Need help with a 30'06 elk load..

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22 June 2012, 03:36

Doc

Need help with a 30'06 elk load..

To the OP, tell your buddy to look no further than a 168 TSX or TTSX. 18 gr more metal than a 150, only 12 less than a 180 but the same length. I stuffed my 168 TSX over 55 gr H4350 and killed a lot of game with them. No question what they'd do to an elk. As an example, I shot a buck in Kansas and the bullet penetrated the tree on his offside too. Wasn't a large tree but still. I was impressed.

22 June 2012, 20:25

touchdown88

I would agree with the posts about using the heaviest bullet possible. My sister killed an elk at 416 yards with my '06 and 165 sp Hornady bullets. For deer sized game the 150 would be okay but for knocking down elk out west the bigger the better. I've started using the Hornady Interbonds and they are a great product. An Interbond at 165 grns would make a good elk round. 180 would be better but ballistics show that there is not much difference between the 150 and the 180. So use what you will and enjoy the hunt. We'll want a report when you get finished.

24 June 2012, 04:16

Doublegun

quote:
180 would be better but ballistics show that there is not much difference between the 150 and the 180.

I am not sure I follow-you. Would you elaborate?

24 June 2012, 08:09

touchdown88

Doublegun,

Running the same type of bullets (Interbonds) through the JBS ballistic calculator with a 200 yd zero at sea level put the maximun effective range of a 150 grn bullet at 475 yrds using 1400 ft-lbs as a minimum. 165 grn was 500 yards and the 180 was 525.

At 200 yards the 150 grn bullet has 2255 ft-lbs of energy with a muzzle velocity of 3050 fps. The 180 has 2361 ft-lbs of energy with a muzzle velocity of 2800 fps at 200 yards. Close to a 5% difference in energy. It just so happened that I was recently looking at a bullet change in my 30-06 and decided to stay with the 150 grn Interbonds for the above reason. Mathematically they are very close.

24 June 2012, 09:27

Doublegun

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I still have a lot to learn about ballistics. I am actually a little surprised. I would have assumed the 180's would die out fasted because of they are heavier. Like I said I still have a lot to learn.

24 June 2012, 22:38

tom ga hunter

quote:
Originally posted by touchdown88:
Doublegun,

Running the same type of bullets (Interbonds) through the JBS ballistic calculator with a 200 yd zero at sea level put the maximun effective range of a 150 grn bullet at 475 yrds using 1400 ft-lbs as a minimum. 165 grn was 500 yards and the 180 was 525.

At 200 yards the 150 grn bullet has 2255 ft-lbs of energy with a muzzle velocity of 3050 fps. The 180 has 2361 ft-lbs of energy with a muzzle velocity of 2800 fps at 200 yards. Close to a 5% difference in energy. It just so happened that I was recently looking at a bullet change in my 30-06 and decided to stay with the 150 grn Interbonds for the above reason. Mathematically they are very close.

your 200 yd velocities are faster than my handloads are at the muzzel. please recheck.

24 June 2012, 23:00

touchdown88

Sorry if it was hard to understand. The 150 has a muzzle velocity of 3050 and the 180 has a muzzle velocity of 2800 not the velocity at 200 yards I was just showing what the energy would be at 200 yards with those muzzle velocities.

If the velocity of the 180 grn bullet is dropped to 2700 fps muzzle velocity, the energy at 200 yards would be 2186 ft-lbs. That's less energy than the 150 grn bullet at 200 yards.

25 June 2012, 01:12

ted thorn

Thats why I shoot a quality 150 grn bullet from my -06

It's a great choice for recoil and killing power out to 300+

25 June 2012, 10:20

elstupido

My friend shot most of his elk with a 243, and i dont think he took any shoulder shots at 40 yards.
I myself have only been out for elk once, and if i saw one, it would have been shot with my m70 in 300wsm pushing a 165gr btsp @ 2900fps.
Going by all that ive heard over the years re-guarding elk, i think a 150 will work just fine most of the time.

25 June 2012, 20:23

tom ga hunter

quote:
Originally posted by touchdown88:
Sorry if it was hard to understand. The 150 has a muzzle velocity of 3050 and the 180 has a muzzle velocity of 2800 not the velocity at 200 yards I was just showing what the energy would be at 200 yards with those muzzle velocities.

If the velocity of the 180 grn bullet is dropped to 2700 fps muzzle velocity, the energy at 200 yards would be 2186 ft-lbs. That's less energy than the 150 grn bullet at 200 yards.

nothing wrong with your writing, lots wrong with my reading.. sorry

26 June 2012, 03:22

Blacktailer

quote:
Originally posted by tom ga hunter:
My hunting partner bought a like new Remington M700 BDL in 30'06. I told him that I'd load some 180 Partations with H4350 for him but he wants 150's. I have never killed an elk so I have no practical experience, is it worth further discussion? I have a lot of experience with partations but none with the new copper or bonded bullets, so I'm limiting his choice to partations.

So just out of curiosity, why does your friend want to use 150's instead of a heavier bullet which is what most here would be more comfortable with?