ballistic tip. :mrgreen:

 

[baltz526]

The 150gr Partition is a great bullet. It should give equal accuracy to the factory 150gr you have been shooting. W760/H414 and a magnum primer is where i would start 56-57-58 grain will get you about 2900fps

 

[DrMike]

Archer,

Welcome to the forum. It is good to have you on board. Shoot the 150s and plan on enjoying venison and bear steaks on a regular basis. The Partition will work just fine for you. To be certain, the Ballistic Tip will work for your style of hunting just as well, but the Partition will give a little extra insurance when the shot isn't perfect.

 

[6mm Remington]

You would be well served with the Partition or the AccuBond 150 gr. bullet. The 165 gr. in either of those two flavors would also work very well. Out of those four pick which one shoots best for you. IMR4350 in those weights should also be a great powder. My 30-06 with 165 gr. Partition or AccuBond likes 57.4 grs. in Winchester brass. Of course you would have to start below that load and work up if you try the 165's.

Good luck and once you get started reloading, you will wonder "why didn't I do this sooner."

 

[JD338]

ArcherAdam

Welcome to the forum, glad you are here.

The 150 gr PT is a tough bullet and will really shine in your 30-06 for WT deer and Black Bear.
I shot my first black bear with this bullet in a 30-06. I put 2 shots into the bear and broke both shoulders. The exits were the size of a quarter.

JD338

 

[muleman]

Welcome Archeradam!
150 - 165gr partitions would be my first choice but the Accubonds or B/Ts will work great as well for your intended use. Use which ever your rifle likes the best and have no worries. My first powder choice would be Imr4350 as well.
Good Hunting,
Scott

 

[gerry]

I would go with the 150 gr Partitions as well for a do everything bullet as for powders IMR 4350 is the classic 30-06 powder but I would take a good hard look at Ramshot Big Game and H 4350 first. You should be able to find a good load with one of those 3 powders.

 

[ArcherAdam]

Thanks for the pointers guys!

Choices! I do like the tapered jacket in the BT. It appears that the other bullet manufactures I have looked at all appear to be identicle. I know the pics they show are not an actual bullet cut out but the images show a uniform thickness in the jacket or a mild taper. I dont like that. They look like the Core-Locks I currently shoot. I like how the BT gets noticibly thicker towards the base.

After this season I may buy a box of each to try out and go from there.

 

[Guy Miner]

Welcome!

My son took a bear last year, and a buck this year, with my old .30-06 rifle. He used the 165 gr Nosler Solid Base bullet loaded over H4350. The "Solid Base" is a lead-tipped predecessor to the Ballistic Tip. It's really a very good bullet, but I don't believe it's currently available.

I think his results would have been even better (particularly on the bear) had he used a Nosler Partition, or perhaps the AccuBond. For deer, it just doesn't get any better than the old Solid Base or the newer Ballistic Tip.

Regards, Guy

 

[tddeangelo]

I am a PA hunter, too. And I've hunted A LOT with the .30-06.

For years I used Hornady 150gr Interlocks. They worked great, but had a tendency to break apart on close shots, which are more common than long ones.

I went to a Hornady GMX in my '06....165gr bullet, with 57.5gr of IMR4350. Use caution, that's a hair over max. Shoots lights out, and that bullet will NOT break. What worries me a tad with it is those odd occasions where I do shoot out to 200+, specifically, I am concerned about getting enough expansion.

For my new-to-me 257 Roberts, I went with an AccuBond. Shoots fantastic groups, but was finicky till I got the right recipe. Shot a doe with it Monday and it performed splendidly.

I shoot a 180gr Partition in my 300WSM. If I had to pick ONE bullet for all my rifles, it would be the Partition, hands down.

Some folks like the BT's. I've seen a couple deer shot with them. I'm not a fan of a lack of an exit wound, so I don't like them, personally.

A Partition will penetrate, it will expand, and it will just plain ruin that deer or bear's day. That's where I'd start, and I'd look to IMR4350, and work up as hot as the rifle lets me until I find the best accuracy.

I'm seriously considering changing from the GMX to the Partition in my '06. Or an AccuBond.

I'm surprised at your weight estimates for PA deer. The doe I shot yesterday was a big, mature deer, but she topped 150lbs. Even yearling bucks go heavier than that unless they're small for their age. I hunt in the Berks County area, though, so I'm hunting farm deer. Mountain deer would be smaller, I guess.

 

[Guest]

I'd have to second the idea of going to a 165gr Partition or AccuBond. At -06 velocities, you'd be alright on deer with a 165gr BT, but I'd rather have more robust construction for a 400lb plus bear. But that's just me.

For reference, the advice to use 4350 is sound. In my -06, I'm shooting 168gr Nosler BT's over H4350 (not IMR) and getting half-moa groups. There's just something about the 4350s and the -06, I suppose. Many, many people told me to use the load I'm using, and all of them claimed to have stellar accuracy like I'm getting. I can only believe them, as I did a short workup, with no tweaking of overall length, and got these groups. I love it when it's easy.

