Looking for a tidy Factory 30-06 lead and copper

New Avon Arms
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User00057

Well-Known Member
Hey guys I’m really just looking for some opinions on factory 30-06. My 6.5 is getting moved to my woodland Stalking rifle and I’m waiting to collect a 30-06. I’m looking for real world experiences with copper and lead factory ammunition please. Will be mainly Fallow in England and Wales and Red,Roe and Sika in Scotland ( Hence the copper)
I reload my other Calibres but would prefer to not mess around reloading the new one straight away.
Anyone use the Hornady EDLX precision hunter in 30-06 or the S&B blue energy ? Any other recommendations welcome.
 
I like the edlx in my 6.5 but I’ve had a couple not expand in Fallow at 163gr but they could just be exceptions IMG_2911.webp
 
With my ‘06

Lead

150gr Sako Hammerhead (perhaps super hammerhead) - slow killing, seemed too hard on red staggies.

165gr Nosler BT - effective but can cause a bit of bruising.

180gr Partition - a bit hard again, does the job but not as swift as you might expect for a 30 cal. Perhaps better than the 150 Sakos.

Copper

Hornady 165gr GMX (factory Superformance) - did the job well enough. Not as much ‘bang flop’ as a good lead bullet but worked on hinds. I’d be surprised if the CX isn’t the same or better.
 
That’s great info mate. Many thanks as gives me something to start on. It can get expensive testing ammo when you are up at £60 for 20 these days
 
Most civil for recoil in 30.06 lead I’ve found is the Sako 123gr Gamehead. Damn accurate - shot all 6 species with them and they just work.

Had to move over to copper, so now using 150gr Barnes TTSX. Pretty good, does the job, but don’t like them as much as the Sako lead - recoil difference is noticeable!
 
I’ve got 178gr Hornady precision hunters and S&B blue energy copper in 165gr. My RFD didn’t end up having much choice so they have ordered 20 of each of these. They both work well in my 6.5 CM so hoping they will be the same.
I will reload it but want to run a few factory though first.
 
dazrc said:
Hey guys I’m really just looking for some opinions on factory 30-06. My 6.5 is getting moved to my woodland Stalking rifle and I’m waiting to collect a 30-06. I’m looking for real world experiences with copper and lead factory ammunition please. Will be mainly Fallow in England and Wales and Red,Roe and Sika in Scotland ( Hence the copper)
I reload my other Calibres but would prefer to not mess around reloading the new one straight away.
Anyone use the Hornady EDLX precision hunter in 30-06 or the S&B blue energy ? Any other recommendations welcome.
Click to expand...
swing by Edinburgh on your way up and pick from a selection of:
Federal Copper
Sako Powerhead/Blade
S&B TRGX Blue
Fox Classic Hunter 130/150/165
RWS Evo
etc etc

also have projectiles

Hornady Precision Hunter is a Lead round
 
Yeah I shot mostly in Wales/England so mostly use lead. Just for my trips to Scotland I need Copper. Never come up as far as you though sorry
 
I used 165grain S&B TXRG Blues and 180grain Sako SuperHammerheads in my 30-06
I loved both of them and I would have kept using only the Sako but I was required to use lead-free so eventually switched to the S&B Blues
I ended up liking the S&B copper ammo even more than I had liked the Sako ammo
BUT
My 30-06 had a long barrel (27.5") so it chucked bullets quite a bit faster than what is typical for most 30-06 rifles
For example, it achieved 3000fps using 168grain Nosler ballistic tips, which were very accurate bullets but at that MV they were a bit on the "explosive" side - especially at close range
A shorter barreled 30-06 might do better with lighter bullets, say 150 & 165 for copper & lead-cored respectively
Speak to Ed, he'll keep you right
 
I have been using S & B blue copper in 30-06 for a few years now. I have no complaints at all on roe and red deer.
My wife uses them in a 7x57 and it has been very effective.

They certainly group well in my Blaser R8 and grouped well in my previous rifle, a Parker Hale
 
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