30-06 Ballistics 180 Grain – Complete Guide

Ask for a box of 30-06 hunting ammunition and the odds are good the bullet weighs 180 grains. This page collects the published ballistics for that one bullet weight across the whole stored library. The chart below holds the 51 loads from 12 brands that come with complete downrange tables, each value in a separate column, and a compact list further down covers five loads whose makers publish muzzle numbers and nothing more.

The 180 Grain Chart

Brand	Load	Product Line	SKU	BC (G1)	Traj. Zero	Velocity Muzzle (fps)	Velocity 100 yd (fps)	Velocity 200 yd (fps)	Velocity 300 yd (fps)	Velocity 400 yd (fps)	Velocity 500 yd (fps)	Energy Muzzle (ft-lb)	Energy 100 yd (ft-lb)	Energy 200 yd (ft-lb)	Energy 300 yd (ft-lb)	Energy 400 yd (ft-lb)	Energy 500 yd (ft-lb)	Trajectory 50 yd (in)	Trajectory 100 yd (in)	Trajectory 200 yd (in)	Trajectory 300 yd (in)	Trajectory 400 yd (in)	Trajectory 500 yd (in)
Barnes	180 gr TTSX BT	VOR-TX	21533	0.484	200 yd	2750	2564	2386	2215	2050	1894	3023	2629	2276	1961	1681	1434	–	1.9	0.0	-8.0	-23.1	-46.5
Barnes	180 gr Sierra TGK	Harvest	32403	0.545	200 yd	2760	2594	2434	2280	2132	1989	3045	2691	2369	2079	1817	1581	–	1.8	0.0	-7.7	-22.1	-44.2
Barnes	180 gr Prohunter	Harvest BWB	32558	0.240	100 yd	2860	2484	2138	–	–	–	3270	2467	1828	–	–	–	-0.1	0.0	-4.2	–	–	–
Browning	180 gr Polymer Tip	Max Point	B192130062	0.422	200 yd	2750	2538	2335	2141	1957	1783	3022	2573	2178	1832	1531	1271	–	2	0	-8.3	-24.3	-49.4
Browning	180 gr Tipped Solid Copper	BXS Copper Expansion	B192430061	0.485	200 yd	2750	2565	2387	2216	2052	1895	3022	2628	2276	1962	1682	1435	–	1.9	0	-8	-23.1	-46.5
Browning	180 gr Sierra Tipped Gameking	Long Range Pro Hunter	B192530062	0.515	200 yd	2745	2570	2402	2241	2085	1936	3011	2640	2306	2006	1737	1498	–	1.9	0	-7.9	-22.8	-45.6
Browning	180 gr Plated Soft Point	Silver Series	B192630061	0.381	200 yd	2700	2468	2247	2038	1840	1657	2913	2433	2018	1659	1354	1097	–	2.1	0	-9	-26.4	-54.1
Denel PMP	180 gr AFB (A-Frame Bonded)	African Elite	–	–	–	2682	2468	2265	–	–	–	2876	2435	2051	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Denel PMP	180 gr SP	PMP	–	–	–	2625	2386	2159	1945	–	–	2755	2275	1863	1512	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Federal	180 gr Jacketed Soft Point	Power-Shok	3006B	.385	200 yd	2700	2470	2252	2045	1848	1667	2913	2439	2026	1671	1365	1111	1	2.1	0	-9	-26.2	-54
Federal	180 gr Fusion Soft Point	Fusion	F3006FS3	.498	200 yd	2700	2521	2349	2185	2026	1874	2913	2540	2206	1907	1640	1403	0.9	2	0	-8.4	-23.9	-47.8
Federal	180 gr Fusion Tipped	Fusion Tipped Rifle	F3006TFS3	.501	200 yd	2725	2546	2375	2210	2051	1899	2968	2591	2253	1951	1681	1441	0.8	1.9	0	-8.2	-23.4	-46.7
Federal	180 gr Barnes Triple-Shock X Bullet (TSX)	Barnes TSX	P3006AE	.453	200 yd	2700	2504	2316	2137	1965	1802	2913	2506	2144	1824	1543	1297	0.9	2	0	-8.6	-24.7	-49.7
