Bullet for11 Twist 30-06

[Mark W]

I'm just putting the finishing touches on a long running Savage 110 barrel swap project. Last year I picked up an Excalibur 11 Twist 26" heavy barrel out of the classified forum. I installed the barrel and added a Harrell Muzzle Brake a few months ago but still didn't have an appropriate stock. Last week I found a great deal on a stock in the classified forum.

Now that it's time to start working up a load I'm looking for some bullet suggestions. I'm thinking something in the 175 to 185 range. Ideally it would be an accurate hunting bullet that is suitable for whitetail out to 500 or 600 yards at 30-06 velocities.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Bart B.]

That's the twist a lot of champions used in their 30-06 when it was "the" cartridge for high power match bullets; 150 to 220 grains.

 

[jim_k]

To 600 yards, for 11 twist, I would use the Sierra 180 gr GameKing spitzer boattail. For target shooting, I like either the 175 gr Sierra MatchKing or 180 gr MatchKing. 11 twist should shoot the Sierra 190 MatchKing fine, and I love that bullet, but at 600 yards, it is not going to be significantly better on wind drift than those other bullets.

 

[long40shot]

The 185 Berger hunting vlds and 185 classic hunters are great in my 1-11 twist.

 

[Bart B.]

11 twist should shoot the Sierra 190 MatchKing fine, and I love that bullet, but at 600 yards, it is not going to be significantly better on wind drift than those other bullets.

How much is significant?

Wouldn't any better wind bucking be better?

Besides, a 1:11 twist will spin lighter bullets too fast for best accuracy with max loads. The slight unbalance they all have will jump them more off the bore axis as they exit.

 

[Rob01]

Check out the Hornady ELD-X line. Here's two that would work.

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-178-gr-ELD-X/
http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-200-GR-ELD-X/

 

[SheepDog]

In your weight range the 180 grain Sierra will be a good choice on anything from white tail to large elk.
You could easily handle white tail with a 165 grain Sierra or Speer boat-tail bullet. If you want a more exotic bullet you could use any of the current monolithic tipped bullets from Barnes and others at 150 to 160 grains. Find one that will shoot well in your rifle because at 600 yards accuracy is going to have to be around .5 MOA. When you add the least amount of wind or a slight disruption in your shooting technique you could be off target a long ways. At 600 yards you aren't going to be able to get to where the deer was and track it to finish your kill. (unless you have wide open flat lands and an ATV to get to your deer fast)

 

[DaveTooley]

Check out the Hornady ELD-X line. Here's two that would work.

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-178-gr-ELD-X/
http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-200-GR-ELD-X/

And the ELD-X bullets will give you terminal performance at extended ranges.

 

[Mark W]

Thanks for all of the input! I've ordered some 178 ELD-X, 180 Gamekings, and some 185 Hunting VLDs.

In the meantime I will play with some 168 Amax and 165 Gamekings that I already have on hand.

 

[Zero333]

I've used 180 Gamkings and they're phenomenally accurate, easy to tune and very reliable at anchoring deer no matter the distance.

The 178 eld-X would be my other choice. At the end of the day between those 2 bullets I would use whichever one was more accurate.

 

[oldroper]

I have Bartlein 1/11 twist @ 26" on one of my 30-06 and I've been using 180gr Partition. I've also worked up loads using 180gr/165gr AB. I took pretty good mulie buck here Co with that 180gr Partition and I have other rifles so don't hunt with every year. I drew bear tag this year so going to use that 30-06.

 

[Mark W]

What powder are y'all liking for 175 - 180 grain bullets in 30-06?

 

[Bart B.]

IMR4064 was the favorite in its heydays of competition. Winners and record setters didn't care if bullets left 50 or more fps slower than IMR4350 produced at same pressure. They wanted best accuracy, not velocity.

 

[SheepDog]

H4350 or H414 will give you near peak velocities coupled with excellent accuracy. H414 is a bit harder to tune so most use H4350.

 

[Rob01]

And if you can't find H4350 then try IMR 4451. Near identical burn rate and good for temp swings.

 

[Mike Conroy]

I have a Remington 700 with a 29" 1:11 heavy palma from Rock Creek. With a 190 gr SMK over 51.5 grns of IMR 4350, using Lapua Brass, CCI 200 primer, I actually have shot sb minute of angle at 600 in F Class ppen matches.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

What powder are y'all liking for 175 - 180 grain bullets in 30-06?

I like 54.5 gr. of RL-16 with 185 gr. Bergers & Fed 210 primers.

 

[bbarber25]

180gr Accubonds and Ballistic tips shot phenomenally out of my 1-11” twist Hart. I ran 57.0grs of 4350, lots of critters fell to that combo.

 

[4xforfun]

Berger 210 VLD Hunting. Pretty much as good as it gets.