usajag

The 130 gr will take deer but I beleive the accuracy is better with a 150gr or 165gr. If recoil is a concern you can play around with the load to match the shooter.

PaulS

I have loaded Speer 130 grain HP in an '06 for deer but I had to limit shot placement to head and neckshots because at almost 3000 fps (measured) the tend to blow up on impact and penetration is only about one body width through SOFT tissue - if you hit even one rib you have a wounded animal. I got sub-MOA accuracy and had no problems other than having to wait for a deer to give me a good shot. It was an experiment that my brother talked me into and it worked under the conditions it was loaded for but I went back to my 165 grain BT because there are no limitations on that bullet other than range and if it is too far for that bullet it is out of my shooting skills to shoot at. (ok, maybe not but I don't shoot past 200 yards anyway - point of aim from the muzzle to impact +/- 1 inch is my person choice of limitation.
The Spire point driven at high velocity will kill but it is just light enough to stop when it hits a bone or fragment into pieces too small to kill. If you don't mind being limited in your shots then try it out. If limits bother you then step up to a heavier bullet - 150 to 165 are the best you can ask for when the target is medium sized and easy to kill. Bigger animals will need bigger bullets and bigger bullets are limited by the powder capacity of the '06. There is a big drop in velocity from 165's to the 180 grain bullets and that means that trajectory is steeper. It is one of those trade-offs that we all enjoy playing with.
PaulS

keyshunter

Many years ago, I experimented with Sierra 125gr, and Hornady 130gr in a .30-06. I even shot a few deer with the 125. They are both designed as varmint bullets, and thus are very fragile. On rib shots, theyseemed to workfine, although none exited.But, on a shot that hits solid bone, one had better be ready to shoot again.
Incidentally, although they start out faster than a 150gr, the sectional density of the lighter bullets is so poor, that at longer ranges, the trajectory was much higher--ie: they dropped more.
Because the negatives (and potential negatives) far outweigh the positives, I see absolutely nouse for a .30-06 bullet of less than 150 grains for deer.

Duckbutter48

Man you guys must really mistrust your shooting abilities. If you need that heavy of a bullet.
I guess I just dont get it, why you would want all that extra recoil and more of a rainbow affect for long shots with the heavier bullets. To each their own but he will be fine using the 130grn spire pts on deer.

https://www.hornady.com/shop/

Here's a link to Hornady's site. Click on the 130grn Spire points info and notice they are hunting not varmit bullets(110's are varmit). IF you dont believe Im correct, then argue with Hornady because they are fine to them.

keyshunter

Manufacturers can say whatever they want.

I am curious, though. How many deer have YOU shot using 130 grain Hornadys?

eldeguello

Maybe not the BEST choice, but they'll work. When I was living in Las Vegas New Mexico, the San Miguel county game warden used a .308 with 130-grain bullets, and he killed some pretty big deer with that bullet.

As with ANY bullet, the most important thing is shot placement.

Duckbutter48

K-Hunter I dont have a 30-06 but my bud does and 130's and 125 BT is what he uses. He shoot 4-5 deer a year with the gun and never has a prob. He does along with myself hunt out of a stand mostly so maybe hunting like that gives us a better chance for good bullet placement. He usually aims for shoulder or right behind. On the shoulder shots it usually breaks through closest shoulder and the bullet go to many pieces doesnt exit the other shoulder. The rib shots just about all leave somewhat of an exit hole, usually the exit side rib cage is completely purple and most of the engine room turns to mush.
Ive seen enough deer killed with that combo to say he can use it with confidence. I dont see how anyone can assume that the heavier rounds would be more accurate, that is impossible to assume.

2feathers

Maybe bullet companies should design 130gr. bullets, for deer size game, for the 30/06. They would shoot flater & would help in the recoil department. A Hornady Interbond or SST, or a Nosler Partition, for example, would be a welcome addition to the choices out there now. If the 130gr. bullet is a good choice for the .270, why couldn't a bullet of this weight be made for the '06?

Pawildman

I loaded 125 gr.SP for my father years ago after he said the recoil of the 150's was bothering him in his 30-06. (Win. Mod. 70). He was pleased with the results. They gave excellent accuracy and he killed deer with that load up until he had to qiit hunting. He never lost a deer, and shot serveral of them at 200+ yds. Probably not your ideal pick, but it worked for him.

keyshunter

I did not mean for a minute to imply that the 125 or 130 .30 caliber bullets will not kill deer. They certainly will. It is just that,in my opinion, there are better bullets for the job. Heck, when I farmed, I had a neighbor who protected his orchards, to the tune of 12 to 15 deer a year with a .222 loaded with 55 grain Hornady spires. I know this because I loaded his ammo.

But, anyone who hunts a lot knows that it is not always possible to get a nice clean broadside shot-especially with the deer of a lifetime. In my case it was a 167 10 point. It was a matter of taking a long, difficult angle shot or let him pass. I made a clean kill, but I doubt that the outcome would be the same with a 125 or 130.