Slow 30-06 Tikka T3?

[Rivisondali]

Hey everyone, relatively new hunter here, only been shooting for about 6 months here. Finally got a chronograph (Magnetospeed Sporter) to see how my 30-06 Tikka T3 Stainless (22.5" barel) was running the Sako Gamehead 150gr softpoints (BC .279 G1). I got an average velocity of 2785fps (+/-26fps} compared to the published velocity of 2920fps out of a 23.5" barrel. I then compared this to my Browning AB3 in 6.5CM (22.5" barrel) shooting the similar Sako Gamehead 140gr softpoints (BC .472 G1) which gave me an average velocity of 2700fps (+/-23fps). Putting that into Applied Ballistics to see terminal energies, I got the following;

Range (yds)	100	200	300	400	500
30-06 Energy (ft*lb)	2042	1596	1230	934	703
6.5 Energy (ft*lb)	1972	1708	1473	1265	1080

Based on these numbers, the 6.5 is the better rifle, ballistically, after about 150yds especially for larger game such as elk and moose. I have an elk hunt coming up in at the end of January that I intended to reach out to 300yds with the 30-06 with but given these energies am I better sticking with the 6.5 and limiting my range to 250yds, staying above 1500ft*lbs?

I plan on testing velocities with some different boxes to make sure it wasnt just that lot as well as a few different brands and bullet weights and will report back. That said, assuming the velocities remain consistent, is there any point in using the 30-06 over the 6.5 in any hunting scenario further than 150 yards? I live and hunt in Alberta, Canada so I anticipate shooting further than 150 yards will be the norm rather than the exception. Are there any notable reasons for the big velocity discrepancy outside of a shorter barrel?

 

[Lawnboi]

Do you have access to other ammo and or bullets? Those are incredibly inefficient bullets in both of those cartridges.

At 300 yards neither make a lick of difference between the two. Shoot whatever you can shoot more accurately

 

[Rivisondali]

Do you have access to other ammo and or bullets? Those are incredibly inefficient bullets in both of those cartridges.

At 300 yards neither make a lick of difference between the two. Shoot whatever you can shoot more accurately

I got a bunch of Sako ammo on sale around the time I first bought the rifle, $13CAD/'box, which is why i've been using it almost exclusively so far. I'll definitely be looking at some alternative bullets now that I understand BC better. I also have some Sako Super Hammerhead 180gr soft points with a BC of 0.34 G1 that I'll probably end up using in the 30-06 and keep the 150gr's for range practice and/or deer.

 

[TxxAgg]

Tikkas aren't fast, but they're accurate.

Tikka Speeds w/Factory Loads

Just putting this here for data points. We chronographed a few loads yesterday and will do a few more today. T3x 6.5 Creedmoor (24.3") Hornady 147 eld-m Avg 2600 fps Federal 140 non-typical Avg 2680 fps *****Same gun cut to 21"*** Hornady 147 eld-m Avg 2500 fps Federal 140 non-typical...

www.rokslide.com

 

[JFK]

Apparently Sako makes slow ammo to go with their slow barrels. Pick literally any other factory 150gr offering for 30-06 and you should get better speed. Factory 150’s should be above 2900fps +. Handloads are over 3000fps.

 

[Rivisondali]

Tikkas aren't fast, but they're accurate.

Tikka Speeds w/Factory Loads

Just putting this here for data points. We chronographed a few loads yesterday and will do a few more today. T3x 6.5 Creedmoor (24.3") Hornady 147 eld-m Avg 2600 fps Federal 140 non-typical Avg 2680 fps *****Same gun cut to 21"*** Hornady 147 eld-m Avg 2500 fps Federal 140 non-typical...

www.rokslide.com

Good to know, I'll add my ammo results to your thread as well.

 

[Rivisondali]

Apparently Sako makes slow ammo to go with their slow barrels. Pick literally any other factory 150gr offering for 30-06 and you should get better speed. Factory 150’s should be above 2900fps +. Handloads are over 3000fps.

Good to know. Is that from past experience/research with sako ammo or just from my posted results?

 

[z987k]

The difference is you have a bullet on the lighter side for caliber with the BC of a 50ft barn door, that's moving slower than it should vs a kinda okayish BC for the 6.5 with an appropriate velocity.

Put a the 180gr range ELD-x or a LR-AB on the top of that 30-06 and it'll blow the 6.5 out of the water waaay down range.