Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 125 grain 30/06????

Hey Dirtfarmer. Looks great. Your point is solid. They work. Come on out here & I promise they will work on 200lb + muleys. The Sierra' 125's will give the same results.

I loaded up some 125 NBT bullets for a carbine 7600 30-06 a few years ago. I wanted something light and at moderate velocity. It shot excellent out of the 7600 with numerous 1" or less groups. I never used the rifle, I traded it off. I had a bunch of ammo loaded up so I decided to try it in a Savage 30-06 Model 116 and I believe that this is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned with this load. I also tried it in my Tikka and it did nearly as well as the Savage. 125gr NBT, 58.5gr of IMR 4350, I think its a middle of the road charge but seems to be magic in the 06's. I have only killed one deer with this load but it was a really nice 170" white tail and he hit the ground like being struck by lightning. Bullet was found in opposite shoulder just under the hide.

HeavyBarrel

That's a good looking rifle.

You need to looking into the 130gr TTSX

I load them in my 30-06 and it's like hitting them with lightning....

I haven’t used the Hornady but I have used the 125 Accubond and the 130 Triple Shock. I’ve loaded them with H-4895 at 3100 fps and they WILL do the job, no question.

+1. Our Couse WT's are the size of a large dog. A 22-250 with a 62gr Barnes or 60gr Partition would dispatch them pretty easily if it were legal. I've take Mule Deer in Unit 9 with a 130gr Barnes in front of 55grns of Varget. That load in my 30-06 cuts through them like buddah with out a ton of recoil. NOTE: I wouldn't use that load beyond 300 yards max. It would lose too much velocity.

I’ve used this bullet in a 18” 308. Plan was for close range deer so used a start load of RL15. Of course I then got a 200 yd shot. Bullet acted like an FMJ as BC like a brick and started out slow. Deer alive after 10 minutes but killed with a second shot to the neck.
Thereafter I’ve used 125gr BT at MV 2,800fps - very good, 125gr NAB again very good but question if it’s better than the BT. I then moved to the 125 Sierra Game Changer in 06 - favourite of all. Reliable expansion, find it under the skin in bits and deer die quick.

I've been thinking about trying those in my .308

I believe Hanco smokes hogs with those out of a 300 Savage.

Yes. Using 43 grains of H 4895 for the 300 Savage.

Chase, how old are you?

Why mess with what works? Take a 165 or 180 and go forth.

The Sierra single shot pistol bullets are 130 gn. I have part of a box still.

130 gr Barnes is ideal.

tzone, I load the Barnes 130 TTSX in 308 for deer.....use TAC at 3170 fps and have yet to catch one and most never take step. What I like about this bullet is the energy is like 1599 out to 300 yards and only a 3 1/2" drop. Have shot them into stacks of wet phone books stacked in front of 2x6 treated boards at 300 yards and will shoot thru 3 of the boards, and when you do catch one it is a perfect mushroom. Only bullet I load for whitetails. Got the 150 TTSX and working on a load with CFE223 for elk hunting.

Light for caliber, so I'd not be inclined to reach out with such. Probably fine though for close in stuff <200 yds.

maybe check out Hammer 30 caliber bullets ?

friend of mines grandfather loads the sierra 125 grain spt pro-hunter in his 30-06 he loads them on the lighter side around 2700 fps. His reason is he suffered from a shoulder injury and cant handle alot of recoil. his loads compared to my sierra 165 grain BTHP game king loads in my 308 win I really cant see any difference in deer killing performance or that his lighter bullet tears up more meat meat then my 308 load. My preference is heavier bullets based on some of my own theories and preferences for rifles. But I am having a hard time understanding why you guys don't think a 125 grain bullet is suitable for deer. What about 130 grain soft points in a 270 they aren't much different and tons of deer have been killed with a 130 grain in a 270.
I know generally lighter bullets are for varmints but a 125 grain bullet with the right design should be fine for deer. Now if the packaged is labelled as a varmint bullet then I wouldn't use it on deer because its designed to frag on impact.

If you’ve GOT to use a light bullet get some 130TTSX and never look back.

You will be happy if you do!!