Favorite 30 caliber grain weight for whitetail - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Favorite 30 caliber grain weight for whitetail

Posted: 10/11/2020 11:13:17 PM EDT

I usually stick with the 150 grainers in my 30-06, as my rifle seems to perform well with them. My father-in-law won’t go any lighter than 180 grains in .303 Enfield, and my brother-in-law sticks with the 180’s in his 30-06. What does everyone else use and why?

Posted: 10/11/2020 11:21:38 PM EDT

[#1]

I’m using 150gr Fusions.

But my all time favorites are 165gr Sierra Game Kings.

My current 30-06 likes 150s and 180s but just doesn’t like any cup and core or cheap bonded 165s.

FWIW, I like cup and core or Fusion like bonded bullets for white tails with the 30-06. Premium bullets are neither required or more lethal in easy to kill white tails, imo.

Posted: 10/11/2020 11:36:21 PM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
I’m using 150gr Fusions.

But my all time favorites are 165gr Sierra Game Kings.

My current 30-06 likes 150s and 180s but just doesn’t like any cup and core or cheap bonded 165s.

FWIW, I like cup and core or Fusion like bonded bullets for white tails with the 30-06. Premium bullets are neither required or more lethal in easy to kill white tails, imo.

View Quote

Right now, my rifle is set-up for the 150 grain Hornady American Whitetail. When all the COVID crap was kicking off, I went ahead and bought a few boxes to put back for a rainy day. Turns out, the rifle likes them a lot and they don’t break the bank

to your comment on premium bullets, some friends gave me a $40 gift card to Gander Mountain a few years ago. I bought a box of the 180 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws...and I still had to put some cash down with the gift card

I’ve never shot a single round out of the box. Guess I figure I’ll take those if I ever get the chance to go on an elk hunt one day.

Posted: 10/12/2020 2:57:44 AM EDT

[#3]

BULLET WEIGHT / CALIBER / TWIST RATE CHART

Grain/Cal. .308

120 15,16
130 14
150-180 10,11,12
180 10,12
200 10,12,
220 10
225 10
240-250 10

Posted: 10/12/2020 7:30:38 AM EDT

[#4]

I have shot 165 grain sierra game kings for 30+ years. Using a 700 bdl 30-06.

When I hunted in PA the deer were somewhat larger then here in Va. The 30-06 performed well.

Since shooting smaller deer is the new normal I have switched to 6.8spc and a 120 grain hornady sst.

Posted: 10/12/2020 9:59:50 AM EDT

[#5]

I like 178gr ELD-X from Hornady.

Posted: 10/12/2020 10:06:18 AM EDT

[#6]

My favorites are 150 or 165 Nosler Partitions for white tails. Doesn’t seem to be much difference. Depends on what I have on hand. Accurate in every rifle I’ve tried.

And death on big game.

Posted: 10/12/2020 10:19:02 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have shot 165 grain sierra game kings for 30+ years. Using a 700 bdl 30-06.

When I hunted in PA the deer were somewhat larger then here in Va. The 30-06 performed well.

Since shooting smaller deer is the new normal I have switched to 6.8spc and a 120 grain hornady sst.

View Quote

I’m feeling you on that last sentence. While the 30-06 is a hammer and puts em’ down, I have started using my 6.5 Grendel more. I’ll probably be even more exclusive with it once my Nomad gets out of jail. My 30-06 isn’t threaded, but the Grendel is...and I’ve heard once you hunt suppressed you’ll never want to go back.

Posted: 10/12/2020 2:40:56 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I usually stick with the 150 grainers in my 30-06, as my rifle seems to perform well with them. My father-in-law won’t go any lighter than 180 grains in .303 Enfield, and my brother-in-law sticks with the 180’s in his 30-06. What does everyone else use and why?

View Quote

You can easily kill a whitetail with a 65gr. SP in .223. My kids and their buddies have done it numerous times.

You don’t even “need” a 150gr. bullet at 30-06 velocities.

Freakin’ whitetails are not hard to put down.

