Are my reloads too weak for elk? (30-06)

N

Northslope Nimrod

New member
I used to shoot 180 gr for elk and 150 gr for deer. A few years ago I decided to just go with 165 for everything. I reloaded a bunch of 165 gr Hornady Interlocks. But I loaded them at 2700 fps, which appears slow for 165 gr bullets.

For shots under 100 yards, will there be any less killing power or less "shock" to the animal? In other words, would a 165 gr bullet traveling 2950 fps have any more killing power or give more shock to the animal?

I only ask because I have about 60 rounds of this stuff and my rifle is already sighted in for the hunt.

ALSO, let's say I don't want to re-sight my gun, but I want to shoot 180 grain bullets. What muzzle velocity would I need to have a similar trajectory to the 165 grain at 2700 fps?
 
You won't lose any game to that load if you shoot it well.

Your second question can only be answered by shooting on paper, at the farthest range you intend to hunt. Hell just changing brands of bullets, of the same weight, is reason enough to confirm your zero & re-sight your rifle, as necessary.
 
I killed a bull elk this year with a 160 grain .284 bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2800. The elk went about 30 yards. I really don't think the result would have been any different with more velocity.
 
Quote: "ALSO, let's say I don't want to re-sight my gun, but I want to shoot 180 grain bullets. What muzzle velocity would I need to have a similar trajectory to the 165 grain at 2700 fps? "

Nimrod,
It isn't just the trajectory that you have to worry about; it is mainly the point of impact. As stated above, just changing the brand/style/weight of bullet can change the POI significantly and require resighting. Test the different loads and see how close the POI and trajectory matches for your rifle.
 
Your load is perfect for deer and elk.2700fps for the 165 Nosler partition is an outstanding combination of bullet weight and speed.I load .308 and 30-06 to identical speeds and have outstanding performance on both Mule deer and elk. I cannot say enough good things about this combination. I am happy to see you going with a tried and true combination.However shot placement is still the rule.
 
Longranger,

So are you suggesting that I load the same in the future? I was leaning toward going straight 180 grain (deer and elk) for future reloading.

Also, are you saying that velocities OVER 2700 in 165 are less accurate?
I notice that most factory loads I've seen lately are around 2800 to 2900 fps.
 
There is nothing wrong with that load for elk or any other game. That's what I use on hogs in my .308 Remington 700. Knocks 'em flat.... I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk...
 
Yes that is what I am saying,I have not used the Hornady Interlocks as I use the Noslers.I would expect similar results with the Interlocks.I just like the partitions as a hunting bullet,they are little more expensive I think but a better bullet for game animals.The 165's give a pretty flat trajectory with enough weight to get the job done.Pushing the 165's faster than 2700fps will make the bullet start to mushroom early and not allow for deep penetration.Even worse with the 150's,180's punch 2 clean holes and don't expend all of their energy in the animal.
 
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One thought

If your barrel is 22", 2700 is about it. I'm with the others on 165s; however, I'd go for the penetration on Elk with IB or Partitions. The Interlock is the standard bullet, the Interbond is the premium.
 
OK, help me out. I'm not very good at ballistics.

When I use Norma Ballistic Calculator, I get the same trajectory for 165 gr at 2700 fps as I do for 180 at 2700 fps. Is that right? The energy changes but the bullet drop stays the same even out past 550 yards.

So is it a "rules of gravity thing"? An object will fall at the same rate of speed despite its weight? Only wind resistance would affect it? I didn't include any wind speed in the calculation.

So can I use my Hornady 165's and 180's without re-sighting since my muzzle velocity on both is 2700? (not target work...just plugging elk at...usually less than 100 yards but could be out to 250 yards)
 
Quote: "So can I use my Hornady 165's and 180's without re-sighting since my muzzle velocity on both is 2700? (not target work...just plugging elk at...usually less than 100 yards but could be out to 250 yards) "

Maybe, maybe not. Read Posts #2 and #5 again.
 
So can I use my Hornady 165's and 180's without re-sighting since my muzzle velocity on both is 2700? (not target work...just plugging elk at...usually less than 100 yards but could be out to 250 yards)
Click to expand...
Possibly due to many factors different loads will have different points of impact IE the 180s will probably shoot a little higher than 165s but this is not a hard and fast rules that all guns will follow.
you'll have to shoot both loads and verify POA vs POI at a couple different ranges then you can use tables to guess other ranges. there's really no shortcut.
 
I only read part of this post.

My dad loads 165 gr Nosler Partitions in 30-06 to 3200 fps. That load rocks my world but I have yet to have a deer take a step after getting hit. The load also shoots less than an inch at 100 yards - so faster loads are acurate, too.

I prefer shooting 150 grain loads at about 2900 fps - "normal" loads.......or 100 gr loads out of my .243 - southern deer are pretty small.

The 165 gr Partition is a great bullet.

While I'm rambling - dad also has a 200 or 220 gr Nosler Partition load that he used to drop a 18-24 inch white Pine. He put 4 or5 rounds thru it at about 100-150 yards (it was blocking his view from a stand) and the next windy day it went down. EVERY bullet went all the way thru and TORE that thing up.
 
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