Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 125 gr. Ballistic Tip in the .30-06 or .308?

Anyone have any experience with these? I am thinking that I could use them as a medium-game (whitetail, coyote) bullet in a short-barreled '06. I figured a fast-burning powder would work well in the short barrel and it would be a low-recoil loaner rig. My main concern is that the bullet will expand too rapidly at close range. I planned on pushing it about 3,000 FPS or a little under.

I used Varget in the -06, and yes it expands rapidly when pushed hard.

I used R15 in both my 06 and 308 with the 125 NBT. It took the air out of them quite rapidly!

Dober

Either IMR-4985 or RL-15 works very well with Nosler and Sierra 125 grain bullets in the .308 and .30-06. IMR4350 also works pretty well in the �06, you can�t get hardly enough IMR4350 under that bullet to hurt yourself.

Don�t know about BT�s on game, only ever punched paper with them so far but the Sierra 125 Spitzer from an �06 will completely disintegrate a jackrabbit and when fired from a .308 makes ground squirrels disappear into another dimension with a very loud POP. Never used them on bigger game but there is a picture in the Sierra manual of a fellow who killed a deer with one. I guess like any lightweight bullet if you put it in the ribs it�ll probably kill like lightning.

I've used 125-grain Ballistic Tips under 42 grains of H4895, with magnum primers (that's what I had in the primer tool at the time), in a 30-06.

As I recall, I saw lower than expected velocities--2400 or so fps, and sometimes some large velocity (200 fps) swings. Could have been the magnum primers with the H4895, but I've yet to readdress the load.

I only shot one 5-shot group for record, and it was quite good. Especially compared to the "normal" Partition groups I get out of the same rifle.

I have no doubt the load would kill deer cleanly, and one could certainly load the case a bit more full with powder. I don't know if the case was even half full. I was testing out some youth / reduced recoil loads.

I used them in the .300 Win Mag over 80 grains of H450. It was an adequate jackrabbit load but the recoil got a little rough for shootin' ground squirrels.

I wouldn't use them on game at 3000 fps. 2400 fps and down maybe.

Tom

joeelk
How did you get those bullets UNDER the powder charge? No wonder you had such velocity spreads!

LOL...

We have used the 125 NBT and IMR 4350 in the .30/06 at around 3,000 fps on whitetail with very good success.

Glad to hear that they have been used successfully. Does anyone have any terminal performance pictures? Recovered bullets?

I see my mistake. Yes, bullets seated under powder would have quite interesting results.

Actually, it would probably be boring and messy. No boom when you pulled the trigger, and a bench covered with powder.

My dad used them 2 years ago in his 30-06. Jerked the feet out from an antelope at 175 and a big mule deer at 247. The mule deer had both shoulder broke and the bullet exited. Not sure what they are running for speed but I used Reloader 15 in them.

if nosler would only toughing these up it would be a great bullet think 120 7mm but in 30cal my 300bee would be first runner up grin

antelope, about 200 something yards quartering towards, my buddy dang near missed, but still crushed her with this glancing shot:


Same shooter, still a propensity for gut shooting. Maybe 60 yards, blew out the guts on this one:

Yikes! That is a HUGE hole.

I loaded some for the store using H414. Haven't hunted with them yet.

shot some nosler BTs 130grns outa my 270wizzum and got about 3300 fps. devastating to a 120lb doe at 250. exit the size of a large coffee can

Afraid that is going to be a little too much damage for me. I think I am going to try 165 gr. Sierra BTHP Gamekings at a little under 2700 FPS.

That Sierra will give you the performance you desire. I used to use them out of a .308 Win. Dad loaded them down for us with 47 gr. 4831. When I got older and "smarter" I realized these were putzing along at about 2600 fps. Couldn't believe they killed deer - my .308 could push them to 3000 fps, so I needed to push them to 3000 fps! They killed deer, but messed up a lot of meat. My brother continues to use the reduced load in his rifle to this day, still kills deer like clockwork, minimal meat loss.

That sounds perfect. I ran a recoil calculation and it shouldn't be too bad. My mother has been using a Ruger Mk. II Compact in .243 but I think I am going to convince her to give this rig a go in November.