30-06 and the 150

[3006Sprng]

Been running 180’s cup and core in my 06 for a while now. Very accurate. Running 2700fps, mid range charge of H4350. Never recovered a bullet on any ungulate or black bear.

Does anyone run 150 grain copper in the 06 at quick speeds? What kind of velocity do you get? Powder recommendations? How does copper perform at close range <100 yards when going fast? Load data looks like 2900-3000.

Heavy and slow works damn good from 20-400 yards. Might try copper for fun though.

 

[EastTNHunter]

I prefer to split the difference at 165. If you go copper then drop to 150 or 130

 

[mtmuley]

@Potsie shoots the 137 I think. mtmuley

 

[Potsie]

@Potsie shoots the 137 I think. mtmuley

Haven’t 100% finalized the load, but pushing up to 3k with Varget and the 137 HH with a 20” barrel.

Still need to do some tweaking for better accuracy, probably end up somewhere in the 2920 fps range.

 

[Southern Elk]

I shoot factory Federal Premium 165 gr Trophy Copper in my Kimber 30-06. The advertised velocity is 2,800 fps.

 

[TN2shot07]

I have a box of the 130 Barnes but haven’t shot them yet in any of my 06’s. I’ve always liked 165 accubonds

They are my favorite in a 308 though, I get about 2,950 in a 16.5 inch barrel.

 

[MS 9x56]

Been running 180’s cup and core in my 06 for a while now. Very accurate. Running 2700fps, mid range charge of H4350. Never recovered a bullet on any ungulate or black bear.

Does anyone run 150 grain copper in the 06 at quick speeds? What kind of velocity do you get? Powder recommendations? How does copper perform at close range <100 yards when going fast? Load data looks like 2900-3000.

Heavy and slow works damn good from 20-400 yards. Might try copper for fun though.

As you say “ if it ain’t broke, why fix it?”. I tried the Barnes TSX when they first came out but the copper fouling quickly deteriorated accuracy and was a major pain to clean out. Lost first deer I ever shot with it as the bullet poke a caliber size hole in and out without expanding as we found out after another member of our group finished it. I have used heavey for caliber cup and core bullets in all calibers ever since with no issues.

 

[3006Sprng]

As you say “ if it ain’t broke, why fix it?”. I tried the Barnes TSX when they first came out but the copper fouling quickly deteriorated accuracy and was a major pain to clean out. Lost first deer I ever shot with it as the bullet poke a caliber size hole in and out without expanding as we found out after another member of our group finished it. I have used heavey for caliber cup and core bullets in all calibers ever since with no issues.

Interlocks and grand slams have always been my go to.

 

[Jbotto]

I really need to chrono my load. I shoot 150gr Nosler E-tips over Varget in my .30-06. I’ve used them from 40-560 yards. Each animal I’ve hit in that range had a very loud whap or pop when they made contact. I’ve had very minimal tracking with the furthest being maybe 30-40 yards. I think this load has counted for 2 pronghorn, 4 whitetails, 2 cow elk in the past few years. The bullet performs great on game, but was a bit harder to get to shoot. Usually holds about a two and a half inch group at 200 yards zeroed now.

I have a shelf full of 168gr TTSX that I’ve wanted to try for years, but this load keeps performing so well I don’t feel like switching.

 

[3006Sprng]

I really need to chrono my load. I shoot 150gr Nosler E-tips over Varget in my .30-06. I’ve used them from 40-560 yards. Each animal I’ve hit in that range had a very loud whap or pop when they made contact. I’ve had very minimal tracking with the furthest being maybe 30-40 yards. I think this load has counted for 2 pronghorn, 4 whitetails, 2 cow elk in the past few years. The bullet performs great on game, but was a bit harder to get to shoot. Usually holds about a two and a half inch group at 200 yards zeroed now.

I have a shelf full of 168gr TTSX that I’ve wanted to try for years, but this load keeps performing so well I don’t feel like switching. View attachment 389010

I have lots of powder in that burn range, varget, 4064, ram shot big game. Would work well with 150 class bullets.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I shot 150 grain Barnes TSX Vortex ammo for years in my ‘06. I liked it a lot.

You’ll have no problems with those short range shots. The only potential problems happen at longer ranges where velocity drops below 1600 and you don’t get as much expansion with the mono copper.

I didn’t shoot over 400 yards so it was never an issue for me.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I run 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic tips in my 06 since they came out. 2950 out of my old Ruger mdl 77 and always right at one inch. 52.5 gr. IMR 4064. I’ve killed a lot of mule deer/antelope one Big Horn/ Black Bear and caribou with that load. Prefer 180 partitions for elk/moose out of that rifle.

 

[BraidenR]

I have been running the 170gr Norma tipstrikes. They shoot very well from my christensen rifle. And so far have performed well on the 2 deer and 2 elk.

 

[Dan-06]

Doesn’t anyone use the federal trophy tipped bullets in 165 grain? I’m having great results with them. I’m using vv n555 powder. Getting 2790 FPS. . 75 moa verified to 500. Tracking results are less than 10 paces.

 

[3006Sprng]

Doesn’t anyone use the federal trophy tipped bullets in 165 grain? I’m having great results with them. I’m using vv n555 powder. Getting 2790 FPS. . 75 moa verified to 500. Tracking results are less than 10 paces.

if I could find federal bullets I’d reload them.

 

[Dan-06]

I’m getting them on line from federal reloading. They were in stock last week.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Been running 180’s cup and core in my 06 for a while now. Very accurate. Running 2700fps, mid range charge of H4350. Never recovered a bullet on any ungulate or black bear.

Does anyone run 150 grain copper in the 06 at quick speeds? What kind of velocity do you get? Powder recommendations? How does copper perform at close range <100 yards when going fast? Load data looks like 2900-3000.

Heavy and slow works damn good from 20-400 yards. Might try copper for fun though.

Using H4895 with Barnes 150 grain at 2,940' made my 30-06 young again.

 

[RevJim]

I loaded 150 TTSX over Staball 6.5 for almost 3100fps. Barnes loads data Max loads for it and the 130 TTSX with Big GAME and a magbum primer were spot on. over 3000/150 and over 3200/130 TTSX

 

[Brian in Montana]

Doesn’t anyone use the federal trophy tipped bullets in 165 grain? I’m having great results with them. I’m using vv n555 powder. Getting 2790 FPS. . 75 moa verified to 500. Tracking results are less than 10 paces.

I'm working on a load with this bullet using H4350. I need to shoot some more groups but it seems promising so far. I think the MV is going to be between 2800 and 2850.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I shot 150 grain Barnes TSX Vortex ammo for years in my ‘06. I liked it a lot.

You’ll have no problems with those short range shots. The only potential problems happen at longer ranges where velocity drops below 1600 and you don’t get as much expansion with the mono copper.

I didn’t shoot over 400 yards so it was never an issue for me.

Depending on caliber Barnes bullets can easily go 550, 650, even 750 yards and open reliably.
That "tip" really aids in expansion; Barnes is beyond great for research and development.
Their long range Tipped "X" bullets are amazing.
So much of the criticism of Barnes bullets comes from so long ago.
I have used them hunting big game in calibers from 35 Whelen to 6.5x55 Swede and any disappointments I ever have had were so long ago and even them I liked them over lead core.
Of course, if you want to shoot big game animals at 1,000 yards plus they are not going to work.