I am going bear hunting with my my grandpas good old 30-06 with an old Leupold scope. It has caped turrets so no quick dialing the scope for range. I was wondering what load to use because it shoots a 165 grain bonded bullet By federal premium with a bc of .450 at 2850. Under an inch at 100 yards. It also shoots a 190 grain ABLR under an inch and it has a BC of .597 and velocity is 2629. The place I will be hunting will be in thick forest with some holes in the trees and small meadows with cross canyon shots. shots will range from 5 - 800 yards. which bullet do I choose?
In this case, it won’t matter much which bullet you choose. Both of those options drop below 2000fps around 450 yards. The ABLR nets you just 13 yards of additional effective range.
Given they are both bonded bullets, I oersonally wouldn’t shoot at game at any distance where they drop below 2,000 fps.
To stretch out to 800, you’d really need an extremely purpose-built setup. Probably a 7 PRC with an ELDX or Berger, or something very similar to that. It’s 1% of bullet/load/cartridge combinations that would be effective at that range.
I assume black bear. As Jim said not much difference except in one way maybe- recoil. Might be a bit better with the 165 and maybe see through scope after the shot better.
We have been shooting 30-06 for years, deer hunting in California. We have to use non-lead now and we are handloading with the Hornady CX 150 grn. We shoot an 8" plate up to 500 yds but that is about max for that caliber. Prior to the lead ban, I used 165 grn Rem Core Lokt and my rifle loved that bullet. Still would not shoot further than 500 with that bullet.
I have shot 30.06 since 1982 (one of my favorite cartridges) and it has been the most productive caliber I have next to the .22 LR. Of course two different classes of game shot with these cartridges. Throughout the many years of shooting my 30.06, I found the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 180grn cartridge to be a truly accurate and powerful bullet - but keep in mind that the maximum effective range is only 450 yards - as it drops below 2000fps at 455 yards.
This year I used 30-06 Springfield 178 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter® and I found them to be really awesome bullets. They are designed to extend lethal range beyond 500yds and I was very pleased with their accuracy.
I usually bow hunt so when I do use a rifle I get pretty close anyways. For example I took two deer this year both were within a hundred yards and these bullets dropped them where they stood.
I hope you have a great hunt and bring home the game.
Good luck.