Best Bullet and load for 30-06

[Lollypop]

I would like to hunt wild boar with a 30-06. I reload so I can choose my bullet and load. Can anyone recommend the best bullet to use for a tough hog. It was suggested that I use 165 Nosler Ballistic Tip or 168 Barnes.

What say you ?

Thanks

:Lolly

 

[Qbn Hunter]

Welcome to the forum. That sounds good to me Lollypop. Good luck on your hunt.


(Edited by Qbn Hunter at 8:37 pm on July 24, 2002)

 

[Speckmisser]

Welcome to Jesse's List, Lolly!  

You've picked a hot topic to come aboard with, since almost everyone is going to have a different opinion.  At least you specified the caliber.

I've been using 165 gr Nosler Ballistic tips for both deer and hogs.  Mine are factory loads, though.  You have a lot more options when you handload.  Basically, though, you really need something that's not gonna fly apart on bone or heavy cartilage, since boar are well-shielded with both.  In my opinion, bullet construction is the main thing.  You need good penetration, controlled expansion... all those things they mention in bullet ads anyway... that's what you're looking for.  Other than that, I don't know that bullet weight is going to make that much difference.  150 gr to 180gr, in a 30-06 you're in good shape.

 

[Rancho Loco]

I'm going with factory Remington Swift Scirocco's for my new/old '06...
Tough bullet I hear, and it seems to be accurate for my rifle

 

I think you'll do fine with good ol' Corelokts, Barnes, Failsafes, Partitions, any tough bullet out of an '06.

Good Luck

 

[SDHNTR]

I have killed a truckload of hogs with my 06 and with all sorts of bullet configurations.  I think the best are 165 and 180 gr loads.  I am currently shooting 180gr Hornady Interlocts.  For my rifle this is the best combo I have found yet as far as accuracy and killing power.  Although I don't necessarily believe that you have to shoot premium bullets (doesn't hurt though and if you dont mind spending the extra $$ and it gives you greater confidence, go right ahead) to cleanly kills hogs, I wouldn't use the ballistic tips.  I'm sure they are fine on a sow or a quartering away shot I just dont trust them to penetrate 2" of armor and then the shoulder on a 300lb boar.  Especially an angry one.  Great deer round though.  I think the Remington Core locts and the Hornady Interlocts would be just fine out of an -06 with the 165 or 180 gr.  True these are not as tough as a Failsafe, Barnes X or a Partition but at speeds less than 3000 fps they are fine.  I have shot them through many a hog shoulder.  I like to shoot Corelocts and Interlocts because you can afford to practice with the same ammo you hunt with.  This is a good confidence booster.  See what shoots best in your rifle and go with that, just be careful with those ballistic tips.  Just my .02.

 

[feelinducky]

Welcome to the board Lolly

 

[grtwythunter]

Lollypop, welcome aboard!! My wife and I both killed hogs at Tejon Ranch in May. We both used my '06 with factory Winchester 150gr Silvertips. Neither hog took another step after being hit. Both had pretty massive damage inside. I also have taken many deer with the same ammo. Never been dissappointed by them. Good luck.          Scott

 

[arizona jim]

Welcome !!!

I would shy away from the Ballistic Tips for hogs. In my opinion they open up too fast. They are alright for deer if the shot placement is good, but I lost a nice 4X4 Mulie last season because that bullet struck a small unseen piece of brush or grass before it hit the deer. I stung the deer bad but did not put it down. I searched for that deer for 2 days. Hogs are built tougher than deer so I would suggest a Nosler Partion, Speer Grand Slam, Rem. Core Lokt or something along those lines. 165 to 180 grn.

 

[BigDog]

I have an old '06 that has the Ackley chambering. I started out using 180 gr boat tails. Over the years, I have gone up and done with both hand loads and factory loads. A few years ago, I ran across Winchester 168 gr, ballistic silver tips and I have not changed since. I have shot blacktails, muleys and pigs with it. Every one either dropped in its tracks of within 10 ft of where I hit it.
Just my .02.

