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30-06 ammo recommendations |
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ahuebel
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/28/2006 Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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Posted: August/01/2007 at 11:30 |
I just ordered a sako rifle in a 30-06 and I don't intend on reloading initially. I'd like to find some 150gr bullets from a few good manufacturers to try out. Can someone suggest some to me? I have only ever really used remmington for my .243.
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martin3175
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/19/2005 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 3773 |
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What shoots well in my 06' may not in yours. Your best bet is to pick up a few boxes of 150's ( and maybe a couple 165's ) and see what your rifle shoots well. All the name brand guys - Federal, Winchester, Hornady , Remington,etc have stuff from about $15 bucks to $40 a box. Sometimes a generic box of inexpensive Corelokts may be just the ticket, or maybe a hi dollar box of hi energy stuff with a hi tech new bullet design may shoot best. I wouldn't wait to buy the ammo as prices are due to rise again sometime next month due to ever increasing metal prices.
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i have always had good luck with 150's i handload of course so i can customize my loads, i agree with martin that you would be best served trying federal premiums first.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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ahuebel
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/28/2006 Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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Pyro, I'm interested to know, what is your configuration of choice. By configuration I mean what kind of bullet and how much powder do you use compared with factory loads? |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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well usually that factory loads are tight lipped so its hard to say what they use, like weatherby factory ammo is produced by norma and norma is based in sweden i think and they use there own powder that is almost impossible to get here, and there performance is better than most listed handloads in any book. now as far as i go with 30-06, my load of choice was 51.2 gr of imr4064 drving a 150 gr sierra prohunter which is a hair over 2900 fps. which is right in there with factory loads from federal using some form of 150 gr bullet. so performance wise i am right there.
Edited by pyro6999 |
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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8shots
Optics Jedi Knight Lord Of The Flies Joined: March/14/2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 6253 |
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I have hunted for many years with my 30-06. It seemd to go with most ammo. I have however handloaded for the last 20 years. My rifle is particular about OAL. As long as I am just off the lands, 150gr, 168gr and 180gr all do well. It is a matter of matching your bullet for the intended purpose. Sierra Gamekings in a 168gr proved to be a pretty allrounder at around 2800ftps. I would imagine you must buy a box of several different brands and see if your rifle likes any particular brand? |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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I would include the 150 grain Remington Cor-Lokt in my first batch for testing. They have always shot good for me in many calibers including 30.06. The Federal Premium loading with the Sierra is a good choice, also.
Doug |
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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try 165 grn BTSP from hornady - they are exceptionally accurate and have the 'baseball bat' effect on game downrange.
i have been throroughly impressed with them in the .06 -
good luck.
J |
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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also - my 30.06 is a Sako. So you may have similar results.
J |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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I like that. Maybe I'll order some of those bullets.
Doug |
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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you should be happy - it is leaps and bounds the most accurate factory ammo for my 06.
i fired 3 shots you can cover w/ a dime @ 100 w/ mine. not bad for factory loads.
J
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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and i'm not bragging on myself - the vise and gun did all the work
J |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i dont wanna sound like a dick but a three shot group doesnt prove much to me, the hand load i posted consistantly put 5 under a nickel with out a vise in a plain jane m70 and i am no david tubb i called it luck at the very best, and that wasnt all that impressive either, but what was impressive was the blood spray for some 50 yds through the brush and trees that the poor buck i shot with that load left on his way to his death, both sides of the brush blood my wifes uncles were like what the hell happened here, thats what i want but being accurate makes a guy feel more confident thats for sure when im testing loads 5 shot groups are a min. amount 10 is a better test of consistancy and accuracy than three is lets face it we have all at one time or another shot 3 shots down range and walked down and went wow thats a great 3 shot group, then walked back chambered up and fired 2 more shots that were flyers and then scratched our heads and wondered why that happened, some of the flyers are acceptable to us others we are like wtf?? so once again jb dont take it personal, im just shooting my mouth off again trying talk smart which doesnt work most of the time for me.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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ahuebel
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/28/2006 Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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Well thanks for the advice guys. I hope to pick up my gun on Monday or tuesday and should have plenty of fun sighting it in. I will definitely try some of the loads you guys mentioned!
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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good luck and have fun
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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ahuebel
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/28/2006 Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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I bought some federal 150gr ballistic and some hornaday 150gr SST. I saw the 165 BTSP but goodness, you can drop over a hundred bucks in no time with these things. I wish they sold trial packs of say 5 or 10 bullets each.
Which brings me to my next question. Discounting the equipment to reload, is it cheaper to reload or to buy new? I guess that depends on what you get but lets assume the same quality bullet. |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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It's much cheaper to roll your own. If you want to get started you can pick up any of the manufacturers starter kits for a good price. The RCBS Rock Chucker kit is very good. Save your brass once you get to shooting.
Doug |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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roll your own man its going to save you a ton of money plus when you do yourself you are the quality control
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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no offense taken -
the three shots were taken after i zeroed in the zeiss conquest on top - to make sure the adjustments were sound.
i took one shot at 25, two shots at 50, and then 3 shots at 100 - sighted in an inch high @ 100 yds. the gun was a sako TRG-S 30.06 w/ the m995 action and trigger. this particular gun doesn't shoot flyers, even w/ factory hornady's. I am sure of this. I killed many a deer, dead before it hit the ground w/ this weapon.
i stopped the 'group' at three, because i couldn't afford a lot of ammo at the time.
i had 'rezeroed' this gun 3 seasons in a row w/ ZERO change in POI.
anywho - we are talking 5 in a nickel -vs- 3 in a dime - sounds like richard swinging to me
J |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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well like i said it was luck on my part, i just wish i could afford a nice piece like the trg-s i wouldnt mind having one in a lazzeroni caliber, they made a few that way a few years ago but now they are way spendy.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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