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Luke Lahdenranta

I have an older Remington pump 30-06 that seems to be perpetually looking for a job to do in my gun safe. My primary hunting rifles are a Tikka 30-06, 243 and Marlin 30-30. So I have most of the bases already covered, but since the rifle is my father's I would never get rid of it but I would like to take it and hunt with it more often. I think with a real good 'woods hammer' load would make it a fun alternative to the 30-30 (and hit with much more authority) and it could stand in for bear protection duties sometimes too or come along on elk/moose hunts.

So with the following criteria, game weights around 160-700 lb or so typically deer through elk class at woods ranges out to max of say 150-200 yards, what's your pick for a best or at least very good woods hammer load? The rifle is currently sighted in with Remington 180 core lokt factory loads with okay ~1.75" @ 100 yards accuracy.

A couple options from what I have right now.

1. Hornady 208 gr ELD-M. I'm working with this right now in my main 30-06 as a general purpose load. I can get it to fit in the rather short box magazine by clipping off the plastic tip, I don't think it would affect BC enough to notice at woods ranges. But I haven't taken any game with this bullet yet and I'm not sure if it would work as a dedicated woods bullet? Maybe a bit too delicate? I would appreciate any feedback on this bullet at close range impacts. It is of course great at range.

2. I have some Sierra 180 gr Pro Hunter RN, no doubt a good woods load could be assembled with these bullets.

3. Maybe something else?

I would love to get a hold of some of the Norma Vulkans to try out, but they seem to pretty scarce here currently and I don't know if I will ever get to try them out. But failing that what's your pick for a real top notch woods load for a 30-06?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.