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

No sir, I’ve never measured with a chronograph. According to the Barnes published loads it’s running between 3,100 - 3,200 fps but cannot confirm this is what’s happening in my rifle.

I don't notice anymore or any less meat damage than a cup/core bullet. I think it all depends where you hit them, hit the front shoulder and it going to be a mess, whether it's copper or cup/core, maybe a little worse if the cup/core comes apart.

Federal used to have a load with 125 sp in the 06 I top shoulder shot a 8 pt around 200 yds didn’t see anything dramatic

Yep, keep a sharp skinning knife handy.

DF

I've used the 130tsx, forgot the load but it was close to max IMR4064. Worked great on my velvet mule deer hunt from a Colt light rifle.

I would have no qualms using that bullet again. Tried it on a 300 WBY as well but never got a chance to put it on fur

My thinking, if a 130 will shoot through a WT chest, why does one need a heavier bullet for that application. And 3,200 hits with more authority than 2,800, lots of internal damage. Speed kills.

And the urban legend that light bullets aren’t as accurate in the old ‘06 is just that, debunked by actual range experience.

DF

Agree...I was remarking more about speed than anything. Hard to convince me that high impact speeds don't ruin a lot of meat regardless of bullet construction.
After hearing our local custom butcher/ game processor's horror stories, it's pretty clear...speed kills (too well). Quite a few of his customers remark,' is that all the meat I got?' So he, tired of the innuendos of theft...now offer to give the customer the plastic pail of bloodshot mush (for your dog, Mr Hunter) from the customer's carcass.
One of my renters is the local taxidermist, he confirms likewise. A lot of extra work fleshing out a bloodstained cape. And it stains the salt in the salt box.

I've harvested a truckload of deer with the 130gr TSX and the 30.06 from close up to far off. It does an excellent job on deer and is very accurate from my rifle. I've never recovered one as they have all exited after going through both shoulders. The majority of the deer I've shot with this combo fell in the scope when i squeezed the trigger and the couple that did run fell within sight. My brother shoots the same combo with equal results. Mike

Haven't shot many varieties of lightweight bullets, but I'd agree with that.

When I got my first .30/06, I was told by a mentor to get some 130gn Speer cave points and load up with AR2208 (VARGET) to 3300fps.

If it won't put 5 shots into an inch, toss the rifle away.
It did, so I didn't, and I still have the rifle roday.

The Speer will take game up to deer in size including pigs and hits with a very audible whack!
Good luck with it.

Has anyone had experience with the 130 grain Speer or the 125 hornady on whitetails at this reduced speed? I need to be transitioning to really low recoil that might be a good option so that i could keep hunting one of my favorite rifles. I seem to recall seeing that the Hornady is designed for minimum speeds above 26 or 2700 fps.
Thanks
Bfly

130 TTSX 57 grains IMR 4895 is my go to loads for whitetails. So far I've been lucky all dropped in their tracks.

Dandy buck Marty

Buddy of mine uses the 110 grn ttsx in his 270 win and it hammers deer. I would imagine the 130’s in an 06 would do about the same.

I'll say!!

Thanks guys, I just figured out how to post pictures lol.

Well, that is a helluva good first try Marty!

Don't reckon they'd want you giving that testimonial for a Weatherby commercial....

Yeah, speed messes up meat. Destruction of tissue is what kills stuff.

It's a balancing act: speed, bullet construction, tissue damage, quick kills, et al.

DF

My go to load in Tikka T3x 30-06:

130gr TTSX
55gr Varget
CCI200

Only taken two deer so far 40 yards, 120 yards...DRT

If you have the bullets that are not designated for something else, I would say go for it, but if you are not gaining anything over the .308, then I would say step up to a 150 at 3000 fps and call it a day. The 150 Interlock at just over 3000 fps is real nice on deer. There is only about a hundred feet per second difference in them from my .308. I use the same bullet in both, with the same results.

The only place that the lighter bullets may lose some advantage, is in extreme ranges and that is not the usual. I would base my decision on the ballistics.

As far as meat damage, don't shoot them anywhere but through the lungs, or neck and it is not a problem, anyway. I have never used very explosive bullets on deer, but rarely-with any cartridge-was I not able to salvage at least part of the front shoulders. In the average deer, if you lose some meat, because you shot them through the shoulders-oh well. I prefer not to blood trail them.