Some advice on bullet weight and selection.

Dear AH members
I have finally decide to buy a rifle in a 30-06 caliber (after much thought over a 270win.) My two questions are.....does a 165g bullet have a big difference in felt recoil over a 150g? And your opinions/experience with the sirroco 2, nosler E-tip and or the factory loaded PMP ammunition for use on plains game.
Thanks for your help, appreciate it
Christian

I never used a 165 gr bullet in my 30/06. I either used 150 gr nozler ballistic tips or 180 gr Nozler partitions. Both loads are loaded so I have the same sight setting on my scope so I can feel no major difference in recoil between them. I loaded the sirrocco, but it didn't group the best of my loads. I never used the e-tip nor shot any factory loaded ammo in a centerfire rifle in over 30 years.

The difference in recoil is small.
I don't have any experience in the Nosler E-tip bullet.
I guess when you talk about the PMP ammo, you mean their African Elite line that uses a 180 grain Swift A-frame bullet.

Both me and friends have used Scirocco II and A-frame bullets for different game(not PG) for many years and they both perform very well.
I am sure any of those 2 bullets will do a very good job on PG. Another bullet I would recommend is the Barnes TTSX.
If you expect long range shots, I would use either the 165 grain Scirocco II or the 168 grain TTSX as they have a clear advantage because of their high BC of 0.470.

For the most part I always use the biggest "normal" weight bullet for the caliber. In the 30-06, it is the 180 grain bullets. But the 165 should be fine. And the E Tip, Scirocco and Barnes TTSX are excellent choices.

I don't think you will notice the difference in recoil at all, matter of fact I cannot remember the last time I shot at an animal and even felt the recoil. I would also recommend the Barnes TTSX if they shoot well in your rifle. Also nothing wrong with the tried and true Nosler Partition or Swift A-frame.

When I was young, my father told me that a woman shops for shoes by buying a pair of shoes she likes. Then she looks at a lot of other shoes to see if there is something she likes better. Then she decides the shoes she got are good, but she checks around to see if she got the best price. A man decides he needs a pair of brown shoes, finds a pair he is happy with, and then is done with it. A 168g Barnes TTSX is my pair of brown shoes. It does what I want a 30 caliber bullet to do, every time. This or that may do this or that better or not, but I really don't care in the least. I am done shopping.

If comparing different loads and different bullets is a fun hobby for you, have at it. If you just want to reliably kill animals with your 30-06, an X bullet will suit just fine for (in my first hand experience) everything from springbok to eland.

Agree you won't notice much recoil difference. I used the 165 weight in my old .30-06.

The only PMP ammo I have tried was in a 9.3x62 and if it shoots accurately in your rifle it should be fine.

Im sure if blindfolded and handed the gun no one would be able to pick out which bullet was which. I dont think the game will be able to tell either. Shoot the one your gun likes best.

Christiaan,
(welcome to the forum)

Congrats on your 30-06 purchase. It is a good all-round choice of caliber and rifle and if you do your part you will start making fond memories (and biltong) soon.

I have been hunting with my WBY 30-06 now for a couple of years and i use nothing but PMP ProAmm 150/180 gr bullets. I do not reload and we have a more limited range of brands here in Namibia than in RSA or abroad. In the beginning i tested Norma / PMC / PMP standard / and PMP ProAmm and my rifle shot best with ProAmm's. The price is also not too bad. I have hunted exstensively Kudu / Gemsbok / Springbok / and occasionally Eland, and all animals on all my hunts i have hunted with 150 gr (plains) and 180 gr (bush). The Barnes TTSX is a very good bullet - so are many others out there.

You received some excellent advice so far and i can just add to it. What are you going to hunt mostly and where / terrain? Kudu / Gemsbuck / Eland, etc in dense bush or Springbuck / BWB / Gemsbuck, etc in open terrain? What and where / distances will promarily determine the bullet weight you use. If you answered yourself on these questions, then it would be easy to determine your bullet weight for your hunting. Now remains to purchase a couple of different brands in the weight you decided on - go to the range and check out which bullet brand your rifle prefers and then stick to it.

Somewhere on this forum is also ideas on how to go about 'shooting in' (inskiet) your new rifle and the process to follow. I strongly suggest you read it and follow the important procedures. Perhaps someone reading this who knows where that post is can insert a link for you.

