Winch. Model 70 XTR featherweight 30-06 - bullet preference?

[Vicko]

A mate left me his featherweight 30-06 after passing away. A lovely light little rifle that was used well by a better shooter than me - I'm hoping to use to chase some deer and pigs with it. I've only thrown a few rounds down on it as its currently setup with open sights only.

Does anyone else have one and if so what rounds have you found work well?
I'm assuming the middle weight bullets might be better than heavier ones as I believe it'll have a slowish twist rate of 1:14 (and a 22inch barrel) so am probably going to start trialing around the 150-165gr mark.

[bigrich]

don't own a 30-06 featherweight unfortunately, but through general reloading i've found the hornady SST's to be a good medium game projectile . speer 165gn soft points worked well in a 308 i had,and are well priced too. hope this helps, cheers

[wrenchman]

lot of 180 graing stuff is used here i like to run 150 graing stff but that is the nice thing about the 06 i have seen 115 all the way up to 220.
If you hand load you can do alot with it i have take bears and deer with mine

[Wm.Traynor]

Vicko
Not to waste your time mate but I had a 150 gn Remington factory Core-Lokt in 308W, that blew up on the the neck and shoulder bones of a pig. Killed the pig easily but ever since I have always thought that if I was lucky enough to go pig shooting again, that I would use a 165 gn pill.
BTW, if you want to check your rate of twist, you only need a cleaning rod, a jag and a patch.
Good Hunting

[marksman]

l have been using the berger classic hunter 168gr for sambar successfully in my 30-06, wincases and 2209 powder at 2860fps,
l use these because of they way they fragmentat not because of the weight



l have also had luck with sierra and hornady 150gr bullets on fallow, sambar, reds and pigs



the 30-06 was made to use 150gr bullets, and they can put anything down, of course you can use heavier but IMHO shot placement with good bullets means more than weight, l do see why a shooter would use heavier bullets at shorter distances on running game

[Blr243]

I recently asked for similar info when I acquired my first 308 about a week ago ... if u check the replies in the game hunting section u might find something useful. think the topic was ( 308 suitable projectiles)

[TassieTiger]

I have developed a personal load For my 06 - 168gn Amaz/zmax with 56.8gns 2209 = just on 3000fps and is amazingly accurate in my light sauer.
As MM said - heavier pills are obviously a choice but I think there are better cases for 180gns and up.

Blr - I was a little surprised at some 308 responses tbh. I said nothing as I don’t own a 308 - but 180/200’s in an 08 are in My opinion A bit heavy vs lack speed.

[Vicko]

Thanks guys

[Blr243]

Good point TT. 150 weight is a significant weight increase over my previous 243 87 weight ..,and that should be sufficient for what I need to do I’m already compromising my previous flat 243 trajectory with my new 308. Wont affect my pig shooting but I will Need to take more care with the foxes....and by jumping up to 180 or 165 I’m steering away from flatness even more. I have a stack of factory and reloads in 308 ready to go. I have been lucky that 87 v max in 243 was always only 33 cents each. But my preferred hornady pills in 308 are never going to be so economical.....I just finished prepping and priming 400 cases purchased from marksman but they can sit for a bit. I’m in no hurry to get more pills. I have time to think it through completely and wait till something I trust comes up at a special price for a bulk purchase

[Oldbloke]

I have a M70 I bought many moons ago new. I have used both150 and 180gr. Mainly interlocks. Both weights shoot great. 130, not so good.
Just pick 1 to suit the game being hunted.
10" twist from memory.

[MrSavage]

I had a savage in 30-06 and I found it liked 168s the best for hunting. I think it had a 1:10 twist. .

Got my brother some 165 Sierra gameking hpbt for his 308. Great explosive expansion on the pigs. I'd be going for them if I convert that rifle back to 30-06

But Guns are like fussy children, they only like to eat certain things so you need to try some different ammo

[wrenchman]

marksman i like the wood on that gun and the end cap is it a factory stock looks like maple with a rose wood cap

[marksman]

it is a factory brno stock wrenchman
walnut with a stained cap from the white spacer era
the white spacer is slotted into the stock from factory so its not even really a cap

[wrenchman]

still looks good