Author Topic: 130 gn bullets in a .308 for deer? (Read 4021 times)

Skillet · « **on:** August 21, 2007, 11:38:31 AM »

I'm wanting to take my 12 year old son deer hunting.

I've been working on some lower-end 130 gn reloads to reduce recoil (my son is small for his age). Best I've found so far are the 130 gn Speer flat-nose softpoints at an estimated 2500 fps.

Believe it or not, the 130 gn FP slugs out shoot the pointed ones with this load, printing about 2" groups at 200 yds out of that light Westernfield bolt-gun.

I know that these light slugs might over-expand at higher velocities, but I'm hoping that at this more sedate velocity and with all that exposed lead that it might perform well on our smallish cen-Tex whitetails and help him get his first deer. The gun is chambered for .308 Winchester...

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with 130 gn 30 caliber slugs on whitetail as far as terminal performance?

Respectfully,
Skillet

GradyL41 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2007, 01:05:58 PM »

I have a friend who has hunted with 130 for years and uses nothing --of course he is older than 12 --but he has been well pleased with them

beemanbeme · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:11:30 PM »

Sounds like you're using a 30-30 bullet in your .308. Nothing wrong with that except I wouldn't try to go past that 2500 fps velocity.

tanoose · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2007, 04:03:32 PM »

That sounds about right Skillet, have you checked out the remington managed recoil loads for the 308 win they use there 125 PSP at around 2660 fps out of a 24", and that bullet in a 30/30 would work well on deer so in a 308 it would work realy well.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2007, 04:18:11 PM »

I knew of a State Trapper who used 130 grain bullets in his .300 Savage. He was successful and felt only fools used heavier bullets.

My brother just purchased a .300 Savage for his son. He plans on loading 125/130 grain low recoil rounds for deer hunting.

the jigger · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2007, 07:44:43 AM »

here in florida i use 125gr bal.tips at about 2850fps for our thin skinned deer. every one i have shot i got 100% penetration and the recovery distances have all been under 50yds.

tmccray45 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2007, 07:58:24 AM »

Hodgdon used to have a "Youth Load" on it's Web page that listed reduced loads for both .270 and .308. For some reason, I'm not able to find it right now, but perhaps if you did a Google on Youth Load, you might find it. It seems to me that they listed 100 and 110 gr bullet loads for the .270. For the .308, they had "youth" loads for 110, 125, and 130 gr.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2007, 12:52:32 PM »

My daughter has used the Hornady single shot pistol bullets to take black bear and wild hog. They have worked great in both cases. I can only imagine they would be great on deer.

41 mag · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2007, 01:02:52 PM »

Last year my grandson decided he wanted to shoot him a hog. If you knew him you would know he doesn't take things like age or size to heart when it comes to hunting or fishing. He was working on his fifth birthday this past November. Long story short I put him behind my Ruger Compact in 308 and some of the 125gr reduced loads from the Hodgdon site. The first few practice sessions were a little eye opening for him but he tucked in behind the scope and went to it like a trooper.

Here is the result of his efforts at 50yds,

Here is a little plate we use to check a zero once in a while he just had to shoot. He hit three for three at 185yds with two of the original loads and one 130gr bonded core I loaded just to check the group.
The 125's, and yes he is opinting to two impacts,

The 130gr

I would just imagine that they would work very well for your son as well. Here is the link to the Youth Loads as well. Just click on a caliber in the list under Rifle Loads to the lower left as you scroll down.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/index.php

Good Luck and have fun.

NYHunter · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2007, 07:01:18 AM »

Have you tried Low Recoil factory loaded Rem. ammo? They come in 125 grn. loads I believe and have substantially less recoil.

Skillet · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2007, 08:24:46 AM »

It sounds like this handload will work out just fine. Recoil is light and accuracy is excellent...

Skillet

Bob A · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2007, 01:29:06 PM »

Skillet,

I use the Speer 130 FP in my 30-30. I get about 2450 fps and know others that push it to 2500 fps with the 30-30. It is a very good bullet and the accuracy you report doesn't seem out of line since I can get close to 1 inch at 100 yards with a lever gun. Your 308 should do much better.
The Hodgdon youth load is down around 2000 fps and really gets the recoil out but you are only dealing with 11-12 lbs of recoil at 2500 fps. If your son can handle it, he should be good to go.

Bob A

Slamfire · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2007, 05:53:18 PM »

A friend of mine builds a .308 for each of his grandchildren, on Spanish 1916 actions. He starts them off with 130s and uses them himself.

