125 grainers in .30-06

[RWE]

Hello all!

I started loading 125 grain NBT for my daughter and she has killed three deer, one shot each. Yep, I am tickled to death!! To be honest, I like shooting the light loads so much that I am going to make "one load" for both of us. That way I only have to try to remember one set of dope for the gun.

We had discussed wanting to ramp this up a little so I had made some 150gr loads running about 2600 fps and they are a little much for her. Wanting to do more than the H4895 Youth Loads, I bought some 125 grain Accubonds and want to push them harder.

I have and like RL15 in my .308 and see that in the Nosler manual the starting 125 grain .30-06 load is 52.0 grains, running about 3100 fps. (They note it as the most accurate powder tested and 52.0 gr load as the most accurate of that powder - FWIW). I was going to start 10% below, thinking that would be around 2900 fps, and work up but... before I roll up a box of these, does anyone have an idea of what the recoil of this load will be like?

I appreciate your comments!

 

[Guy Miner]

In an effort to build an effective, accurate and light-recoiling .308 load for a young lady who is a new hunter, I used the 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, loaded to about 3100 fps.

Recoil was very similar to my .25-06, which shouldn't be a surprise as it shoots 115's at 3120 fps with my favorite load. I don't have any way of measuring recoil other than my impressions and I'd put that 125 grain .308 load in the "light deer rifle" category. It's there, but much, much less than say 180's at 2700+ fps from a .30-06 rifle...

BTW, the 125 performed very well on a whitetail buck for her. Flattened out, almost made it out the other side, but was found in the hide. Perhaps your AccuBond will make it out?

I'd recommend loading 5 or 10 to see how they shoot, before building a whole box of ammo.

Regards, Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

Oh yeah - WELCOME to the Nosler Forum, and congrats on your daughter's success afield!

Guy

 

[kraky]

Recoil is always subjective. And different guns seem to have more or less with the same loads.
Do a google search on "recoil calculators" and you'll find lots of sites.
If nothing else you can enter a past load you've used and get a figure..then the new load and see how much you've reduced things.
The 125 bt is a cool bullet. I loaded some for my buddies LE 308 savage w/noslers suggested load of 748 powder. It came screaming out the 24" barrel at 3225fps and he landed 4 in 1.25" at 300 yds!

 

[DrMike]

Welcome aboard, RWE. It's always a pleasure to see new individuals posting. Guy has some experience with the 125 NBT, as noted in his post. I believe he is correct in stating that the 125 AB might just punch through on deer. It is a fine bullet that maintains integrity. He is correct in advising you to load up a set for testing before you launch into making a full set for hunting. Let us know what comes of your effort.

 

[RWE]

Thank you gents, for the comments and the welcome. I look forward to more discussion on this matter and others.

I guess I could have added that this is a light sporter barrel and I really need to cut the stock down and add a real pad. The pad on there is basically a covering to protect the wood.

This is 90% to reduce recoil for my daughter, but I won't lie, the other 10% is for me. Shooting those "Youth Loads" made me laugh out loud.

The reason for not sticking with the 125 gr NBT Youth Loads is that I want a load I can shoot at some range (300-ish yds) on game (Kentucky White Tails) and, well, lets say the first two deer my daughter shot could have been killed better given the scenarios. Seems the bonded Accubonds may hold an advantage over the NBT in the same weights... But I could be mistaken.

Again, thank you!

 

[RWE]

Welcome aboard, RWE. It's always a pleasure to see new individuals posting. Guy has some experience with the 125 NBT, as noted in his post. I believe he is correct in stating that the 125 AB might just punch through on deer. It is a fine bullet that maintains integrity. He is correct in advising you to load up a set for testing before you launch into making a full set for hunting. Let us know what comes of your effort.

Thank you, yes, I have been a lurker here for a while but with this endeavor I find a reason to post. I will stick around.

 

[orchemo]

Makes me want to try some 125 BT in my 300 Savage. Some day this winter, when I have nothing else to do.

