Has anyone tried 165 or 180 grain Nortfork bullets in a 30/06? I was thinking that a 165 grain Northfork might be a pretty good hunting load.

You shouldn't need a 180 grain for the 'o6. Most bullets, even a 180 partition shed 40% of their weight leaving you about 110 grains of bullet. With the northfork about the worst performance you will see is 95% retention so you'll have alot more bullet with a 165Nf rather than most 180's. I'm heading to alaska with 165's loaded in my 300 wby next week. Not pushing them hard....about 3300 fps I think they will really be the ticket. It was every bit as accurate (and then some) in my wby than alot of bullets I tried. You certainly don't need them for deer sized game but for the bigger stuff they sure have a reputation for being a very accurate, tough, go at if from any angle bullet.

i second kraky...north forks are the worlds best and i am not saying that lightly. nosler partitions work different and awesome too

The .30-06 will easily handle the 180 grain loads and I personally see little advantage in the 15 grain lighter load. My 22" featherweight spits 180 grainers out at 2,825'/sec and that's flat enough trajectory to shoot a lot farther than I'm capable of shooting accurately. The Northforks carry very good reputations by users on this forum.

The two most accurate hunting bullets my 30-06 shoots are the Swift A- Frames and the Northforks, with edge going to the Northforks. I think that the ideal bullet weight is 180 grs. for most big game out to 250-275 yds. You can easily get 2750-2800 fps safely in this caliber and that load shoots pretty darn flat and still hits with authority at the ranges at which most game is shot.

vapogog;
Would you mind posting your 180 grain load?

I have used the Northfork's in other rifles, but not in my 30/06 yet. This is one of my favorite hunting bullets. My wife has kind of taken over my '06 and I think she might enjoy shooting the 165 grain loads a little more than the 180's.

I was also thinking along the line of the above posts - that the 165 grain Northfork would retain more weight than the 180 grain Nosler Partiton with a higher MV velocity.

I just ordered some 180 grain Northforks for my 300 WSM. I currently have several different 180 grain Nosler Partition loads that are a little over 3000fps MV and <1" at 100 yards. I think the Northfork should really shine in this cartridge.

quote:

vapogog;
Would you mind posting your 180 grain load?

You can get this velocity with RL22 and compressed loads to 62 grains.

I finally tried H-414 and 56 grains. That's my current load and it did chrono at 2,825 with 180 interlocks. Both these loads are above book so work up carefully. IMO the .30-06 can easily be loaded heavier than book if you have a modern bolt action.

My final criteria after a lot of screwing up is that the case must be fully capable of seating a new primer in the next reloading with adequate force.....it must not slip in easily...it must be forced in like a new case.

This is a simple load guide I've used and I like it better than all the others. I still mike cases and look at primers as well.

It don't make a difference as I never use reloads for hunting....only virgin brass....hell I only shoot a dozen or so annually so it's not a big thing.

vapodog,
I will try and work up a 180 grain load using H-414 - I haven't ever used that powder. I have tried the 180 grain w/ RL-22 and my chronographed velocities were way below what the book said - (could be my rifle).

I have used the Federal HE 180 grain Nosler Partiton load and it chronographs at a little over 2800fps with a 22" barrel. I kind of quit reloading for my '06 because I couldn't duplicate this load.

I love H-4350 for the 30-06 59grains with 165grains in my brothesr 22" bbl.crono's close to 2900 in my 26.75" bbl. it crono's 3000fps.57.5 grains and 180 grain in my brothers rifle cruises @ 2820 and in mine 2900.I use fed.210 primers and winchester cases

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
I love H-4350 for the 30-06 59grains with 165grains in my brothesr 22" bbl.crono's close to 2900 in my 26.75" bbl. it crono's 3000fps.57.5 grains and 180 grain in my brothers rifle cruises @ 2820 and in mine 2900.I use fed.210 primers and winchester cases

Smart guy... those are EXACTLY my loads and componants

Either one will work, I have seen both bullets used on plainsgame and they worked about the same as for as I could tell....for deer I would opt for the 165 as it shoots a bit flatter but a 150 would work just as well...For elk I would definatly use the 180 and for an all around one load I would just use the 180 on everything.

