Whitetail Deer hunting with 30-06

[Silent Sam]

I'd go with whatever shot best and likely they'll both shoot well. I don't believe whitetails in general "need" a 180gr 30-06 load, at least until you get into some 400# plus animals. Having said that if you are a "one load" guy a 180gr bullet is a good choice. Some may argue for the 165s and I understand the rationale but would still go with 180's. I got a couple of free boxes of 180gr AccuBond loads from Federal and my 30-06 loves them. So much in fact i haven't even fiddled with it and won't until those are gone. I wouldn't worry about either of your choices being too frangible. I'd be more concerned about another animal behind the one I was shooting. Unless you shoot them lengthwise or through both shoulder bones/joints you likely will have an exit wound with either. I've seen 150gr BTs launched at 3000fps take out two large hogs, both though the skull at less than a hundred yards and the bullet kept going. I have no doubt it could have been a triple if the hogs cooperated. Modern BTs are plenty tough at 30-06 velocities..

 

[DON]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I know there isn't a perfect bullet. I will feed back the range results once I get there.

Don

 

[BF375]

I'd probably use the AB. I stopped worrying about whether controlled expansion bullets are "needed" for deer sized game a few decades ago. There is a singular degree of "dead".

I stopped years back when I started whacking everything with Nosler Partitions and watched everything from brown bear, elk, etc start hitting the deck. The deer died the same way and with less meat damage.

Have seen a lot of Internet excruciating over insignificant differences in deer bullets.Its so simple.....use C&C bullets, drive them fast enough through bone; you will ruin meat. Use a CE bullet, you will ruin less.

I will take a 165 Partition from the 30/06 over anything mentioned so far.

 

[mcseal2]

I'd use the AccuBond, I use it in most of my rifles.

I shot the 180gr Ballistic tip through a custom 300 that the gunsmith left a mile of barrel on until I made him shorten it later. It was running a 180gr BT at 3200fps from that long barrel with a max load of RL22. I shot several deer without exit wounds with that load and massive damage to meat. That would have been in the late 90's and I have heard the BT is improved since then. Also you would be running them much slower which would help. I would still go with the AccuBond.

I went to Accubonds as soon as they came out and had no more issues. The first buck I shot with an AccuBond was a big Midwestern buck still trailing a doe and I shot him through the front shoulder at 30yds. The bullet exited and he only went about 35yds after the shot. Meat damage was far less than a BT would have done at that range.

Since the AccuBond came out, I don't use the BT on anything bigger than coyotes. I am sure the BT would work, but I KNOW the AccuBond works from years of use. Deer seem to run 60-80yds on occasion after being hit especially at 250yds or more, but I'm fine with that. I'd much rather have one run a short distance than lack the penetration I want on a tougher angle. Not even a choice for me, until an AccuBond fails me I'll keep shooting them.

A neighbor whose scope mount broke borrowed my Remington 760 in 30-06 for our antlerless season last year. He got a bigger doe at 250yds with the Black Hills factory 180gr AccuBond loads. It went neatly through the lungs, dropped her, and kept going. I only use that rifle if shots are likely to be short and fast so I want the toughness of the bigger AB for that gun. Nothing wrong with a lighter 150gr AB for a deer rifle either though.

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

My 2 cents, for what it's worth.....
Since you're using 180 gr bullets and your choice is AB or BT.
My choice would be the 180 gr BT. I believe it will open a little faster than the AB, and make it slightly quicker kill than the AB.
Now, the BT has undergone a little change since the 80-90's, and has a little thicker jacket than before. But it still opens rapidly.
The AB is more of a controlled expansion, and meant more for heavier beasts. Will it work, yes. But not as quickly as the BT.

HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce

 

[Gunner46]

No disrespect up front, seriously my friend. But, why are you using a 30/06 for whitetails, and why do you consider 180gr bullets necessary ? Are you hunting 800 # deer?

If a 30/06 it is, then so be it. If you really feel you need to go Premium, I'd suggest a 150gr/ 165gr AB, but the BT is all that is truly necessary, which ever one shoots best in your rifle.

I really can't say much about the guys who say the BT's did this or that. I've used them since their inception and never had a inferior experience, whether started at 3100, or 2450fps depending on the rifle/range used.... No whitetail/boar ever escaped.

 

[DON]

Thanks to all for the replies and input. Hoping to finally get to the range this week as the temps have cooled off from the 90's to the low 80's. I put a new scope on the 30-06 this past spring so got to get it on target before trying the loads out.

I will be shooting the 180 BT with annealed cases, more later on the results.

Don

 

[preacher]

Down in East Texas, a lot of folks used the 30-06 ( I did too, but as mentioned, with the 150 CorLokt) we considered it "like a magnum" on our small deer there, ha. I actually liked how that sierra 165sbt did better than the corlokts. To each his own, a 30-06 is always going to work on about anything!

 

[DON]

preacher,
I agree! The 30-06 has served me well for over 30 years. It just got better with the bullet selection available today.

Don

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

The deer here in South Central Texas aren't any bigger than a semi large dog. Smaller calibers work perfectly, and a .30-06 is a little much. Occasionally you will find a good whitetail that would require an 06.
The 180 gr bullets are way too much here. The 150's are perfect.
But, I have the feeling you're hunting behemoths compared to down here.
In that case, the 180 BT's are your cup of tea!
Happy hunting!

HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce

 

[DON]

Bryce,
I hunt on a leased property here. We QDM the lease. Bucks have to be 3.5 yrs old with 8-points and 16" outside spread, that's the goal. Being said, the buck I shoot here are 150-160 dressed with the doe in the 90-120 lb. class. The 30-06 is not to much gun here. I used 180's in Pennsylvania for years when I lived there taking Whitetails, but I have heard Texas has some small deer.

Don

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

Bryce,
I hunt on a leased property here. We QDM the lease. Bucks have to be 3.5 yrs old with 8-points and 16" outside spread, that's the goal. Being said, the buck I shoot here are 150-160 dressed with the doe in the 90-120 lb. class. The 30-06 is not to much gun here. I used 180's in Pennsylvania for years when I lived there taking Whitetails, but I have heard Texas has some small deer.

Don

Hi Don!
I'm originally from Iowa, and lived in Wyoming over 12 years. Those 2 States know how to grow some deer!
I almost laughed seeing the size of the average whitetail here. They are small, compared to what I've seen in Iowa an Wyoming.
They are deer, none the less. I'm not saying the 06 won't kill them, it certainly will. The .25-06 has a very good following down here.

HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce

 

[DON]

Bryce,
I hear you buddy! Lived in Colorado for 10-years before moving to Tennessee.It took awhile to get used to the Deer size here too compared to seeing Mule Deer. Yes the 25-06 should be plenty in Texas. Thanks for the reply and best wishes this year hunting.

Don

 

[35 Whelen]

Don,
The 30/06 is a proven killer on deer, but your bullet choice is a bit on the heavy side.... AB bullets at that weight are going to be a poor choice on animals under 200 lbs, you may be over thinking the bullets for Whitetails, as so many have already suggested a 150gr BT, is going to work ALOT better on deer and knock the snot out of ANY buck that you will ever hunt.
A 180gr bullet of normal construction with shoot right thru a 6/700 lb Grizzly bear if lung shot, from an 06, It's not going to transfer the energy as well ,into a deer as a lighter bullet will. If I had to use 180s on game under 300lbs it would
Always be a shoulder shot....... not behind it.....
Good luck ! You have a great caliber ; and when the correct bullet, is used out of it,for the intended game your hunting:
A very deadly combo,
Respectively.
E

 

[6mm Remington]

I think you all should just use a 6mm Remington loaded with 100 gr. Partitions or 90 gr. Accubonds and be very happy and satisfied. This coming from a die-hard 30-06 fan!!

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

I think you all should just use a 6mm Remington loaded with 100 gr. Partitions or 90 gr. Accubonds and be very happy and satisfied. This coming from a die-hard 30-06 fan!!

I would be very happy with a 6mm Remington in a bolt action

HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce

 

[DON]

I know some of you may think I'm crazy and have lost my marbles but............ After re-thinking the meat damage deal I had posted, I remembered at one time I shot 150 bullets in my 30-06 and actually found some 150 Partition loads from a few years back.These clocked 2900-2950 using 748 powder!! Killed very well as I now remember!

So here's what I'm trying at the range. Still will shoot the 180 BT, see how it does. Trying the 150 PT load again with 748 and also with H4350 powder.

I actually have a full box of 150 Partitions in stock so why not try em!! :mrgreen: Any way I will post the results later after the range event happens. :wink:

Don

 

[DrMike]

I would imagine that the 150s will work just fine, Don. If you have 'em, use 'em!

 

[Billyram]

I would pick the BT. I have shot a few deer with the 180 gr BT with good results but prefer the super accurate 165gr BT that I've killed a pile of deer with. I'm going to try the 165gr AB this season but I don't see it any better on deer. I found the AB to be a little bit less accurate than the BT and a bit more accurate than the Partition. I'm talking a few thousands different and not enough to make a difference in the field. I don't shoot deer much past 250yds and my Gre-Tan rifle shoots under .600" with Partitions.
Billy

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Don -

You and most everyone else on here knows me for a .30-06 man! In my haste I don't remember if I ever saw your "meat damage" post. As such I may be completely speaking out of turn here, just some food for thought.

My best friend of many years shot his first mulie buck last week with a .30-06 and 150 grain Sierra Gamekings going about 2950 fps at the muzzle. He hit the buck in the ribs at just under 200 yards and there was good expansion and complete pass through.

I believe that had he shot the buck in the shoulder that there would've been considerably more tissue and meat damage due to the placement of his shot. However I believe that any bullet (110-220 grain) from a .30-06 directed at a shoulder will result in extensive meat damage especially on deer. Meat damage to me then becomes a question of "location, location." Since there is not much of any edible meat on the ribs of most deer species, I feel confident in recommending the bullet placement thusly.

We all have "that spot" we like to aim at to bring our buck down with one shot but perhaps in this instance rather than loading up with a heavier bullet designed to open on heavier game, it might do to switch to a "behind the shoulder shot placement."

Again I am probably speaking out of turn but would hate to see you have to get out your tracking boots due to a bullet failing to expand and zipping on through. Better to lose a little meat than to lose the whole buck.

Good luck Don, whatever you decide and good hunting!

Dale