Most explosive 30-06 varmit bullet?

S

sbaker10

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Thinking of picking up a 30-06 in a month or two as a second gun to hunt coyotes and go on a elk hunt with later, for shooting coyotes I don't care about pelt damage I just want the most explosive bullet that will dump most the energy into the coyote instead of wasting it.
 
I don't use my '06 for any type of varmint use. But, based on what I have heard from friends and family, I would have to say....

Hornady 110 gr V-Max


The Nosler 110 gr Varmageddon sounds pretty good, as well; but I only know one shooter that has tried them.


Whatever you choose, don't buy a whole bunch until you try a few. Light-for-caliber bullets tend to be unpredictable as far was whether or not a particular rifle will tolerate them (the stubby shape of the bullet and the particular rifle's throat have a lot to do with it).
You usually get one of two extremes: 1. 12 MoA 'patterns'. Or, 2. Tiny little bug-hole groups.
 
If you could find load data for it in .30-06, I'd say Hornady's 100gr SJ- I've loaded them to 2300 f/sec for a 30/30 and the are downright splatty on p-dogs and milk jugs .... dunno what they'd do at 2700+ f/sec .....

It's a soft lead round nose bullet press fit into a longish gas check .... when they hit a milk jug full of water @ 100-200 yards, the lead fragments into coarse sand sized particles- we find them in the tattered remains of the plastic jugs .... never found any part of the short jackets ...
 
An 80-grain pistol bullet ahead of about 54 grains of 3031: Close to 4,000 ft/sec MV.

Swaging down the old .32-20 flatnose bullet works well. Turns a jackrabbit into goop.
 
Try the Speer 110 Varminter HP. Speer part # 1835. Stay within the max. speed (2900 fps) to prevent mid air disintegration; data available in Speer Manuals. They expand beautifully at 30 carbine velocities; violently when driven 1000 fps faster.

Varminter
 
Speer use to make a 130 HP that worked very well on groundhogs. When all I had was a 30-06 for hunting everything that is what I used.
 
Probably something like this.
http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Mauser-.308-86-gr-RN/
A light soft point pistol bullet is designed to expand at pistol velocities. (around 1000fps give or take) Load it up to about 4000fps and it's bound to be fairly 'explosive'

Also checkout the 100 grain raptor.
https://cuttingedgebullets.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ESP_C100_RAPTOR
It's an interesting HP which is designed to shed 6 blades of razor sharp shrapnel, while keeping a majority of the bullet intact. You can also turn it around 'backwards' and use it as a FMJ bullet.
 
If you're looking for a full power factory load, I'd suggest a 125 grain bullet if you can find it. There's not much difference between 125 and 150 grain bullets when shooting coyotes. I've not seen a really "explosive" factory round for the 30/06. I shot a 30/06 on everything for years and handloaded 110 and 125 grain so called varmint bullets with varied results. The 110 grainers may expand slightly quicker or more violent but (in most cases) were not as accurate as heavier bullets.
Since you seem to be unfamiliar with the 30/06 it might be better if you just use 150 grain Ballistic Tips and learn where to hold for longer ranges. Then when you're ready for an elk hunt, switch to 165 Nosler Partitions and you're set.
 
Probably something like this.
http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Mauser-.308-86-gr-RN/
A light soft point pistol bullet is designed to expand at pistol velocities. (around 1000fps give or take) Load it up to about 4000fps and it's bound to be fairly 'explosive'
Click to expand...
They can't handle the velocity.
I load .312" 60 gr XTPs for my .30-30, and, even there, I have to be careful not to push them too hard. I tried 5 of them in the '06. Not one of them made it to the target (estimated 2,700-3,000 fps). They self-destructed in flight.
Explosive? Absolutely. ...but not in the manner desired.
 
Remington offers an "Accelerator" loading in .30-06. It features a saboted 55gr .223 JSP bullet at over 4,000fps. I should certainly think it would be very "explosive" on small game, but I might be a bit concerned with its accuracy as the twist rates of most .30-06 barrels are probably geared towards substantially heavier bullets.
 
After some extensive(and expensive) testing, I found the "Accelerator" sabot ammo to be worthless. Whether factory or hand loaded, the stuff is very temperamental and variable. It takes a specific combination of bore condition and powder charge to give even moderate accuracy. After trying 4-5 30/06 rifles, I found one that would produce 1" groups but only after firing about 25-30 "fouling" shots to coat the bore with sabot residue. Simply not practical for general use.
 
coyote bullets

I have seen the varmint bullets for 30-06, but I have heard the same thing about rifling twist in a 30-06 (1 in 10") is common I think.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifling_twist_rate.htm

I haven't tried them. I just use a 150 grain bullet like other comments said. Works for me, but I haven't tried to sell and pelts either. The only trouble is re-sighting in for the 180's I like for elk.
 
Art Eatman said:
An 80-grain pistol bullet ahead of about 54 grains of 3031: Close to 4,000 ft/sec MV.
Click to expand...

Art, have you done this with a specific bullet? I was looking into this a couple of years ago and contacted Hornady about their 86gr .308 (.30 Mauser) bullet. They said it would never survive the trip down the barrel.:( I never looked any further.
 
There must be a extremely light .308 bullet out there, that can handle the velocity. Just remember that 4,000fps loads tend to lose velocity extremely quickly, due to the combination of the light low BC bullets and the increased wind resistance from such a high speed. Wind resistance tends to grow exponentially with speed.
A 4000fps load with a light round nosed bullet could lose close to 1000fps by the time it hits the 100 yard mark. If you're going to be shooting that far, it may make more sense to load something like the 110 grain V-max to max pressure, as you'd end up with a similar velocity (If not more) at 100 yards, with more energy, and projectile mass, as well as less wind drift. Time of flight will be about the same, and only about .2'' more drop at 100 yards. It's still laser flat, and should be just as 'explosive.'
 
One day, many moons ago, I didn't have any handloaded '06 ammo to hunt with and bought some factory 110 "mushroom" ammo that had a very broad hollow point.

I encountered a medium-sized woodchuck at about 100 yards quartering towards me and hit it in the right shoulder area. The chuck literally exploded, scattering body parts in about a 10 yard circle! Most destruction I've ever experienced.
 
Speer #1835.

I've loaded them in 30-30's to around 2600 fps & they pretty much turn inside out when they hit something. They'd be even more violent in the '06.
 
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