30-06 Too Much Gun?

AviD

AviD

New member
Well, I live here in NJ and am limited to hunting with a shotgun for predators. Given the season is coming to a close, and PA is year-round and NY goes for another month, I'm thinking about heading out there to continue my season.

The good part is, the opens the rifle door for me...the bad part is, I only have one rifle that is actually in what I consider working condition...a Remington Model 700 Springfield 30-06...which I used in the past out West (Wyoming) for a mule deer hunt. I spent days and days at the range sighting it in with various loads from 145-180 grain, and wound up going with the 165 grain Federal Premium Vital-Shok Sierra GameKing BTSP. This bullet shoots amazing out of this gun, but I figure it's complete overkill for predators.

Ultimately, since this is my first year hunting them, I want to really "get by" and feel it out. If I wind up getting hooked (very likely at this point), I want to research and invest in a predator specific gun.

So for now, can I stick with the 165s or should I try a different bullet? If something else, does anyone have any recommendations on a small subset of bullets worth trying? I know every gun is different, and to be honest, at this stage with the NY season closing shortly...I don't want to spend my hunting time at the range. I figure maybe I'll get by with the 30-06 til NY's season closes and then start looking to get a new gun and spend some time at the range since PA's season is open year round.

Thoughts? Recommendations? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I hunt with a 30-06, but I don't save pelts. I use 165gr Remington Core-lock ammo. The bonus to using a rifle this size for yotes is once you hit em' they drop like a bad habbit. Once I get back to Ohio where it gets cold and the pelts get thick I will probably in invest in a good .223 or a .22-250. It all just depends on what you are trying to do.
 
Well, I would like to get the first yote I get tanned. I guess with the 30-06, if I lay it on a table, I can use the exit wound as a cup holder? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

How big of exit wounds are you seeing?
 
Quote:

How big of exit wounds are you seeing?



It depends on what the bullet hits. I've killed 2 with my 7mm, (it was the only gun that I had with me). One of the coyotes had a hole that you could fit a full sized football into, the other had no visible entrance & the exit hole was maybe the size of a quarter.

You just never know, my .223 normally doesnt do any damage but occasionally you will get a big hole if you catch a rib or part of a shoulder.
 
I've killed a lot of coyotes over the years with 150-grain .30-06 loads... military surplus rounds and Remington Core Lokt. Works pretty well. Occasionally you have a mess but usually the bullets pass through coyotes without too much damage. Way too much gun for anything smaller.
 
Yes. That being said, hunt with what you have, live with the results and be happy! The best rifle to use is the one you have. The best day to hunt is on the one you can. You've got the rest of your life to figure out the details. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Welcome.
 
I'd use what you've got. I've got several dedicated preditor/varmit rifles, but If I'm out deer hunting and see a coyote on the way back home the 280 Remington or 8mm Rem mag with deer and elk loads does a nice job on them.

I sure wouldn't buy a new gun for casual hunting if you have an accurate 06. You didn't say if you reload, but if you gun will shoot those 125's or 130's it makes a very flat shooting preditor combo.

Just keep in mind that hunting with anything is better than not huntng at all.

By the way welcome to the forum.
 
Thanks guys, I guess I'll stick with the 06 for now, and look into another gun later down the road possibly!
 
If you want to save the fur, I'd try Winchester 150 or 165 grain FailSafe bullets. I've never used them on predators, but in my experience, they will not expand and blow a huge hole out the other side, even if you hit a bone. I'll never use them for big game hunting again, though.

My first year elk hunting, I used these bullets in a 30-06 (following Winchester's recommendation for large, heavy game.) I got lucky on opening morning and caught a 5 X 5 bull broadside 150 yards out. My first shot caught him right behind the right shoulder, went through, broke his left upper leg bone/shoulder, and lodged underneath the skin. I still have the bullet--it looks like a pencil eraser, with the tip flattened but not expanded. As it turns out, I had to shoot the elk three more times because of the lack of expansion. The second and third shots were placed a little further back, through the ribs so that I wouldn't completely wreck the front quarters (the elk didn't even move!) After the third shot he turned away from me and I put him down with a shot to the back of the neck. The second and third shots both hit ribs and zipped right through with tiny exit wounds.

I think an expanding bullet would have put him down on the first shot with the same bullet placement. Anyway--FailSafe may be a bad choice for large game, but it might be just the ticket for smaller animals if you want to save the pelt.
 
AviD,
Try to stay away from shoulder bones as they wreak havoc. Big Holes exiting from personal experience. A good broadside may do the trick. Also, you may be surpised and disappointed by the fact that not all coyotes have pretty pelts. Some are worn and scuzzy looking while others may be pristine. Hopefully your first will be stellar but be aware that you might just let it lie upon inspection. Once the warmer weather hits don't even consider having a pelt tanned. They aren't pretty at all. November through mid February is your best chance at a good hide. In Ohio over 1/2 of the coyotes I kill aren't worth skinning once they are on the ground. Too bad.
 
Hrm, OK good tips. I guess it's probably best to just take the first nice looking pelt of one I get rather than worrying about keeping the first, as you said it may turn out to be pretty crappy.
 
Hah, cmon now...I'd think with such small game a big a bullet, it would blow right through them before it even had a chance to mushroom? I don't think it's going to decimate them...
 
This year i shot a yote with my 270 and 140 gr bullet from hornady. It was the interlock (boneded lead point.) I basically blew a hole the size of my 2 fist.

I would say that you should go looking for something a little lighter in the "normal" predator/varmit calibers. If you load the 06 ok then it might work, but why not go get anotehr rifle. There are many inexpensive ones out there that will work well.
 
Quote:
but why not go get anotehr rifle



It will be on the list soon! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Just looking to get through the NY season (March 25th) with what I have, then I'll focus on a new gun with some time at the range (which I don't have time for right now).
 
Well here in Texas pelts are not an option at all atleast not the part I am in. here they are just a pain in the butt and all over the place. If your 06 works then use it I use mine from time to time depending on where I am! I use a 180gr. Winchester but I'm lookin for numbers not fur!
 
I've killed quite a few coyotes with a 308 and must say that it certainly gets the job done in spades. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I simply don't get the spinners or runners that the guys that use the sissy calibers do... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Can you say BANG... FLOP?

I never cared about fur anyway even when I lived in Colorado and they were prime.

If coyote furs ever were higher than $50 for a whole coyote with someone taking all I could bring him I'd start worrying about fur. Otherwise it's a hobby to me (not a business) and I prefer to let 'em lie where they fall... er... FLOP! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

$bob$
 
For those without a dedicated predator rifle in the .22 range you are pretty much left with "whatever kills" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm one of them. The swamps we hunt in have other critters like bear, wolves, cougar...stuff that comes running in like a dinner bell if they could hear it. So my brother and I take joy in knowing what we take for firepower can kill (if need be). We dont save fur. I carry a guide gun in 45-70, my brother with his Savage .270win.
 
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