Ammunition recommendations for first rifle .30-06

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Should be picking my first rifle up in a little over a week. Got it to be used as a hunting rifle. Rifle has a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40 scope on it. No aspirations to shoot the thing 1,0000 yards and do anything crazy. Just want to be proficient at handling and shooting it and eventually use it for deer and possibly wild pigs. I doubt I'll even ever shoot anything further than 100 yards with this gun for many, many years.

With all that in mind, any recommendations on a readily available, easy to find in most places ammunition to start with? Seems like 165 gr. is a good place to start and good all-around bullet weight, I just have no idea what brands to start with. I realize every rifle is different you have to just go through the trial and error period, but if there are a few go-to brands/type to start with that would get me in the ballpark it would be greatly appreciated. Figure I'll pick up a few boxes of various ammo and then head out to the range to zero in the rifle and see what performs best.

[AGGRO]

Must have copper in CA. TTSX 150 grain Barnes. Keep the speed.

[Cowboy T]

@AGGRO already mentioned the Barnes TTSX, and the original TSX would also be just fine. The Hornady GMX is another good "California-legal" bullet. You can go with the 150 grain and be just fine within 500 yards and thus also (of course) at 100 yards. It'll also keep your felt recoil down somewhat over the heavier bullets.

Sellier & Bellot make a 180gr lead-free 30-06 load. Winchester also make several lead-free lines (E-tip, etc.). Remington likewise do; matter of fact, they use Barnes bullets for their loads.

Here's the link of all "Sacramento-certified" ammunition legal for use in CA. Not all manufacturers make .30-06, though generally the bigger names do.

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified

When you do eventually finish your degree and move elsewhere (I notice you mentioned those plans in another thread), then you will have a lot more choices. There's nothing wrong at all with some good ol' fashioned 150-gr FMJ loads for target practice and continuing to get to know the rifle. For hunting, the 150gr, 165-168gr, or 175-180gr bullet weights are all excellent for the .30-06. But that's down the road.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

@AGGRO already mentioned the Barnes TTSX, and the original TSX would also be just fine. The Hornady GMX is another good "California-legal" bullet. You can go with the 150 grain and be just fine within 500 yards and thus also (of course) at 100 yards. It'll also keep your felt recoil down somewhat over the heavier bullets.

Sellier & Bellot make a 180gr lead-free 30-06 load. Winchester also make several lead-free lines (E-tip, etc.). Remington likewise do; matter of fact, they use Barnes bullets for their loads.

Here's the link of all "Sacramento-certified" ammunition legal for use in CA. Not all manufacturers make .30-06, though generally the bigger names do.

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified

When you do eventually finish your degree and move elsewhere (I notice you mentioned those plans in another thread), then you will have a lot more choices. There's nothing wrong at all with some good ol' fashioned 150-gr FMJ loads for target practice and continuing to get to know the rifle. For hunting, the 150gr, 165-168gr, or 175-180gr bullet weights are all excellent for the .30-06. But that's down the road.

Thank you!

[lordmorgul]

[PaperTarget]

Vinnie,
Get some cheaper range ammunition for getting sighting in to hit the paper and to practice.

You will find that some loads work better with your gun than others. Some loads will group tighter than others

I just tried 3 types of factory copper 30-06 yesterday.
Remington Hog Hammer 168gr
Barnes 150 gr. VorTx
Federal Premium

I recorded on a spare target at the bench where each shot landed and then how large the group was. Unexpectedly, the 168 gr. Remington Hog Hammer grouped much tighter than the other copper loads. In lead, the same rifle loved 150 grain federal premium.

Best.

[Cowboy T]

Is it still legal to use lead ammo at shooting ranges, as long as it's not for hunting?

[scotty99]

Is it still legal to use lead ammo at shooting ranges, as long as it's not for hunting?

Yes.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Imageview]

Yes

[JackEllis]

With all that in mind, any recommendations on a readily available, easy to find in most places ammunition to start with?

For hunting in California, I'd stick with 150 grain cartridges topped with Hornady GMX or Barnes TTSX bullets on the basis that a copper bullet of a given weight is about as effective as a lead bullet that's roughly 20-25% heavier. Copper is a bit less dense but tougher than lead so it tends to stay together better.

For practice, I used to use Wolf steel-cased ammo with 150 grain tips. Remington Core-Lokts seem to shoot well out of my rifle and they won't break the bank.

It is likely the zero for copper bullets will be significantly different from the zero using lead bullets so do not assume you can set zero for practice ammo and then go hunting with a different type of ammo without a range visit. My hand loads using 150 grain GMX shoot about 3 inches higher at 100 yards than the Core-Lokts or hand loads using Hornady's other 150 grain lead bullets.

