Bullet recommendations for 30-06 Elk

[Waterfowler75]

All- yes first time poster long time lurker. I looked through the search function and found bits and pieces but wanted to consolidate my question.

I’m going on my first Elk hunt next fall any will be using a suppressed 30-06 Tikka T3x.

I’m researching bullets (I can hand load or shoot factory). The few I am intrigued about are-
Remington pointed core lokt in 180 grain.
Barnes Ttsx (not sure which grain) 165 or 168
Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped 180 grain.

These are based on reviews and availability. I believe all of them will do the job if I do. I have not shot any of them yet. Gun is brand new. I’m curious which one you would start with? First MOA bullet will be the one I stick with most likely.

Note, 400 yard range max.

 

[sndmn11]

If you want to shoot the Barnes, you'll need to stay inside 250-300yds. I used them with success for a few years but stopped after I shot an elk past 400yds and saw poor but fatal damage.

 

[Jack321]

Of those listed.....whichever one groups the best


I'd also toss in there the Nosler Accubond (180 gr) and Federal Terminals Ascent (175 gr)

Then whichever groups the best.

 

[Lee_R]

Norma bondstrike 180s.

 

[Waterfowler75]

Of those listed.....whichever one groups the best


I'd also toss in there the Nosler Accubond (180 gr) and Federal Terminals Ascent (175 gr)

Then whichever groups the best.

I don’t know anything about Terminal Ascent. I’ll check it out. Thanks.

 

[bmart2622]

Ive killed a pile of elk with old school core lokts, and some with 165gr AB. From the ones you listed Id go with anything but the copper

 

[EdP]

You didn't say if you reload or are limited to factory ammo. I would go with 180 gr ABs.

 

[Scottf270]

Don't overthink it. Elk were nearly made extinct with cap and ball firearms. I'd pick something that shoots well in your rifle and practice. It's a lot harder to find a shootable elk than to actually kill it.

 

[Jack321]

I don’t know anything about Terminal Ascent. I’ll check it out. Thanks.

Same bullet design as the Trophy Bonded Tip, new right before COVID, and there's a lot of it out there.

I'm taking an 06 in 3 weeks to WY as a backup and it shoots TBTs and TAs very well.

 

[Kopio]

Well, I’ve only shot one elk…so I have limited experience. I shot it with a 7mm Rem Mag using a 139gr Barnes LRX Tteavelling at about 3300fps. I dropped a cow elk at about 350-400yards. Two if the pedals broke off, but we found the rest of the bullet against the skin on the off shoulder. I now have a 225gr Barnes TTSX loaded for me 338WM that I am taking for elk this year. I have high confidence in Barnes. YMMV

 

[keystone112]

Lots of good options.

I’m going with Norma 180 grain Bond Strikes this fall in Wyoming.

 

[TaperPin]

All- yes first time poster long time lurker. I looked through the search function and found bits and pieces but wanted to consolidate my question.

I’m going on my first Elk hunt next fall any will be using a suppressed 30-06 Tikka T3x.

I’m researching bullets (I can hand load or shoot factory). The few I am intrigued about are-
Remington pointed core lokt in 180 grain.
Barnes Ttsx (not sure which grain) 165 or 168
Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped 180 grain.

These are based on reviews and availability. I believe all of them will do the job if I do. I have not shot any of them yet. Gun is brand new. I’m curious which one you would start with? First MOA bullet will be the one I stick with most likely.

Note, 400 yard range max.

Many folks pick a bullet and if it works they keep using it. Others may also work, odds are some work better and hopefully most are worse. 400 yards is relatively conservative so super high BC bullets aren’t needed. The Nosler Partition has a great record and has been my primary bullet for a long time - it works with boring reliability. I’ve since switched to the Nosler Accubond for everything, but only after it has had a good deal of history under it’s belt, and seems to be one of the main bullets recovering Partition guys have moved to. My 30 caliber rifles all get the 180 gr Accubond and I don’t even think about it working or not - for antelope to deer to elk - my friends who also use Partitions or Accubonds don’t ever feel the need to discus bullet performance, dissect wound cavities, or change anything, since they simply work very time.

You can’t go wrong with any of your choices - hopefully they turn out to be reliable and a few decades from now you’ll be telling someone how it never let you down and always seems to work.

 

[EdP]

recovering Partition guys

I love it.

 

[longspeak74]

I have the exact same rifle and she shoots the 165's better than anything else, FWIW.

 

[jtevanMT]

After many years of elk hunting with 30 cal rifles, I prefer 165 gr accubonds for 30-06. I like the 180 gr accubond for 300 WM.

Of course, find what shoots best out of your rifle. I hand load and work to find the best combination for each rifle.

 

[Wolfshead]

I’ve never hunted Elk, although that is a dream of mine.
But I have a lot of confidence in the Nosler Accubond.
I shoot 150’s for whitetail with very good results, and would have no problem whatsoever recommending them.
I’ve never had an animal travel more than 40 yards and the bullets that I found (frontal shots) retained 65% of their original weight.
For Elk I would jump up to the 165’s personally.

 

[hiker270]

165 Gr. Accubond with a max load of H4350 has been for me a proven elk slayer.

 

[HuntingAddict]

Totally agree with Hiker270 165 Gr Accubond for the 30-06. IMR 4350 or H4350 whatever fly's best out of your rifle.

 

[EdP]

165 Gr. Accubond with a max load of H4350 has been for me a proven elk slayer.

I don't doubt this for a second, but I found very little difference between the ballistics of the 180 and 165 from my 30-06. Due to the better BC of the 180 it starts to outshine the 165 at around 350 yds. At ranges closer than that the difference doesn't matter enough to even consider. For that reason I hunt with 180s and do the bulk of my practice with the 165s that have a bit less recoil. Use whichever you like and shoots best for you and I think you will be happy.

 

[Bluumoon]

All- yes first time poster long time lurker. I looked through the search function and found bits and pieces but wanted to consolidate my question.

I’m going on my first Elk hunt next fall any will be using a suppressed 30-06 Tikka T3x.

I’m researching bullets (I can hand load or shoot factory). The few I am intrigued about are-
Remington pointed core lokt in 180 grain.
Barnes Ttsx (not sure which grain) 165 or 168
Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped 180 grain.

These are based on reviews and availability. I believe all of them will do the job if I do. I have not shot any of them yet. Gun is brand new. I’m curious which one you would start with? First MOA bullet will be the one I stick with most likely.

Note, 400 yard range max.

I’d add the 165 TMK/168elm/eldx. They seems to shoot well out out the rifles I’ve tried them in. Just say NO to copper, small wound channels and often difficult to get to shoot well.