[Gatorfan316]

I have a Remington model 700 ADL 30.06 and have always shot 165 gr loads out of it no matter what I hunt or if I am just target shooting. I am just getting into reloading and see that I can load very light loads in it and am interested in the 110 and 130 grain loads.

Before throwing money down on the bullets I was wondering if any of you guys do shoot or have shot light 30.06 loads?

If so, how did they perform?

 

[dmsbandit]

I have a Remington model 700 ADL 30.06 and have always shot 165 gr loads out of it no matter what I hunt or if I am just target shooting. I am just getting into reloading and see that I can load very light loads in it and am interested in the 110 and 130 grain loads.

Before throwing money down on the bullets I was wondering if any of you guys do shoot or have shot light 30.06 loads?

If so, how did they perform?

I've shot varmit weight bullets out of my '06, but it's been more of a experiment than anything serious. I know the '06 shoots cast bullets well and they are cheaper to shoot than jacketed.

Berry's sells a plated bullet for 30 caliber guns that should be just the ticket for low cost shooting without the hassle of lead.


http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14671-c34-g8-b0-p0-30_30_Cal_150gr_RS_.308.aspx

 

[zoar]

I just checked out that link on berrysmfg..... WOW.

I wonder of they have a load recommendation for this in the 30-06. The did say NOT to exceed 1700 fps with those little babies.

I wonder how straight (ie very little drop) they shoot at up near that 1700 fps???

 

[broom_jm]

Gatorfan,

You don't mention if these loads would be just for plinking, reduced recoil hunting loads or varmints. The kind of bullet you pick, and the load you use, will be determined largely on what your objective is with those bullets.

 

[Darin115]

125 gran Nosler Ballistip Tips

Years ago I bought some 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in 30 caliber. I reloaded some for my buddy to use on a deer hunt. We had little time for load development so we loaded 5 different loads and picked the best of the 5. I think they shot an inch or just over at 100 yards.

He shot 4 whitetails in 2 days with the 125 grain BT's. One large doe, 2 small doe and a 125lb buck. On the large doe the bullet made it most of the way thru the deer but had a huge wound channel. It was dark and I shined a light in the hole and it looked like glitter all the way thru. I don't think we found anything but tiny pieced of the bullet. The bullet had similar results on the buck. The bullet made a complete pass thru on the 2 small doe.
None of the 4 took a step.

If I was doing it today I would back off that load some and slow the bullet down. I think we were driving it a little faster than we should have. Even at a near max loading, the recoil was no problem at all even for a younger shooter.

Now if you are looking for complete pass thru shots on deer sized game, I would stick with the 150 + grain bullets. If you are shooting smaller animals or don't care if you get a complete passs thru on a deer, I would try the 125 grain ballistic tips. I would not be afraid to shoot them again but I would stay with a middle of the road charge of powder, not max loadings. Keep the speed of the bullet at or below listed max speeds in which they were designed.

I am considering shooting them in a 308 I just picked up.

Darin

 

[duane]

depending on how light you want to go but i have used 6.5gr of red dot under a 110gr lead bullet(bullet usually leaves bore as i have not had any stick) it was great for squirrel to 25 yards when it became inaccurate. at one time i also used 13gr red dot with a 150gr jrn 30-30 bullet however the pa game commission changed laws and i can no longer use these for small game. it was fun while it lasted

 

[MikeG]

Have loaded both the 125gr. Ballistic Tip and 130gr. Barnes "X" bullets. The BTs sure are fun (messy) on varmits.......

 

[big dan]

the speer tnt hollow point is hard to beat for accuracy and price...

 

[Gatorfan316]

Gatorfan,

You don't mention if these loads would be just for plinking, reduced recoil hunting loads or varmints. The kind of bullet you pick, and the load you use, will be determined largely on what your objective is with those bullets.

Just looking for a light load that I can use for varmints (110 gr) and a smaller load than the 165 for the small deer we have in Florida (130 gr).

Both bullets I am looking at get good reviews but I just wanted to see if you guys have ever went light in the 30.06.

Best to go into this informed than to go in blind and dumb.

