Best 30-06 Ammo for Accuracy: Stop Missing Deer With This Ammo

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

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

Barnes 30-06 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain TTSX Ammunition

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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

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

Remington 30-06 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain Scirocco Bonded Ammunition

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$49.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Scirocco Bonded
• Bullet Weight: 150 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,910 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,821 ft-lbs

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

Hornady Vintage Match 30-06 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 168 Grain ELD Match Ammunition

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$40.99

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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

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.

Best 30-06 Ammo for Long-Range Shooting

Federal 30-06 168gr HPBT

Federal 30-06 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 168 Grain HPBT Ammunition

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$35.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: MatchKing Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP)
• Bullet Weight: 168 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,719 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Federal Premium is another brand many shooters across North America trust because of its dedication to consistently producing quality ammo.

Federal loads this ammo with Sierra MatchKing bullets, which have been fired to win more competitions than all other manufacturers’ bullets combined, so you know they will be accurate.

This round’s hollow point boat tail bullet has an excellent ballistic coefficient; certain to deliver sub-MOA results (with competent marksmanship). This round isn't going to blow away other rounds, but it also won't thump your shoulder as hard, either.

The main con of this ammo is its higher-than-average cost. While it's not the most expensive 30-06 ammo I’ve reviewed, it will still make your wallet noticeably lighter with each pull of the trigger.

To me, that drawback doesn't outweigh the pros. If you’re a serious 30-06 target shooter, I believe picking up several boxes before your next shooting competition is well worth it.

If you don't need premium ammo, then we have plenty of quality yet reasonably priced alternatives at Ammo.com.

Fastest 30-06 Ammo

Hornady Superformance 150 Grain SST

Hornady 30-06 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain SST Ammunition

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$34.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Super Shock Tip (SST)
• Bullet Weight: 150 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,080 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 3,159 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Hornady Superformance 150 grain SST is one of the fastest – if not the fastest – factory-loaded 30-06 options on the market. Superformance label ammo manages to boost muzzle velocity by 100 to 200 fps without carrying unwanted side effects such as increased recoil, muzzle blast, or temperature sensitivity.

The 150 grain SST bullet is polymer tipped, which improves its aerodynamic efficiency and allows it to conserve superior downrange momentum: flatter trajectory, higher striking energy.

This ammo has a couple of cons that might deter you from purchasing it. The first is how expensive it is. Since it’s high-quality hunting ammo, it comes at a higher price than traditional 30-06 alternatives. The other downside is that it’s often less abundant because it’s a little more niche.

If you can look past the drawbacks of Hornady Superformance 150 grain SST, you’ll be the proud owner of some of the highest-velocity factory 30-06 ammo on the market.

Buyer's Guide: What to Look for In Accurate 30-06 Ammo

When you're new to buying ammo, it can be confusing and frustrating trying to figure out which is best.

I remember staring at the ammo shelves at the gun store and not knowing what I needed or even what questions to ask, so I chose the correct ammo.

Thankfully, I had some guidance from my dad and grandpa that I'll happily pass along to you.

Bullet Types

The bullet type dramatically affects the price and function of the ammo.

Various types of bullets are used for target shooting and hunting.

So what are some common 30-06 bullet types, and what are they used for?

I'm glad you asked!

Below you'll find several types of bullets for hunting and target shooting.

SP

Soft point bullets are the cheapest option for 30-06 shooters. They can be used for target shooting or hunting.

They're the least expensive bullet because they're less technologically advanced than other bullets.

They're prone to causing malfunctions when the bullet's tip catches instead of sliding into the chamber.

The Nosler Partition bullet is the exception to this rule, though it's technically not a soft point bullet.

FMJ

A Full Metal Jacket bullet makes for an excellent target or hog-hunting round.

It's a great target round because they're usually pretty cheap bullets. Many hog hunters prefer an FMJ because it penetrates hogs' thick hide and dense bones to the vitals much better than an SP or JHP bullet.

JHP

A Jacketed Hollow Point is designed for hunting applications but can be used for target shooting.

They're more expensive than SP and FMJ bullets because they require more effort to make.

A JHP expands better than an FMJ, but it doesn't penetrate as well, so you have to decide which one is most important to you.

HPBT

A Hollow Point Boat Tail is one of the best bullets on the market. HPBT bullets tend to have a high ballistic coefficient, which means they're very accurate.

They're great for hunting and target shooting, but they tend to cost much more than a JHP or FMJ.

Polymer Tip

A polymer-tipped bullet is an HP or HPBT with a plastic tip that aids in reducing drag and bullet expansion upon impact.

These are the most technologically advanced bullets on the market. The Nosler Accubond and Hornady SST are polymer-tipped bullets.

Parting Shots

As you can see, Barnes 150gr TTSX is the best 30-06 ammo for accuracy because it utilizes a polymer-tipped hollow point boat tail bullet with a high ballistic coefficient.

It can be used for hunting and target shooting applications; however, it's expensive, so be prepared to cry a little after each trigger pull.

Back to the Best 30-06 Ammo for Accuracy

Now that you understand the best 30-06 ammo for accuracy, get back to our top 3 list by clicking HERE!

Written by

Wes Littlefield