Brithunter · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2007, 11:30:28 PM »

Quote from: beemanbeme on August 21, 2007, 02:11:30 PM

Sounds like you're using a 30-30 bullet in your .308. Nothing wrong with that except I wouldn't try to go past that 2500 fps velocity.

Having a 30-30 bolt action built on a moder action, I have used 150 grn Sierra Flat Points meant for the 30-30 but at enhanced velocities. By enhanced I mean the 150 Grn bullet at 2700 FPS. It has prooved effective on the Deer which I have used them on but due to thei not being so easlly available here I use Hornady 130 Grn Spire Points at 2800 fps. In my .308 I have not found the 125-130 grn bullets to be so accurate. My particular rifle prefers heavier bullets it seems.

Jim M · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2007, 03:42:40 PM »

I've used the 125 and 130 grain in a 30 herrett but not for hunting yet. When Steve Herrett designed this wildcat for the TC contender, he figured that the reduced velocity would make a great hunting round from what was a varmit round at higher velocities. There are plenty of 30 herrett hunting experiences out there which prove this out. Someone mentioned the hornady pistol bullet, I used to use these but havn't found them listed lately. Are they still made. Good luck with that 308.

T.R. · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:40:41 AM »

Back in 1972, Winchester loaded factory ammo for .308 in 110 grain and 125 grain plus a host of other weights including 200 grain.

Of course, I had to try 'em all.; still have a box of 110 grain ammo. The 125 grain .308 ammo was right on the heels of 270 in 130 grain, at least at the muzzle. I shot several coyotes that went down so quick I thought I'd missed!

TR

Skillet · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2008, 06:48:09 AM »

I managed a 160 lb mule deer buck and a 200 lb feral hog with this load back in December.

That light-loaded 130 gn speer fp out of the .308 dropped both animals in their tracks. My son shoots the load well on targets too, recoil is plenty mild for a youngster. Penetration was clean through on both critters with massive wound-channels.

He's not quite ready for a deer hunt just yet, but next year he'll be good-to-go...

Thanx to all for their input!

Skillet

jro45 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2008, 12:15:57 PM »

I've shot those 130gr bullets in my 30-06 They were going about 3500 FPS.

handirifle · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2008, 05:52:50 PM »

Here's Hodgdons yoputh data page

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/index.php

Sweetwater · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2008, 06:13:53 PM »

On a different post I wrote how I helped my sister overcome her flinch from shooting her 30-06 with 180gr bullets loaded hot. I set her up with 130gr Speer hollow points over 46gr of IMR4064. She shot Antelope, Mule Deer and a Spike Elk with the load. I didn't think it was enough for the deer or the elk, but she's a strong-minded woman and the proof went in the freezer! Sixteen years later, I loaded 130gr Hornady spire points over 55gr of IMR4064 in the same rifle and it literally devastated a couple Antelope that fall. Much different effect from the much higher velocity for sure. Recoil was still nothing. Sometimes I think we use bullets of really fine construction, but more weight than we really need, which punishes us with extra recoil in the process.
From the looks of your last post, you found this out already!! Happy Shooting and Dining!

Regards,
Sweetwater

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #20 on:** February 14, 2008, 12:39:25 PM »

I have killed a ton of whitetails with the 308 Win shooting either Sierra 125 gr spitzers or Nosler 125 BT's

AtlLaw · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2008, 04:11:35 PM »

Quote from: SingleShotShorty on February 14, 2008, 12:39:25 PM

I have killed a ton of whitetails with the 308 Win shooting either Sierra 125 gr spitzers or Nosler 125 BT's

Interesting. I played around with 125 gr. Rem PSP's outa my 30/06 before this last season. Got 'em up to 3K+ with acceptable accuracy, but abandoned the experiment. I just didn't have the confidence the bullet would hold up at those velocities and if I went slower I might just as well shoot 150 or 165 gr. slugs.

jro45 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2008, 05:56:19 AM »

I've shot them in my 30/06 at over 3000 fps and they didn't tumble or any thing else. You gotta figure these are 30 caliber.

lgm270 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 16, 2008, 06:27:37 AM »

Years ago an Alabama hunter/gun writer wrote in Gun World Magazine about his very successful use of Speer 130 Grain HP's on deer in an 30-06. He said they provided great almost instantaneous killing power, much better than heavier bullets. His experiences and opinions are similar to many expressed in this thread.