Federal	180 gr Trophy Copper	Trophy Copper	P3006TC1	.523	200 yd	2700	2530	2366	2208	2056	1910	2913	2557	2236	1948	1689	1457	0.9	2	0	-8.3	-23.6	-46.9
Federal	180 gr Trophy Bonded Tip	Trophy Bonded Tip	P3006TT1	.500	200 yd	2700	2522	2351	2186	2029	1877	2913	2542	2208	1911	1644	1408	0.9	2	0	-8.4	-23.9	-47.7
Fiocchi	180 gr Pointed Soft Point	Field Dynamics Big Game	3006D	.452	200 yd	2700	2503	2315	2135	1963	1800	2913	2505	2142	1823	1541	1295	0.9	2.0	0	-8.6	-24.7	-49.8
Fiocchi	180 gr Hornady® SST® Polymer Boat-Tail	Hyperformance Hunt Rifle	3006HSC	.480	200 yd	2675	2491	2314	2144	1982	1826	2860	2479	2140	1838	1570	1333	0.9	2.0	0	-8.6	-24.8	-49.5
Hornady	180 gr InterLock® SP	American Whitetail	81084	–	200 yd	2700	2492	2293	2103	1923	1753	2714	2481	2101	1768	1478	1228	–	2.1	0	-8.7	-25.2	-51.2
Hornady	180 gr CX™	Outfitter	811644	–	200 yd	2600	2415	2238	2068	1905	1752	2702	2331	2001	1709	1451	1227	–	2.2	0	-9.2	-26.5	-53.5
Hornady	180 gr SST®	Superformance	81183	–	200 yd	2820	2630	2448	2274	2106	1946	3178	2765	2396	2066	1772	1513	–	1.8	0	-7.6	-21.9	-44.1
Norma	180 gr Bonded SP	Norma Oryx	20174742	0.354	200 yd	2700	2451	2215	1992	–	–	2914	2401	1961	1586	–	–	1	2.2	0	-9.3	–	–
Norma	180 gr Tipped Bonded BT-SP	Norma Bondstrike	20176422	0.615	200 yd	2756	2609	2467	2329	–	–	3035	2720	2432	2168	–	–	0.8	1.8	0	-7.5	–	–
Norma	180 gr Tipped SP	Norma Plastic Point	20176532	0.366	200 yd	2700	2459	2230	2013	–	–	2914	2417	1987	1619	–	–	1	2.1	0	-9.2	–	–
Norma	180 gr SP	Norma Vulkan	20176592	0.315	200 yd	2700	2421	2158	1913	–	–	2914	2342	1861	1463	–	–	1	2.2	0	-9.7	–	–
Norma	180 gr Bonded SP	Norma Oryx Silencer Series	20177282	0.354	200 yd	2690	2437	2197	1972	–	–	2892	2373	1929	1554	–	–	1	2.2	0	-9.3	–	–
Norma	180 gr SP	Norma Whitetail	20177602	0.257	200 yd	2700	2360	2045	1757	–	–	2914	2226	1671	1234	–	–	1.1	2.4	0	-10.8	–	–
Norma	180 gr Tipped Expanding BT-LF	Norma Odin	20178302	0.462	200 yd	2706.693	2511	2324	2144	–	–	2930	2521	2158	1838	–	–	0.8	2	0	-8.4	–	–
Nosler	180 gr Expansion Tip	Expansion Tip	40037	–	200 yd	2750	2578	2412	2252	2098	1952	3022	2655	2324	2026	1760	1522	–	1.9	0	-7.9	-22.6	-45.2
Nosler	180 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting	Ballistic Tip Hunting	40072	–	200 yd	2750	2572	2400	2236	2078	1926	3022	2643	2303	1998	1725	1483	–	1.9	0	-7.9	-22.8	-45.8
Nosler	180 gr AccuBond	Trophy Grade	46134	–	200 yd	2750	2572	2400	2236	2078	1926	3022	2643	2303	1998	1725	1483	–	1.9	0	-7.9	-22.8	-45.8
Nosler	180 gr Partition	Trophy Grade	46142	–	200 yd	2750	2559	2377	2202	2035	1875	3022	2618	2258	1938	1655	1405	–	1.9	0	-8.1	-23.3	-47.0
PPU	180 gr SP	Standard Rifle Ammunition	PP30063	0.412	100 yd	2700	2485	2280	2085	–	–	2913	2465	2080	1741	–	–	–	0	-4.1	-15	–	–
Remington	180 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point	Core-Lokt	21407	.248	200 yd	2700	2348	2024	1728	1466	1252	2913	2203	1636	1193	859	627	1.1	2.4	0	-11	-33.8	-73.4
Remington	180 gr Pointed Soft Point Core Lokt	Core-Lokt	27828	.383	200 yd	2700	2469	2250	2041	1844	1663	2913	2436	2022	1666	1360	1105	1	2.1	0	-9	-26.2	-54.2