Posted: 10/12/2020 4:52:53 PM EDT

[#9]

165-180gr in 06 (been on 165gr the last 10 years or so)
110gr in 300BLK (Barnes VorTX)

Posted: 10/12/2020 5:15:11 PM EDT

[#10]

So far it’s been 165/168s. One buck with 180s but that was a neck shot at 10 yards.

The 165 Speer hot-cor and 168 NBT both left 50 cent to golf ball sized exits.

Posted: 10/12/2020 9:29:59 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

You can easily kill a whitetail with a 65gr. SP in .223. My kids and their buddies have done it numerous times.

You don’t even “need” a 150gr. bullet at 30-06 velocities.

Freakin’ whitetails are not hard to put down.

View Quote

Agreed. I’ve taken a few with both the 64 grain Winchester power point and the 55 grain PPU soft point...none have made it further than 30 yards. I was glad to see the PPU performed as well as it did since they are/were one of the cheaper hunting loads you could get in .223. That being said, I do like to mix it up and take the 30-06 out in the woods every once in awhile.

Posted: 10/13/2020 9:14:48 PM EDT

[#12]

weight is only part of the equation. Weight influences speed. And speed taken with bullet construction makes it all happen.

A Nosler Ballistic Tip or Hornady SST are both lightly constructed and rapidly expanding bullets. Drive one to 2900, 3000 fps or faster and they tend to come apart. With these bullets in a 30-06 I'd prefer a 180 at 2750......

A Barnes TTSX is a pretty tough bullet. They really need some speed to open well. The typical 2750 fps of a 180 isn't ideal for this bullet. They do far better with more speed so a 165 or 150 works better yet.

Speed influences both penetration and expansion. And speed is largely determined by bullet weight....

Posted: 10/14/2020 12:45:15 AM EDT

[#13]

My deer rifle shoots 150 grain bullets better than anything else.

Posted: 10/14/2020 10:09:47 PM EDT

[#14]

In my 308 nothing over 165gr. In my 300H&H nothing under 180gr.

Posted: 10/14/2020 10:16:18 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
I like 178gr ELD-X from Hornady.

View Quote

These are what shot the best out of my 308 hunting rifle, so that's what I use.

Posted: 10/14/2020 10:27:09 PM EDT

[#16]

Have been slinging 165 SST’s in .308 the last several years.

Just about finished my load workup w/130gr TTSX’s. Fast and tough bullets - what’s not to love?

Posted: 10/14/2020 10:39:27 PM EDT

[#17]

I use 165 SGK and also the 165 SST. because factory superformance is a great load, and the sgk is just proven reliable.

Posted: 10/15/2020 10:18:20 AM EDT

[#18]

The .308 150 SST has been instant death to any deer I have ever shot with them with a .308 or 30-06. I like the 150 interlock almost as well and was what I used before the SST existed.

Posted: 10/16/2020 12:40:47 AM EDT

[#19]

I'll be using 110gr Barnes this year

Attached File

Posted: 10/16/2020 1:33:36 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'll be using 110gr Barnes this year
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/119115/110_JPG-1638231.JPG

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Me too

Posted: 10/21/2020 9:08:36 PM EDT

[#21]

Do you guys notice any significant difference in recoil with the different loadings? My “perceived amount of recoil” seems to be less on the lighter weight 150 grainers over the 180 grains. Not sure if that’s just me or not.

Posted: 10/22/2020 8:09:05 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do you guys notice any significant difference in recoil with the different loadings? My "perceived amount of recoil" seems to be less on the lighter weight 150 grainers over the 180 grains. Not sure if that's just me or not.

View Quote

Yes Newton's Third Law provides for this. IDK how much 30 grains would change the recoil but it would definitely change it.

Posted: 10/25/2020 7:00:38 PM EDT

[#23]

150 or 168 Nosler ballistic tips out of my Ruger M-77 has been responsible for a dump truck full of deer. Handloaded or Winchester Supremes “werewolf killers” in silver are all I use. I do have a box of Hornady 150 BT’s that I’ve never had to break into. I usually only use 1 round a year, 2 if I get a doe tag. Usually postholes them DRT. I also hunt in slug country. Nothing like whipping a deer at 35 feet broadside with 1 oz of lead whizzing at 1,600 FPS...

