30-06 Deer Load Requested

[Uncle Chan]

All, I recently purchased a Savage 111 30-06. Synthetic Stock. Incredibly light.

I'm a recoil weeney. Any recommendations for a light accurate deer load? Although sometimes we have a shot out to 300 yrds, most are within 100.

What would you suggest?

Uncle Chan

 

[critter]

I use 150 gr Nosler BT's in my 30-06 over a medium load of IMR 4350. It does not kick too bad.

I used the same bullet and VERY mild loads of IMR 4895 to load to approximately 30-30 speed levels for a firend's daughter's intro to hunting with great success. Hardly kicked at all and VERY accurate. Good for not-too-far shooting.

You also might try 125 gr BT's as I use them in my Contender 30-30 and they will drop a deer really well. I've proved that several times with my TC.

Most good load books (or reloading sites on the web) will show some good, soft kicking downloads for the '06. DON'T go it on your own as some powders MUST NOT be used for downloads.

"Managed Recoil" loads are also available commercially so you might try them too as they are especially built for that pupose.

 

[dakotasin]

150 hornady and 4350 is about right. for reduced loadings look into 4895 and a 150 hornady.

as far as being a recoil weeny, start by getting rid of the factory pad and invest the $35 into a kick-eez pad. world of difference.

 

[Aceoky]

Here is the main page for the "Youth Loads" good for > 200 yards, almost no recoil......

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/index.php



Here is the 30/06 Data:

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/30-06_y.php

 

[neal7250]

I like 60 Grains of H 414 with a 150 Gr. Core Lock on it.

 

[The Bushmaster]

A light load for deer? Recoil sensitive? A .30-06 that has little or no recoil isn't loaded...

 

[Matthew Temkin]

I use the standard 150 factory loads.
My rifle is a rebuilt Mauser, hence has a bit of weight to it, which helps keep felt recoil in line.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Heavy bodied whitetails of the Adirondacks fall faster with 165's IMHO.

 

[Shoney]

IMHO the best light load in a 30-06 is called a 6MM Rem.

Having worked up accuracy loads for a number of 06's, they prform best near or at max loads with 165 gr bullets. I suggest you install a mercury recoil reducer
http://www.mercuryrecoil.com/suppressors/index.htm#top
which works very well. Adding weight to your rifle and removing it from your backside wil yield the best field use.

 

[Cain R]

MAX LOAD although incredibly accurate: 57.5-58.5 grs IMR-4350 with 165gr bullet. Shoots like a damn in my Savage 110.

 

[Roadkill]

150g soft point with 14g of Red Dot

 

[41 Mag]

If your loading yourself, then you should as mentioned check out the Hodgdon Reduced loads. I have been using them for my 6yr old grandson with a Ruger Compact that only weighs 6.5# fully loaded. Full loads with this rifle sometimes even bother me. The H-4895 loads have proven very accurate down to 2100fps with the Nosler 125gr. This past fall we moved him up to the Speer 130gr bullets for practice and the Barnes 130 TSX for his hunting load. Both ar running just over 2550fps and shoot so close to the same there is little difference except one is all copper.

The nice thing with the H-4895 is that you can start with the reduced data, and wtill work all the way up to the max load listed in the full range load list. It gives you a very wide range of loads to work with and you can adjust to your level of tolerance easier than with most other powders.

Good Luck

 

[dogrunner]

Like Cain R. says, that combo of IMR 4350 pushing a 165 is a bolt of lightning far as whitetails go.

I push Sierra's #2140 HP/BT and I have yet to have a deer or hog move from the spot it was hit with that load.

Shoulda noted that the load chronos 2850 from my 24" M/70 and about a hundred fs less from the Browning autoloader (yeah! I know....it's supposed to be a bolt gun only load).........but if it works it ain't dumb and the accuracy with either rifle is outstanding.

 

[ranger335v]

My .30-06 deer load is a 150 SPCL Rem over 61/4350 fired from a lightweight 700/Mtn. Rifle. Accuracy is under an inch, recoil is moderate and it kills deer.

Now, having said all that, it is highly unlikely my load will shoot very well in your rifle, nor is it likely that any of the loads listed above will do you much good either. Each rifle is an individual and there is no real short cut to load development. If there was a single load that did good we would all be using it.

