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I am finally getting down to the last of my 200 grain matchkings and I'm starting to look for another bullet to get for my "go to" loading. I am thinking about going with a 180 grain hunting (as opposed to plain target) bullet that will be reasonable for shooting paper and a decent hunting bullet for up to say, elk. The vast majority of shooting will be paper, so I'm ruling out the 180 gr Nosler partition due to economics, but right now I'm leaning towards Sierra Prohunters or Gamekings. Anyway, just wondering what others' thoughts are on what other options are out there right now. Ideally I'd like to find something and get a box to make sure they shoot OK in my gun, then get about 10 years worth of bullets and not worry about hunting ammo for that particular gun any more. for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside | ||
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That is usually my goal also. Find what works, make a pile of em and Try as many different pills as you can find. Don't dismiss the "other" bullet makers. You can buy Rem corelokts, winchester PSP's etc., if you look around. | |||
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Hi Mark, Sounds like you will do more target work than hunting...so would recommend the 180 Sierra GK. The GK has proven to be extremely accurate in a host of different 30-06 rifles...from an 03A3 to ruger, remington, howa and winny. The 180 GK has been lethal on muleys, whitails and elk. One note, some folks have found that at very high velocities or close range, the gK jacket will separate from the core when driving though an elk shoulder...so shot placement on the larger, heavier boned animals is a bit of an issue. Broadside shots work very well with this slug. I found RL-19 and the 180's to be very well matched. Cheers and good shooting. | |||
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I would recommend that you go with the 180 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. I have shot a number of animals with that bullet in my 300 Wby Mag and 300 WSM. Coyotes, deer, wild hogs, all pretty much dropped on the spot. I load the 180 Pro Hunter in a 30-06 for my step-son who lives in Oregon. He and his kids have shot a bunch of deer and elk with them, very good performance. While the Game Kings are excellant bullets, I think they are a little more fragile than the Pro Hunters. Also, several of my rifles have simply shot the flat base Pro Hunters better than they did the boat tail Gamekings. Go figure. R Flowers | |||
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You can never tell which bullet may shoot well in a particular gun, but the Nosler Ballistic Tip, and its identical bonded bullet, the Accubond, both shoot well in nearly everything I've tried them in. In my experience you can actually interchange them with no alteration of load or impact point. This allows you to load the slightly less expensive B. Tips for targets and deer/pronghorns, and the slightly higher priced Accubonds for game like elk. Might be worth a try. I agree with others that the Sierras are generally accurate bullets and that the boattail version tends to be a bit more frangible than the flat-based version. | |||
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 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Exactly what happened to me Mark. I chose the 200 gr Game King for its BC, price, and I have no doubts with it on elk out of my .300 Win... | |||
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165GR Hornady Interbond would be a go choice. | |||
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Try a few and see if you can find a load you like, then buy a closet full of Seconds when you catch them on sale. Graybird "Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning." | |||
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The problem I have is that my M70 has a pretty long throat and I've never had really good accuracy with anything less than 180 grains in it. for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside | |||
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I'm more of a hunter than a target shooter, and chose the 180grn Hornady Interlock. Good price and a great shooting bullet. I also use RL19. | |||
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My 30-06 likes the 180 grn Sierra GK realy well. ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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Another vote for the 180gr Gameking. At 30-06 velocities I have never had a problem with failure. Very accurate in my rifle when pushed by RL22. 405wcf | |||
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Try the Hornady 190 BTSP Interlock. It is very accurate, gives excellent velocity, kills elk nicely, and is not too expensive. In my 30-06 using RL-22 it nears 2800 fps and shoots 1" groups. | |||
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+1 for "Graybird's" suggestion!! When I shoot at an animal I want a bulet that I have complete confidence in! For me that would be the 180 Nosler Protected Point! | |||
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If I were to use this rifle for bear or a serious big game hunt where I take the time to develop another load for it, I'll be using a 200 gr Nosler Partition. The problem is they are 70 cents apiece, and it is not worth it to me (meaning I don't have enough of a discretionary budget for it) to load up 600 rounds or so on the chance I'll need to grab my gun and head out the door on short notice. I'd rather have a reasonably decent hunting load and then when someone shows up and we go out the back and shoot a bunch of paper I don't want to be counting pennies. At the same time is is really really nice for my piece of mind to have a reasonable hunting bullet that I shoot all the time, so if I do have an opportunity to grab my gun and go somewhere I don't want to be worrying about budgeting a day for load development unless I have to. for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside | |||
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Well, I just looked and they have the 30 cal 180gr Partitions on sale today for $16.95/50 bullets. My math tells me that is $0.339/bullet. So, you've already cut your cost by better than half for those same 600 bullets!  Graybird "Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning." | |||
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The problem I have is, up to Elk. The ideal whitetail bullet would be inferior for elk visa versa. The Ideal bullet selection for game up to mule deer and use something larger for elk or larger. That being said, the new Nosler Accubond or Hornady Interbonds would be a good start for a do all bullet and I would stick with the heavier selections. Captain Finlander | |||
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180 nosler bt great on paper and game D | |||
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Graybird do you have a link you can either post here or PM to me? Thanks! for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside | |||
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I'm not as concerned about deer, IMHO 180 grains of most anything would work fine on whitetails. The last several years I've been using muzzle loaders for all my deer hunting. If I go North or West I have a few other choices in the gunrack as well. for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside | |||
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 40 or 50 years ago Speer would have gotten an honorable mention at least.The 180 or 200 grain Speer Spitzer SPs ( Hot Cores)will still get the job done,as would the 180 grain SP Hornady Interlock.No black magic premium bullet needed.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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The 200 gr Nosler Accubond works in every 30-06 I have reloaded for. With the new RL17 it is a real stomper and accurate to boot THIS LOAD WORKS IN MY RIFLE, IF YOU USE IT, WORK UP LIKE I DID!  I have shot Whitetails with it and always a complete pass thru and no doubt of results. On a recent Elk hunt a friend shot an Elk with one and the bullet was lodged backwards on the far side    Does cost twice as much as a Sierra Gameking but I have had Gamekings fail to exit. Just sayin ____________________________________ There are those who would misteach us that to stick in a rut is consistency - and a virtue, and that to climb out of the rut is inconsistency - and a vice. - Mark Twain | Chinese Proverb: When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others. ___________________________________ | |||
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 nice shooting,Woods. rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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One inexpensive option would be the Hornady 180 SST which is actually a tipped interlock bullet. I like the plastic tips because they don't deform under recoil while in the magazine. Cliff NRA Life Member CMP Distinguished Rifleman NRA Master, Short and Long Range | |||
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I've had some good luck working up some 180 grain sierra pro hunter round nose bullets in a ruger 30-06 I used to have. I could never get groups in the gun to shrink past 1.5", but the sierra round nose bullets were doing as well as the 180gr pro hunter (spitzer) rounds. I also did a wet clay test with that bullet at close range, and retention was 70% (I think) no jacket separation at all. I'd give either of those a try if you are looking for a cheap and accurate round that is also functional. | |||
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The 190g Hornady BTSP is a flying missile out of my Remmy 721 06'. Shooting 3/4" groups freehand and they're reasonably priced at @25 bucks for a hundred of em' where i'm at. Using IMR 4831 to launch them. I've whacked many critters large and small and they were all bang flops. IMHO you oughta take that 06' and Whelenize it to 35 caliber. | |||
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