Remington	180 gr Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded Pointed Soft Point	Hypersonic Bonded	29009	.402	200 yd	2830	2603	2387	2182	1987	1803	3201	2708	2278	1903	1578	1298	0.7	1.8	0	-8	-23.3	-47.2
Remington	180 gr Core-Lokt Tipped	Core-Lokt Tipped	29037	.480	200 yd	2745	2558	2378	2206	2041	1883	3011	2615	2260	1945	1665	1416	0.8	1.9	0	-8.1	-23.4	-46.7
Remington	180 gr Swift Scirocco Bonded	Premier Scirocco	29328	.500	200 yd	2700	2522	2351	2186	2029	1877	2913	2542	2208	1911	1644	1408	0.9	2	0	-8.4	-23.9	-47.7
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr FMJ	FMJ	SB3006A	0.498	100 yd	2674	2493	2319	2152	1993	–	2857	2483	2149	1851	1587	–	-0.3	0.0	-3.6	-13.7	-31.3	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr SP	SP	SB3006B	0.298	100 yd	2707	2407	2127	1866	1622	–	2928	2315	1808	1392	1051	–	-0.3	0.0	-4.0	-15.8	-37.6	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr SPCE	SPCE	SB3006E	0.353	100 yd	2641	2388	2149	1925	1713	–	2787	2278	1846	1480	1172	–	-0.3	0.0	-4.1	-15.8	-36.9	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr TXRG	eXergy Blue	SB3006XB	0.442	100 yd	2654	2452	2258	2074	1899	–	2815	2402	2038	1719	1440	–	-0.3	0.0	-3.8	-14.4	-33.2	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr HPC	HPC	V331632	0.546	100 yd	2671	2506	2347	2194	2047	–	2850	2509	2201	1924	1675	–	-0.4	0.0	-3.5	-13.4	-30.5	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr SBT	Sierra	V331732	0.434	100 yd	2579	2376	2183	1999	1824	–	2657	2256	1904	1597	1329	–	-0.3	0.0	-4.2	-15.7	-35.9	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr PTS	PTS	V331742	0.495	100 yd	2592	2414	2243	2080	1923	–	2684	2329	2011	1729	1478	–	-0.3	0.0	-4.0	-14.9	-33.8	–
Sellier & Bellot	180 gr EDGE	eXergy Edge	V343002	0.379	100 yd	2654	2419	2195	1984	1785	–	2815	2337	1926	1574	1273	–	-0.3	0.0	-4.0	-15.2	-35.2	–
Winchester	180 gr Rapid Controlled Expansion Polymer Tip	Ballistic Silvertip	SBST3006B	0.507	200 yd	2750	2572	2402	2237	2080	1928	3022	2644	2305	2001	1728	1486	–	1.9	0	-7.9	-22.8	-45.7
Winchester	180 gr Power-Point	Power-Point	X30064	0.381	200 yd	2700	2468	2247	2038	1840	1657	2913	2433	2018	1659	1354	1097	–	2.1	0	-9	-26.4	-54.2
Winchester	180 gr Power-Point	Power-Point – 250th Anniversary Edition	X30064AV	0.381	200 yd	2700	2468	2247	2038	1840	1657	2913	2433	2018	1659	1354	1097	–	2.1	0	-9	-26.4	-54.2
Winchester	180 gr Bonded Rapid Expansion Protected Hollow Point	Power Max Bonded	X30064BP	0.394	200 yd	2700	2475	2262	2058	1866	1687	2913	2448	2044	1693	1392	1137	–	2.1	0	-8.9	-26.1	-53.2
Winchester	180 gr Copper Extreme Point	Copper Impact	X3006CLF2	0.470	200 yd	2725	2535	2352	2178	2010	1851	2967	2568	2212	1895	1615	1369	–	2	0	-8.3	-23.9	-48.1
Winchester	180 gr Extreme Point	Deer Season XP	X3006DS2	0.422	200 yd	2750	2538	2335	2141	1957	1783	3022	2573	2178	1832	1531	1271	–	2	0	-8.3	-24.3	-49.4

