150 Grain vs. 180 Grain Bullet

[Moho81]

I am probably way over thinking things but with the way ammo is right now trying to find 150 grain bullets for my 30-06 is really hard. My local gun dealer has 180 grain in stock but my question is this...

How big of a difference is there with bullet expansion between the two when shots are mostly at 100 yards or less? Would the heavier 180 grain bullet not expand as much as the lighter weight 150 grain? 

[rob-c]

What brand are you looking at ? 

[Moho81]

1 minute ago, rob-c said:

What brand are you looking at ? 

Remington Core-Lok and Federal Power Shok both 180 grain 

[rob-c]

I used  180 core-loks in my sons 30-30 and they performed well. I say buy  both , don’t sweat the performance on deer as they will both harvest deer well and pick what every one groups better with your gun and hunt with em. 

[Rack Attack]

The weight of the bullet will not really effect how it expands, expansion has much more to do with how the bullet is constructed.  An example would comparing a 180 grain nosler partition to a 180 grain nosler ballistic tip, both are 180 grain, but the ballistic tip will expand much more than the portion.  That being said, there have been a boat load of deer killed with a 180 grain core lok from a 30-06.  I wouldn't overthink it.

[grampy]

18 minutes ago, Moho81 said:

I am probably way over thinking things but with the way ammo is right now trying to find 150 grain bullets for my 30-06 is really hard. My local gun dealer has 180 grain in stock but my question is this...

How big of a difference is there with bullet expansion between the two when shots are mostly at 100 yards or less? Would the heavier 180 grain bullet not expand as much as the lighter weight 150 grain? 

There will be no noticeable difference in terminal performance, on deer between 150g and 180g bullets of the same composition. Just check the POI, to be sure your rifle shoots the same after the change.

[Zag]

28 minutes ago, Moho81 said:

I am probably way over thinking things but with the way ammo is right now trying to find 150 grain bullets for my 30-06 is really hard. My local gun dealer has 180 grain in stock but my question is this...

How big of a difference is there with bullet expansion between the two when shots are mostly at 100 yards or less? Would the heavier 180 grain bullet not expand as much as the lighter weight 150 grain? 

Way over thinking it!!

[MPHunter]

Overthinking it....My dad shot 180gr core-lokts out of his .308 for decades and most deer he shot were DRT. All under 100 yards. A few seasons ago he switched to a lighter 150gr Winchester Deer Season XP. He has shot two bucks with that round at about 50 yards, also DRT.

[CapDistPatriot]

I wish I could find Core-Lokts ANYWHERE around here...

[Robhuntandfish]

49 minutes ago, Moho81 said:

I am probably way over thinking things but with the way ammo is right now trying to find 150 grain bullets for my 30-06 is really hard. My local gun dealer has 180 grain in stock but my question is this...

How big of a difference is there with bullet expansion between the two when shots are mostly at 100 yards or less? Would the heavier 180 grain bullet not expand as much as the lighter weight 150 grain? 

 I went with 165 grain for my 06 as i figured that covered everything from moose to deer to bear.  But right now i would buy what you can for hunting season

[Swamp_bucks]

I used to shoot the core-lok and now shoot the power shock.  Both work great with 150 & 180 out of my 30-06.  I switched because I couldn't find the core-lok one year and i will say I haven't had one move an inch with the power shocks where they would run a little with the core-loks 

Edited September 24, 2020 by Swamp_bucks

[rachunter]

walmart had a full shelf of 3006 from 150gr. to 180gr. here on long island. no 22 mags

[Foggy Mountain]

You guys oughta consider reloading. This prob doesn’t exist as long as you keep supplies on hand. Just as easy though to stock up on ammo but you’d not be a slave to the market

[ATbuckhunter]

Both will kill just as well. Put the bullet where its supposed to go and you'll have a dead deer. I use 180, but I have no problem using 150's 

[Daveboone]

Just remember the 180s will drop quicker...be sure to sight your gun at your normal range. There will likely be a significant change. Generally the heavier wt bullets are for bigger heavier animals, bear, moose, etc. but certainly the deer wont know the difference.

[Pygmy]

5 hours ago, Moho81 said:

I am probably way over thinking things but with the way ammo is right now trying to find 150 grain bullets for my 30-06 is really hard. My local gun dealer has 180 grain in stock but my question is this...

How big of a difference is there with bullet expansion between the two when shots are mostly at 100 yards or less? Would the heavier 180 grain bullet not expand as much as the lighter weight 150 grain? 

The amount of expansion would depend more on the bullet construction  than the bullet weight...At ranges of 100 yards or less, with bullets of the same or similar construction, the difference would be negligible, as would be the point of aim..

Just about all, if not all .30 cal hunting  bullets ( not fmj or target)  of 150 grains or heavier are designed for big game and will expand sufficiently enough and penetrate deeply enough  for pass through shots on deer, as well as most other ranging type shots, except perhaps for  the infamous Texas heart Shot.. 

Just apply them to a vital area and you will have a dead deer, pronto...

Edited September 25, 2020 by Pygmy

[Moho81]

Thanks for the replies. I bought a box of each and will hit the range this weekend to see which one patterns better and to zero the scope in as well.


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[Lawdwaz]

5 minutes ago, Moho81 said:

Thanks for the replies. I bought a box of each and will hit the range this weekend to see which one patterns better and to zero the scope in as well.


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Jason......I'm just seeing this.  Some might poopoo this but I have a few boxes of 30-06 165gr Sierra SPBT reloads I did for my father back in 1994.  The only thing I didn't check is the OAL. They were for his Weatherby Mark 5 and have 54.5gr of IMR 4350, not hot rodded at all.

Say the word and they're yours.

[Lawdwaz]

3.270” is the OAL

 

[Nomad]

Looking for this ? Buds guns , online .

[Moho81]

Jason......I'm just seeing this.  Some might poopoo this but I have a few boxes of 30-06 165gr Sierra SPBT reloads I did for my father back in 1994.  The only thing I didn't check is the OAL. They were for his Weatherby Mark 5 and have 54.5gr of IMR 4350, not hot rodded at all.
Say the word and they're yours.

I’d be honored to shoot some reloads from a legend!


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[Moho81]

Looking for this ? Buds guns , online .

I saw a few other online places that had 150 grain as well but I didn’t necessarily want to rely on shipping. The regular season is closer than we think.


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[Hock3y24]

i shoot der with a 95 grain .243 and a 123 grain 6.5 grendel. either of yours will work. 

[Farflung]

just seeing this topic. My Uncle, several of our friends, my cousin and nephew all shot 180 grain Remington Coreloks. If they hit them in the boiler room (heart/lungs) the deer succumbed either on the  spot or within 100 yards. Liver hits took longer. Gut shots were interminable but we almost always got the deer. This was over 100 deer and many years. Not my favorite round, but a deer hit resonabley right is a dead deer with a 180 grain. Only problems that occurred were when the bullet went thru the the top of the lungs and did not leave a good blood trail.

[mlammerhirt]

3.270” is the OAL
 

Larry....what's OAL stand for?

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