I posted that I bought Winchester 150 grain balistics at another location but not getting much of a response. What is your favorite load for deer and dropping them. I am wanting to switch to something different then Remington Core lokt (150 grain).

I shoot a Savage 30-06 and bought a bunch of Federal Vital-Shok. It is absolutely the least accurate ammo I have shot. We couldn't even get 4 inch groups 50 yards in a brace. I have also heard reports that it breaks down way too much, heard of entire shoulders blowing out on exit. I guess that is good or bad depending how you look at it.

I will do a complete range of ammo testing soon, but for time being I have been using the Fusion 165 gr with awesome sub 1 MOA accuracy. My only concern is for Whitetails close in if bullet is a little too hard. I haven't shot anything with it yet to analyze the exit wound. I use Winchester Silver Tip in my 308 and love it, so will test in the 30-06 along with other stuff.

Interesting. Am I crazy to be thinking about 180 grain Core=Loks?

180 Barnes X

I use Federal 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips

Which ever one your rifle shoots the best

my cousin shoots 180 grain in his 30-06 and his gun and him seem to like it.

I like 165gr. Hornady

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-06-Springfield-165-gr-BTSP/

started 180 core and switched to the 165 hornaday... either way they worked well in my rifle. depends a lot on just how your gun shoots it.

I'm sold on Barnes TTSX

I don't know why people shoot deer with a .30-06 its too big if you ask me. When elk hunting with my .30-06 I shot the 180 grain WInchester XP3's

X 2....the ballistics and performance of HORNADY are always hard to beat!

what are the issues you are having with the core lokt? Both of my 30-06's seem to be happy with them?

I have tried a lot of different ones over the years. I have settled on the Hornady 165 Boat tail soft point.

I've had very good performance from 150 grain Federal Fusions. 95%+ weight retention on recovered bullets and excellent expansion and penetration. I shot a buck in Missouri that field dressed at 190 pounds. Hit him quartering to me in the right front shoulder. Found the bullet under the skin on the left hind quarter and it weighed 147 grains still. That's one of several recovered over the last few years. All weighed in 142 grains and above.

My favorite is the Federal Premium 165 grain Nosler Accubond or Winchester 165 grain Accubond. They work great in my rifle!!

I have heard a lot about the Hornady 165 grain.. Sounds like that is what i need to buy next after I try the Winchester ballistic tips (150 gr) I bought yesterday.

I have shot about 3 or 4 deer in a row all with-in 150 yards with remington core-lok 150 grain. All 3 have ran 50 to 70 yards with very very little blood trail. I have found the deer with a small exit hole and the heart is gone but they still run off. Even a small hill country 70 lb field dressed doe. Ijust am tired of looking for deer and want my luck to change. Lots of people love the core-lokts......I just don't seam to have the best luck from a knock down stand point. As for using a 30-06 for whitetail....apparently my corelokts don't waste very much meat with the small exit holes. Never had a problem with that.

Winchester ballistic 140 gr in 7 mag are super accurate
And have seriously knock down

A friend shoots the Winchester Ballistic 150 gr out of his 7 mag and his exit holes are about golf ball size. I was amazed. With the core-lokts out of my gun the holes are smaller then a dime even on coyotes. I may post again about this after I shoot something. Also, the core-lokts tips just don't look right all the time. Sometime the lead tip is chipped, bent, knocked off, etc. That could have something to do with expansion is my guess.

As stated in other posts I dont like balistic silver tips, I think the 165gr accubonds 165gr Fusion that other mentioned would be good for you or the 150gr partition that I stated before.

150gr win silvertips can be plum nasty

X2

the 130 grain 270 bst can be nasty as well so I would have no doubt the 30-06 silver tip should do the job well.

My '06 loves my hand loaded 150 Nosler bt's or the 150 Hornady's BTSP. I also have some 220 gr. RN's that shoot exactly dead on but 2 inches low. It is just finding the right combination for your rifle and sticking with it.

That's good to hear, I know they are accurate, but can't wait to confirm how they do on actual Whitetail. For some reason about 30-40% less expensive than many bullets too.