30-06, best overall bullet weight?

Not very knowledgeable with this round. Helping a buddy out with one. For hogs and whitetails, what bullet weight do you recommend? These will be FACTORY loads. Gun is a Winchester SX4 Semi-auto. Yes, this is my same buddy with the savage rifled barreled shotgun he got for hogs. Needless to say, he's one of the lucky guys who has friends who invite him on these hunts. He's like a fish outta water but I'm enjoying helping him out.

Back to his 30-06, what factory ammo? bullet weight?

I'd say 150s will work well for hogs and whitetails, but if they don't shoot well then 165s would be just fine. Even 180s will work fine, which is what I use but that's because I like to have ONE load per rifle and the '06 is the one I'm likely to take somewhere that I need something bigger than my lesser rifles.

I'd try 150s and 165s both but that's just me.

yes, I wish they sold in 5 packs. $40.00-$50.00 a box of 20 makes it hard to "test". 2 boxes will last him 2 lifetimes.

This.

For whitetail and hogs 150 is great in my opinion, unless you're shooting longer range and need the higher BC 165 grain. Really any 30-06 hunting ammo at the store will be just fine for deer and hogs at moderate ranges. Is it a Winchester 100? The SX4 is a semiauto shotgun. I'm not seeing the 100 as having been available in 30-06 though. If he's clueless maybe he has a 308?

The 30.06 starts to really Shine versus the 308 once you get into 180 grain or larger bullets. If you want to run a 30 ought 6 with lighter bullets go with 150s, a 26-in barrel, and a Max load of powder. It's a light Magnum at that point.

150, 165 or 180 gr all have a good history. Personally I would start with the 150gr bullets though it might take a couple brands to see what the gun likes the most. If not then do the same thing with the 165's.

The Winchester sx4 is not a 30-06, it is a shotgun.

I think he’s talking about the Winchester version of the Browning Short-trac BAR. To be honest , I’d pick up Federal or Winchester 150s at Academy and try those first. No need to overthink this.

150 and 165 work well for most things. pick what your gun likes 165s are my usual first choice.

165 gr to 200 gr

I generally just use a 150. Even killed a few elk with 150s even though that's probably not idea. But deer and pigs are pretty damn easy to kill and no sense really stressing about it. Lots of 150 is available off the shelf. Buy you something like an interlock or a core lock or something along those lines just a simple cup and core bullet, no need to go to anything special. One of the pluses of the ought six is while it's faster than the 308, it's not as hard on bullets as a 300 mag

SXR sorry

I wish it was a M100


Skip to content

Username

••••••••

Board index » Discontinued Models » Semi-Automatic Rifle » WInchester Model SXR Change font size Print view
FAQ Register Login
The Winchester SXR Super-X Rifle Review
Post a reply
5 posts • Page 1 of 1
stags30
User avatar
Administrator
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:23 pm
Location: New York
PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:28 pm
The Winchester SXR Super-X Rifle
http://www.chuckhawks.com/winchester_SXR.htm
Image

I first saw the new Winchester SXR rifle at the 2006 SHOT Show. The SXR is a somewhat more basic variation on the Euro-trash styled Browning ShortTrac (short action) and LongTrac (long action) autoloading rifles. The Winchester brand version of this basic rifle is actually a little more streamlined looking than the homely Browning version, which is faint praise indeed. (See "The Column No. 7: Euro-Trash Styling Comes to Firearms" on the General Firearms and Shooting Page for further comments on that school of design.) The 2006 Winchester catalog refers to the SXR's styling as "International," by the way, and goes on to say: "The international styling of the SXR's stock makes a statement about the shooter who carries it." I'll say it does!

On the other hand, while the two brands are basically the same (both are produced by FN), the Winchester SXR lacks the Browning's bolt release on the right side of the receiver. The SXR's bolt is held open only by the magazine follower after the last shot, and slams closed when the magazine is removed. This is a major pain in the rear, especially in the field, and is more than enough reason to select a Browning Trac autoloader in favor of the cheapened Winchester version. (The Browning Safari Grade BAR Mk. II is still the best autoloader on the market, and remains the obvious first choice for anyone who can't live without a semi-automatic hunting rifle.)

The grossly oversize floor plate of the SXR's removable box magazine is not hinged at the front, as is the Trac floor plate, a minor inconvenience. Nor does Winchester offer recoil pads of varying length or Trac style shims for altering drop and cast for the SXR. And, the BOSS adjustable muzzle brake is not available on the SXR. Of course, the Browning brand version of this FN rifle costs about $100 more than the Winchester SXR economy model.

The SXR receiver is made of an aluminum alloy, while the barrel is hammer forged steel. The 7-lug, rotating-head bolt locks into a barrel extension, not the receiver. The black plastic trigger guard assembly has an uncomfortable, sharp angle at the front, and the magazine release is a hook in front of the trigger guard. In a stunning example of poor design, part of the gas operation mechanism sticks well out past the tip of the forend where it is susceptible to damage, being plugged, or catching on brush and limbs.