Getting the correct bullet brand and weight for your rifle is part of the fun having a new rifle. Keep in mind though, 99% of your hunt-sucess will be determined by you and your shooting ability, not the rifle or the bullet choice

Good luck and enjoy your new 30-06

Thanks everyone for your time and advice, i really appreciate it
I will prohababy use the 165g bullet. I think keaping to one grain/bullet type and learning its specific ballistics is gonna make life easier. As for the brand i'll prohabably try out the TTSX, sirocco and the PMP proamm and see wich one shoots best.
Once again thanks so much every one for your help

Christian before you make up your mind reload some of each round that you think you would like to use and see what does best in your rifle. You will find they all shoot a little different out of your rifle then go with the one that groups the best whats grouping at 1inch a 100yards may be 6 inch at 300 and that could mean a miss or wounded animal. for the wifes 30-06 I loaded 180gr TSX zeroed at a 100 yards 1/2 inch group using 180gr core loc same load the bullet dropped 4 inchs at 100yards with a 1 1/2 inch group so try them out and see what shoots best.

Unfortunatly i cant relaod my own ammunititon, (to much school work in my opinion), so i have to buy the ammunititon already loaded. Just a quick question from what you suggested, do you think that i should just go straight to the barnes TTSX bullets (if its shoots well in my gun to be)and sight in my scope from there? also in your opinion do you think that a 270win. has a similer recoil to that of a 30-06??i dont want to get a higher caliber rifle that i cant shoot well either( why does every thing have to be so complacated)
Thanks again for your invalubale advice

I would cut to the chase and try out the TTSX bullets, they usually shoot very well in most guns.

There is no reason not to consider the 270 Win. Bullet placement will be important but it's plenty of gun for most game. I think learning to shoot one gun is important. The 30-06 is the better gun over the 270 Win., especially if you are hunting mostly larger antelope.

Originally Posted by enysse

I would cut to the chase and try out the TTSX bullets, they usually shoot very well in most guns.

There is no reason not to consider the 270 Win. Bullet placement will be important but it's plenty of gun for most game. I think learning to shoot one gun is important. The 30-06 is the better gun over the 270 Win., especially if you are hunting mostly larger antelope.

Totally agree. Buy a 30-06 and use the Barnes VOR-TX factory ammo in 30-06 with the 168 grain TTSX bullet.
It is usually very accurate.

Originally Posted by Norwegianwoods

Totally agree. Buy a 30-06 and use the Barnes VOR-TX factory ammo in 30-06 with the 168 grain TTSX bullet.
It is usually very accurate.

If I had a new 30-06, this would be the first bullet I would look at also. I have been very impressed with the accuracy and results of the game I've taken with the Barnes bullets.

30-06 is a great round, and depending on bullet weight and the burn rate of the powder there may be a slight increase in recoil, but, nothing that is going to destroy you. I like the 180's...

What are the rules about gun ownership in your country? If you can only have one rifle then I would broden my caliber choice.

The 180 is the classic weight for the '06 and is best if heavier game is on the list, but the new wonder bullets make up for weight, especially the no-lead bullets because they are long for their caliber and weight and dig deep.

Originally Posted by Christian3006

Unfortunatly i cant relaod my own ammunititon, (to much school work in my opinion), so i have to buy the ammunititon already loaded. Just a quick question from what you suggested, do you think that i should just go straight to the barnes TTSX bullets (if its shoots well in my gun to be)and sight in my scope from there? also in your opinion do you think that a 270win. has a similer recoil to that of a 30-06??i dont want to get a higher caliber rifle that i cant shoot well either( why does every thing have to be so complacated)
Thanks again for your invalubale advice

It is only as complicated as you want to make it.

Do you have access to a gun club? or Hunting Association. There are lots of shoots where members would let you shoot each rifle and feel it for yourself.
If you are in KZN still PM me and I'll give you a local contact who can give you some info on local events.

Originally Posted by Christian3006

Unfortunatly i cant relaod my own ammunititon, (to much school work in my opinion), so i have to buy the ammunititon already loaded. Just a quick question from what you suggested, do you think that i should just go straight to the barnes TTSX bullets (if its shoots well in my gun to be)and sight in my scope from there? also in your opinion do you think that a 270win. has a similer recoil to that of a 30-06??i dont want to get a higher caliber rifle that i cant shoot well either( why does every thing have to be so complacated)
Thanks again for your invalubale advice

one other thing that hasn't been brought up is if recoil is a problem buy a rifle with a muzzle break or take your rifle to a good gunshop and have one Installed this will lessen the recoil so a 300 Win Mag has no more recoil then a 270/30-06.