Let's talk: 125 grain bullets in the 30-06

[Picher]

The 125 grain, 30-06 factory rounds I've fired were all too lightly jacketed for Maine deer or tougher game animals. I used a lot of handloaded 125 grain loads for woodchuck hunting and they worked well, opening adequately on those relatively small, but tough critters. For larger critters, 150, 165, and 180 grain projectiles opened adequately on deer and bear-sized game, but it's best to test them on inanimate objects to assure adequate performance. I tended to use more 165 grain PSP bullets than anything else in my '06 deer handloads, giving fairly flat trajectory at medium to longer range, while providing adequate expansion.

For hunting at under 200 yards, flat trajectory doesn't matter as much as controlled expansion.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Seeing as you are a shoulder shooter, I wouldn’t use those 125g on even smallish deer. If they were reduced velocity you would likely be fine, but penetration is likely going to be an issue driving them at 3,000 + FPS.

 

[brewer12345]

Seeing as you are a shoulder shooter, I wouldn’t use those 125g on even smallish deer. If they were reduced velocity you would likely be fine, but penetration is likely going to be an issue driving them at 3,000 + FPS.

That was kind of my thought. I would be worried about the bullet grenading on impact. May not make it through the deer and likely to ruin a lot of meat.

 

[bsparker]

Compared to many on the thread, I'm out of league in understanding many of the nuances in velocity. I'm still learning a lot.

I will share that I've taken a lot of whitetail with 100gr Federal PowerShok in .243. Shoulder and double lung shots, mostly around 100yards. Full pass through, deer usually runs about 30 yards and drops. In 30-06 I usually run 150gr Federal PowerShok, similar results. Took a large doe at 150 yards with the 30-06 last year (I hunt in pretty thick woods, 150 yards is about the max distance), heart shot--can't remember if hit the shoulder also--dropped the doe on the spot. If I were in your shoes, I would hunt with 125gr out of 30-06 and be mindful of my shot placement. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[MacAR]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'm going to give the 125's a try, but if I decide I don't like them I may pull the bullets and reload them with some 150's or 180's. It is my hope that the 125's will perform well enough that I don't have to do that.

Mac

 

[illinoisburt]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'm going to give the 125's a try, but if I decide I don't like them I may pull the bullets and reload them with some 150's or 180's. It is my hope that the 125's will perform well enough that I don't have to do that.

Mac

I think you will be happy with the results on deer. Good luck!

 

[adcoch1]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'm going to give the 125's a try, but if I decide I don't like them I may pull the bullets and reload them with some 150's or 180's. It is my hope that the 125's will perform well enough that I don't have to do that.

Mac

If they don't work on deer you could just "unload" them on some smaller critters too. Just to keep it fun.

 

[Picher]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'm going to give the 125's a try, but if I decide I don't like them I may pull the bullets and reload them with some 150's or 180's. It is my hope that the 125's will perform well enough that I don't have to do that.

Mac

If you pull the 125s and want to seat 150s or heavier, the powder charges may need to be reduced to a safer level due to increased pressure.

 

[MacAR]

If they don't work on deer you could just "unload" them on some smaller critters too. Just to keep it fun.

I've seen what an '06 does to a 'yote... It ain't pretty. Quite effective, though. That's not a bad thought though.

If you pull the 125s and want to seat 150s or heavier, the powder charges may need to be reduced to a safer level due to increased pressure.

Absolutely! I'm down 1 finger as it is, don't need to lose any more.

Mac

 

[Thomasss]

According to Federal Ammo. your ballistic coefficient on that 30.06 bullet is .267. On a 130 grain Fed .270 Win SP the coefficient is from .372 to .400. From past experience deer hunting with 5.56 I would advise a lung shoot. I hit a buck on a dead run 3 times and it didn't even slow him down. He bled out after running 80 yds. For your information you do not want a through and thru bullet. You want all the energy released in that animal to create instant damage. I agree 180 grain .30 cal is a stout load. I now load and shoot .30 cal 150 to 165 Hornady SP Interlock. Much less recoil and they stop and drop.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I'm a fan of that Hornady 165 bullet for sure. Text-book, picture perfect controlled expansion out of both a .308 and a .30-30. Love that bullet.

From the .308, shooting a deer, (my son being the shooter) we recovered both bullets, didn't "pass through", and the deer dropped. I don't remember now just where they hit the deer. Pretty good sized white-tail buck.

Shooting a cougar from about 30 yards, from the .30-30, both bullets "passed-through", but you could/can see from the exit holes that they expanded just right. That's a great bullet for sure.

 

[ms6852]

The 125 grain, 30-06 factory rounds I've fired were all too lightly jacketed for Maine deer or tougher game animals. I used a lot of handloaded 125 grain loads for woodchuck hunting and they worked well, opening adequately on those relatively small, but tough critters. For larger critters, 150, 165, and 180 grain projectiles opened adequately on deer and bear-sized game, but it's best to test them on inanimate objects to assure adequate performance. I tended to use more 165 grain PSP bullets than anything else in my '06 deer handloads, giving fairly flat trajectory at medium to longer range, while providing adequate expansion.

For hunting at under 200 yards, flat trajectory doesn't matter as much as controlled expansion.

I have found that in my rifle the 165 grainers is what it shoots the most accurate. I have successfully hunted both deer and elk with this weight after I stopped using the 150's and 180 grainers. 30 years ago. When I bought my second 30-06 rifle a Tikka T3 light I did not realize it was a 1:11 twist rate but man is this rifle accurate.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I can understand sticking with the 165 and leaving all others behind, especially in a '06 or .308. !!! I think it's a nice compromise in the .30WCF, between a 150 and 170 grain bullet, if you have a single shot or a bolt action rifle in that caliber. I've found that that Hornady expands just fine at .30-30 velocity, probably helps to use a full power load, and not a reduced load or out of a vey short barrel. I have a Savage 219 with a 26" barrel, and figure that's just right for that bullet, in that caliber.

I still prefer a round nose 180 grain in .308/.30-06 for where I hunt, but I rarely hunt with a modern rifle anymore. If/when I do, it's usually a .30WCF, although I try to get the 03A3 out once in a blue-moon.

 

[DM~]

For your information you do not want a through and thru bullet. You want all the energy released in that animal to create instant damage.

Maybe YOU do, but I want an exit hole!

Most folks are so over gunned for deer, loosing a little out the off side doesn't make any difference at all, but if something goes wrong, you want a blood trail, and you get that from the exit hole!!

DM

 

[stolivar]

Before I stopped hunting my favorite hand loads for deer killing with my 06 were full power 125 Sierra SP’s

they simply turn deer off. In fact the last deer I killed I shot two within a few seconds of each other and was able to collect both where they fell.

Sierra sp's just have a turn off for deer period