In either case, I suggest you your "zero" to be 1.5-2" high at 100 yards so that you can put the crosshairs on the critter's sweet spot and kill it at up to 200 yards. Practice using the kinds of rests you'll find in the field because there are typically no benches out there.

[Garandimal]

Should be picking my first rifle up in a little over a week. Got it to be used as a hunting rifle. Rifle has a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40 scope on it. No aspirations to shoot the thing 1,0000 yards and do anything crazy. Just want to be proficient at handling and shooting it and eventually use it for deer and possibly wild pigs. I doubt I'll even ever shoot anything further than 100 yards with this gun for many, many years.

With all that in mind, any recommendations on a readily available, easy to find in most places ammunition to start with? Seems like 165 gr. is a good place to start and good all-around bullet weight, I just have no idea what brands to start with. I realize every rifle is different you have to just go through the trial and error period, but if there are a few go-to brands/type to start with that would get me in the ballpark it would be greatly appreciated. Figure I'll pick up a few boxes of various ammo and then head out to the range to zero in the rifle and see what performs best.

Marksmanship training - should take up the bulk of your shooting.

For that, PPU 150 gr. ball or 165 gr. SP is what I use.


For hunting, have Remington ammo loaded w/ Barnes 168 gr. TSX, and the Federal 165 gr. TSX load is just as good.




GR

[Jeepergeo]

Should be picking my first rifle up in a little over a week. Got it to be used as a hunting rifle. Rifle has a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40 scope on it. No aspirations to shoot the thing 1,0000 yards and do anything crazy. Just want to be proficient at handling and shooting it and eventually use it for deer and possibly wild pigs. I doubt I'll even ever shoot anything further than 100 yards with this gun for many, many years.

With all that in mind, any recommendations on a readily available, easy to find in most places ammunition to start with? Seems like 165 gr. is a good place to start and good all-around bullet weight, I just have no idea what brands to start with. I realize every rifle is different you have to just go through the trial and error period, but if there are a few go-to brands/type to start with that would get me in the ballpark it would be greatly appreciated. Figure I'll pick up a few boxes of various ammo and then head out to the range to zero in the rifle and see what performs best.

It sounds like you got a nice set up.

30-06 ammo is very easy to come by in California, and there are all sorts of choices. My long-term favorite is Remington Core-Lokt in 150 grains. That round is inexpensive, feeds perfectly, is consistent, and accurate. The problem is that round can't be used for hunting in California any more due to the lead free requriements.

The Barnes lead free rounds are pretty easy to come by, but my Rem 700 does not seem to like them, and the pattern spreads out quite a bit at 100 yards. Still about 1-2 minutes of hog, so good enough. These rounds are expensive, about $35-$40 per 20 Vs $18 for the Core-Lokt.

Federal has a couple levels of lead free...I have not fired mine yet, so I can say how they compare.

I've had my best luck with 150 and 165 grain rounds, but have shot 180 grain too. The different weight rounds hit the target at different spots, so you need to pick one and get sighted in for it and stick with it. I've decided to make my 30-06 set up for 150/165, and it's done the job in that configuration. If game calls for heavier rounds, I'll bring along the .300 WinMag.

[Divernhunter]

Excellent scope and use Barnes 150gr TTSX bullets or factory ammo. If you hand load the 130gr TTSX is also excellent. These would be for hunting in Calif.
If hunting out of state they will also be fine but I prefer 150gr Nosler Partition.

[elk hunter]

It sounds like you got a nice set up.

30-06 ammo is very easy to come by in California, and there are all sorts of choices. My long-term favorite is Remington Core-Lokt in 150 grains. That round is inexpensive, feeds perfectly, is consistent, and accurate. The problem is that round can't be used for hunting in California any more due to the lead free requriements.

The Barnes lead free rounds are pretty easy to come by, but my Rem 700 does not seem to like them, and the pattern spreads out quite a bit at 100 yards. Still about 1-2 minutes of hog, so good enough. These rounds are expensive, about $35-$40 per 20 Vs $18 for the Core-Lokt.

Federal has a couple levels of lead free...I have not fired mine yet, so I can say how they compare.

I've had my best luck with 150 and 165 grain rounds, but have shot 180 grain too. The different weight rounds hit the target at different spots, so you need to pick one and get sighted in for it and stick with it. I've decided to make my 30-06 set up for 150/165, and it's done the job in that configuration. If game calls for heavier rounds, I'll bring along the .300 WinMag.

Like your Remington my Winchester Mod. 70 30-06 does not like the factory Barns 180 gr loads at all. I tested 5 different factory loads in my Winchester 70 and none of them came close to my hand loads. They all make 1 1/2 inch to 2 1/2 inch 5 shot groups, your correct they will all hunt out to 100 yards.

[deadcoyote]