[preacher]

I have used 180SP Hornady Light mags and the older Federal High Energy 180 Nosler Parition, but no hand loads. I have loaded the 200gr partition s my next elk bullet, but have only used it on hog so far. My Remington 700 shoots all my handloads 200, 240, 168's,125's all in itty bitty groups. Just picked up a Mark X 30.06, having it bedded/floated/trigger adjusted,etc. I will try all the heavy loads I have ( will work up of course) I like Commercial Mausers, this one will be for rougher weather ( has irons as a backup) over my Rem CDL.
What do you '06 lover's like to use on elk, handloads or factory either one?

 

[Halwg]

I dunno, we just don't see many elk in WV.

 

[Pard]

I have 5 30-06s in my safe. I still use the 45-70 for elk

 

[DWB]

What do you '06 lover's like to use on elk, handloads or factory either one?

In my '06, handloaded 180 gr partitions over 54.0 gr of IMR 4350 worked well enough for me when I lived in Colorado. Anything a .300 Win Mag would do to an Elk, these would do about as well, so long as the Elk was 100 yards or so closer. It was more about shot placement than anything else.

Of course, now that I have a .444 and a .45-70 to mess around with... : Geez, those out of state tags are spendy though.

 

[unbridled]

^ That is the exact load I used to have reloaded for me when I had my last -06. Got a new XL7 in -06 and will have to start loading again. That will probably be a good place to start.

 

[preacher]

I was thinking of you other night Hal...I saw this documentary about the "White" family, there in WV. OMG, what bunch of characters...and I thought my family tree had some "nuts" in it,ha.
I like the 180 XBT in a 300 mag, but for an '06, I think the 168 TTSX would be wicked. I do like the thump that 200 Partition puts on solid animals though! This Mark X is an older rifle, a Zastava put together in Manchester, England.

 

[hub]

My favorite for elk is 200 grain gamekings or partitions in both the 30:06 or the 300 mag. I load the 06 right at 2600 and the 300 right at 2950 or so. The above is just my own preferences. There is a multitude of loads and ammo that will take elk in the 30:06. I wonder how many elk go down every season with core-loks and win. power points in various weghts.

 

[preacher]

I've seen many elk taken with corlokts and pp, plus the old Federal Red box stuff. I have shot elk with 338 wins/375 H&H , but to me, a 30.06 is just about right, along with a 35 Whelen. Less fuss, less kick, less blast. I have never had to shoot an elk over 250 yds, and most were around 100 yds. I like to hunt tighter cover. I have a 7mm RUM for that "reach out and touch" elk. I have yet to even have it in the mountains! Every red blooded American ought to have an ought six!

 

[janott]

Not near my reloading books but DWB's load sounds like what I use.

 

[MontanaMan]

Preacher I hand load the Hornady 180 BTSP to 2600 FPS with IMR 4350, Federal primers and brass. I've killed elk with this load from handshaking distance to way out there and the bullet has always performed perfectly. This load has worked very well for me out of my Remington 700 BDL.

MM

 

[Halwg]

If I ever get the chance to shoot an elk, I'm going to use the 180 gr Nosler Partition over 56.5 gr of IMR-4350. This chronographs 2660 out of my Ruger M77 and should be adequate for the elk in PA.

 

[hub]

Halwg, 2660 ain,t bad. Factory 180 remmy core-loks ran only 2514 fps on my chrony out of my savage 110 E. I,m here to tell ya win and remington are not loading core loks or power points any where near there advetised 2700. 270 130,s and 150,s are way low on velocity with there factory ammo as well.

 

[Ziptie]

I think the 06 is a great elk gun, I hunt in WA. Shots range from 10’ to as long as you can shoot. I load for one of my hunting partners that shoots a 06. The gun is a Ruger M77 in 06, the load has taken bull elk at 450yds with great success.

Load (max in nosler book) 180gr @ 2872fps
Win brass, Fed 210m primer, 61gr of RE 22, 180 gr nos partition or ballistic tip.

Good luck

 

[hub]

Ziptie, I like the way you put that. I do the same thing for 180,s and 200,s. Nosler book #1 max with IMR-4831 in lieu of RL-22. I went with IMR-4831 before RL-22 existed. After looking at book# 5 just might give RL-22 a try. Looks like better velocity with RL-22.

 

[janott]

Nothing better than a successful elk hunt, hunting elk bring the same excitment that hunting brought to me when I was 14 years old. 8) 8) 8) ;D ;D ;D

 

[preacher]

Thanks guys, most of my elk hunting anymore is for late season cows. I have never even had a shot at a legal bull ( they were either too far, big bulls in spike only areas, or running too fast,ha!) I have enjoyed eating every cow though!
I bought some of the new Hornady 165 GMX to try out in handloads, think I'll try H414 first. I sure do like R22 and the Nosler 200 though, it's a standby for my other '06.

 

[jrchurch254a]

180 gr vote here, it really hasnt mattered which brand (Remington, Nosler or Hornady). Elk are not hard to kill, they are just hard to FIND!!! And once they know you are in the country they will run for days. Like someone said earlier, "every red blooded American should own and ought six", couldnt have said it any better.

Chief

 

[janott]

I dunno there jrchurch254a, I've seen some bulls and cows that just did not want to die when they should have been. I'm still with the theory to shoot until there down and not moving.

 

[preacher]

I dunno there jrchurch254a, I've seen some bulls and cows that just did not want to die when they should have been. I'm still with the theory to shoot until there down and not moving.

We also "shoot all the wiggle out of them". When hit they can have an uncanny way of finding and getting into the deepest, nastiest hole of your nightmares here in Utah! ha. Just a big, tenacious, beautiful, delicious animal!

 

[janott]

The bull elk in my avatar I shot and broke his back through his shoulders and he went right down, then his head came up and he started to drag himself away so I drill his back again just between his shoulder from an angle. Down and not moving, nope. When I walked up to him from where I shot at 200+ yards he lifted his head and turned to look at me, and one more shot finally did the trick. They can be very tough to put down and if you get them down make sure there going to stay there.