Posted: 10/28/2020 8:57:52 PM EDT

[#24]

I bought a Styer Professional Model M about 30 years ago. It’s a 30-06. with an olive drab composite stock and 4-9 Leupold scope. On the way home I stopped at Kmart and bought 100 rounds of their 150 SP promotional ammo in the plastic packs that you can wear on your belt. I took it out sight in and was astonished how good they grouped at 100.

I took that gun hunting every year and shot 1-2 deer every year with it. None took more than 2 steps. I still have some of that ammo left to use for future hunts. I think it maybe Federal softpoints. Not only do they group fantastic, but they are extremely lethal. My favorite weight for that rifle, and my .308s.

Posted: 11/5/2020 11:55:46 AM EDT

[#25]

165gr Hornady GMX is my go to round in my .308

Works well

Attached File

Posted: 11/23/2020 1:56:54 AM EDT

[#26]

Personally, I like heavier for caliber bullets in what I shoot.

For the 30 caliber chamberings I have hunted with...

30-30 gets a 170 gr bullet
308 Win gets a 180 gr bullet
30-40 Krag gets a 180 gr bullet.

Posted: 11/23/2020 9:07:42 AM EDT

[#27]

Attached File

165 SPBT Sierras for me out of my RugerM77
30-06. Took this guy Sunday morning at 100 yards

Had an exit wound about the size of a quarter through his chest.

Posted: 11/24/2020 1:19:08 AM EDT

[#28]

Depends on caliber and rifle. My .308's always are either 150 or 165 gr Ballistic Tips or Soft Points. Most of my .30-06's im running 180 gr Woodleigh RN. When I had a .300 WM, I was running 180's, any lighter I felt was over bore. I know a guy who swears by 150 gr Noslers in his .30-378. Says he hardly has to lead them at 300 yards and in while theyre running in his field

.
He shoots a deer almost every year too

Posted: 11/24/2020 2:20:30 AM EDT

[#29]

150 grain hard ball 30-06 worked well on 2 legged vermin in both world wars. Modern soft point 150 grain should perform more than well enough on white tail.

Posted: 1/10/2021 12:33:04 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do you guys notice any significant difference in recoil with the different loadings? My “perceived amount of recoil” seems to be less on the lighter weight 150 grainers over the 180 grains. Not sure if that’s just me or not.

View Quote

I've found it to be noticeable. Not terrible, but there is a difference.

I've been using .308 Win. the last few years and a 150 grain Barnes TSX does a fine job. Got a nice buck with it last weekend and the usual pass through and much damage in between was observed. I'd use it in 30-06 too if I was toting it. If longer shots were the norm I'd probably look for a better B/C option.

Posted: 1/10/2021 11:59:35 PM EDT

[#31]

I use 150 grain soft point's in my 30-06.
i have on hand 165 and 180 grain nolser if i ever go elk hunting.

Posted: 2/21/2021 10:08:47 AM EDT

[#32]

Honestly any bullet between 130gr. and 180gr. They all kill them with a heart/lung shot from my 30-06. That said, as I've gotten older, I find myself hunting more with my 6.5x55 with 129gr. Hornaday. The rifle is 1.5 lbs. lighter and licks less with less bloodshot meat.

Posted: 3/1/2021 7:03:57 PM EDT

[#33]

150 gr. Win Powermax in .30-30 and 150 Fusion in .308.

Hard to go wrong with any .30 cal 150 gr. bullet on deer, but I did have a lightly constructed Power Point literally grenade inside a buck a couple years back. He surprised me and came out of the brush at about 10 feet. I didn't even aim through the 3-9x40 scope. Just pointed and BOOM! Luckily I pointed in the right place and he fell over like he was hit with a Howitzer.

Posted: 3/6/2021 8:17:02 PM EDT

[#34]

Mostly use 150 gr. ballistic tips, sometimes 165 speer hotcores. Have killed a lot of deer over 35 years with 150 ballistic tips. They never fail to satisfy.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Favorite 30 caliber grain weight for whitetail

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