Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 125gr in a 30.06

Who's done it and how did it work out?
What powders did you use?
Velocities?
Accuracy?
Will be trying NBTs and Accubonds

I have used the 125 Ballistic Tip some. Max. Load of IMR 4350. Velocity 3000-3100 fps depending on barrel length. Fine accuracy. The 125 NBT works very well on deer from inside 50 yards to around 300 yards.

I saw a Sierra 125gr Prohunter spitzer take down a couple of mule deer from an 06' like they were struck by lightning. Put them in the right place and they will work fine.

My kid brother in law used one of my Herters 125 gr.
He said he never saw a deer drop so quickly.

Using Nosler's Number 7 manual as reference, I loaded a series a few weeks ago for an old 700 with a 20" barrel with H-4895 and the 125 Nosler A/Bond. O/all 3.32" and base to ogive with My Hornady tool, 3.665". CCI 200, R-P cases.

Here's what I got:
48.0 grs, 2970 fps, best three in 1.4", four shots in 2.7"
49.0 grs, 3035 fps, best three in 0.4", four shots in 0.7"
50.0 grs, 3100 fps, best three in 0.6", four shots in 1.4"
51.0 grs, 3160 fps, best three in 0.5", four shots in 1.1"
52.0 grs, 3220 fps, best three in 0.9", four shots in 1.2"

A week later to narrow it down a bit:
49.0, four in 0.45"
50.0, four in 0.9"
51.0, four in 0.7"

Nosler lists the following for H-4895, a 24" barrel, Nosler case, WLR primer with the same o/all length:
48.5 at 3020 fps
50.5 at 3110 fps
52.5 at 3220 fps

My browning A-bolt stalker like Nosler 125 Bal tips with 57 grains of H-380. If I do my part less than 1 inch and recoil can be handled by small frame woman or a young teenager.

Have 2 buddies that use the 125's and I have seen deer dropped by both of them, like they were hit with a lighting bolt.
If I were running a 308 or 06, this would be the first thing I tried (and last) for deer.

My son's antelope with a .308 and the 125gr NAB was the quickest I have ever seen one drop. It retained 60-grs, so I would not want to hit a shoulder with it. I loaded the 125 NAB and POI is the same, so I am interested in seeing how it does.

on the lower end of the spectrum,

loading a125 Nosler Ballistic Tip behind either 25 grains of SR 4759 or 30 grains of either of the 4198s, has worked quite well multiple times for kids..... we hunt at 30/30 ranges ( 150 yds or less)....

Can anyone compare WT terminal performance, 125 NBT, 125 NAB and 130 Horn, all at around 3K+ out of an '06?

I really like what I see with the 130 Horn, never tried either 125.

DF

That 130 Hornady isn't fragging out?

Not easy to find.

"Fragging out"..?

130 Horn kills the crap out of WT's with lots of blood pouring out of entrance and exit holes, a lot of destruction in between. Mostly DRT's.

I was wondering how 125 NBT's and 125 NAB's compare at 3,000-3,100 fps on WT's. I can vouch for 130 Hornadys.

DF

I don't have info on the NBT run quite that fast, but an acquaintance pushes them with a full snort load of W748 out of a 308 Encore (16" bbl IIRC) and he loves them on deer.

NBT's, at least the older ones, got a bad rep for blowing up. I know the newer ones are reportedly tougher. At 3,100 fps, I was wondering if the NAB would be a better choice. I'm thinking the 130 Horn may be a bit tougher than the NBT, maybe in between the NBT and NAB.

Looking for confirmation.

DF

Hornady puts the 130 in the varmint section and says "explosive expansion, even at low velocity", whereas Nosler classifies the 125 as a hunting Ballistic Tip with the heavier jacket near the base.

Dang it I have hated Ballistic Tip since they first came out and acted like varmint bullets.

You guys finally convinced mr to try the 95gr BTips in a 243.

Then you bragged on the 120gr 7mm.

And now I have to try the 125 gr, 30 cal, too?..

What were your results?

Well, last year on a chest shot 120# WT doe at 125 yds, the 130 Horn performed perfectly, didn't go to pieces like a varmint bullet.

So, given that designation, I would think the 125 NBT would do similar. Plus, it's a designated hunting bullet.

I have those same bad memories of NBT's in past years. I'm having to work around that stereotype, one bullet/one critter at a time.

DF

Velocity on those loads, Seafire?

Also, anyone using 125 SSTs?

Just a couple of deer so far. But no complaints.