 

[hawkeye1]

The 30-06 has always been my favorite deer rifle. Mine is a plain vanilla Remington 700 ADL. It shoots 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips very well with 58 grains of H4350. That combination is hard to beat in just about any 30-06. Have also shot numerous deer with the 150 grain Sierra GameKing and the ProHunter. They both shot well, but not as accurate in mine as the Ballistic Tip.

good shooting

 

[GaryL]

I like a 180gr bullet for the deer up here. For some reason, the same shot taken with a 150gr bullet doesn't seem to get the message across as well that it's time to lay down and go to sleep.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Since you're hunting and involving killing, you shouldn't be reducing loads. Instead, I'm with the fellows above telling you to use a recoil pad or recoil reducer. In addition, a heavy coat will help. Finally, get someone to teach you how to handle a high power rifle. Most folks that are recoil sensitive are generally afraid because they weren't taught and didn't know how to handle a high powered rifle, thereby getting the crap beat out of them by the rifle. Ten minutes with an experienced rifleman should start you on the road to getting past that unless you have physical ailment issues.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Seafarer12]

I like a 180gr bullet for the deer up here. For some reason, the same shot taken with a 150gr bullet doesn't seem to get the message across as well that it's time to lay down and go to sleep.

They must be tough up there down here anything over 60 grains will get the point across if you do your part.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You might try some of the new 130-grain bullets, such as the Barnes TTSX loaded to provide as much accuracy as possible. These are reported to kill much better than their weight would indicate, and to have flat trajectory and low recoil as well.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

ditto #10. I have a Ruger that at 300 yds that loading with Sierra SPBT whacks a grapefruit ever shot. 3X9X40 Burris. off rest of course.

 

[GaryL]

They must be tough up there down here anything over 60 grains will get the point across if you do your part.

I don't know what it is about the north woods, but I've shot all but one right through the heart, and of the two I used a 180gr on, one was the only one to drop immediately in its tracks, and the other went a short distance leaving a nice trail. The rest went from 25 to 75 yds before they dropped, usually in thick brush or in a depression where you practically have to step on them to find them, and virtually no trail to follow. Don't ask me how they do it, but my partners have pretty much all seen the same thing.

I rarely get a shot at one not on the move, so heart shots allow a margin of error.

I've been using the Nosler BTs (150s and 180s), and what I like best about the 180gr is it punches through, rather than exploding inside, so there is a trail to follow. No question that they have all been effective one shot stoppers, but I could do without the search party effort after the shot. Snow would help, but we haven't had much for opening weekends lately.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Some years back the gun rags had a recoil chart showing the 30-06 to be the hardest felt recoiling caliber pro-ratio compared to all other common calibers.

So, I say...in for a penny, in for a pound!

57g IMR 4350 under a 165g SPBT.

Get some!

 

[P-32]

My hunting load is simular to Snapping T's. I use it in a Winny Mdl 70 Feather Weight. It boots like a mule....I learned how to work through it.

 

[Uncle Chan]

Good Evening,

Thanks everyone of your load info. I'm leaning towards putting a series of loads together using 150-165 gr bullet and some 4350.

Since you're hunting and involving killing, you shouldn't be reducing loads. Instead, I'm with the fellows above telling you to use a recoil pad or recoil reducer. In addition, a heavy coat will help. Finally, get someone to teach you how to handle a high power rifle. Most folks that are recoil sensitive are generally afraid because they weren't taught and didn't know how to handle a high powered rifle, thereby getting the crap beat out of them by the rifle. Ten minutes with an experienced rifleman should start you on the road to getting past that unless you have physical ailment issues.

Thanks for the advice Dave. I've been shooting high power rifle for 30 years. My favorite toy is a M44 in 7.62 x 54R, which I've used to drop plenty of deer and elk. As I'm sure you know, it has noticeable recoil. However, this Savage 111 has recoil of such a magnitude that I simply don't like it. I've purchase a recoil pad. I'll make some light loads. I'll put something together that will do the job.

Thanks again, all.

Uncle Chan

 

[R.W.Dale]

The 125grn sierra prohunter motivated to about 3000 fps by a stiff charge of Varget makes for a VERY accurate and flat shooting deer loading that's also surprisingly easy on the shoulder.