The 30-06 Springfield is known for incredible accuracy at long distances. Despite being created over 100 years ago, it remains a favorite of many shooters.
Its ability to hunt big game animals and sustain a fun day at the range keeps it in the running for one of the best rounds of all time.
Using the best 30-06 ammo for accuracy will allow you to shoot more accurately, which means more deer in the freezer and tighter groups at the range.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, grab a box of Barnes 150gr TTSX.
If this doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. We cover many other brands and bullet weights below, so you can choose the one that perfectly fits your situation.
The Best 30-06 Ammo for Accuracy
| Cartridge | Best For |
|---|---|
| Barnes 30-06 150 grain TTSX | Best 30-06 Ammo Overall |
| Remington 30-06 150 grain Scirocco Bonded | Best Hunting Ammo for 30-06 |
| Hornady Vintage Match 168 grain ELD Match | Best 30-06 Ammo for Target Practice |
| Federal 30-06 168 grain HPBT | Best 30-06 Ammo for Long-Range |
| Hornady Superformance 150 grain SST | Fastest 30-06 Ammo |
Testing Procedure
To test and rank the following 30-06 ammo, I spent several hours researching, talking with 30-06 experts, and firing some rounds. I ranked them according to accuracy, price, availability, and ability to achieve the needed results for the category.
I chose accuracy because if the bullet misses, it doesn’t matter how good the terminal ballistics are for the round.
Price is a critical factor because we’re all somewhat limited in funds.
I also typically rank ammo on availability because it’s no good to shooters and hunters if we can’t get our hands on it.
Lastly, I rank it according to the category it falls under. After all, isn’t that what this article is all about?
Most Accurate 30-06 Ammo Overall
Barnes 30-06 150gr TTSX
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Tipped Triple-Shock X (TTSX)
- Bullet Weight: 150 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,970 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 2,939 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Incredibly Accurate | Expensive |
| Fast & Hard-Hitting | |
| Trusted Brand |
Why I Chose It
The Barnes 30-06 SPRG 150gr TTSX is the best 30-06 ammo for accuracy.
The TTSX bullet is accurate for three reasons. First, it’s a boat tail bullet. Boat tail bullets are shaped in such a way that reduces drag.
Second, it’s a polymer-tipped bullet, which also helps reduce drag.
Third, it’s a monolithic bullet: CNC machined from pure copper, and therefore lacking in any core or jacket flaws that could have impacted rotational stability.
The 150 grain bullet is lighter, but it is one of the fastest on the market and still packs more of a punch than other heavier bullets at slower speeds.
Barnes is a trusted brand amongst shooters. They manufacture high-quality ammunition for many calibers. Many other ammo brands choose to use Barnes bullets in their rounds because of the accuracy they provide.
The biggest downside is the price. Barnes tends to be more expensive due to all the technological innovation they ram into their cartridges. Their famous solid copper bullets are also more expensive to manufacture than traditional lead-core alternatives.
If you miss when feeding your 30-06 rifle with Barnes 150gr TTSX, it’s doubtful it was the ammo’s fault. Grab a box or 10 today to give yourself the best chance of being accurate with your 30-06!
Best Hunting Ammo for 30-06
Remington 30-06 150gr Scirocco Bonded
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Scirocco Bonded
- Bullet Weight: 150 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,910 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 2,821 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Established Ammo Brand | Expensive |
| Fast & Hard-Hitting | |
| Premium Hunting Bullets |
Why I Chose It
Remington is one of the best-known firearm and ammunition companies. When you pull the trigger on Remington ammo, you can expect it to go bang.
This bullet is lightweight, which means it’s fast. Not quite as fast as the Barnes 150gr, but the difference is so minimal you won’t be able to sense it.
Even though it’s only a 150 grain bullet, it still packs a punch, which makes it excellent for hunting many different large game species including whitetail deer, pronghorn, mule deer, elk, and hogs.
The Scirocco hunting bullet is designed for long-range accuracy and high weight retention following high-velocity impact. Your hunting will benefit from one of the most technologically advanced bullets on the market.
You’ll pay a higher price for such technologically advanced hunting bullets, but still less expensive than Barnes 150gr TTSX. Since it’s only 150 grains, the bullet is less effective at ethically harvesting larger game animals like buffalo, moose, and grizzly bear.
Rem 150gr Scirocco Bonded is some of the best hunting ammo for 30-06 you can find for your hunting rifle.
Best 30-06 Ammo for Target Shooting
Hornady Vintage Match 168gr ELD Match
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Extremely Low Drag (ELD) Match
- Bullet Weight: 168 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,710 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 2,739 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Middle-of-the-Road Ballistics |
| Quality Bullets | Expensive |
| Designed for the M1 Garand |
Why I Chose It
Hornady is one of the best ammunition manufacturers on the planet. Whether you’re looking for hunting or match-grade ammunition, Hornady’s factory ammo will deliver time and time again.
Serious competition shooters nationwide use ELD Match bullets because of their incredible accuracy and consistency.
Hornady Vintage Match 168gr ELD Match is designed for the M1 Garand rifle. That means it’s loaded to a slightly lower pressure than other contemporary commercial 30-06 cartridges, and therefore safe for any other type of rifle.
Because Hornady only uses quality materials, you can trust this rifle cartridge to fire and eject smoothly, so you can keep shooting without worrying about malfunctions.
The biggest downside is the price. Since Hornady uses premium materials, their ammo comes at a premium price. However, it still costs less than many other options.
This round’s muzzle velocity and energy leave a little to be desired, especially compared to some high-end hunting rounds. That’s the natural downside of its slightly lower chamber pressure.
Despite some cons, Hornady Vintage 168gr ELD Match is still the best 30-06 ammo for target shooting.
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