Way out there = 500 yds for me

[TechsanHunter]

After digesting the rokslide brilliance, I’m going to a lighter recoiling rifle in 243. However, 2 years ago I built a beautiful, custom .30-06 that I’m reluctant to part with. But, my bullets and ammo suck. I get pencil holes. This rifle will turn into a safe rifle, but I want some ammunition that does better out of it should I choose to use it.

Do the same rules @Formidilosus espouses hold true for .30-06 cartridges? Specifically, using heavy-for-caliber bullets? Not seeing any factory eld-m ammo. (I don’t hand load) any recs on factory .30-06 cartridges that are particularly good at tissue damage?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

See how the Hornady 178 ELDX shoots through your gun.

 

[Wprinkle]

I have historically had very repeatable performance out of the 180 grain nosler accubonds.. I tried the 200 grainers but could not get the desired speeds without loading really hot.. I haven't messed with the 30-06 in a bit though so take it with a grain of salt....

EDIT: just seen you dont reload...

 

[Jbehredt]

No first hand experience but I’d be curious about the 180 tipped fusion load as well.

 

[TechsanHunter]

I have historically had very repeatable performance out of the 180 grain nosler accubonds.. I tried the 200 grainers but could not get the desired speeds without loading really hot.. I haven't messed with the 30-06 in a bit though so take it with a grain of salt....

EDIT: just seen you dont reload...

I could use CC for custom…

 

[hereinaz]

Out to 500, you could try light bullets at high velocity. Velocity can trump high bc bullets in the shorter ranges.

The 178-180 class bullets are a sweet spot. I used 180 Juggernauts on my bison hunt in a 308.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I killed a 200ish lb pig at just over 400 yards with a 178ELDM. I will not be using that bullet again, the meat loss was way too much. Massive amount of destruction.

I have also killed a couple animals with 180gr Interbond bullets, and they exhibit typical bonded bullet wound channels.

Recently, I developed a nice load using the Hammer 138gr HHT to try to split the difference. Those are going basically 3100fps out of a suppressed 20”-ish suppressed barrel. Terminal velocity way beyond your 500 yards. Bonus is recoil is drastically reduced.

I have not killed with them yet since I keep using my 6.5CM with 130TMK.

 

[SDHNTR]

154hr Hammer HHT

 

[TaperPin]

If you don’t like recoil, I’d load 125 gr or 150 gr bullets going 308 velocity. There’s a human tendency to want to throttle every cartridge to within an inch of max pressure and use the heaviest possible bullets because they look better on paper, when lighter bullets going moderate speeds would be a lot more enjoyable and usable if it meant the rifle was actually shot more often.

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

I killed a 200ish lb pig at just over 400 yards with a 178ELDM. I will not be using that bullet again, the meat loss was way too much. Massive amount of destruction.

I have also killed a couple animals with 180gr Interbond bullets, and they exhibit typical bonded bullet wound channels.

Recently, I developed a nice load using the Hammer 138gr HHT to try to split the difference. Those are going basically 3100fps out of a suppressed 20”-ish suppressed barrel. Terminal velocity way beyond your 500 yards. Bonus is recoil is drastically reduced.

I have not killed with them yet since I keep using my 6.5CM with 130TMK.

Sierra has that cartridge listed 100 rounds per box for $54. I’d be interested in trying it out in my 6.5 CM

 

[jtg88]

Find you some Sierra Gamekings. A 30-06 with 165 grain Gamekings is still my go to load if I'm carrying the '06. They will wreck a deer or hogs day and definitely don't "pencil through".

 

[Chris in TN]

If you don’t like recoil, I’d load 125 gr or 150 gr bullets going 308 velocity. There’s a human tendency to want to throttle every cartridge to within an inch of max pressure and use the heaviest possible bullets because they look better on paper, when lighter bullets going moderate speeds would be a lot more enjoyable and usable if meant the rifle was actually shot more often.

My sort of 'backup' rifle is an old 30-06 with a plain 3-9 of a make I won't even mention here.

Loaded with a less than maximum charge of IMR4895 and plain old Speer 165 SPBTs. It's been used to take two deer in the last few years. Both were 80-100 yards quartering-to and both traveled -0- yards at the shot.

But if OP specifically wants frangible bullets....maybe this?

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/30-06-springfield-168-gr-eld-m1-garand#!/

 

[Dave Thomas]

For factory ammo I would try federal with berger 168 classic hunters. Also berger is coming out with their own ammo loaded with that bullet but don't know when it will be available.