30-06 reduced load bullet recommendations

[IdahoSkies]

I am looking to roll some reduced recoil 30-06 rounds for deer season this fall. (Introducing some youngsters to the sport). I have been looking at 125 gr. bullets. Any recommendations on 125 gr. .30 caliber bullets that expand well at the lower velocities a reduced load gets. (And I’m not looking for recipes or powders, just bullet recommendations).

 

[philip brousseau]

if your range will be short the 125 sierra h.p. would work. 125 ballistic tip or sierra spitzer. bullets for 30-30 or contender hand guns. you dont say how slow but if you get them too slow they wont expand.

 

[ssyoumans]

Just depends on how reduced you want to go. I've worked up my reduced load in 30-06 using Nosler 125gr ballistic tips traveling at 2,500 FPS. This is a little lighter than Remington's Managed recoil touting 2,660 FPS.

The Noslers should expand and perform down to 1,800 FPS. At 2,500 FPS muzzle velocity, I stay above 1,800 FPS all the way out to 300 yards.

A Hornady 125gr SST would perform similarly.

These 2 bullets, as well as the Barnes 110gr Black Tip are all popular with the 300 Blackout crowd, where the muzzle velocities are from 1,900 - 2,300 FPS.

The hardest part is getting a consistent velocity, reduced velocity load. The 30-06 is a big case, with lots of space. When I went slower, I got much higher extreme spreads of velocity. Note - I'm using H4895.
Where I hunt, all shots are under 100 yards, so I thing I'm good to go!

 

[readyeddy]

For hunting I would use a heavier bullet and load closer to 30-30 territory. I would go with Sierra #2145, 165 gr. SBT, and load to 2500 - 2600 fps. At this velocity it will outperform 30-30 but should give a lot less recoil than full power 30 06.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sierra makes a 125gr Pro Hunter 30-30 bullet, #2020, that will expand at velocities as low as 1,800 fps from what I read.

They also make a 150gr Pro Hunter #2000 which I would use and a 170gr Pro Hunter #2010 which are both designed for the lower velocities associated with the 30-30.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Barnes 110 ttsx
125 ballistic tip
Speer 150btsp

All will work well and have about the same recoil when loaded properly.

One other option is the Sierra 110 varminter. Before I get yelled at for recommending a varmint bullet for deer let me state that Sierra recommended this bullet to me when I inquired about some reduced loads. I made a point to ask about a less than perfect shot presenting itself to which the guy at Sierra stated their bullet would have no problems breaking a shoulder and reaching the vitals. The only first hand account I can give with this bullet was when it was used in a 30 Gibbs ( not me and I don't know why) on an antelope hunt. The entire shoulder of this animal separated from the body. Of course the velocity is much higher than yours would be.

I also did some wet phone book testing with this bullet, along with many other bullets, and I have no doubt it will work well for deer sized game if kept under 2700fps which is what Sierra recommended.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The Speer 125gr TNT will also do well, as will the 130gr HP.
Others have mentioned the Sierra 125gr PtSpt. It's my favorite. I also have had superlative results from the Sierra 125gr FNHP.
Hornady has made a 130gr PtSpt, but I'm not sure if they still catalog it.

Also, as others mentioned, the Nosler 125gr BT, and Hornady 125 SST are good.

 

[Don McDowell]

I would suggest using 150 gr bullets designed for the 30-30 rather than the 125 gr bullets.

 

[Bartojc]

I'm using the Sierra 125 Spitzer over H4895. I tried the Hornady 150 RN meant for 30-30 and I couldn't get them to group well enough, might have been me, but I think the 125 Sierra will work for me. I'm close to the Remington Managed Recoil

-Jeff

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm using the Sierra 125 Spitzer over H4895. I tried the Hornady 150 RN meant for 30-30 and I couldn't get them to group well enough, might have been me, but I think the 125 Sierra will work for me. I'm close to the Remington Managed Recoil

-Jeff

What was not well enough on the group?

 

[Lafitte]

I like shooting Sierra 125gr spitzers in my 06. Kept at medium velocity they should be good for deer hunting. Don't try to stretch the rage too much, just make certain that the velocity at the hunting max range is sufficient for good expansion/penetration. If you start low the termnal performance could be less than desirable at longer ranges.

Lafitte

 

[IdahoSkies]

Thanks all. I picked up some 125 Nosler BTs. I'll see how they perform with the H4895 I've got.

I hadn't realized I was essentially rolling a long action .300 AAC. That's why I love the .3006. From mild to wild all in one cartridge.

Thank you all.

 

[Bartojc]

What was not well enough on the group?

For one thing the projectile itself being a round nose made OAL ridiculously short. Not sure if that was the cause or not, but I could not get a group better than about 2.5" @100 yards. Granted I did not spend much time messing with them either, I moved on to the 125 grains and never looked back. I'm sure one could make them work if you spent the time on it.

What made me land with the 125 is that I can shoot the 125 reduced or the Remington 150 factory and the POI is roughly the same @ 100 yards. So I can shoot off the shelf full power loads or my reduced recoil load with no scope changes.

-Jeff

 

[Elkins45]

Shoot cast bullets--why waste jacketed bullets on reduced loads. You can buy bulk 30 cal cast bullets in bulk just like handgun bullets.