Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06 with 130gr. bullets

I'm sure this has been brought up and discussed, but I'm going to ask again. I've got a new to me 30-06 coming. 165gr. bullets are my standard in the -06, but I'm thinking about using 130gr. bullets for something different in this rifle.

I've got Barnes 130gr. ttsx as a game bullet and Speer 130gr. Varminter as practice/critter bullets. Today I looked over load data and Big Game seemed to provide the fastest velocities. I've got other options and both standard and magnum primers.

If you've worked with the -06 in this bullet weight and have data or experiences you'd care to share, please post it up.

I've loaded the .300Sav with the 130gttsx with great results on game.

Never in an '06 though. Interested to hear your results. I'm sure it'll perform fine. Bet you can get them over 3,000fps and that will smack a deer well.

-Jake

The 130’s work in a 300 Savage real well, be a burner in an 06

Used 130 HP for woodchucks in Pop's Win 670 carbine before I got my first rifle. Usually used I3031 , I4350, I4064. in that order

Rich

130 ttsx
Win brass
Cci200
H4895 - 54.5grs



Shot fantastic from my Ruger 77 mkii and Remington Titanium

Talk to Dirtfarmer on this I believe he used a lot of 130 gr Hornady sp in an 06.

You skipped over 150gr.

Can't speak for 06, but my son uses 130 TTSX in his 308 @ 3200 fps and it flat out drops deer and hogs.

I've got a ton of 150s. I'm leaving them for the 308 Win. rifles.

I'm just thinking those 130s at 3200+ will make an impression.

Great choice, aboltfan! The 130 gr TTSX is all I load in 30-06 now. I can second what MOW says. It drops the deer hard and fast.


I load them in front of 56 grains of BL-C2 and CCI 200 primers. It’s an accurate load in all my rifles. You can find Barnes published loads here…. https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/30-06Springfield.pdf

I’m sure they will. The 270 Win’s been doing it for 100 years.

You are correct. 130’s hit hard, will pass thru a WT chest. Can shoot at around 3,200 fps, hit like a magnum.

I really like Big Game powder with mag primers.

I find they are accurate as any other bullet weight. Now I’m hunting WT’s and hogs, not bigger stuff. Would probably choose heavier bullets for bigger critters. For my use, I really like 130’s, even 125’s.

DF

Do you know your velocity? I’ve got a buddy that loaded them in a .30-06 and he said velocity wasn’t much more than from his .308, so he only loads in 130’s in his .308 now.

Light fast bullets regardless of diameter ruins a lot of meat...is that not a concern?

Here's another interesting 130 class bullet for the '06 or .308. It frags and is thought by some to have faster kills than Barnes. Here's a link to the CEB site. https://cuttingedgebullets.com/308-135gr-er-extended-range-raptor

I wrote the post with the picture near the bottom. Hammer Bullets are also very interesting Mono designs. Wby is now loading some factory ammo with Hammer Bullets. Google the interview, Adam Wby with Hammer founders. Good amount of technical info. Not cheap but good. Wby customers seem more performance shoppers than price shoppers.

DF

Depends more on the bullet and speed. Some do, some don't.

DF

I get right at 3,200 out of a 22" 308s with the 130 TTSX and TAC, with 20" 308 carbines right at 3,100.

It doesn't look like it will go much faster in the 30-06, which is one of the reasons that I'm shifting away from anything lighter than 180 grains in the 30-06.


Okie John

Okie, I've noted that as well. My 308s are well fed with 150s, with the exception of 125gr. Sierra PH/Nosler BT low recoil loads.

This is simply a case of a new -06 coming and a bunch of 130s needing a job. Might even be a side benefit of less recoil for my younger shooters or me in my old man role!!!

The truth is, I don't travel hunt anymore or hunt where long range shots are available. I could just about hunt with any weight bullet, style, or caliber and be fine. After a life time collecting (aka accumulating), I simply have more stuff than I'll ever use. Most of my handloading these days seem to be for family.

A fantastic reduced load with those 125-130's is around 32 gr's of IMR 4227. I load at 3.1 COAL. Will run 2520 or so in a 22" Kicks like a baby 243.

In my M70 I used 33 gr's with the Hornady 130, it shot .140 first time testing at 75yds just here at home shooting with a support up front and free wheeling in the rear off the hood of my truck. Subsequent testing at the range at 100 proved that load to be very accurate.

32 gr's at the same 3.100 COAL with the Speer 130 HP's shoots an easy 1/2" at 100 yards out of a Sauer. Only 2 rifles I shot it in, but very accurate with both.

The Speer HP load is a right now chicken killer stopper whether big or small at well over a 100 yds even at that reduced speed. Some of the said victims of that load shall remain publicly unnamed.

I'm thinking f loading Speer 130 gr HCFP (30-30) bullets at a reduced speed. Anything I should know?