Oh, and for reference, there is plenty of published data on both H and IMR 4350, and with a variety of bullets. I'm using Hodgdon's data and having no pressure signs in my rifle, and velocities in line with what should be expected. Work up carefully with whichever one, and you'll be fine (and pleased, I bet!).

 

[tddeangelo]

I'd have to second the idea of going to a 165gr Partition or AccuBond. At -06 velocities, you'd be alright on deer with a 165gr BT, but I'd rather have more robust construction for a 400lb plus bear. But that's just me.

For reference, the advice to use 4350 is sound. In my -06, I'm shooting 168gr Nosler BT's over H4350 (not IMR) and getting half-moa groups. There's just something about the 4350s and the -06, I suppose. Many, many people told me to use the load I'm using, and all of them claimed to have stellar accuracy like I'm getting. I can only believe them, as I did a short workup, with no tweaking of overall length, and got these groups. I love it when it's easy.

Oh, and for reference, there is plenty of published data on both H and IMR 4350, and with a variety of bullets. I'm using Hodgdon's data and having no pressure signs in my rifle, and velocities in line with what should be expected. Work up carefully with whichever one, and you'll be fine (and pleased, I bet!).

Agreed....

I started at 55.5gr of IMR4350 and got 1.5" groups. Did a bunch of bedding work on the rifle to sort that issue out (stupid IM plastic stocks...grrrrr....) and that 1.5" group went to 0.7"-0.9".

Then worked up in charge weight per many recommendations, and at 57.5gr I got groups between 0.4 and 0.6. Now we're cookin' with gas!

Based on how hard a bullet the GMX is, and the form factor it has, I'm thinking an AB might just "drop right in" to that load....definitely something I want to experiment with in the off-season. Or a PT.

PA hunting is mostly closer shooting, although there are those "one-off's" where you get to reach out a bit. The more farm country one hunts, the more distance one will likely shoot. I've found much more success hunting in the bushes than in the fields, though.

 

[SJB358]

I shoot a 180gr Partition in my 300WSM. If I had to pick ONE bullet for all my rifles, it would be the Partition, hands down.

Some folks like the BT's. I've seen a couple deer shot with them. I'm not a fan of a lack of an exit wound, so I don't like them, personally.

A Partition will penetrate, it will expand, and it will just plain ruin that deer or bear's day. That's where I'd start, and I'd look to IMR4350, and work up as hot as the rifle lets me until I find the best accuracy.

Based on how hard a bullet the GMX is, and the form factor it has, I'm thinking an AB might just "drop right in" to that load....definitely something I want to experiment with in the off-season. Or a PT.

Say it ain't so!!! HA!

You guys are right on. I love the PT's. I just can't find much else out there that is fairly explosive like a BT but penetrates like a solid! I do like other bullets, to include the AB, which is a front runner on my distance shooters, but the PT will not likely be knocked off its pedestal in my house.

243 Win - 100gr PT - 2900

338 WM - 250gr PT - 2725

300 WM - 200gr PT - 2900

264 WM - 140gr PT - 3200

35 Whelen - 250gr PT - 2650

45-70 - 300gr PT - 2325

They are AWESOME... I love finding them, although a little boring now, I know that frontal core just wrecks everything and the rear drives on! I wished I could recover a 225 out of my 358, but shooting deer with it, I doubt I would ever get one. Maybe when I hunt elk or maybe a bear.. Scotty

 

[tddeangelo]

Scotty, the thing that impressed me with the PT was that it hit that little buck in NC that I shot real hard....for sure it had to be still making 2800fps on impact, 2700 at the LEAST. There was a beat up area about 5" in diameter both at the entrance wound AND at the exit wound. The bullet went in near the back of the ribs and exited THROUGH the far shoulder. The far front leg as swinging freely, so that leg was shattered. The exit hole was about the diameter of a nickel, maybe a hair more.

The damage it left was similar to what I saw with BT's and SST's that I've seen results from when others used them (when I got to see/help process those deer), BUT.....the penetration was about 20-25 inches of deer, with a well-defined exit wound and a relatively high impact velocity.

All taken together, that's a bullet that is just perfect for killing game. Gives about anything one would want....hard impact, fast expansion, and sure penetration.

I was going to try them in the 257, but with the AB's shooting so well, I can't really come up with a reason to switch.

With the '06, I love that GMX, but I worry about it past about 250 yards as the velocity starts to fall off. For the close shooting I chose it for, it just plain WORKS, though.

 

[SJB358]

Yeap, same here. You couldn't really force me to use anything else, even if it were free. I have come to be a little bit of a snob, as I EXPECT massive trauma AND an exit. I know, picky, but I know alot of other folks on here are about the same. That penetration and extra blood on the deck is always nice when an animal takes a mortal wound and moves off the shot position. I know of no deer that needs that kind of killing! Plus, I have to think the old boys like Elmer, Jack, John Nosler and Dr. MIKE, smiling when I send a hot one down the tube! Scotty :twisted: