Best factory 30-06 ammo for plains game

[dchum]

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

They do seem like a nice option I want to try. Always available and “bonded”.

Maybe I’ll take some Nilgai or aoudad hunting and try and get some good field results

 

[JMM]

Lots of good choices out there. Can't go wrong with the 180 grain A-frame or Scirocco. I have shot a lot of wildes, zebra, gemsbok, etc... on culling missions with those two bullets in the '06. Accubonds, Partitions, Norma Oryx, and others have worked just as well. I have been extremely impressed with the factory Remington Core Lokt Bonded. It is a killer. Great expansion and penetration. Sadly, I do not think they are manufactured anymore. Maybe on AmmoSeek.

 

[Jon Glajchen]

Lots of great suggestions here. Barnes TTSX is fantastic but for me and based on many animals shot by my mates when using my loan rifle, a Brno ZKK 600 in 30/06, I found a Norma Oryx 180 gr to be perfect for animals up the size of Sable, Kudu and Zebra. Just seems to work perfectly every time.
I would recommend getting a few boxes of the premium bonded or monolithic brands and seeing which shoot best in the rifle.
Then go hunting and have a great time!

 

[LimbNoMo]

I would use something besides a Nosler Partition. This one is from my kudu and the entrance wound. Didn’t get a pic before they skinned it.

 

[375Fox]

Where will you be hunting in Zimbabwe? I’ve taken 17 animals on two hunts in Dande in Zambezi valley. Aside from an eland we found in a cleared area, I haven’t shot past 75 yards. Nearly all shots had some brush between me and animal. Personally I think a 375 with a 300 gr bullet is perfect PG rifle in Zimbabwe. If I was going to use a 30/06. I’d use a 200 gr swift A Frame if available. I’d want a hard bullet that’ll penetrate at less than perfect angles. I wouldn’t worry that much about perfect accuracy at range. You should load some for him and mail him a box to see if acceptable accuracy in the rifle. Otherwise I’d look at different 200 gr bonded bullet options

 

[Muskox]

I would use something besides a Nosler Partition. This one is from my kudu and the entrance wound. Didn’t get a pic before they skinned it.View attachment 736778View attachment 736779

so your are saying it got up and walked away?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I’ve had very good results with 220Gr Remington Core Lokts. Not the most modern design by any stretch of imagination. But they work.

When I first began hunting in Africa in 1974, your choices in .30-06 Springfield ammunition were basically limited to either the Remington Core Lokt or the beastly Winchester Silver Tip. I opted for the Remington and I never regretted it since.

 

[Russ16]

Where will you be hunting in Zimbabwe? I’ve taken 17 animals on two hunts in Dande in Zambezi valley. Aside from an eland we found in a cleared area, I haven’t shot past 75 yards. Nearly all shots had some brush between me and animal. Personally I think a 375 with a 300 gr bullet is perfect PG rifle in Zimbabwe. If I was going to use a 30/06. I’d use a 200 gr swift A Frame if available. I’d want a hard bullet that’ll penetrate at less than perfect angles. I wouldn’t worry that much about perfect accuracy at range. You should load some for him and mail him a box to see if acceptable accuracy in the rifle. Otherwise I’d look at different 200 gr bonded bullet options

He lives in NJ they can’t accept ammo through the mail.

We will be in Dande. He has no interest in taking anything other than his 30-06. He mainly wants to watch me shoot my buffalo and shoot a couple of things along the way.

Thanks for all the suggestions. He says the Norma Bondstrike shoots well in his tin but is going to test the Barnes as well.

 

[Ryan]

Another vote for Barjes Vor-TX in 168 grain. Took them on my first hunt in Namibia, worked perfectly. Second hunt there I handloaded the same bullet, same result. Still using the 168 grain bullet in my 30-06.

 

[crackerman]

Another vote for Barnes TTSX in 180gr. Dropped a blue wildebeest, impala, and zebra in one shot. The only bullet recovered was from the wildebeest and the exit hole is from the impala.

View attachment IMG_0491.jpeg

 

[Duke1966]

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

On my hunt in Namibia I had a long discussion with a group of PHs one night and all but one said Federal Fusion were their favorite. The other (younger PH) said he preferred Barnes TTSX.

 

[Dinsdale]

He lives in NJ they can’t accept ammo through the mail.

We will be in Dande. He has no interest in taking anything other than his 30-06. He mainly wants to watch me shoot my buffalo and shoot a couple of things along the way.

Thanks for all the suggestions. He says the Norma Bondstrike shoots well in his tin but is going to test the Barnes as well.

I've shot plains game in Dande as well.

Shots won't be far in general, we've always worked in close as that's what I prefer. I think the longest was Hyena on bait at maybe 100yds?

Honestly if the Norma is shooting well already, why complicate things?

It's the shot placement that counts.

I happen to shoot everything on Zim trips with a 375, aframes, because I only take one gun. But have used a 3006 on other trips in Namibia and there isn't a bullet listed here I wouldn't use on any plains game. And I used both factory trophy copper and trophy bonded by Federal to add to the list.

 

[Jagerrand]

In 30 06 I have used hornady outfitter CX in 180 gr. Very good performance on animals, and my gun liked it. Couple gemsbok, Sable, blue wildebeest and a couple impala. Bonus is I can find it in stock locally.

 

[Dirtdart]

He lives in NJ they can’t accept ammo through the mail.

What is the process to legally acquire ammunition in NJ?

I have used the 180 grain A-Frame in 30-06 on plains game up to the size of mountain zebra with complete satisfaction but the Remington Safari line loaded with that bullet was easy to find at the time.
A lot of excellent candidates suggested in this thread. If your brother finds one that groups well and in ample supply I would suggest he buy more than he thinks he will need. It wouldn't hurt to ask your PH if he has a particular factory favorite in 30-06.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

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

Hedge you're not alone. I bring first time hunters to Namibia every year for the last 10 years. Most are not handloaders like myself. On several occasions I've recommended Federal Fusion's. They are a bonded core bullet and tend to give match grade accuracy. Recovered bullets show great expansion and high weight retention. I do prefer Swift A-Frames and Sirocco's and North Fork Semi Spitzers, but I wouldn't hesitate to use Fusions. Sadly an overlooked bullet.

 

[Firebird]

I wondered how many different answers you would get-It’s plains game, shoot what
Is most accurate in that rifle. Don’t overthink it.
You should ask your ph for the answer to this question. . .

 

[TarletonJake]

After seeing how my wife’s .308 performed this past summer with Federal Terminal Ascent, I’d look at this round hard.

Her Eland took one step before dropping after she fired. The bullet holds together amazingly well, and her shots touch each other at 100yds.

Jake

 

[C.W. Richter]

Anything Nos PT, Swift A-Frame 180, or even better...anything similar in 200-220 gr. I believe even Rem has 06 ammo for sale w/ 220 grainers (v. popular in AK. My son just saw a pile at a Sportsmen's Warehouse down S.) He will NOT be disappointed by using heavy-for-caliber bullets (high SD. BC and plastic tips means nothing for typical 06 shot distances, and doubly so in Africa. What you're looking for is terminal performance.) Although I like the Barnes bullets in some hunting situations (i.e. 165ish gr in 3,000 fps handloads for deer and even better in higher V rigs like a 300 WM), I find the expansion sometimes disappointing on larger stuff at the mediocre velocities of typical factory ammo for an '06. (i.e. We've witnessed MUCH greater success on gemsbok (~350-550 lb) using 200-220 grainers than anything smaller (likely due to the more traditional bullet construction/expansion coupled with the penetration that comes with high SD ballistics. You'll be awfully surprised how much tougher an impala or even springbok is constructed as compared to the physically larger whitetail deer!!! They are built to withstand predator attacks. We typically use 200 NPs for combined deer/bear seasons in the NE US. Go bigger and no disappointment will result. GL!

 

[LimbNoMo]

so your are saying it got up and walked away?

No, I’m saying without hitting bone the bullet exploded on impact. Giant entrance wound.

 

[dchum]

Anything Nos PT, Swift A-Frame 180, or even better...anything similar in 200-220 gr. I believe even Rem has 06 ammo for sale w/ 220 grainers (v. popular in AK. My son just saw a pile at a Sportsmen's Warehouse down S.) He will NOT be disappointed by using heavy-for-caliber bullets (high SD. BC and plastic tips means nothing for typical 06 shot distances, and doubly so in Africa. What you're looking for is terminal performance.) Although I like the Barnes bullets in some hunting situations (i.e. 165ish gr in 3,000 fps handloads for deer and even better in higher V rigs like a 300 WM), I find the expansion sometimes disappointing on larger stuff at the mediocre velocities of typical factory ammo for an '06. (i.e. We've witnessed MUCH greater success on gemsbok (~350-550 lb) using 200-220 grainers than anything smaller (likely due to the more traditional bullet construction/expansion coupled with the penetration that comes with high SD ballistics. You'll be awfully surprised how much tougher an impala or even springbok is constructed as compared to the physically larger whitetail deer!!! They are built to withstand predator attacks. We typically use 200 NPs for combined deer/bear seasons in the NE US. Go bigger and no disappointment will result. GL!

For what it’s worth,
Factory Barnes 168 shoots 2930 in my 22 in 30-06. Barnes loads nice and hot.

If you want more than that buffalo bore loads ttsx even faster of course.

I think 220 grain in 30-06 is absolutely an antiquated set up. 168 mono gives you more penetration and shoots much flatter.

I’ve killed 2 large oryx with 168 ttsx one at 80 yards and one at 300 yards.

I guess we are just on two different ends of the spectrum…. Glad they both work for us