150 vs 180 grain in .30-06

[HarryToolips]

So now I have my .30-06 switched (zeroed) to 150 grain bullets due to better ballistics, as I like practicing longer shots regularly. Was using 180 grainers in the past, which did an excellent job of taking down larger game.

Im sure the 150's will do a great job on deer and black bear, question is, how will they fare against a moose or elk assuming of course that my bullet placement is good?? What are your experiences??

[cdub]

My favorite is the 168 grain. Best ballistics overall.
typically i use barnse tipped triple shocks.

[HarryToolips]

Cool Ya my buddy likes the 165's, I tried em but the core lokts work the best for my rem.700, makes sense same manufacter as the bullet I guess..I'm glad it likes them though, relatively cheaper ammo..

[scoutlt1]

Don't want to turn this in a "bigger is better" discussion, but if you're shooting your .30-06 well (and your gun likes them) with a 150 grain bullet, then stick with it. 150's will take down a moose and/or elk. Many moose, elk, bear etc. have been killed with them.

I shoot and kill stuff with my .308, and have killed more with my .30-30....

[ActionJackson017]

I carry 165s for deer, and 180s for moose. Should add that I zeroed on the 165s.

[Steeleco]

My 165 load had no problems with an Elk at 300 yds last fall. Spine shot, it never got up. I feel the 150's on smaller animals up close are a liability in that they are going too fast and may explode at high speeds. At greater distances they lack the thump the 165's and the 180's do.

My go too load is 165's in a bonded premium.

[last light]

Don't know about the 06 but my 7mm rem mag didn't like the 180's either. Switched back to 150 and all is well again. Using federal blue box btw.

[Ronforca]

As Steeleco stated 180 grns.do less damage on small game like Deer so when I carried an 08 or 06 I just used 180 grn. for everything.

[HarryToolips]

Good to know thanks folks...

[Boner]

Im sure the 150's will do a great job on deer and black bear, question is, how will they fare against a moose or elk assuming of course that my bullet placement is good?? What are your experiences??

Ive done it once, and it caught me by surprise. I had both 150's and 180's in federal blue boxes, years ago before I started reloading. The 150's I had in my model 99c savage did a good job. Unfortunately the bullet did go high and took out a shoulder on a broadside shot. As I recall the moose didn't walk farther than a few yards. I think it helped that he didn't know I was there to begin with.

One in the shoulder from +- 180 yards and a finishing shot up close.

I thought I had 180's in. That's what I had sighted in for. I didn't know until I got home that I had loaded the 150's into my 2 clips by mistake.

I can recall every bullet I've used for moose. All 30 cals, from 150 grain federal blue box 308 to 208 grain Hornady Amax in 300 Rum.

[Fisher-Dude]

Killed everything with 180s in my 308. Had some 150s but I didn't like the groups they gave me, so I switched back to the 180 CL's and stayed there.

Either will do the job on game, but I'd stick with 180s if I were you, for the reasons above.

[scoutlt1]

Killed everything with 180s in my 308. Had some 150s but I didn't like the groups they gave me, so I switched back to the 180 CL's and stayed there.

Either will do the job on game, but I'd stick with 180s if I were you, for the reasons above.


Agreed. Lots of animals ended up on the "wrong" end of my 180 grain .308 bullets.

Shoot the caliber and bullet you shoot best.

[boblly1]

I have killed moose with model 94 win. lever action using 150gr.hornady at 100yards he never went 30 yards

[stugatz]

I carry 165s for deer, and 180s for moose. Should add that I zeroed on the 165s.

x2........ 165gr SST and 180gr interbond for my tikkas

[Rob]

Im loading 150 ttsx Barnes in my 30-06 and it seems to like it. The 168's shot well to though.

[HarryToolips]

All good info thanks guys..

[Moose Guide]

When I hunted in Saskatchewan I went to 150s in my 30-06, I was so disappointed by the lack of penetration and the huge amount of meat damage that I went back to 180s and never looked back!!

[250 sav]

I use 165 grain interlocks in my 30 06 and have been happy with the results on moose, elk and deer

[Gateholio]

Really depends on what bullet you are using. A 150gr TTSX will outperform a 180gr Standard soft point, both ballisticaly and terminally.

[j270wsm]

If I can kill elk at 300yds with a 270 & 130gr tsx's, I'm sure your 06 with 150's will do just fine. Use premium bullets and you'll have no problem out to 400yds.

[itsy bitsy xj]

My savage 116 in 30-06 seems to like 165s over 150s for grouping

[mikeboehm]

Ill be using 140gr ttsx out of my 7mm rem mag for my moose draw and my Saskatchewan whitetail draw this year.

[boxhitch]

the 180 vs 165 vs 150 argument is a left over from the old softpoint bullet days
These are more modern times and with modern well constructed bullets it is moot.
150s work just fine in many smaller calibers for moose and elk and bear so why not the -06

[Fisher-Dude]

the 180 vs 165 vs 150 argument is a left over from the old softpoint bullet days
These are more modern times and with modern well constructed bullets it is moot.
150s work just fine in many smaller calibers for moose and elk and bear so why not the -06

The OP is using CoreLokts. That's why the 180s may be more suited to his gun.

[260rem]

Have been handloading 165gr interlocks for my 06 for over 25 years,used it for everthing from yotes to elk unless I have missed nothing has walked away,very happy with performance and ballistics and no messing around making sure I have the right ammo with me.my experiences anyway

[boxhitch]

The OP is using CoreLokts. That's why the 180s may be more suited to his game.fixed it

the 180 vs 165 vs 150 argument is a left over from the old softpoint bullet days...................