i will be going to montana this fall for mule deer and maybe antelope this fall.i will be using a 30/06.this will be my first time out west.my question is what grain bullet would you use? i handload, would 165 be ok? if i zeored my rifle @ 1 1/2 " high @ 100 yards would this be ok? thanks

Your 06 w/ 165gr bullet will be great for a muley/antelope combo. I would site in for 250yds though:

Range Velocity Energy Momentum Drop Windage Lead Time
(yards) (ft/sec) (ft-lbs) (lbs-sec) (inches) (inches) (inches) (sec)
0 2908.1 3098.3 2.13 -1.5 -0.0 0.0 0.000
50 2788.2 2848.1 2.04 1.2 0.2 9.3 0.053
100 2671.6 2614.8 1.96 2.9 0.8 19.0 0.108
150 2558.1 2397.4 1.87 3.3 1.8 29.1 0.165
200 2447.7 2195.0 1.79 2.4 3.3 39.6 0.225
250 2340.4 2006.6 1.71 -0.0 5.3 50.6 0.288
300 2236.0 1831.6 1.64 -4.0 7.7 62.2 0.353
350 2133.7 1668.0 1.56 -9.7 10.7 74.3 0.422

Nothing wrong w/ a good 150gr bullet either. Find one that shoots best in oyur rig & go hunting. I love antelope hunting, maybe I'll put in this fall.

I agree with fredj338.
30-06 is a plenty of gun.
165 would be my pick, because of the higher BC than the 150 and more velocity than the 180. The wind can be a factor on the plains. A 15 to 20 MPH cross wind on 250 yd shot moves a bullet several inches. Get a bipod and practice with it. It may not happen, but a 300yd shot is very possible.

I'd use 150 grainers and sight in at 25 yards. This will put you a little high at 100 and back on around 225. It is easier to sight in at 25---then check at the other ranges. You'll be good from muzzle to about 250 with a dead on hold.

quote:

Originally posted by tnyotehunter:
.....i handload, would 165 be ok?.....

The 165 gr '06 bullets for deer and antelope would be nigh on perfect. If I read it right that table fredj338 gave you says to put it 2.9" high @ 100 yards which will give you good trajectory out to 350 yards with less than 1/2 second flight time. This is where I like to keep it. In 1/2 second a deer or antelope can move enough to make a good hit a bad one.

Oooops. Tried some html that didn't work and could not delete this post.

quote:

Originally posted by tnyotehunter:
if i zeored my rifle @ 1 1/2 " high @ 100 yards would this be ok? thanks

You are better off putting your zero at 200.
Then shoot at 100 to know where it hits at 100.
And practice at the ranges you may actually
shoot at. In other words...Your first 300 yard
shot should not be at an antelope.

Know your gun.Tables are nice to get you in the
ball park.But I have yet to have a gun shoot
exactly as the tables show it should.Then tape
your actual table to the stock so you can quick
check in the field if needed.

Have fun!

I agree with JeffP. I've never shot a gun that was able to read the tables!

As for bullets, a 165 gr. conventional bullet is great, or you could step down to a 140 or 150 gr. TSX.

For fun, you should go to Huntingnut.com and download the Pointblank program. Keep in mind that in antelope hunting, 20MPH winds are not unusual, and Pointblank will show you how big a deal wind-drift becomes at even 250 yards when the wind is blowing 30 mph...... Drop you can figure, but drift is the real kicker. JMO, Dutch.