What's your favorite 30 cal bullet for Elk

[TheJuice]

I've got a 30-06 I want to work up an Elk load for. Max distance would be 500yds. What do you have real world experience with?
Thanks

 

[Elkfitness]

I've got a 30-06. I haven't tried a lot of different bullets, but I like the nosler etip and the Barnes tipped tsx. Ive taken a few animals at 350 yds with with them and they have done the job. They are plenty accurate for me, which I think is one of the keys at that distance. I'd have no issues shooting 500 yds with them, but currently feel good out to 400 yds (due to non practice at longer ranges)

 

[rileybassman]

Barnes ttsx 168 or 180,but I recommend the 168 Barnes. Also used Nosler accubond. Both killed whatver I hit them with. Barnes is more accurate in my rifles.

 

[TheJuice]

I've loaded 150g TTSX and they have grouped well. Anyone tried the Nosler A-MAX? I've had good groups with them in 180's. My
30-06 is a T3 hunter 1:11 twist.
Keep em coming.
Thanks

 

[pyroducksx3]

The hornady amax is more target bullet than hunting bullet and wouldn't make a good elk bullet in my opinion. For nosler the accubonds are great, for hornady the sst shoot well out of my 300 wsm Tikka real well but have not taken an animal with, I would still recommend them over an amax though. People are getting way too caught up in bc nowadays. The fact is you have a 30-06 your Longshot on an elk is going to be around 500 yards. In this range the bc isn't that big of a factor. I would concentrate on bullet construction. Maybe look at some game kings or nosler partitions as well

 

[pyroducksx3]

The Barnes triple shocks also grouped well out of my Tikka and are a solid choice.

 

[mt100gr.]

180gr swift scirocco II. they have been very accurate through my 30-06's and penetrate deep and high weight retention.

 

[hodgeman]

I really like the 180 Accubond. It's worked for me.

The only concern I have with the TSX and ETip out of the '06 is that at long range you'll get a lot less expansion. We pulled one from a moose a few years ago that could have been wiped off and fired again, and that was out of a .300WM> 500yds.

Impact speed at 500 is down around 1900fps. That's getting really marginal with any of the mono metal bullets.

 

[mt100gr.]

here's some sciroccos pulled from elk. the 146 grain (180 to start) hit big bone on a quartering-to shot. found it against the far hide behind the last rib. the 165 grain (also 180 to start) centered a rib and angled back. it was just under the hide behind the last rib as well. both one shot kills, both performed really well IMO. these were fired at less than 100 yards, for reference.

right behind these (or right beside these) I would shoot the 180gr accubonds any day of the week.

 

[rileybassman]

I really like the 180 Accubond. It's worked for me.



The only concern I have with the TSX and ETip out of the '06 is that at long range you'll get a lot less expansion. We pulled one from a moose a few years ago that could have been wiped off and fired again, and that was out of a .300WM> 500yds.



Impact speed at 500 is down around 1900fps. That's getting really marginal with any of the mono metal bullets.

I agree, which is why I shoot lighter ttsx for more velocity. They retain higher weight so a 165 will penetrate like a 180 or 200.
I shot a whitetail at 200+ this year with a 180ttsx with good expansion.

 

[hodgeman]

I agree, which is why I shoot lighter ttsx for more velocity. They retain higher weight so a 165 will penetrate like a 180 or 200.
I shot a whitetail at 200+ this year with a 180ttsx with good expansion.

I'll admit I'm a little mystified by how the mono metals work but they do- heck, a friend of mine walked a 100gr TSX clean though both shoulders of a bull elk this year from a .257Wby. at 250yds. I'll agree that light for caliber and higher speeds seem to make these work better than conventional wisdom says they should.

 

[rileybassman]

I'll admit I'm a little mystified by how the mono metals work but they do- heck, a friend of mine walked a 100gr TSX clean though both shoulders of a bull elk this year from a .257Wby. at 250yds. I'll agree that light for caliber and higher speeds seem to make these work better than conventional wisdom says they should.

From what I understand it is because they retain 95-98% of their weight so the penetrate better while expanding. Even an accubond sheds around25-30% of weight on impact so in reality only 140-150 grains fully penetrate from a 180 grain bullet.

 

[land cruiser]

Favorite 30 cal bullet - 210 grain Berger VLD. I load 168 grain ttsx for my 30-06

 

[bmart2622]

My 30.06 shoots 150gr Hornadys great but I have gotten less than favorable performance on game animals with them. This year I used 165gr Accubonds and the worked flawlessly on my elk.

 

[brushape]

I love the 185 berger classic hunters in my 30-06. Didn't get to test them on anythjng big yet but here is what they do to a blacktail at 80 yrds

.

I'm loading 165 sierra gamekings in my dad's 06 with amazing results on animals so far 3 shots and three dead animals that haven't taken a step. FYI that blacktail ran about 50 yrds and jumped a fence and the offside shoulder was a total waste

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Winchester XP3 180gr, and Hornady 165gr Interbonds have worked well for me. All shots under 400 yards.

 

[handwerk]

Barnes TTSX, out of my 300 H&H I use 180's and for the 30'06 it was 168's.

 

[huntin'monkey]

Another vote for Accubonds. The 180 grain has become my go-to bullet for both deer and elk. The last three animals I shot with them (forky buck, 3 x3 buck and spike elk) all flipped right over and didn't go anywhere. That works for me. I can't complain about the accuracy either.

 

[Calbuck]

I've killed 2 elk and numerous deer with 150 grain Gamekings out of a 30.06..I see no reason to change.

 

[JustOneMoreShot]

brushape great pictures to show what the bullet did opening up and taking out the ribs. That is some serious damage and performance out of those bullets.