Best 30-06 Ammo for Deer Hunting & Big Game

I recently shared the top options for specific modern-day ammo to use in M1 Garand 30-06 service rifles. It got me to thinking about the beginnings of the cartridge 120 years ago. Introduced in 1906 (hence the “06” designation) to the US Army it quickly became the standardized service rifle caliber by the military until the late 1970’s. The 30-06 is used worldwide to this day for a variety of purposes.

30-06 For Hunting

In 1979 I purchased my first hunting rifle, a Remington Model 700 in 30-06. For years I have hunted off and on with this rifle and others like it in the ole “aught six” caliber. There is little question as to the ability of the cartridge to take big game anywhere on the planet. Not to say it would be my first choice for say elephant, but on the flip side I’ve personally seen Cape buffalo taken with this cartridge in Zambia. Additionally, personal acquaintances of mine who have served as game rangers in Africa have utilized the .30-06 for elephant when need be and were successful. Shot placement is critical regardless what caliber you are shooting but suffice to say, I have taken a variety of big game both in the US and Africa with this time-honored cartridge. I need little convincing of its ability.

It would be easy to go on and talk about the legacy of the .30-06 in rifle shooting competitions. You might’ve even heard about the well-known Camp Perry National Matches. And we could discuss the wide selection of rifle action types, ammo choices, and ammunition availability both far and near. A wide selection of factory ammunition  for various needs in the .30-06 continues to be available in bullet weights ranging from 125 to 220 grain. There are indeed flatter shooting cartridges with less recoil and better ballistics today, but the .30-06 still holds its own against the more modern era cartridges.

Best 30-06 Ammo for Hunting

Listed below are some top brands for hunting big game that I’ve had personal experience with. These are by no means the only options available, but rather just a few noteworthy based on my experience.

Federal

• Federal Power-Shok 150 grain JSP: A classic 30-06 offering that is a mainstay for deer hunting.
• Federal Fusion 150 gr Bonded SP or 165 gr BT: Both viable for up to elk sized big game.
• Federal ELD-X 178 gr: Extreme Low Drag-Expanding bullet designed for those longer distance shots on big game.

Hornady

• Hornady Superformance 150 gr SST: Super Shock Tip polymer bullet, flat shooting and deadly, considered a top pick for deer hunting.
• Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X 178 gr: The ELD-X bullet is built for long distance hunting on a variety of big game. I have used this Hornady brand in multiple calibers for big game.
• Hornady American Whitetail 180 gr InterLock BTSP: A bit heavier InterLock bullet designed to retain mass and energy during expansion.

Remington

• Remington 150 gr, 165 gr, 180 gr and 220 gr Core Lokt PSP: What can I say, the Core-Lokt line has been around for ages. I have taken scores of big game with this ammo. If it shoots well in your rifle, you can’t go wrong.
• Remington 150 gr or 165 gr Core-Lokt Tipped: As much as I like the standard Core-Lokt, I like this Core-Lokt Tipped bullet even better. Excellent accuracy and long-range distance potential.
• Remington Premier Scirocco Bonded 180 gr: Polymer tipped bullet combining excellent ballistics with weight retention.

Winchester

• Winchester 150 gr Power Point: A long-standing round used for decades by whitetail hunters.
• Winchester 150 gr Extreme Point: A polymer tipped bullet adding for greater accuracy and expansion.
• Winchester 150 gr or 180 gr Ballistic Silvertip: The Winchester Silvertip bullet is a classic and has been around for decades and allows for rapid controlled expansion. The Silver-Tip bullet was first introduced in 1939 by Winchester.

Less Known Ammo Manufacturers

Again, the above are but a mere example of the wide selection of offerings today for your 30-06 rifle. Other manufacturers include: Aguila, Black Hills, Fiocchi, Nosler, and Underwood to mention but a few. As I have repeatedly stated in other articles; I will choose the ammo brand that provides the best accuracy in my rifle along with an optimal bullet design for the game I am after.

Modern Hunters Can Still Rely On 30-06

Unfortunately, the .30-06 gets a bad rap in many circles today. For example, recently I read an article where the author blasted the .30-06 proclaiming that it has outlived its time. Aside from the above points and years of personal experience, a real-world story that convinces me that more modern is not necessarily always better is as follows:

Over 40 years ago while on a tour of Zambia with personal friends who worked with Zambia Parks and Wildlife, I found myself in the enviable position to provide game meat by means of hunting for the native park staff. They offered two rifles and a shotgun to me for this endeavor. They included a Winchester Model 70 chambered in .458 Win Mag and a Winchester Model 70 in .30-06. A problem existed however, only a handful of cartridges were made available from the “powers that be” in parks and wildlife for the .30-06. Solution, a half-day drive to many of the professional hunting camps in the area produced 20 to 30 rounds of .30-06 ammo for my use.

End result, the park workers were well supplied with meat for quite some time. Moral to the story, besides some express magnum calibers that safari camps were not willing to part with, most of these camps had enough spare ammunition to provide the much needed .30-06. As previously stated, this .30-06 can still be found around the world today.

Final Thoughts

The modern cartridge design of today lends itself to placing these older calibers on the back of a dusty shelve somewhere. Sad really. For some, the excitement of a newer caliber that will knock a moose down at 1000 yards and beyond is what it’s all about. That’s ok as long as you can make an ethical shot.

While I thoroughly enjoy testing and hunting with newer and more modern cartridges, you will always find at least one 30-06 in my gun safe. Don’t be surprised if you find me on some distant mountain range or African savanna carrying the time proven 30-06. And yes, I can spare a few rounds.