No iron sights are provided, but the receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mount bases. Use current Browning BAR bases.

The two-piece stock and forend are satin finished black walnut with a black forend tip. A black recoil pad and detachable sling swivel studs are supplied. Checkering is limited to a small area on the underside of the forend and pistol grip panels that don't follow the curve of the grip. Aesthetically, Winchester would have been ahead of the game to skip the checkering altogether.

There is a "W" rather crudely carved into the rear side-panel of the forend. Interestingly, the 2006 Winchester catalog shows and describes this as a red "W" inletted into the forend (note photo above), but it was just a scratched-in initial on the rifle I saw. Which looks worse I could not say; the rifle would be better off without either.

Here are the Winchester SXR specifications:

Action: semi-auto, short stroke gas operation
Calibers: .30-06, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .300 Win. Mag.
Magazine capacity: 4 (.30-06), 3 (Magnum calibers)
Barrel length: 22" (.30-06), 24" (Magnum calibers)
Sights: None; receiver drilled and tapped for scope mounts
Finish: Polished blue metal finish, satin stock finish.
Safety: Crossbolt in rear of trigger guard.
Overall length: 41 3/8" (.30-06), 43 3/8" (Magnum calibers)
Length of pull: 14 1/8"
Drop at comb: 7/8"
Weight: 7 1/4 pounds
Rate of twist: 10" right hand
2006 MSRP: $811 (.30-06), $839 (Magnum calibers); spare magazines $55 each.
The SXR's barrel will normally be cleaned from the front, since the receiver prevents the entry of a cleaning rod from the rear. Disassembly of the SXR for a complete cleaning is so involved that I will not attempt to describe it here. Suffice to say that I suspect that most users will simply shoot the thing until it becomes unreliable and then trade-it in for something else rather than attempt to clean the internal mechanism.

The single stage trigger of the SXR that I played with broke at an estimated 5 pounds with plenty of creep, which is unacceptable for a hunting rifle. It was a typical, notoriously poor, BAR trigger. The plastic trigger assembly (!) can be removed for replacement without taking the rifle apart simply by punching out two pins, which are accessed through grossly oversize oval holes in the side of the receiver. Not only are the oval holes in the receiver really tacky, the fact that the designers felt it necessary to allow for quick trigger assembly swapping raises questions about the durability of the trigger mechanism. I'd be uneasy if I had to rely on an SXR for a "once in a lifetime" hunt far from a repair center.

More positive is my impression of the SXR's handling and its accuracy potential. I did not have an opportunity to shoot Winchester's new rifle, but the Browning BAR generally has a good reputation for accuracy. (There is a complete review of the BAR Mk. II on the Product Review Page.) I cannot see why stamping "Winchester" on the barrel instead of "Browning" should change that.

Winchester has not cataloged a semi-automatic big game rifle since the sleek Model 100 of the 1960's. One of our Guns and Shooting Online staff members still owns and uses a Model 100 inherited from his father. The SXR is, of course, an FN rifle and not really a Winchester at all. Perhaps that is why it seems to be such a disappointing step backward in concept, design, quality, and execution from the old Model 100.

There is no best. Just about any cheap factory ammo in the 150-180 weight range will work fine for deer and hogs.

I’ve got a camo/synthetic short-trac in 7 wsm that isn’t at all euro-trashy and handles far better than any Mark 2. The trigger is about what you’d expect from a non-AR auto loader, but I generally like the rifle quite well.

When I had a 30-06 and was loading for it, 165 Ballistic Tips over IMR4831 was the best load I could come up with.

Factory ammo, I’d buy Federal Power Shok, Fusion or Non Typical (which is the same as Power Shok).

I’ve found they shoot better than Remington or Winchester.

Generally , 150 to 165 assuming an average size man.

But, I’ve had a couple of them that shined brighter with a lighter weight round.

I'd be inclined to try Federal first also, hypothetically speaking. I've fired one box of factory rifle ammo since 2001.

I trade a lot of factory ammo but rarely shoot any. Most people don’t know or care how inconsistent it is. But I rarely load for a semi auto either. I mostly use bolt or single shot.

I shoot 150s soft points out of my 06, store bought ammo. It's an older model Winchester from 1966 bolt action.
I did move up to 180s for elk.

got a buddy who's giving me 5 of three different ammos. Something should work. Probably the good old or should I say the NEW, good old Corelok will be fine. Not like its a target rifle if anyone googled it.

For factory I shoot Winchester 150gr power points. Cheap and I've never had anything move after getting hit.
I load two different bullets. Barnes 130 TTSX and Berger 215 Hybrid.

My 30-06 likes 165's best.