160 FTX in 30-06

[tek4260]

Anyone ever tried any of the Hornady FTX or LeverEvolution bullets in a 30-06. I don't need a tough bullet for these MS whitetails and am thinking that the bullets designed for 30-30 velocities might be just the ticket to give my 30-06 a bit more "shocking power".

I know everyone else's deer drop like lightening with everything from a 222 up..... Mine don't with the -06 and I'd like them to. I think the lighter constructed bullets should help.

[Doc Highwall]

The bullet will explode like a varmint bullet.

[RickinTN]

I haven't used it in '06 but I'm thinking if you kept the velocities in the range it was intended for it would probably work pretty well. I also think if you drove it to "normal" '06 velocities you would have a very explosive bullet. Unfortunately Whitetail deer are sometimes slow thinkers.....It takes them a little while to realize they are dead.
Good luck,
Rick

[tek4260]

The bullet will explode like a varmint bullet.


That is what I am looking for. The deer here aren't that large with most in the 175-200lb range so explosive won't be a problem. I just want a bit more "shock" than a conventional bullet.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I have either seen firsthanded or have seen the videos of Michigan whitetail deer drop in their tracks at the shot or go no farther than 10 paces. The bullet used was a Nosler Ballistic Tip. The rifles were a .30-06 sportered Mauser and a Rem. 700 in .280. The bullet weights were 180 gr. in the `06 and 150 gr. in the .280. The shots were made from blinds. The farthest shot was 125 yds. All bullets were a through and through hit, entered then expanded then exited the other side. The location of each strike was half way up the body behind the front leg. This "sweet spot" for an almost instant kill was discovered by a life long hunter of deer that spanned 70+ years. This spot will result in spinal nerve damage that drops the deer right now! A bad hit will result in a cross country trailing job - no matter what rifle/bullet combo you are using. I suspect these Hornady flex tip bullets being driven at higher speeds that designed for will do just as has been said, BLOW UP on the animal outside resulting in a bad surface wound and a LONG trailing job or lost animal altogether.Robert

[tek4260]

I suspect these Hornady flex tip bullets being driven at higher speeds that designed for will do just as has been said, BLOW UP on the animal outside resulting in a bad surface wound and a LONG trailing job or lost animal altogether.Robert


I have never had this happen with any caliber. I have shot a few with the 220 Swift and 50 gr bullets and never had one fail to get into the vitals.

Heck, in the rifle in question, I shoot the 125gr Remington(not the managed recoil) and have only had one fail to completely go thru a deer. All were shoulder shots at various ranges, and the one that didn't pass thru completely was at close to 300yds.

The thing I am trying to avoid is a heavier bullet that doesn't open up at reduced velocities, like a 30 caliber bullet designed for a 30-06/300 Mag/ect. My rifle has a 16.5" barrel, so it is starting out slower than a 30-06. I suppose I need to break out the chrony and see where it is in relation to what it is supposed to be. Hell, it may be at 30-30 velocity levels already. :)

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[MT Gianni]

I still read those initials as Failure To Extract, am I the only one?

[popper]

They don't 'explode' on a pig @ 50 ft from a 308MX ( broke the spine) so I don't think it will do so on a deer. That said, there are too many other good bullets for '06, like a 170 cor-lok.

[GabbyM]

Hornady SST (super shock tip) is a very frangible bullet. More so even than a Noler BT. No need to use a 30-30 bullet IMHO. I like a much more solid bullet myself.

An SST example would be the antelope my daughter shot this fall. Load was 270 win 140gr SST over start laod of 4350. Shot at 150 yards. One shoulder was compleatly destroyed. Animal did fall DRT. No exit hole.

Speer 180 grain deep Curl is what I purchased for my 30-06 J bullet. Rifle shoots cast very well ans most 30-06's do and that's what I'd use on anything out to 300 yards.

[wrench man]

Anyone ever tried any of the Hornady FTX or LeverEvolution bullets in a 30-06. I don't need a tough bullet for these MS whitetails and am thinking that the bullets designed for 30-30 velocities might be just the ticket to give my 30-06 a bit more "shocking power".

Just throw'n it out there?, my "varmint" load for the 30-06 is a Speer 130grn HP over about 55grns of IMR 4064 for just shy of 3000fps, it WILL! GUT! a jack rabbit with AUTHORITY!! at well over 150yrds!:holysheep

Just something to ponder?

[rockrat]

You might be able to load the FXT about 200fps over what 30-30 velocities would be and have a round that would expand qicker, yet not "blow up" as mentioned earlier. I read something about this, about 35 years ago. It was a somewhat reduced recoil load for the '06, but the bullet would still have good expansion. Only caveat was you wouldn't want to shoot a deer at close range with it. 50 yards + would be fine.

[JesterGrin_1]

Why? Hornady does make the 165Gr SST in .30 Cal. They are designed to open up Fast. I have used it on one Large Doe and it did a good job.

