Nosler E Tip in .30-06

[Acm]

Morning all. Saw a bargain over the weekend and purchased 100 180grn e tip in .30 cal for £50, they’re heavier than my current load of 165 Barnes but I do love a bargain!
I have a few pounds of reloader 22 and Noslers data suggests I can get an mv of 2700 reasonably easily. I’m fairly sure my rifle will stabilise them as for years I used 220grn bonded bullets for reds, moose and boar.

I ran the ballistics through streklok and got the following.

When zeroed at 150m I need 1.8 inches holdover at 200m or 5 inches at 250. Which I generally regard as my max range In the U.K. if I’m expecting to shoot farther I’d be taking the 6.5 anyway. I thought that looked fairly good. As far as retained speed and energy go, at 150m I have 2568fps and 2636ftlbs.
At 200m I have 2469fps and 2437ftlbs
At 250m I have 2373 FPS and 2251ftlbs
The e tip is supposedly good for expansion down to 1800fps, but with mono metals I do prefer to keep them above 2000fps. I still think that’s a nice margin for error. Obviously I will work up a load and test the mv with a chrono but I like the look of these numbers. My intended game is red stags, hopefully some sika and fallow and eventually a boar too. Im keen to hear what you guys think of this load, I know it’s heavier than most like for a lead free bullet In the 06, but I’m hoping it might be a good short to medium range heavy hitter for the bigger game I’m looking to hunt with this rifle.
I’ve attached a screenshot of noslers Data and the streklok speed charts.

 

[CarlW]

That's a good price. Less than half price.

Although I'm a bit of a copper-denier, I do throw heavy copper around slowly in Africa and it is very good at killing big, heavy things. I'm less confident with slow copper around soft-skinned animals, though. That said, you are well within Nosler's stated expansion envelope at your planned ranges and velocities, so there is no reason not to give it a try. Would you mind sharing your results as I am looking to play with150gn e-tips in .308 at some point?

Best,

Carl

 

[Acm]

Of course Carl. It’s my first try using the e tip and it’s a bullet I’ve been looking at for a long time. I’ve never had a bad nosler bullet and used the 165 grn partition in .308 to great effect.

 

[CarlW]

Of course Carl. It’s my first try using the e tip and it’s a bullet I’ve been looking at for a long time. I’ve never had a bad nosler bullet and used the 165 grn partition in .308 to great effect.

Thank you.

And, I agree. Nosler make exceedingly good bullets. I swear by both Accubonds and Ballistic Tips. I also really like the look of their ABLRs. I have a box of the latter on my shelf but have yet to try them. They are delightfully pointy...

 

[Selous]

My suspicion is that you may not get full expansion, especially at range. The heaviest I would go with the 30/06 would be 150 grain. I hope I’m wrong though so please report back.

 

[CCC812]

I'll be watching this thread closely, I'm also after a copper round for my 30.06, just trying some 130g TTSX and peregrine 150g.

 

[Selous]

I'll be watching this thread closely, I'm also after a copper round for my 30.06, just trying some 130g TTSX and peregrine 150g.

I would be very interested in your comparison between the two bullets.

 

[Acm]

An update, spent 20 mins loading up some test ammo to try one evening this week. Starting low as the bullets are so long. All loads are compressed but the lightest.
new sako brass
Cci primer
Reloader 22 powder

 

[Acm]

I’ve been doing a bit of load development and found a load that shoots a 1.2 inch group. I have to say, this is the worst group I’ve settled on in my loading history. But after reading some articles by Jack o Connor, Chuck hawks, and various other publications I have decided that an inch group at 100m will do for now. To be fair the rifle is unmoderated and not the easiest to shoot prone on the range from a recoil point of view. I think a moderator would tighten things up but it’s a special rifle which I like to keep classic. Anyway, loaded up ten and went for a walk this morning. An old buck at 30m was my first to fall to the nosler e tips. Not much of a test really, short range, shoulder shot. Good expansion, dropped right on the spot. It did remind me that this is a hunting rifle, not a target rifle. It’s short, easy to carry, lethal at ethical hunting ranges and pretty as hell.
Looking forward to doing more testing over the next few months.

 

[243varmint]

A good result so far Andy.
That was a good price for them thou
Wmh on the buck.

 

[angusb1]

That's a good looking rifle. What is it please?

 

[Acm]

That's a good looking rifle. What is it please?

Classic old Mauser mate, thabks for the kind words. I think she’s 1980’s

 

[Smokedude]

@Acm Do you happen to have an update on these E tips? Cheers

 

[Acm]

@Acm Do you happen to have an update on these E tips? Cheers

they worked fine, i shot about 30 of them at roe fallow and fox and then gave them to a mate who was loading for a win mag and wanted to try them. i prefer the lower recoil from the 150-165 weight range

 

[enfieldspares]

I would join an Americancentric forum such as 24 Hour Campfire or Accurate Reloading (avoid their political sub-forum if you are easily offended0 and ask there. They are bound to have a knowledge of it on whitetail and etc..

 

[Acm]

The main reason i stopped with them is the reason i stopped with all reloading for now. New baby on the way, expanding business and the rising cost of consumables and the lack of continuity of supply meant i just went back to factory ammo. Spent £500 on a load of factory ammo and now when I'm free I can go hunting rather than loading!

 

[captaincrunch1970]

Found a nice load with 168 etip, very accurate, best 100 m group i ever shot. 3 in one hole! Using N160, sako brass, cci200 primers at 2880 fps in a 30-06 Ackley Improved. I have recovered them from water jugs and the dirt berm from 200m and all perfect mushrooms. The 180's I think will be no different.