I am taking delivery of my new Sako 85 in 30-06 next week. My sole use will be on African plains game and maybe a leopard. Any suggestions on what bullets I should be sending down the barrel? I have some friends telling me 220 gr and others 180 gr. I use Barnes X triple shock in my .375 but feel they are a little too solid for African plains game. Thoughts?

I've seen some great performance from 165-168 TSX bullets out of a .30-06, on game through wildebeest and kudu. I'd have absolutely no qualms either those or the 180 TSX.

Clarence

Ma

There are a lot of excellent bullets out there for the 30 calibers. My all time favorite for the '06 is the 180 gr Nosler Partition. Having said that I've had excellent luck with 200 Nosler Prtition, 180 Swift A-Frame, 180 Accubond, 180 TSX and this year I'm using the 165 TSX. The Nosler bullet would be my first choice for leopard.

Mark

I have good results with 180gr Federal trophy bonded bear claws

I used 165gr TSX in Mrs Blacktailer's 308 Win on NDG. Worked well on everything from zebra on down. Everything DRT.

I've used both 180 Nosler Partitions and 180 grain Barnes TSX bullets in a 300 Win Mag for two trips across the pond and a few African exotic animals in Texas.

If I were to start loading for a 30-06 specifically for use on PG and possibly leopard, I'd look at the 168 grain Barnes TTSX. Second, I'd look at the 180 grain Partition and/or Accubond.

Finally, I'd let the gun decide which bullet to choose.

Good luck deciding! To me, it is part of the fun!!!

I really like Barnes triple shock bullets on African plains game. If you are concerned about them being too hard, then consider the tipped triple shock. It will absolutely open and at 180 grains there's plenty left to do damage. MMP

180 NP.
Scott

I shoot the Barnes TSX for American deer and pronghorns, African plains game and Cape buffalo in .264, .284, .308 amd .375 calibers.

Everything has died so far.

Mark's absolutely right. There are a lot of good bullets out there. In a .30 I'd stick with Noslers. But the others would be fine. I would shy away from Barnes on DG. Just my personal experience.

what greybird said load a few of each bullet your thinking of using a see which brand the rifle likes best.

Any bullet mentioned so far will do e job. Personally I shoot partitions and TSX to good effect. If eland or zebra are on the menu then go for the 180 gr's over the 165-168's.

Of course the rifle may how you a preference.

Oh, and if leopard OSA possibility I think I'd prefere te partition but then I have not shot one myself so I'm probably not too qualified on hat front!

K

165 Grain Nosler Partitions pushed by H-4350. If Eland are on the menu I'd use a Barnes TSX.

180 gr Noslers in the 06. Anything from duiker to eland, and a few elk have fallen to that combination for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
165 Grain Nosler Partitions pushed by H-4350. If Eland are on the menu I'd use a Barnes TSX.

Depends where you going, close shots 180gr Namibia where you might need to reach out 165gr Barnes TSX and both will work on Mr Spots from a blind. Have fun here in Africa

TSX's 2 safaris 2 leopards lots of plains game.

A 21st century bullet in the 21st Century.

Mike

Whatever controlled expansion bullet that is the most accurate in YOUR gun.Norh Forks, TSX, and Accubonds have been my .30 caliber best performers.

For the 30-06 I would recommend 160-165 grain bullets.

If it was a magnum, I would recommend a 180 grain bullet.

Any bullet from Nosler, Swift, North Fork, GS Custom or Barnes that shoots well in your rifle will do just fine.

I have used 130 and 140 grain 270 bullets to hunt every Africal plains game, and never felt I needed anything bigger.

I'm only using 180 grain Nosler Partition.

http://www.kapstadt.de/schindlers-africa

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

There are a lot of excellent bullets out there for the 30 calibers. My all time favorite for the '06 is the 180 gr Nosler Partition. Having said that I've had excellent luck with 200 Nosler Prtition, 180 Swift A-Frame, 180 Accubond, 180 TSX and this year I'm using the 165 TSX.

Mark

Mark,

Slightly O.T. but why the 180grs NP in favor of the 200?
How dos the AccuBond compare to these?

- Lars/Finland

On my last trip I used the Federal 180 grain Barnes Triple shock on game ranging from Sharpe's Grysbok to Kudu with no issues at all.

Report from that trip FYI
http://forums.accuratereloadin...861098261#5861098261

I'm a fan of regular ole cup n core bullets in the 06. Have had great results with Hornady, Sierra, and Speer bullets. No need to spend extra for premuim bullet in the 06. The regular old bullets were designed with the 30-06 in mind. I like the 180 gr weight.

Do these opinions change when the leopard is considered? For example, are the TSXs & A-Frames too hard for rapid expansion on the he lightweight cat?

I love 220 nosler partitions in 30-06, but I've got a Ruger Express that shoots 220 Hornady round noses better than anything else (and they shoot dead on the open sights), so that's what it gets.

Bob

Schaukis,

The 180 NP is my favorite because I've used it with perfect satisfaction for many years. As far as the ACB is concerned it seems to work like the NP although the design is quite different. They both offer explosive initial expansion but retain about 2/3 of their weight. In my rifles the ACBs are very accurate and have a better BC than the partitions.

Mark

quote:

the 180 gr Nosler Partition.

This will be a great bullet in the .30-06 forever....

I'm a fan of the Swift bullets but can't knock the partitions.

Saeed's comments about lighter bullets in the 165 grain range should be taken in earnest as well.....he has a bit of experience with such things!

I have to agree with Pancho. The 30/06 ain't no barnburner and IMHO, 30/06 was born to shoot 180 grainers. That being the case anything from the fine CorLokts on will do you just fine. Which is to say great.

The overall cost of an Africa trip being what it is bullet cost is virtually non existant though.

I would find what my rifle liked and go "stack 'em up".

.