130gr. 30/06 bullets for deer?

2feathers · 12-23-2005, 08:12 PM

Are Hornady 130gr. SP bullets in 30/06 a good choice for deer?

handloader1 · 12-23-2005, 10:24 PM

At the least I would go with a 150 gr. I like 165 gr. better. Good luck.

bronko22000 · 12-24-2005, 11:18 AM

Years ago, I loaded a couple of boxes of 130 gr Hornadysfor my son when he just started. I did this because the recoil was noticibly less. They shot well out of his Rem 700 and he took a nice buck with this bullet with me along side coaching him and telling him where to place the shot. To recommend them as a 'deer' bullet for any hunting circumstance - definately not. As a minimum, I would use 150s.

trailer · 12-24-2005, 03:04 PM

I reloaded some 130 gr. for my cousin because of recoil issues. He was very happy with the accuracy but never had the opportunity to take an animal with the 130 gr. I"™m not sure how good they are for deer but maybe my cousin can tell me next year.

blob · 12-24-2005, 06:24 PM

Some 130 grain bullets will not stablize very good in the 30/06. I tried some a few years ago and they just didn't group very good. Go with a 150 and you won't go wrong. Not saying they won't work in some rifles, but in a lot they don't preform well. But the old 30/06 will just about shoot anything. One of the best bullets I shot in it was the 110 grain. A man I know deer hunts with them in his Savage .308 26"bull barrel and does real well.

48thguns · 12-27-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: handloader1

At the least I would go with a 150 gr. I like 165 gr. better. Good luck.

Exactly. Regards, Rick.

Rebel Hog · 12-28-2005, 01:27 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: handloader1

At the least I would go with a 150 gr. I like 165 gr. better. Good luck.

Ditto.I use 130gr NP in .270, but a minimum of 150gr in .30-06!

Ought Six · 12-28-2005, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Some 130 grain bullets will not stablize very good in the 30/06. I tried some a few years ago and they just didn't group very good. Go with a 150 and you won't go wrong. Not saying they won't work in some rifles, but in a lot they don't preform well. But the old 30/06 will just about shoot anything. One of the best bullets I shot in it was the 110 grain. A man I know deer hunts with them in his Savage .308 26"bull barrel and does real well.

Interesting. A 130 grain bullet wont stabilize, but a 150 and a 110 will? If anything, a 130 grain bullet will be over stabilized.

Charley · 12-28-2005, 08:55 AM

Not a great choice,but will work. Load to about 7.62x39 ballistics, and I would be confident in themout to about 150 yards. Don't push them too hard.
If you are looking at reduced recoil, try some 150 grain FN bullets at .30/30 velocities.

Duckbutter48 · 12-28-2005, 09:00 AM

130grn will work great for deer. I dont have a 30-06 but thats what my bud uses and like them. He also used the 125grn BT on deer with good results. 130grn is not a varmit load its fine for deer prob need more for bigger animal though.

A 270 with 130grn bullets is argued in most gun/hunting mags as the best deer hunting combo you can use. I dont think .031 of an inch to a 30caliber gun changes that much. The speeds are about the same and the densityarent much different.

Ive never seen/heard of a 130grn bullet not stabiling out of a 30-06. I cant see how this is even possible with factory non screwed up reloads. I would be very interested in what gun and what ammo you had this prob with.