Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 30 Cal 125-130gr Bullets For Deer Hunting

My wife killed a pretty big caribou with a 150 gr. I'll bet she could kill a brown bear with it if she needed to!
whelennut

She probably shoots them in the right place. Some at my camp could take lessons

I used to hunt archery a lot!
I encouraged her to try for a double lung broadside shot.
She listened.
The first year we ever hunted together I took her shooting a lot, she probably shot 300 rounds of .308 in one summer.
I never mentioned where to aim on the deer, I assumed she knew.
A buck came running by her and she shot half the rack off.
It ran by her brother and he killed it.
She said she was aiming for the brain (on a running deer 100 yds away) Ever since then she has killed every deer with just one shot.
whelennut
whelennut

Got some great groups out of my 300 saum with 130gr ttsx's last weekend. Can't wait to flop a deer or pig with it

I was pushing 3000fps with my 300 sav using Hornady 130gr BTSP's. To be fair, I don't remember which powder load that was and I don't have my notes here.

Honestly, I think that was too much for whitetail. The recoil in my 99 was negligible. The meat damage was massive. I have since become a lover of big fat slow moving cartridge loads. So, even in my 300 sav I shoot the 165's or even 180s as I know they aren't any fatter, but they will maintain the same penetration that the 130's do, but do so much slower, causing far less hydrostatic shock, which translates into less jelly meat.

That said, that is just my preferences. On paper, and in the field a 150gr bullet (depending on it's makeup) is the pinnacle for my 300 sav. I just prefer the fat heavies, though they do kick more.

Really. Interesting, I have one of those too, it's my favorite rifle, have to work up some loads for that as well, thanks.

Ha ha! You guys are funny.

Jimmy Joe, Just for grins, I shot the 125g NOsler Ballistic tip at 2200 fps today at 100 and 200 yards. Accuracy was great and the rifle had very little recoil.

When I stareted hunting the US Marine that taught me used 220 grain bullets, and considered the "lightweight" 180s only for "little doe."

Last year, at the age of 76, he shot an 8 point white tailed deer at almost exactly 200 yards with my .308 Sako using my 125 grain Ballistic Tip handload. The deer dropped at the shot - I guess an old Marine, and a good 125 grain bullet is all that is needed for big deer here in Pennsylvania.

Terry

The 125s will kill a deer, so will a 40 gr. 22-250!!

The problem with light bullets is they kill impressively "most of the time" but ocassionally the don't exit and the animal bleeds internally and can go quite a ways and find a hole to hide in and can be lost..They also tend to bloodshoot a lot of meat, and I hate that.

For myself I will stay with the 150 gr. in the .308 and the 180 in the 30-06, neither has ever given me any reason to change.

Mine is a 12 twist barrel. Ordered them up from Superior Ammo since i don't reload. Pricey, but i'm pretty happy they shot well.

I get a charge out of this. We can read on this forum that .223 is plenty for deer yet someone else says that 125 gr .308 bullets are not enough.
Everyone is so sure they are right.
Minnesota just changed the law that any centerfire .22 is a legal big game cartridge.
I was so inspired by this that I bought a 375 H&H Magnum.
whelennut

Awesome, thanks much.

I had a friend that used the bone stock Remington green box 06' 125 gr for deer and never had a issue. Also I know of a few folks that use the 7.62x39 with 123 gr sp for deer with great success. I don't see why it wouldn't work with the 308. Load up some that are accurate and just pick your shot. I'm currently working up some 150 RN and 170 FP's loads for my 06' that mimic 30-30 loads. I only soot 50 yards so that is all that is needed.

in a 308, consider a load of 25 grains of SR 4759 or 30 grains of IMR 4198 or Rl7 with a 125 grain ballistic tip... or Speers 125 grain HP TNT... Speers 130 grain FN is also a great bullet with either of those powder loads..

zeroed 3.5 inches high at 100, they will be dead on at about 200 yds and about 3.5 inches low at 240 yds... at those MV.. these bullets will work just fine on deer out to that distance...

recoil will be on line with a 30/30 and a factory 150 load or a little less....

this is what my son carries in his 30/06, or the equivalent..

for what it is worth, Rem's Managed REcoil load in the 06 is a 125 grain SP and 36 grains of IMR 4198.. the equivalent in a 308 would be right at 30 to 31 grains..