Six representative loads plotted across the full chart distance: speed, energy and flight path.

Reading a Row From Left to Right

Each row is one factory load, identified by brand, product line and item number. The first figure group is velocity, the second is energy, and the third is the bullet path, with a column for every distance up to 500 yards. The zero printed in the Traj. Zero column belongs to that row alone, since makers zero this weight at either 100 or 200 yards. Where a cell holds a hyphen, the maker simply never printed that number.

Speed Now, Speed Later

Muzzle speeds in this chart start at 2,579 fps and top out at 2,860 fps. The quickest starter, the Barnes Prohunter, is also the shortest charted, ending at 200 yards. The fastest full length chart belongs to the Remington Hypersonic Bonded at 2,830 fps, and the Hornady SST Superformance drops least at 500 yards. At 500 yards the order flips toward sleek bullets: the Barnes Sierra TGK is fastest there at 1,989 fps, and 21 of the 32 loads that reach that far still hold 1,800 fps or more.

Energy: The Gap Widens With Distance

At the muzzle the chart is tightly packed, between 2,657 and 3,270 ft-lb. By 500 yards the pack has stretched out. Only three loads still carry 1,500 ft-lb or more, led by the Barnes Sierra TGK at 1,581 ft-lb, while the round nose Remington Core-Lokt Soft Point (BC 0.248) is down to 627 ft-lb and 1,252 fps.

Flight Path and the Question of Zero

Read the trajectory columns with the zero column beside them. Thirty-nine loads are printed on a 200 yard zero and cross the line of sight again at 200 yards after sitting about 2 inches high at 100 yards. Ten loads, the eight Sellier & Bellot rows, the PPU row and the Barnes Prohunter, are printed on a 100 yard zero and fall away from the line of sight from there. On the 200 yard zero, drop at 300 yards runs from 7.5 to 11.0 inches. Norma and the Barnes Prohunter print their paths in 50 yard steps; this grid shows the values on its own distances.

The BC Column

Coefficients in this chart run from 0.240 for the Barnes Prohunter up to 0.615 for the Norma Bondstrike. The Bondstrike figure is the highest printed for this bullet weight, and the load holds more energy at 300 yards, 2,168 ft-lb, than anything else in the chart. Nine rows show a hyphen instead of a coefficient: the three Hornady loads, the four Nosler loads and the two Denel PMP loads, whose makers print no BC with these tables.