 

[broom_jm]

GF316,

I cannot speak to the lightest 30 caliber bullets for varmints, but I worked up some handloads for the 125gr Nosler BT last summer. My wife hunted with them during the November deer season in Michigan, harvesting a smallish doe at about 50 yards. Her shot placement was good (behind shoulder) and the bullet was a complete pass-through, with a thumb-sized exit wound. No tracking was necessary. The load was a reduced charge of H4895, taken from this website:

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth Loads.pdf

I would not suggest going much faster than about 2600fps with this bullet and would limit shots to 200 yards, or so. Any faster and the BT might blow up at very close range; any further and it might not have the steam to do its job. Ask MikeG about the 125gr BT and a rather unfortunate hog, down in Texas.

 

[big dan]

i agree with broom, if you are gonna use the 125gr b/tip keep the mv down! you might consider the 130gr barnes for your deer hunting. you might be able to come up with a scenario in which you can use the same load and just change the bullet to suit the intended purpose...

 

[zoar]

On they BerryMfg website they make it abundantly clear in a bold statement--

30-30 Cal 150gr RS (.308)
gun ammunition

When loading these plated rifle bullets do not exceed a max velocity of 1700 fps.

Do not exceed 1700 fps.

 

[dmsbandit]

I just checked out that link on berrysmfg..... WOW.

I wonder of they have a load recommendation for this in the 30-06. The did say NOT to exceed 1700 fps with those little babies.

I wonder how straight (ie very little drop) they shoot at up near that 1700 fps???

I use 30-30 bullets in my 308 and get very good results with them. I push them faster than a 30-30 does, but I see no reason the Berrys bullets wouldn't work if you kept the ranges under 100-150yds. I've used plated 45Colt bullets with good results in rifles and handguns so I see no reason those 30-30 plated bullets would be death on deer.

The velocity rating probably has more to do with stripping over the lands than the bullet coming apart. I would bet 4895 or Rel-7 would work well in the 30-06 with those bullets.

 

[MikeG]

I've loaded IMR-4064 with the 130gr. Barnes, and both 4064 and Varget with the 125gr. BT.

The 125gr. BTs were tougher than you'd think - I put one of them through two javelinas, once. They would probably be fine on a broadside shot on a small deer. Just don't hit the parts you want to eat.

 

[Gatorfan316]

In the 130 grain I am looking at the Barnes Triple-Shock X Hollow Point Boat Tail and this looks like the bullet that I am most impressed with and it seems to get very good reviews.

In the 110 I am looking at the Sierra Varminter Bullets - Hollow Point.

I wouldn't use the 110 for deer but would use it for Varmints and targets. Just something to play around with it.

The Barnes 130 grain would be my main staple for deer hunting here in Florida due to the small size of the deer and the excessive damage that the larger bullet causes to the meat.

To date I have been shooting the 165 grain Remington Core-Lokt bullets and although my rifle shoots these extremely well they destroy large sections of meat.

I have tried the Winchester 150 grain Ballistic Silvertips and those bullets exploded inside of the deer to the point that I spent a huge amount of time picking out very small pieces of bullet.

I think the Barnes bullets will hold together well and do little damage if I can get the load right. I also think this lighter bullet will shoot flatter than the 165 grain does.

Am I wrong?

 

[dmsbandit]

Well, the lighter bullets will shed velocity faster than the 165s. You may find that the deer travel alittle further with the barnes bullets than with standard cup-n-core bullets. I hunt NC for whitetails and I use the 165 Hornady SST in my '06. They drop deer like lightning and don't blow big holes thru them either. I also keep my bullets away from shoulders and try to hit in the chest or neck.

 

[MikeG]

Shot 3 coyotes with the Barnes 130gr. bullet, 3 out of 3 dropped on the spot. Florida deer aren't much bigger.

Agree they ought to leave a lot less shrapnel than anything with a plastic tip. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[dmsbandit]

At nearly $70/100 bullets, the Barnes bullets get VERY pricey.

 

[zoar]

I am looking for a light load in my "new" 30-06 as well. First, I am looking for factory ammo that would shoot real flat and be used primarily for target shooting AND head and neck shots in white tail deer generally under 150 yards, of course knowing deer they do not always give you the shot you planned for and you may have to go for plan B. I am looking at the 125 grainer Hot-Cor Soft Point --- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=313238 It has a lot of velocity: 3100 fps, and I wonder if a 2600 fps velocity load may be better. Remington actually makes a managed recoil 125 grainer soft point in that velocity range http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=353369

 

[Gatorfan316]

At nearly $70/100 bullets, the Barnes bullets get VERY pricey.

Yeah the Barnes bullets are pricey and I may choose to go with a different brand but I am extremely curious about the 130 grain performance.

Once I get home (I am on the road working) I will load some and try them out.