Best factory 30-06 ammo for plains game

Headed to Zimbabwe in August. I’ll be chasing Buffalo but my brother is coming along and targeting plains game. He’ll be carrying his Highland Stalker in 30-06.

I suggested he find some 180 grain A-Frame ammo but of course that’s quite scarce.

What loads would you all recommend in factory ammo? The largest he might shoot is Sable.

If he lived closer and I had access to the gun I’d handload some for him but that’s not really doable.

I had great success with Federal’s Terminal Ascent loads out of my 300 Win Mag last year. Great on blue wildebeest and red heartabeast.

He might want to try to find some for his 30-06 and give them a try in his rifle. There are 115 listings for them on Ammoseek right now.

I always liked federal premium with 180gr partitions the best as my "universal" .30-06 load. Kills fast and penetrates very well. I still the the partition is the best generally purpose hunting bullet made, and the 180gr -06 load is excellent from 80 pound deer to 800 pound elk and everything between.

Yet to use it on africa but as mentioned partitions or terminal ascent. Harvested many a bull elk with pass through in excess of 600 yards. They hold together well and punch through. They don't explode.

Not plains game specifically but I have had great luck with 180gr Hornady CX loads in my 06. Two deer and an elk in the same season with 4 shots, the second on the elk was unnecessary but cheap insurance, I took a pronghorn with the same ammo the following year. The Barnes TTSX shot a touch better than the CX but was harder to find, I would be just as confident recommending it due to experience with other cartridges.

I had great success with Norma 180gr. Bondstrike, Hornady ELD-X, Federal Ascent and Nosler Partition. All are great in 180 gr (ELD-X178gr)

Look no further…

180gr mono metal bullet that has the BC of a 200gr bullet, traveling at 2700 fps…

Choice ammo has Swift A Frame ammo for 30-06.

I killed a zebra and bang-flopped a wildebeest with one shot of 180 grain Accubonds. I did, at the request of the PH, put a ground shot in the wildebeest once we walked up to him.

Here's the zebra footage from a go-pro stuck in my front pocket.

168 Barnes Vor-TX.

So so deadly. Velocity and mono metals go well together. 2 safaris in Namibia with it.

I really recommend this load for up to sable for sure. I would take eland with it no issue

The 180gr Barnes is better suited for 300 win.

Norma oryx is usually readily available and I’ve had great luck with that.
As mentioned above - TTSX, Swifts are always solid choices

Barnes TSX in 180 grain. Never shot an animal that isn’t “in the salt “.

Whichever companies load 180gr Nosler partitions.

Nosler partitions 165 and 180 gr. I have done a lot of cullings in the 'old' Northern Transvaal, now Limpopo Province. The Nosler partitions in my .30-06 did a wonderful job.

mdwest said:

https://www.cabelas.com/p/barnes-vor-tx-30-06-springfield-180-grain-centerfire-rifle-ammo

Look no further…

180gr mono metal bullet that has the BC of a 200gr bullet, traveling at 2700 fps…

Click to expand...

For the game mentioned by the OP, this is the top choice.

Really impressed with 180 gr Norma Oryx in 30/06.

I am not an expert, but I have killed a good number of Africa, European, Australian and North American big game animals.

I like things to die where you shot them. Really appreciate the "bang-flop". In my mind this is best achieved with a lot of blood shed and ideally quite a lot of penetration. Both hard things to have together.

My personal choice would be one o the following, noting that "plains game" includes a lot of things from Dikdik to Eland.

Here is my AI answer, but I honestly agree 100%

I have had bang flops on Aoudad, roe deer, red stags, blesbok, wild boar, fallow deer and gemsbok with the following bullets.

Bulllets Similar to Hornady ELD-X in Performance​

The Hornady ELD-X is a polymer-tipped, boat-tail bullet designed for high ballistic coefficients (BC), long-range accuracy, controlled expansion at various velocities, and deep penetration, making it ideal for hunting big game at extended distances. Factory-loaded .30-06 Springfield ammo available in the USA with similar performance characteristics (e.g., high BC, reliable expansion, and bonded or advanced construction) includes options from several manufacturers. These are commonly found at retailers like MidwayUSA, Cabela's, and online ammo sites. Here's a breakdown of key similar bullets and their factory loads:

• Nosler AccuBond / AccuBond Long Range: A bonded, polymer-tipped bullet with a high BC (around 0.507 for 180gr) for flat trajectories and controlled expansion similar to the ELD-X. It's known for retaining weight and penetrating deeply while expanding reliably at long ranges.
  • Nosler Trophy Grade: 180gr AccuBond (e.g., 20-round boxes).
  • Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range: 190gr AccuBond LR.
  • Black Hills Gold: 180gr AccuBond.
  • Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range: 168gr AccuBond LR.
• Federal Terminal Ascent: A bonded, polymer-tipped bullet with a Slipstream tip for low-velocity expansion and a high BC (around 0.520 for 175gr), offering match-grade accuracy and performance akin to the ELD-X for long-range hunting.
  • Federal Premium Terminal Ascent: 175gr (e.g., 20-round boxes, muzzle velocity ~2730 fps).
• Norma Bondstrike: A bonded, polymer-tipped bullet with extreme long-range capabilities, high BC (around 0.615 for 180gr), and reliable expansion/penetration, closely mirroring the ELD-X in terminal performance.
  • Norma Bondstrike: 180gr (e.g., 20-round boxes).
• Other notable options:
  • Barnes TTSX (Tipped Triple-Shock X): All-copper, polymer-tipped monolithic bullet with expansion similar to the ELD-X but often better weight retention (nearly 100%). Available in Barnes VOR-TX: 150gr or 180gr.
  • Swift Scirocco Bonded: Polymer-tipped, bonded bullet for high-velocity expansion and penetration. Available in Remington Core-Lokt: 150gr Scirocco Bonded.

Bullets Similar to Hornady Interlock in Performance​

The Hornady Interlock is a traditional soft-point bullet with an exposed lead tip for reliable expansion, good penetration, and mushrooming on impact, suited for mid-range hunting with consistent performance on game like deer or elk. It's not as aerodynamically advanced as the ELD-X but excels in affordability and proven terminal ballistics. Similar factory-loaded .30-06 ammo in the USA focuses on soft-point or basic expanding designs from other brands, widely available at the same retailers:

• Remington Core-Lokt: A classic soft-point bullet with a locked core for controlled expansion and deep penetration, very similar to the Interlock in reliability and cost-effectiveness for hunting.
  • Remington Core-Lokt: 150gr or 180gr soft point.
• Federal Power-Shok: Soft-point bullet designed for rapid expansion and energy transfer, mirroring the Interlock's performance on medium game with good accuracy.
  • Federal Power-Shok: 150gr or 180gr soft point.
• Winchester Power-Point: A soft-point bullet with exposed lead for quick expansion and reliable knockdown, comparable to the Interlock for deer hunting at moderate ranges.
  • Winchester Power-Point: 150gr or 180gr.
• Other notable options:
  • Hornady SST (Super Shock Tip): While polymer-tipped, it offers expansion similar to the Interlock but with better aerodynamics. Available in Hornady Superformance: 150gr or 165gr SST.
  • Sierra GameKing: Soft-point or tipped variants for balanced expansion. Often in custom loads but available in some factory options like Norma Whitetail: 150gr.

Find the AFrame. That's what I used on plains game in Bots last year. Exceptional performance.

My Highland Stalker in 30-06 love the Barnes ammo with 180g TTSX. Shoots under an inch at 100m.
I have taken everything from deer, donkeys, wild dogs to a scrub bull with this load and it worked perfectly. Barnes also loads a bit hotter so it shoots as flat as the Federal 165g tipped trophy bonded I was using previously.

I have had very good results with Federal Fusion, but I rarely see them mentioned here. Am I the only one who shoots them?