Good luck

 

[JD338]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations to your daughter.
The 125 gr AB should fit your needs nicely. 3100 fps should flatten deer and be light on recoil.
In addition to the reduced loads, you may want to get her a Past shooting pad and have her use ear plugs along with shooting muffs.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

JD offered some great advice, but if your already using H4895, and getting what you like, there is no harm in incrementally increasing the charge to get to the speed you want. If 150's at 2600 were a little too much, I would stick with that speed as a gauge for the 125's as the recoil won't be too much different between the too of them. I would feel very comfortable hunting deer with the 125 BT's at 2700, and chances are it'll work fine for deer out to 300 yards as well. H4895 really works well in this area.

Cartridge : .30-06 Spring. (CIP)
Bullet : .308, 125, Nosler BalTip 30125
Useable Case Capaci: 64.473 grain H2O = 4.186 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H4895

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 73 43.20 2479 1706 28057 7871 87.9 1.337
-18.0 75 44.28 2538 1787 29784 8125 89.2 1.304
-16.0 76 45.36 2597 1871 31612 8374 90.4 1.273
-14.0 78 46.44 2655 1957 33545 8617 91.5 1.242
-12.0 80 47.52 2714 2044 35589 8852 92.6 1.212
-10.0 82 48.60 2772 2133 37750 9081 93.6 1.180
-08.0 84 49.68 2831 2224 40035 9301 94.5 1.147
-06.0 85 50.76 2889 2317 42450 9511 95.4 1.116
-04.0 87 51.84 2947 2411 45003 9712 96.2 1.086
-02.0 89 52.92 3005 2506 47702 9903 96.9 1.057
+00.0 91 54.00 3062 2603 50557 10082 97.5 1.029 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 93 55.08 3120 2701 53576 10250 98.1 1.002 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 94 56.16 3177 2801 56771 10405 98.6 0.976 ! Near Maximum !
+06.0 96 57.24 3233 2901 60153 10547 99.0 0.951 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 98 58.32 3289 3003 63735 10675 99.4 0.926 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 100 59.40 3345 3106 67531 10789 99.6 0.903 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 91 54.00 3205 2851 59622 10005 99.9 0.955 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 91 54.00 2875 2294 41714 9696 91.3 1.125

 

[JD338]

Here is a link to a recoil calculator.
http://www.shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php

JD338

 

[1Shot]

I have killed in excess of 50 deer with the Nosler .308 125 gr ballistic tip in various caliber rifles and pistol. As long as you keep the IMPACT velocity under 3000 fps it don't get much better for a deer killer. 46 grs IMR 4895 is my 308 Win load for 3000 fps and it shoots bug holes at 100 yards. I shoot it at 2850 fps from my 30X47 rifle and at 2670 fps from my 14" barrel TC Contender pistol in 30-30AI.

 

[barthowes]

I tried the 125 BT and RL15 in my savage 30-06. Great light recoiling load at somewhere around 3000fps. My wife loved it. Cases were very sooty if i tried to lower it any so i would recommend staying near maximum. But always work up a load as every rifle is different.

 

[RWE]

I set up 10 rounds, five each of 125 grain Hornady SST and Nosler Accubonds. I have some 125 NBTs around too but the rounds loaded, particularly the Accubonds are my focus. Used CCI LRP, Nosler brass, and 50 grains of RL15 to start. If I recall, I expect that to be pushing the 2900-ish fps mark. I should be able to run them across the Chrony, depends on how much time I get. I would like to get to 52 grains/3100fps for my use but lets see how this goes. Besides, the daughter is still limited to 100 yards open and closer in the woods. But... she can ring the steel, repeatedly, at 200 and 300 though (sorry, have to brag a little on her).

 

[Guy Miner]

Brag away! This is a very family & kid friendly site. We're pleased to learn of young hunters doing well. They're the future of hunting!

 

[OU812]

Brag away! This is a very family & kid friendly site. We're pleased to learn of young hunters doing well. They're the future of hunting!

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