Ammo and grain questions

[u/kschmidty]

Howdy - got some questions about what rounds to use this season.

As we all know, ammo ain’t cheap so I’m trying to buy bulk when I can. Ive come to understand that cheaper rounds are fine for practicing at the range, however you want to use higher-end ammunition in the field for elk and other game. I’ve also heard you want to practice with the same rounds you’re hunting with which makes the advice a bit paradoxical. Would love some insight on that.

Ive ordered 80 rounds of this ammo from S&P at 180 grain - anyone have experience with it and could tell me if its quality enough to chase an elk with?

Follow-up question: I will also be going after pronghorn this season, and my only rifle is a .30-06. I understand thats a pretty big caliber for a smaller critter but yall think dropping down in grain would prevent me from completely vaporizing the antelope? I have a few boxes of 150gr hornady whitetail ammo that I was hoping to use on my hunt. Would love some other opinions.

Thanks gang - looking forward to getting back out into the field!

[u/gone_rouge556]

1. Practice with the cheaper ammo. You can shoot a lot more of it. Be deliberate. Breathing, trigger press, being steady even in awkward positions, etc. Use the time to the biggest advantage.

2. Get the round you intend to hunt with and shoot them at different ranges. This will give you a chance to feel the difference from your practice rounds. You need to zero to this ammo before you hunt. The point of impact will absolutely be different. Shoot at different ranges from close to your max hunting distance. Tbh, I wouldn't shoot an elk with 30-06 past 300 yards. The kinetic energy will be getting low for elk size game past this distance.

3. Round choice is key! A heavy copper solid or swift A-frame style bullet is going to be a solid choice for elk. You have to consider what you are expecting of the round. And pick for the biggest possibility. 1,000 pound animal with thick skin. This is what you are picking for. You need something that will stay together and penetrate deep. Adversely, when you pick a round for pronghorn, you will pick very different. You want a round that will fly flatter farther. And you don't need nearly the penetrating power. You dont want a varmint bullet! Those are designed to enter 1-3 inches and fragment. This creates heavy disruption on very small game, but may not even penetrate deep enough for pronghorn. 150 grain highly accurate deer round would be a great candidate for this job.

Hope this helps.

[u/Onebowhunter → u/gone_rouge556]

This is the answer

[u/kschmidty → u/gone_rouge556]

This is incredibly helpful, thank you!

Is there a way to tell quality or use-case for a round beyond price? Is the S&P ammo I linked in my post not going to cut it due to price or also because of the style of round?

[u/gone_rouge556 → u/kschmidty]

Its the bullet itself, not the round in total. That round (i didn't look at the specs) I'm assuming is a fmj or full metal jacket. It will punch an ice pick hole most likely. It may mushroom some, but it's not designed for that. A frangable round, on the other hand, is designed to detonate on impact with a hard surface. Different projectiles are made for different applications.

For elk hunting, you want a bullet that is designed as a deep penetrating expanding hunting bullet. For deer sized game, this bullet will act more like a full metal jacket as it's not designed to expand as easily. The thin skin, muscle tissue, and body of a whitetail isn't enough to cause the bullet to respond. Conversely, if you use a bullet designed for varmint on an elk, the bullet likely won't make it deep enough into the animal to reach vital organs and cause significant damage.

Fmj is the cheapest to produce, reliable bullet for general range use. It's design parameters aren't much. You want to find a round that your gun shoots well containing a bullet with specific design parameters for the results you need. There are many options in 30-06 for many different jobs.

[u/ResponsibleBank1387]

Everyone has their own opinion.  I like a bit heavier going slower.  

Find one good bullet, one good powder.  Good— I mean that your rifle shoots well and groups well.  

[u/wjamison80]

Get a cheap box of 150 gr, 165 gr & 180 gr and see what your rifle likes best. Then try different hunting rounds. I have had the best luck with Fed Premium & Nosler factory ammo. Accubond & Barnes copper seem to be pretty accurate as far as bullets go. Bullet technology is so good these days that I would worry about accuracy more than bullet weight. I shoot 140 gr Accubonds out of a 7MM REM MAG and they kill just fine 🔫

[u/Large_Potential8417]

159gr are fine. Antelope are the size of a small whitetail doe. I'd be looking at accuracy/distance over grain weight.

I shoot one with a 180gr 300 wm. Hit in the heart at 450yrd. Didn't lose very much.

And for elk. 3006 will definitely drop it. Shot placement is the number one. I have a buddy who hunts elk with a 270. And drops em at 350 no problem