30-06 ammo for elk?

Question

I have some 165 grain Remington Extended Range boattails left over and was wondering if they are a good choice for elk. The ballistics are excellent...my main concern is penetration potential. These are discontinued, but does anyone have any experience with these loads. I remember picking them up when I was working at a Shopko and they were going to stop selling ammo so they discounted them, plus I got my employee discount. I think I paid about 8 bucks a box for them and I think I have about three boxes left.

Answer 1

Should be good to go, but the 180gr would be better.

Happy Hunting

Answer 2

They should work. It would be nice if there were some general knowledge about bullets, though. Boattails are popular selling points but have zero advantage in a hunting bullet (varminting excepted). The design is only ballistically important as the bullet slows to the trans-sonic range, which is far past any shot you'd take at an elk or deer if you're any kind of sportsman at all. While I'm at it, I may as well vent on a few of my other pet peeves on the subject: kinetic energy is also totally unimportant and even to a large degree misleading. Lighter, faster bullets look as if they'll do a better job, but the important factors are whether the bullet sets up and penetrates, and along with some construction details, sectional density is a good guide to terminal performance, where energy tables will lie like a cheating husband. The experienced guys are telling you the 180's are better, and you'd be able to tell by correlating the game to the bullet's sectional density.
Addendum: every hunter of medium and large game should keep in mind these numbers for sectional density: .30 for dangerous, thick-skinned game, .27 for big game, .24 for medium game. Those are good guidelines when in doubt, though they assume the bullet will expand properly and retain more than two thirds of its weight. But the next size down will often do.

Answer 3

You have plenty of down range energy. The boat tail is a good long range round. You should be right at 3500 pounds per square inch at 100 yards. Plus with 3200 fps at that range you get good penetration. The 30-06 is a favorite of the original big game hunters. There is nothing in north America that it won't take down. Remember at long range always go for the lungs on elk. 100% fatal and short blood trail. Good luck.

Answer 4

The extra beneficial sectional density of the a hundred and eighty grain bullets ability they are going to have deeper penetration on great game like moose and elk. For deer, hogs, etc, you will locate some people desire one hundred fifty's, others a hundred sixty five's. My little brother, working example, consistently used one hundred fifty's till I loaded a hundred sixty five's for him, and now he won't pass back. incredibly that still leaves a good number of makes use of for one hundred fifty's, including smaller deer and antelope.

Answer 5

Yes, they are great for hunting. I take elk with 150 grain sierra boat tail spitzer rounds in my .270 you won't have any probles with those loads, just make sure of your shot placement just like with any caliber and you will be enjoying some great elk backstrap!!
Shoot safe

Answer 6

I would say any 30-06 would do the job on an elk..... with 165 grain you have a muzzle velocity of 2830 fps..... so you will be just fine....

Answer 7

$20 ammo for $8 and you have to ask?

Answer 8

i hunt whitetails with 180 grain so id go with the 220

Answer 9

They will work, but I prefer the 180 or 220's myself.*

Answer 10

They will be fine. Just get a good heart/lung shot.