I agree with Ray. My favorite(and most accurate) 30-06 load is RL 22, 61 grs., 180 gr. Northforks. I get 2780 fps., .5" groups, and no pressure signs out of a 22" barrel.

Geronimo

quote:

Originally posted by Geronomo:
I agree with Ray. My favorite(and most accurate) 30-06 load is RL 22, 61 grs., 180 gr. Northforks. I get 2780 fps., .5" groups, and no pressure signs out of a 22" barrel.

Geronimo

great shootn' the northfork strikes again!

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
Has anyone tried 165 or 180 grain Nortfork bullets in a 30/06? I was thinking that a 165 grain Northfork might be a pretty good hunting load.

i dont think "pretty good" is a stellar enough adjective, i think awesome might do. the 180 north fork and 30-06 will give a griz a realy bad day. i'd do the 180 and that would be the one load all n.a. rifle load/bullet combo. just follow vapo's recipe

although if i were in griz territory i would want the 200 n.f. here is a clip from his web site. load em and let us know your response.


The 308-200 is one of the series we call HG (heavy game). It is a much heavier construction that the other weights in 308. It was designed for impact with heavy bodied animals. I would class this as an elk up bullet. Proper quarry would be elk, moose, big bear, African plains game, etc. Although, due to its heavy construction, I usually advise against using this bullet for super long-range shots, I may be being a little conservative. The last photo is of two bullets recovered from an elk that was shot at a lasered 420yds with a 300RUM at 3000fps muzzle velocity. The picture speaks for itself.

http://www.northforkbullets.com/308-200.htm

Boomstick,

What experience do you have using any of the premium bullets? What animals have you shot using the Nosler Partition, or the Northfork?

actualy waiting on my order of 200gr. 30 cal right now should be here wednesday to shoot in my rem 7600... no animals yet shot with these from me but the accuracy on paper targets is great. i dont use nosler partitions but the popularity and longevity speaks for itself so i am not really a spokesperson for them. i just used federal ammo from the box but i am just getting into loading stuff now and it is sooo fun so for experience with the n.f. on game you will have to check with other hunters here...i started a thread on premium expanding bullets and there are a few good stories on there. i have only killed small game so on big game i am not the guy to ask. but i love these bullets, can you tell

Actually, that's what I thought. I've read many of your posts since you started posting.

Don't you think it would be better to recommend from your own experience, rather than from someone else's experience?

I don't have as much experience as many on this board do, so I tend to read and try to learn, rather than just repeat what I've read somewhere.

Words tend to carry more weight when they are backed up by actual hunting experience, compared to internet opinions...

o.k. point taken, i will just speak of accuracy then. hope to hunt and hike up there some day. washington is pretty

Hiking is good, hunting isn't so good. If you are going to spend the money to go someplace, then choose Idaho, Wyoming, or Montana. Much better odds you'll see a nice animal.

The northern reaches of Canada would also do nicely You are right next to Nevada too, there's a great place to hunt.

I already know what Federal HE 180 grain Nosler Partitions will do. My wife and I have used this load in Africa to take a number of plains game up to & including zebra. This load has a MV of a little over 2800fps from a 22" barrel and shoots <1" groups at 100 yards. This load will do it all, however I haven't been able to reach those velocities w/ my handloads. I like to reload and I have used the Northforks in other calibers and I don't think there is a better soft point bullet on the market. Really, my interest here (and the reason I asked the question) is in the 165 grain Northfork in the 30/06. I think it would do everything the 180 grain Nosler will do, plus shoot a little flatter, with a little less recoil. As I mentioned my wife is the main user of this gun now. Also, if I could find a good 180 grain Northfork load that would do 2800fps I would load that one too & do away w/ the factory loads all together. There is still a need for the 180's in my mind, especially in Africa. I will usually use a 300 mag or even better a 338 (actually 330 Dakota) for anything bigger than a Texas whitetail.

Thanks for the load data - I plan to give it a try. Chronographs don't lie and this humid gulf coast air tends to slow bullets down.