Hunting Ammo

[n8tive97]

Looking for some feedback on hunting ammo. I own a 30-06 and a .300 Win Mag and plan to use them to go hunting this year. I want to sight them both in with the ammo I am going to use. So I'm looking for your suggestions on what brand, grain weight etc for each gun. I'm just trying to narrow it down to a couple options before I go to the range. Its been years since I have been drawn for rifle Deer and Elk.
Thanks for your feedback!

[trout_champ]

I use the Federal Fusion line in my 300WSM. I put in for both deer and elk every year and have had good success with these rounds. I used to use the 180 grain bullets, but they were too powerful for my deer and I was loosing meat because the rounds would destroy the meat. I switched to 165 grain bullets and they seem to do much better with my deer, but still lots of knock down power for elk.

Randy

[Robb]

I'll be interested in hearing about ammo brand loyalty here.
I've only shot Horniday, got my rifles zeroed with one particular bullet weight and stuck with it. 140's in my .270 and 180's in my .300Winnie. Can't help with your .06.

I've never had an animal go more than 50ft absolute max after it was hit. And that was just once, most dropped in less. Don't know if that was Horniday bullet construction or lucky shots.

Factory loadings sure are expensive these days arn't they? I've started to collect brass hoping to reload my own in the near future. I've also been curious about going 'green' with a non lead bullet, something to think about when you're making your choice.

Let us know what you go with.

Robb

[jmg8550]

I use Barnes TTSX 168 grain pills for both .308 and 30-06. Should do well in the .300 also

[n8tive97]

It seems that Horniday is a very popular choice. I studied the hunting shows over the weekend on cable and it was used on just about every show. I know it has to do with who is paying for the advertising, but the shots were effective and the animal didn't make it far before it dropped.


I haven't even heard of "green" ammo and because I associate "green" with what the "left" is trying to cram down our throats, I won’t even consider it!


I am leaning towards a 180 grain for the 30-06 for the deer and I am still way to ignorant with the .300 Win Mag. I will have to try to find some more info on the web.

[Robb]

n8tive97,

I got started with Horniday because and older hunting associate convinced me it was a smaller, more quality controlled mfg facility, and made higher quality, more accurate ammo than most. I took that at face value and ran with it. Now I doubt it's true and no more accurate than most anythng else, but my rifles are zeroed for that load, shoot it well and I've had fantastic luck with it so I'll still buy it until I can play wth reloading my own.

IMHO 180 out of an .06 is alot for just deer. I'd go for a flatter trajectory and go lighter if the .06 is your deer only rifle and the 300 is your elk gun. 180's are fine in your 300. Go heavier if you feel the need.

Okay, hear me out on the 'green' ammo. I was the same as you, totally against moving away from lead, and still am due to cost... except for hunting.
There's more articles that allude to when you hit that animal, the lead in that lead tipped bullet basically vaporizes, where's it go? Into the meat of the animal. Then into my kids... Yeah it's minimal but we eat a fair amount of wild game so I've decided to minimize that factor.
I can't prove that's what happens, but I've read enough that it's made me think about it. Is It liberal propaganda? I dunno, but the more I read the more I was attracted to either a ballistic tip or the new non-lead bullets. Horniday makes them too.

Something to think on, do your own research and make your own decision.
Robb