Muzzle-Only Loads

Five loads in the library never got a downrange table from their makers, so they cannot sit in the main chart. Their muzzle figures still tell part of the story: the Buffalo Bore Supercharged load is the second fastest starter in the whole set at 2,850 fps, although Buffalo Bore prints no energy figure for it.

Brand	Load	Product Line	SKU	Muzzle Velocity (fps)	Muzzle Energy (ft-lb)
Black Hills	180 gr Barnes TSX	Black Hills Gold	–	2600	2702
Buffalo Bore	180 gr SPTZ	Premium 30-06 Supercharged	40C	2850	–
Doubletap	180 gr Swift Scirocco II	Doubletap Rifle Ammunition	013964487633	2800	3135
HSM	180 gr Triple-Shock X Boattail	Lead Free	HSM-30-06-31LF-N	2815	3168
HSM	180 gr Spitzer Boat Tail GameKing	Game King	HSM-30-06-41-N	2690	2893

Coverage, Barrels and Exclusions

Figures here come from 56 stored loads across 16 brands; the chart uses the 51 with downrange tables. Printed test barrels are the exception rather than the rule: 24 inches for Barnes, Nosler and Norma, 20 inches for the Norma Silencer Series, 23 ½ inches for Sellier & Bellot, and nothing printed for the remaining brands. Loads sold only with metric home market figures, including additional Sellier & Bellot 180 grain types in the Czech catalog and a Serbian catalog PPU load, were left out rather than converted, as was the Nosler Solid Base (40147), for which Nosler prints no ballistics table at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is a 180 grain 30-06 out of the muzzle?

Published figures for the charted loads run from 2,579 to 2,860 fps, depending on the load. Nearly all of the full length charts, 30 of 32, start between 2,700 and 2,830 fps.

How much energy does the 180 grain 30-06 carry at 500 yards?

The strongest load at that range, the Barnes Sierra TGK, holds 1,581 ft-lb, and only three charted loads stay above 1,500 ft-lb. The weakest, the Remington Core-Lokt Soft Point, is down to 627 ft-lb.

Which load shoots flattest in this chart?

The Hornady SST Superformance. On its printed 200 yard zero it is 44.1 inches low at 500 yards, a tenth of an inch ahead of the Barnes Sierra TGK.

Should a 180 grain 30-06 be zeroed at 100 or 200 yards?

The makers lean heavily one way: 39 of the 51 charted loads print their trajectory on a 200 yard zero, against ten on a 100 yard zero. A 200 yard zero leaves these loads about 2 inches high at 100 yards.

What does a hyphen in a cell mean?

It means the maker does not publish that figure for that load, and nothing has been filled in. Denel PMP, for example, prints velocity and energy but no trajectory, and Hornady prints no ballistic coefficient in its chart.

How long are the test barrels behind these numbers?

Where a maker prints one, it is usually 24 inches: Barnes, Nosler and Norma all used that length. Sellier & Bellot used 23 ½ inches, the Norma Silencer Series load used 20 inches, and most other brands print no barrel length.

Do any 180 grain charts run past 500 yards?

Yes. Nosler publishes its four loads to 800 yards; this chart stops at 500 yards to stay on the grid most makers use. At 800 yards the Nosler AccuBond is still moving at 1,519 fps.

Why are there two Winchester Power-Point rows with the same numbers?

Because Winchester publishes them that way. Item X30064AV is the 250th Anniversary Edition of X30064, and the printed velocity, energy and trajectory figures are identical for both.

Which 180 grain load keeps the most energy at 300 yards?

The Norma Bondstrike, with 2,168 ft-lb at 300 yards. It also carries the highest ballistic coefficient in the chart, 0.615.

Are any 180 grain 30-06 loads missing from the chart?

A few sit outside it by design. Loads published only in metric home market catalogs were not converted, the Nosler Solid Base prints no ballistics table, and five loads with muzzle figures only are listed separately in the muzzle-only list.