30-06 for Bison

[Clouddog]

Hi

I got a bison hunt this year for late November. OK I am exctied and I am now working out the details and there is alot! I usually hunt with my Browning Xbolt 30-06 for moose and elk. Would this caliber be adequate for bison hunt, I am considering a 180 grain.

Bison is a rare and previleged hunt, one shot counts..... what caliber is recommended?

[325]

I have never hunted bison, but I would think a well constructed 180 grain bullet would do the job if you wait for the right shot.

[jag]

A friend of mine got his Bison with an .06. One shot with 180 gr. factory ammo at 80 yds. I dont know the brand.
I have been lucky enough to get a bison draw twice, both times I used an .06 Imp. with Barnes 180 gr. XLC bullets, both 1 shot kills. One at 90 yds. and 1 at 250 yds. Use a good bullet, put it where it counts, and the .06 will do the job for you.

[warnniklz]

I personally wouldn't use anything smaller than a 416 rigby... but the ol ought six will be fine

[Drillbit]

I used an 06 with 180. All you need.

[REMINGTON JIM]

30-06 with a Handloaded 200 gr NOSLER Accubond or Partition will get the job done ! :-D RJ

[Caveman]

I used a Barnes MRX in 180 gr it performed flawlessly, in 30.06

[todbartell]

30-06 is just fine, go get some Barnes Vor-Tx 180gr TTSX ammo and you'll be set

[The Dude]

Ditto on the 06. Use a good bullet, and make your shot count.

[bisonhunter]

If you have access to it, bigger is better when it comes to bison. A .22 will kill a moose but not too many people will use it to hunt moose. Sure make the right shot on the right animal on the right day and the 06 is fine, but if one of those factors changes you could be in for a real long day.
I have personally witnessed a 180 gr nosler partition shot out of a 30-06 hit the rib of a bison at 30 yds and stop dead. It broke the rib, but it didn't penetrate past it, and that was on a young bull.

I shot a bull with my .375 H&H at 8 feet using 300gr softs and he just trotted away like I had used a cattle prod on him. I put 1200 grains of lead through his lungs and it took an hour for him to go down for good. They have a lot of blood to bleed.

I have also seen a couple of two shot kills with guns in the .308 calibre, .300 ultra mag, 30/378 weatherby. I've never seen a one shot kill.

I've been on 14 bison hunts and have seen many different outcomes, but the ultimate conclusion I have come to is that they are by far the toughest animal in north america. They can absorb lead like nobody's business, and if you get the wrong animal on the wrong day, sheeshkabobs is it no fun.

I'm not calling the other posters liars, these are just my 2 cents.

Here's some bison eye candy


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo264/robthefisher/DSC_0217.jpg


This is the one that took the 1200 grains of lead.

[BCBRAD]

Bisonhunter, would a solid perform better than an expanding bullet...............say if the shots are close <50yds, shoot a solid then soft point etc.in a caliber =/> .358", say a combination of solids and softs in a 9.3 / 286gr bullet.

[bisonhunter]

I'd say yes they would penetrate better, that's why they use them in Africa for large/dangerous game. The problem is that on page 17 of the current hunting regulations under the heading LEGAL HUNTING METHODS subsection FIREARMS arrow number three it says this: "It is unlawful to use full metal jacketed, non-expanding, tracer, incendi-ary or explosive bullets for hunting or trapping game."

I don't know of a place in Canada offhand that allows hunting with a solid.

I do like the size of your bullets though. Like I said bigger is better for bison in my opinion.

[steel_ram]

I believe solids, at least FMJ ones are not legal in BC for hunting. Use what your familiar with. A well placed shot is far more important than a bigger bang. Don't go borrowing buddies 338 last minute. Big mistake. I have seen one shot kills with 30-06 (180 NP) and 7mm R. mag. Both broadside heart shots.

[BiG Boar]

My bison took one shot with a 300wm using Barnes TSX 200 gr. made it about 30 yards.

I think the 06 will work, but if you have access to it, bigger is better as you may not get an exit hole with the 06.

As far as 3 bullets into the lungs and them living for an hour, that one seems a bit of a fishy. 3 in the liver and guts, sure...

