30-06 factory ammo recommendations please

L

lawnboy

New member
I picked up an inexpensive 30-06 the other day. It's a Mossberg 100ATR. Brand new. It's been sitting on the rack at the local hardware store for a long time and the owner sold it to me for a walmart like $250 cash because he's going to stop carrying guns. I'll be taking it to the range later this week. I grabbed a box of Federal Powershok 150gr soft points because they were the cheapest thing in the ammo case at the store where I bought the gun.

I may use it one day as a hunting rifle. But I also own a 7mm-08 which I dearly love (and a 30-30 which I love almost as dearly) so I may just use the 30-06 for fun at the range.

On the subject of range ammo in 30-06, what do you like? (One of the reasons I love the 7mm-08 is its very light recoil). What are good off the shelf rounds in light loads for the new gun? I'm looking for stuff that will be readily available at Walmart, an average independent gunstore or Cabelas.

Thanks,
 
No generalities can be made for hunting ammo, as the load needs to match the game, range, etc., and the 30-06 can be used for anything in NA.

My recommendation would be to handload with bulk bullets or even cast lead bullets for the most savings if you're gonna shoot it a lot. For store bought, whatever is on sale in Remington, Winchester or Federal is gonna be the cheapest. Look for under $20 a box for 20 rounds.
 
I shot one of those Mosbergs this year. That a young friend of mine has. Its a Shooter and has a real light trigger. After you shoot it you will hunt with it. For target shooting i would reload, or buy federal at Wallmart which is a good bargan by the way. Good Luck
 
You won't find "reduced recoil" type rounds at Walmart, at least I've never seen any there. MAYBE at Bass Pro, Gander... Those types of places.

For factory rifle ammo, I always used Hornady or Remington.

If I had a 7-08 (I do), I wouldn't be hunting with a 30-06. ;)
 
The reduced recoil loads are a lot more expensive than the regular WW, RP, or FED offerings at Wally. If you're going to shoot factory stuff at the range, go to Midwayusa.com and get a PAST shoulder pad.
 
I didn't mean to give the impression that I'm THAT recoil sensitive. I just see no reason to shoot full blast 180gr rounds at paper on the range when something with a noticeably lighter recoil punches holes just as well. The field is a different story of course......

Even with the 7mm-08 I always go with light loads for the range.

So let me rephrase my question: What inexpensive/cheap 30-06 in 150gr or less have you found to be a good combination of available, reliable and consistent for occasional shooting at paper? With every gun I've ever owned I try to find a "target/plinking" round of this nature. Handguns and long guns both.
I generally find a readily available, inexpensive round and then stick with it rather than just shooting whats cheapest or on the closeout table. Call me weird if you will.
 
My 30-06 (browning x-bolt) loves Federal Powershok 150 gr ... shoots better groups than the remington or winchester ammo. It's all I use now.
 
Factory center-fire ammo recommendations

During the time i was president of the southwest louisiana r&p club in lake charles, la, the members who still continued to shoot factory ammunition, were overwhelmingly in favor of one brand of ammo: "hornady"

from 1990 to 1999, i help 100 people get their rifles sighted in with "hornady" factory ammo & the majority of those shot 3-shot groups @ 100 yards of minute-of-angle or less. Truly amazing performance for factory ammunition.

Guru1911
 
I have owned several 06's over the years and have a T/C Venture chambered in that round currently.

For off the shelf, cheap loads available readily and locally, I go with 150gr Fed power shocks or Rem core lokts. With the recoil pad on the T/C I find them very comfortable to shoot and they usually run just under $20 after sales tax.
 
You need to see what your rifle prefers and shoots well and stick with it.

That being said, my first suggestion was going to be the 150 grain Federal Power Shok you already picked up. It's one of my favorites. Another one I like is the 150 grain Fusions. Those are my two rounds I'd try first.
 
First Im a reloader so... second Id buy two or three different brands and see what your gun patterns with (likes) then Id sight it in with those. every gun is different and who know what your gun will like. Hard to find light recoling bullets but just get the lightest grain possible and there you go, Good luck And dont you like a deal like that from the store from time to time?
 
I reload for my 30-06 but always keep a few boxes of Remington Cor-Lokt 150gr. handy. My Springfield loves the Cor-Lokt ammo. I have tried the federal and it didnt impress me at all and the remington is cheaper and shoots better for me at least.
 
My Savage 30-06 is deadly with either Winchester Power Points or Remington Core-Lokt using 150 gr soft points.

oldhunter
 
I would hate trying to count how many deer have been harvested by the remington 150gr core lokt. I wouldnt be surprised if it outnumbered anything else. In the early 60's I loved the winchester silvertip, but they are no longer available.
 
I always and I mean always shoot target the same as I shoot game. Same gun, same round. I get real nice ammo hand loaded match stuff from a guy way out on I street in Omaha. Put it thru the same hole on the paper. Very consistant ammo and thats what I want out of my 06.
 
taking one box of Fed 150 gr soft point and one of Rem cor lokt 150 gr to the range for first shoot out of the new gun tomorrow or the next day. I'll let u know how it goes.

On a related note note: .30-06 Fed 150 gr powershok 14.99/box at WalMart. Same round 27.99 at my local gunstore. That guy will either be retiring wealthy or going out of business soon. Can't tell which yet ;-)
 
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