What bullet weight would you recomend for hunting in Alaska using a 30-06? I know that everyone will say use a bigger gun but being on limited resources, its either buy a bigger gun and stay home, or take the ole 30-06 Win. I will probably only hunt Caribou.
Mike

Only caribou? Well, that makes it easier.

My first choice is 168 TSX, second would be the 180 TSX.

I have fantastic accuracy with both using H4350.

If you want a better BC, go with a Scirocco in same wt. class or Accubond.

The 30-06 is just fine for Alaska.

If you don't reload I think that federal premium 180 Partitions would be a good pick.

Your gun is big enough and caribou aren't that tough. I would go with a 180 gr Nosler Partition but it might be nice to have a couple of 220 gr Partitions in the bottom of the magazine if you run into bear. $0.02

I second the Federal load using the 180 Nosler Part or TSX will be outstanding for Alaska....and proably the most popular here.

For caribou the Federal load using the 165 or 180 Nosler Solid Base will be excellent, you don't need a super prem bullet for Interior grizzly or caribou. I use a 308 Win with 165 Sierra gamekings for hunting up on the slope.

Unless you are going after the big costal brown bears the 30-06 is all you need in Alaska.

I think a Partition is a great bullet and I've had excellent accuracy with it in several rifles. But The TSX is IMO far easier to get a good load with.

This, of course, is if you handload. If not, I certainly concur with the Fed factory ammo.

Mike: As indicated above, your .30-06 will do fine on caribou...and I think that 180gr NPs were made especially for caribou. Caribou are not that tough, but they do need to be shot properly, like everything else.

I would use the standard Federal Nosler Partition load. 165 or 180 would be fine. Caribou are easy to kill, and your not likely to run into a Bear, and if you do, he'll probably be running from you.

The Federal Light Magnums haven't been as accurate for me, though they might work in your gun.

A 30-06 loaded with a 180gr. Nosler is plenty of gun for a Grizzly, a Brown Bear is a different animal altogether and requires more gun.

If your hunting anything but the bears, I'd go with 180gr bullets - the ones mentioned would be good.

I use 180gr. for everything in my -06. I've had nothing except alot of dead critters.

Ben

Thanks everyone! I was kinda thinking the 180 would do the job, but thought that maybe i"d need a 200, but I'll stick to the 180gr.
Mike