Bullet recomendations

[4dog]

Grab some Winchester PowerMax Bonded 150gr in the 30-06. It's a pointed hollow point. Rapid expansion but the bullet holds together. Not much different in price than the Remington Corelokts. This was my favorite ammo for the 243 but they quit making it. In the 30-06 it definitely expands. Shot a doe at 165yds with it last year, and the exit wound was big enough to put my fist in. I would definitely avoid a straight on shoulder shot with this ammo, but it will probably give you what you're looking for if the CoreLokt has lost your confidence.

+1 used these but 130's in my 270 took 25yrd neck shot on my deer..hit the spine enttance was tiny when i moved the head ...had grapefruit sized hole on the exit side....was duly impressed.

[LWD]

I have several thoughts. First, ammo is a lot more expensive now than it was 10 years ago. If you think '06 ammo is pricey, try buying some for a big bore.

Second, what kind of shot do you want to be able to take? It sounds like you don't want to take a shoulder shot due to meat loss. (But that's where to shoot them so they won't go anywhere—it just comes at a loss of meat due to bone fragmentation.) If so, you can use a softer bullet. By that I mean something not monometal like a Barnes TSX or not bonded like a Nosler Accubond. In that case, I'd try a new box of Core Lokts. As suggested you may have a bad batch. Even a very small change in the composition of the core of the bullet can make them too hard. But they are very good bullet.

Third, though expensive, I'm a huge fan of the Barnes TSX and TTSX stuff. They expand well for soft tissue damage and can punch the shoulders if you want to do that. You would need to clean your barrel completely to switch to them.

Fourth, if you want a softer bullet other than Core Lokt, try the Hornady or Sierra stuff. They both make excellent bullets.

LWD

[CBHunter]

If you are use a .243 or larger, then get some Nosler partitions and you will be good.

Agreed. Federal Premium Nosler Partition is what I shoot in all my larger calibers.

[blue8135]

I shoot a Thompson Center 30-06 sighted for 100 yds. Both of these shots I described were at less than that. Ive shot some with both the 30-06, and my .270 (also 150g) and have had devastating results, but all of them at least hit a rib. I usually have to trail them between 60 - a couple hundred yds. Ive only ever had one drop in its tracks, and that was with a centered shoulder shot that ruined most of the on-side shoulder, and a good bit of the off side as well. Wont shoot any more in the shoulder blade. I always try for the heart/lungs, and I know I pulled this last shot, but even so, it only took out the liver and a small part of a lung. Most of the lungs and the heart were largely undamaged completely.

There may be something to txpitdog's statement about the batch. Seems like all the years Ive been shooting them, these were the first problems. However, I have read several people having the same problem, and I don't know if Remington has changed the bullet structure, or what, but I would like to make sure that I don't lose any more if I can help it. I at least want a bullet that leaves a blood trail, bone or no bone.

I looked for Hornadys at Academy last weekend, but all they had left were Remingtons, Winchesters, or a bunch of off brands and some stuff like Ted Nugent ammo. Ive always shot Remingtons basically because of the price, but if its gonna start costing me my quarry, I will spend a little more. Ide just rather not spend 2-3x more.

Another way to look at it is...Would you rather lose a couple pounds of meat or the whole deer? I shoot a 300wby and all shots, especially with a buck, are dead through both shoulders. They don't run, so you are guaranteed meat. Does mostly get shot in the head if inside 100 yards.

I never had a problem out of my 30-06 with 150 or 180gr. core-locts(shoulder shots). But, also haven't shot them in over 20 yrs.

[coueshunter]

hornady sst

[ItsLeo]

Easiest solution. Switch from the 150gr Corelokts in the 30-06 to 180gr Corelokts. Cup and core construction bullets like Corelokts absolutely perform better in the heavy for caliber category. The extra 20% weight in the 180's makes a big difference in how well those bullets penetrate and expand. On broadside shots you should get exits about 1 1/4" with that round in 30 06. At least that's been my experience. I'll be surprised if the 180gr Corelokts don't group tighter at the range as well. I load my own in 180gr Accubond nowadays but I've shot plenty of stuff with 180gr Corelokts.

Are you having the same problem with the 150's in 270? I don't shoot that round but a friend of mine that does, absolutely gushes praises for the 130gr Hornady Interlocks for the 270. He kills a lot of deer without drama so if I did shoot a 270 I'd sure give that bullet a try!

[Bucksaw]

Another way to look at it is...Would you rather lose a couple pounds of meat or the whole deer? I shoot a 300wby and all shots, especially with a buck, are dead through both shoulders. They don't run, so you are guaranteed meat. Does mostly get shot in the head if inside 100 yards.

I never had a problem out of my 30-06 with 150 or 180gr. core-locts(shoulder shots). But, also haven't shot them in over 20 yrs.

Well, if I can blood trail them and recover them, then I don't lose any meat to speak of. That's how Im trying to play it anyway. As long as the exit hole is large enough not to clog up, I wont have any trouble trailing them. I also cant shoot does in the head because we have to turn in the jaws for aging (we are management land), and I don't think Im that good of a shot to hit the head of a nervous doe at 100 yds. Im no sniper.

Got 8 more rounds left on my rifle stock, so I will shoot those up before I open the new box I just got. If I have any more issues, Im gonna take the new box back for some Hornadys, or maybe some Noslers, I think.

[Bucksaw]

Easiest solution. Switch from the 150gr Corelokts in the 30-06 to 180gr Corelokts. Cup and core construction bullets like Corelokts absolutely perform better in the heavy for caliber category. The extra 20% weight in the 180's makes a big difference in how well those bullets penetrate and expand. On broadside shots you should get exits about 1 1/4" with that round in 30 06. At least that's been my experience. I'll be surprised if the 180gr Corelokts don't group tighter at the range as well. I load my own in 180gr Accubond nowadays but I've shot plenty of stuff with 180gr Corelokts.

Are you having the same problem with the 150's in 270? I don't shoot that round but a friend of mine that does, absolutely gushes praises for the 130gr Hornady Interlocks for the 270. He kills a lot of deer without drama so if I did shoot a 270 I'd sure give that bullet a try!

Honestly, I haven't shot the .270 at an animal in over 8 years, since getting the 30.06, but I never had an issue while I was using it.

[Richard M.]

+1 used these but 130's in my 270 took 25yrd neck shot on my deer..hit the spine enttance was tiny when i moved the head ...had grapefruit sized hole on the exit side....was duly impressed.

I really like these Power Max bullets as well. I've gone both directions in my .270 from Nozzlers that zip through and ballistic tips that don't. Since I've switched to these I've yet to have to track anything. Bucks get it through the shoulders and fold up like a cheap suit. I had a hard time finding them at Bass Pro, Cabelas, and Academy the stumbled on them at Walmart of all places.

[TacticalCowboy]

I've used core locked in 30-30, .308, .30-06, and 7 mag. I've never had any trouble with them.

[ted_kennedys_liver]

Nosler accubonds. Get the ones fro silver state. Shoot just as well as the nosler branded ammo but half the price.

[TxNurse]

Get some basic Federal Power-Shok 150 grain. Great accurate load, good expansion, least expensive. I have never been disappointed with them. All you need for WT deer. Never had a double-lung without a good exit hole.

[coop]

I rifle hunted for about twenty years using a 7mm mag. I reloaded hornady 139 gr spire point and my experience was that if I double lunged a deer it would hit the ground much more often than if I heart shot or shoulder shot it. Never had one make over fifty yards. Also, lost very little meat.

I've only bow hunted for the last thirty years or so and I still prefer a double lung to any other hit.

Just my experience.

JC