.30 cal 125gr Ballistic Tip load recommendation requested

[rquack]

My hunting partner has recently had some neck surgery which has left him very sensitive to recoil from his hunting rifle. He has changed to an autoloader to lessen the felt recoil. I'd like to load some 125 gr BT's for him to use in hopes that it will make shooting more comfortable for him. My concern: he shoots a Browning auto loader; my only prior loading experience has been for bolt action rifles. Can someone suggest a good load which will demonstrate light recoil yet generate enough oomph to work the Browning action? Long range isn't a problem: we're shooting whitetails and his blind is on the edge of a cedar swamp so an 80 yard shot would probably be about max distance. Thank you for helping me to keep him in the woods.

 

[Guest]

I'm assuming the .30cal is either a 308Win or 30-06. Either way, consider hat one of the best powders is going to be 4895, either the H or IMR variant. Use Nosler's load data, and recoil with the 125gr should be about as mild as you can find in the BAR. It may take some work to find the right load, but it should have sufficient range for your friend's needs.

 

[1Shot]

You did not say what caliber you were shooting. I am a devoted ballistic tip shooter of deer with the.308 diameter 125 gr. ballistic tip. If you keep it under 3100 fps muzzle velocity is really kills deer like the ground was jerked from under them. My 308 Win load for the bolt guns, and should work OK in the auto is this.
46 grs IMR 4895, WW case, CCI-BR2 primer, 125 Nos BT, OAL 2.742 I get 3000 fps from my 21 1/2" heart barrel and one hole accuracy.

For a 30-06 I would try 53.1 grs Varget. This is the accuracy load listed in the Sierra manual and they are pretty spot on with most bullets in the weight.

I also shoot this 125 BT in a 30X47 HBR wildcat at 2850 fps. I killed a very large 9 pointer at 107 yards with it last year. He was trying to slip through a cut over in East NC and he made the mistake of crossing the logging path I had my stand on. One shot through the front shoulders and he dropped dead as a stone.

I have gotten a number of people to try this bullet on deer and I have not had any complaints only praise.

 

[Larry in SD]

Just yesterday we were shooting some 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip loads in my buddies son's Remington Model 700 ADL Synthetic. We took the load data right from Hodgdon's web site in their youth loading data section. Average muzzle velocity was 2757 FPS with the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip. Accuracy was in the 1 1/2" range (with some groups going under that). Even in the bolt gun felt recoil was unbelievablly mild. Not sure if it would cycle a semi auto or not, but a person could start with the Hodgdon Youth Data and work up to the desired cycling / recoil level you wanted. Hodgdon says H-4895 is the powder of choice for reduced loads and will work down to 2/5's of maximum if I remember right.

Larry

PS I shot several Whitetails with the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips out of a 14" Contender .30-30 Ackley Improved Handgun at a muzzle velocity of between 2601 to 2693 FPS with excellent results.

 

[Guest]

You're spot on with H4895 being the powder of choice for reduced loads from Hodgdon's viewpoint, Larry. The actual wording of the Youth Loads paper they put on their site is a little confusing. They're suggesting the loads listed for youth loads, but stating that for cast bullets one can lower the charges to 60% (3/5ths) of the original Max Charge listed in Hodgdon data. I am pretty confident they don't mean the 60% charge weight for jacketed bullets, but it's a bit confusing, for sure. And I believe you're right about cycling the action, too. I'd start with the start charge in the standard data, and see how that cycles and recoils, and move from there. With the 125gr bullet, and a start charge of H4895, you're still looking at only about 13lbs of recoil (with the -06, less than that with the 308Win). In a gas operated semi-auto, that's going to feel like a powder puff. If he's still having issues, tell him to get a heavy barreled bolt gun and shoot reduced loads. A 10lb gun will cut way down on recoil, as will reduced loads. I'd bet he can get a bolt gun down below 10lbs, easy.

 

[rquack]

Sorry gentlemen, the caliber is .30-06.

 

[YoteSmoker]

IMR4064...prepare to be amazed!

 

[1Shot]

In the 30-06 use Varget, one of the 4064's, IMR 4895 or RL-12 and don't get over 52 grs with any of them and you will find what you are looking for.

 

[FOTIS]

IMR4064...prepare to be amazed!

or h4895