[BCBRAD]

http://www.hornady.com/assets/images/products/bullets/mushrooms/dgx-mushroom.jpg This is what Im talking about

[elkdom]

during a bison cull, on a friends ranch a few years ago we dispatched 30 mature bison with 30 rounds of 170 gr 30-30 Winchester Federal blue box ammo ( $20 per box at Wally-World) all dropped promptly ! :-?

then dragged them into a big open dirt pit, and covered them up with 5 or 6 feet of topsoil,,,,,,,,:-|


he just wanted them dead and gone,, they weren't worth the hay to feed them !

the 30-30 seemed to work just fine !:wink:

[Walking Buffalo]

30-06, sure. Bigger is better, but most important is this so called "well placed" shot.


Most first time bison hunters don't know that the anatomical structure of these critters is different than deer, elk or moose. A well placed shot for the other beasts can be a poorly placed shot on a buffalo.


On a broadside shot at a bison, the bullet needs to be placed much more forward and lower than on our other ungulates. Bison are mostly gut, a shot BEHIND the shoulder will likely hit the liver.

Some pics for reference. Many hunters would shoot for where the long hair of the Blanket meets the short hair (yellow line), this may put the bullet into the liver....


I've killed dozens of buffalo with a .257 roberts, 120 grain. I always take a shot for the heart, right above the elbow when the near leg is forward. I know when I've hit the heart as a heart shot bison usually doesn't run, just shakes like it was electrocuted and then drops in a few seconds.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy10/keetspics/bisonvitals1.jpg

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy10/keetspics/BisonSkeletonVitals.jpg

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy10/keetspics/bisonstomach.jpg

[BCBRAD]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDrGnK2hvz8&feature=player_detailpage


Or these.

[tomahawk]

I have used a 30-06 with 180 grain factory load bullets on 3 bulls in the same area as you are going. All hit the ground with 1 (ONE) well placed shot. One went 23 yds, one went 70 yds and the other spun in a circle and flopped. Check out the vitals area in Walking Buffalo's post. I have attached a photo of a front 1/4 of another one that was shot too high, luckily it hit the spine!!

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj230/tomahawktom/Bison09075-1.jpg

[Fraink]

I'm with Tomahawk, 30-06 is fine. More importantly is where the bullet goes, practice siting the kill zone of a bison so when the adrenalin is pumping you don't aim like it was a moose or deer. I've been on two Bison hunts, in 96 my buddy dropped a very big bull with one shot from a 30-06, 2009 my son took a very nice bull with one shot from a 300 win mag. Both times there was a lot of discussion and thought into bullet placement as we had heard a horror story of 9 partitions into a bull in 92, saw the video and the bullet placement looked good if he was shooting a moose. Research (like you are doing here). Success is 90% preparation, 10% perspiration.

[Fraink]

I forgot to add, even with all the research and discussion my son's kill shot was almost too high. He was shooting from about 80 ft up a hill down to a meadow. Good luck with your hunt, it will likely be one of your favourite places to remember.

[lorneparker1]

My bison took one shot with a 300wm using Barnes TSX 200 gr. made it about 30 yards.

I think the 06 will work, but if you have access to it, bigger is better as you may not get an exit hole with the 06.

As far as 3 bullets into the lungs and them living for an hour, that one seems a bit of a fishy. 3 in the liver and guts, sure...


1200 grains of lead, 300 grain bullets, 4 shots not three! Shoulda brought a shovel, Would have taken the same amount of time.

[Neff]

Even though I knew to shoot low I still feel I hit my Bison too high. Its amazing how low and forward the lungs and heart are on these beasts. Not until we got inside to assess the carnage did I appreciate how they are put together. The picture of the front quarter is a good guide...
In the end mine was cleanly harvested with a .308 so the .06 is sufficient. But it does take a bit of time to let the air out of these beasts...I wouldn't expect a bang/flop.
Good luck out there!

[Clouddog]

tHIS IS A GREAT THREAD AND VERY INFORMATIVE THANK YOU EVERYONE.

[Elkhound]

during a bison cull, on a friends ranch a few years ago we dispatched 30 mature bison with 30 rounds of 170 gr 30-30 Winchester Federal blue box ammo ( $20 per box at Wally-World) all dropped promptly ! :-?

then dragged them into a big open dirt pit, and covered them up with 5 or 6 feet of topsoil,,,,,,,,:-|


he just wanted them dead and gone,, they weren't worth the hay to feed them !

the 30-30 seemed to work just fine !:wink:

my god thats a ton of meat buried. Couldnt find a town to feed?

[search4horn]

300wsm 180gr. Tsx, two trough the lungs at 315yrds. Worked perfect, I'm sure an '06 would of done the same.