30-06 Reduced load

[C.Smith]

Has anyone here played with reduced loads with the 30-06? It may be the rifle my son will shoot this year (I can not afford to buy him a rifle right now). I was thinking a reduced 150 grain bullet of some sort or maybe a 125 grain. But you guys were posting to another post about the 125 grain NBT not being the best for deer.

Corey

 

[bbearhntr]

I havent tried any myself but you might want to check out hodgdons website they have a couple listed http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

 

[HeathSexton]

I would look at imrSR4759 too. I load 25grs under a 110VMax for 5 shot MOA groups from my Savage 116.


Somewhere between 25.0 and 30.0grs should be awesome with either 125's or 150's.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I prefer to still use a 150 grain bullet for deer even at reduced velocities. You know the original 30-06 military loading was a 150 gr Spitzer @ 2700 fps muzzle velocity. This is slower than modern 308 factory loads for 150 grain bullets so recoil will not be an issue. In the Speer #13 manual it lists a 150 grain bullet going 2722 with 49.5 grains of IMR 4895 which was also coincidentally the military 30-06 powder until after World War II.

I have used this load in a friends 30-06 as well as mine and it shoots very well and would still be a 250-300 yard deer load.

I am sure your son will be grateful to go deer hunting with his old man even if it isn't with a rifle of his own. And with these reduced loads he will be "Dead-eye Dick" in no time. :wink:

 

[C.Smith]

Thanks guys I appreciate it. He has been dying to go hunting with me.

Corey

 

[Stewart]

Speaking of the original military loads, give Accurate's 2495 a try (also previously known as 2495BR). I haven't loaded 30-06 with it but I used it for 45-70. It is apparently a favorite for competition 30 cal. service rifle loads. I suspect it is very much like IMR 4895, if not a copy.

A good powder for light loads will need some bulk; you want to fill the case as much as possible for consistency/accuracy without approaching the higher pressure and velocity levels. A bulkier, faster powder will give you these.

 

[clearwater]

Pick a load that mimics a 30-30 with either lighter ballistic tips.

Lyman manual lists some reduced loads in their single shot pistol data.

 

[Larry in SD]

I have a friend that his son bought a .30-06 Remington Model 700 ADL Synthetic for his first rifle. My friend asked me if we could come up with a load that didn't recoil so much for his young son. I loaded up 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with H-4895. I took the load directly from the Hodgdon Youth Load Data on their web site and didn't change a thing. I lost count of how many deer Tyler has shot with that load, but in every case the result was a dead deer. Recoil is about like a full power .243, and this load will shoot 5 shot groups of 1" to 1 1/2" all day long.

I have also done the same thing for my Granddaughter but with a .308 instead of a .30-06 with much the same results.

Larry

 

[SJB358]

I might give some of the youth loads a whirl in my 308. Should make for an easy shooter for my kid sisters and cousins. I don't have a bunch of low recoilers, so keeping them in rifles is tough some years. Scotty

 

[GF1]

I've used IMR 4198 in several cartridges, it works well. Be very careful not to double charge a case, as this is very possible with these light charges in a variety of cartridges.

 

[1Shot]

The 125 Nosler ballistic tip even starting out a touch over 2600 fps is very much a deer killer out to 100 yards which is as far as I have shot one so far with my 30-30AI pistol. I will go through both shoulders and exit about the size of a golf ball. The 125 gr in a 30-06 really drops the felt recoil over 150 gr bullets. If someone can handle a 243 with 100 gr full house loads then they should be able to handle a 30-06 with the Jr loads or regular starting loads and 125 gr bullets.

 

[C.Smith]

I really wanted to get the 125 grn Ballistic tips but as usuall the store I have to shop at dies not have what I want normal for this store. Any way got the Speer 130 grn flat nose hot core bullet to try.

Corey

 

[SJB358]

Corey, I would bet those Speer 130's Hot Cor's will work well at reduced speeds. They are meant for 30-30's and such so I would bet they do pretty well around 2400-2600. Those Hot Cors are pretty good bullets for me too. Scotty

 

[C.Smith]

The max velocity on the reduced load is 1900 fps and some change. I'm thinking that will be plenty out to 100-150 yards, which is far as I could see my son shooting right now. With practice more but that is down the road. Right now I just want him to start shooting more than his .22 to get used to a center fire rifle.

Corey

 

[FOTIS]

How reduced is the question!!

 

[FOTIS]

Look here for 125 BT / water jug test here

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15904&p=125512#p125512

 

[bbearhntr]

Corey,
After shooting a 125g Balistic Tip into water I would not hesitate to use that bullet on deer! I know I will be this fall!! :mrgreen:
I imagine at reduced velocities You would see even better weight retention of that bullet than i did. There is also a noticeable difference in recoil with a 125g bullet vs. a 165g bullet. I shot some of both the other day at the range. I would think those speer Hot Cores will work very well also. Good luck at the range!