[358 Win]

Try the FTX bullet designed for the .308MX and you should be fine. The .308MX throws the 160FTX bullet designed for it at 2550fps.
There are two 160gr FTX bullets, one for the 30-30 and the one for the .308MX. With your 16.5" barrel I highly doubt if you'll stress that .308MX 160GR FTX bullet. I've used 30-30 bullets in my .308 Winchesters to kill deer. Wanted a fast opening bullet and this was way before the Nosler Ballistic tip line of bullets was introduced. Never had a failure of any kind with them and the 170gr Speer was launched at 2500fps from my 22" barreled .308 Win. A deer in my area only has a width from side to side of about 10 to 11 inches. I think this "bullet will blow up" thing is a lot of nonsense. A deer is not a tank and you don't need depleted uranium bullets to go through one. I've killed deer on frontal shots where the bullet hit the heavy shoulder knuckle bone and was found in the rear ham. The bullet never hit one internal organ but the bone fragments did and that's what did the killing. I think a lot of "bullet failures" are actually poor bullet placements. I love it when someone says the bullet never expanded yet the bullet exited. If you don't have the bullet in your hand, how do you know. It's always easy to blame the bullet when lack of practice is the root cause. I have pulled the trigger on 39 deer and harvested 39 deer. Never once had an excuse that the bullet didn't work. A too hard bullet is worse than one that's a little soft. It's just my opinion and I'm too old and grumpy to debate it.
358 Win

[reivertom]

I like 165gr. Nosler Balistic Tips. I have killed several deer with mine and they drop in their tracks shot mid level right behind the shoulder. The bullet enters and shreds everything around it, expending all its energy inside the boiler room of the critter.. They are all I will use from now on for my hunting purposes. They are not for thick skinned or heavy game, but big medicine on deer. I worked up a load that will shoot a cloverleaf pattern at 100 yards. I buy a box every time they are on sale.

[izzyjoe]

i'll bet with a 16.5 barrel that thing is loud! anyway you're not losing alot of velosity with that barrel, the old thought was a 100fps per 1" barrel in loss, but that ain't always true. using the bullets intended for the 308MX is a good idea, moving at 2600fps should work nicely.

[TXGunNut]

Hornady makes two excellent hunting bullets for the .30-06, one is the 165 spire point (#3040) and the other is the 180 spire point (#3070). They also make other bullets that look cooler and cost more but before I finally wised up (and cast my own!) I put lots of meat in the freezer with those two. The FTX was designed for lower velocities, the boattails and plastic tipped bullets didn't perform well enough for me on paper to try them on critters. I'm not a fan of explosive expansion or long-range shooting so it's just as well.

[northmn]

There is a video on You Tube 50 cal and deer or some such thing. My sons friend bought a Barnett in 50 Browning machine Gun. They made a 700 grain softnose bullet and shot a deer with it on video. The deer went about 50-70 yards with its offside ribcage practically blown out. Dropping them in their tracks with a normal shoulder arm is a myth. I shoot a 300 Savage and use a Speer 150 grain spitzer at about 2600 fps. It works very well and my daughter also has one and they work very well for her. Much cheaper than the other bullets and will work about as well as you need. I also had very good performance on deer with a 30-30 and a 188 grain cast bullet. It dropped them very well, left a good blood trail adn did not blow up so much deer. Hit one in the shoulder with it and was able to salvage a lot of hamburger. More than I can say for a hv lightweight bullet. I hunted for years with a 270 and 130 grain bullets and now prefer the more moderate loads out of the classic "deer rifles".

DP

[softpoint]

I see no reason not to use that bullet. Our whitetail here in central Texas aren't very big,either. Shoot behind the front shoulder and even a .22 mag will get the job done out to about 75 yards or so. Can't legally use rimfire here, but can use .22 centerfire, and lots of folks do. In my younger years my primary deer rifle (read that as Only deer rifle) was a .22/250. Deer hit behind the front shoulder went down like lightning struck them.

[tek4260]

Sounds like the same results I have had with the 220 Swift here.

[tek4260]

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Loaded a few over 56.0gr of W760. Made 2 quick shots at 100 to verify it was sighted in. Shot to relatively the same POI as the 125 Remingtons pictured earlier in the thread and the 165 Sierra HPBT GK's that I have shot for years.

At 2400fps, I don't think I'll be too far out of the velocity window for this bullet.

[afish4570]

That is what I am looking for. The deer here aren't that large with most in the 175-200lb range so explosive won't be a problem. I just want a bit more "shock" than a conventional bullet.

My traditional time tested 3006 load is a 150 gr. Hornady, Sierra or Rem. bullet, not designed for the 3030. Chose the 150 gr. years ago due to flatter traj., lower recoil than 180 grs., costs per 100 are affordable and you can practice alot too. Great performance on deer both at short ranges here on east coast woods hunting and long range should I ever have the opportunity. Loaded between 2660fps to 2850 all have proven great reloads. East coast hunting with ranges 100 to 50 yds. results with little to very little trailing. Shoulder shots do destroy alot of meat so I try to shoot just behind the shoulder. My expierence with condum bullets. I have yet to shoot a 30 cal. cast boolit at a deer.....4570 is my favorite cast hunting load. Just my experience:roll::roll:afish4570