 

[1SoCalHunter]

Lolly:
Welcome to the best hunting and other related topics web site on the internet, get comfortable, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
As far as bullets, I have been using 165 Nossler partition for a while now and with great results.

 

[Lollypop]

You guys are all very friendly and helpful. I am glad I joined the forum. (not like some other forums I viewd some years ago that contained very oppressive arrogance.)

Thanks a bunch !

It seems to me that, from the posts here, the ballistic tip may not penetrate the armour of a hog sufficiently. So, I'll use the Barnes XLC in 168gr or since I only have partition in 180gr, I'll use that. The extra bullet weight won't hurt.

Nice to be here

Lolly

 

[Slugblaster]

165 GR Soft point corelokt works well for me but any well placed bullet will take down your pig.

 

[Hook]

I really love the performance of the Federal Premium 165 Sierra Boat Tail out of my 30-06. I get 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with them out of my Rem Mountain rifle.

I have taken several pigs with it and it does a great job. The last one I got was this Tejon Ranch hog with a 200 yard (laser ranged) cross canyon shot. The bullet went through the shoulder and exited the other side.  

 

[shooter44]

Really I think that an 06 is a big and powerful enough round that almost any load (except for varmit type bullets) in the 150-180 Gr range will work on almost any hog, almost all the time.  There may once in a while be a shot where your bullet will have to penetrate bone, cartilidge and/or grass filled guts and a softer bullet just won't do it, so you might want to choose a tougher bullet just in case.  But if you like Ballistic Tips they'll probably be fine, just try to avoid shooting at the southern end of a big northbound  hog.

 

[rickt300]

I can think of no situation where a 180 grain PSPCL Remington factory load won't do the trick on the toughest hog.

 

[Speckmisser]

Lolly,

I just reviewed my earlier response, and realized I'm guilty of something I have griped about before... promoting "premium" ammunition.  

The fact is, if your rifle handles the standard factory loads well, the good old standard loads are plenty of killing power for hogs.  In 30-06, as a couple of the guys have pointed out, you're in good shape with most hunting bullets in 150-180 grains.  Just pick a bullet designed for medium and "thick skinned" game.  You want penetration, not explosive force (solids vs. hollowpoints).  Winchester has always been good for putting this information right there on the box.  I think Remington and Federal do too.

As for the Nosler Ballistic tip, well... it killed my last hog pretty dead from less than 25 yards.  But it did fetch up under the skin on the off side (after disintegrating the near-side shoulder bone and completely liquifying everything in between) instead of passing all the way through.  Take that for what it's worth.  

 

[bowhunting fool]

I am primarily a bowhunter but every now and then I bust out the old rifle. I have used over the years Federal premium 165 grain boattail from the factory and I have never had anything I shot ever get up even at extreme distances. Whether pig or big buck or bear. However I was on the Tejon Ranch pig hunt in may that the gr8twythntr was talking about and I killed a decent boar at 235 yards with my 308. shooting federal premium 150 grain in Ballistic tip. It literally shattered the shoulder bone and all the ligaments and muscle in an 8 inch circle and the pig went down for keeps. I later while butchering the hog found the bullet buried deep into the muscle on the opposite side it entered on completely mushroomed, and I proudly display it right next to the photo and shell casing .

 

[shadow]

I have used Winchester Balistic SilverTips 150 and 180 grain with great success. I hunt hogs year round sometimes with bow sometimes with 30.06. I have taken 250+ lb hogs down in their tracks the only catch is I use the "thick" skin tip #3 on all hogs and I use #2's on Deer but always 150 or 180 grain silvertips. A bit more expensive but I have never had one prematurly explode and with with the #3's on hogs I get a complete pass thru, most of the time, thus not getting a bunch of bone chips mixed in with the meat or blowing an 8" hole in them after all..all I want is a clean hole thru the vitals without tearing up much meat.