125 & 130 grain bullets on deer?

[jpshaw]

I wanted to know if their were any 125 or 130 grain bullets would hold up on deer size game?  It would be a .30/30 in a Handi single shot so bullet shape would not be a problem.  I would want expansion but not for it to come apart.  Velocities would probably be around 2500 fps.  Thanks in advance guys.  

[moosie]

Are you talking about white-tail deer, mule deer, or what?  Size does make a difference, but bullet placement is the most important aspect.  I have been hunting white-tail deer in south Texas for 27 years--some are very nice size-- and have harvested at least one each season and two during most seasons.  I have used a variety of calibers including 30-30 and .308 Winchester.  My choice for the last 20 years has been .25-06 in 117 or 120 grain boat-tail bullets.  I have never had a deer run more than 15 feet, but I am admittedly a meat eater--neck only--shooter.   I am confident that most deer would succumb as quickly as a big white-tail given a properly placed shot.  In my early days I longed for a .270 because I thought bigger and more powerful was better, but I have come to realize that shot placement is far and away the most important aspect of putting the deer on the ground.  I choose boat-tail because of ballistic stability over distances.  Most of my opportunities are at approximately 175 to 250 yards.  Personally I think you waste money on fancy bullets like the Nosler Partition although I have nothing bad to say about them.  I just think they are unnecessary.  Mostly I choose Sierra brand--a medium price range,  easily obtained bullet.
Moosie

[jpshaw]

To answer the question;  Whitetail size.  100 to 200 lbs usually.  Distance to 150 yards only.  Its only a .30/30.  Oh, BTW I do have a Remington 700 in 7-08 which my son uses most of the time.  I find it more fun to use the .30/30.

[ricciardelli]

It should be no problem.

I have taken white tail and antelope with .224" 52 grain bullets; and white tail, mule deer and antelope with .243"-85 grain bullets, .257"-120 grain bullets, .264"-140 grain bullets, in rifles.  Have also taken them with .308"-110 grain bullets, 357"-158 grain bullets and .429"-240 grain bullets in handguns.

[jpshaw]

I need to rephrase my question.  Spire point bullets in .308 are designed for higher velocities then the .30/30.  I'm asking if anyone has had experience using them on deer.  Of course a 100 grain out of a .243 and 110 grain out of a .270 will also kill deer and they're even lighter but they were constructed for that velocity.

[coyotejoe]

I've taken several mule deer with the 130 grain Speer flat point, which is a 30/30 bullet and also a couple with the Hornady 130 grain SSP, which is a pistol bullet. I've noticed no difference between those two when both are loaded to 2500-2600 fps, I get exit wounds between golf ball and tennis ball size on broadside shots. I've never taken a shot much past 100 yards, not that I wouldn't do so but as yet the occasion has not arisen, nor have I taken any angling shots for the same reason. The difference in ballistic coefficient of those two bullets is not greatly different and both perform fine on game so I have no preference for one over the other but my rifle does slightly prefer the Speer bullet.

[SHOOTALL]

what will your velocity be ? 2500, 2600 ? a 7X30 waters factory load is 2700 with a 120 gr bullet and they work great even on 200 lb 12 pointers !
i have yet to recover a bullet they pass thru.

[SHOOTALL]

or was it 2800 ?

[jpshaw]

what will your velocity be ? 2500, 2600 ?

On the original post I said velocities would be around 2500.

[jpshaw]

Thank you coyotejoe.  Thats the experience I was looking to hear from.  I would like to try the Speer 130.  I think I can find some data on it for Re7 or Re15.  I think the Re7 is better for the lighter bullets.  What powder are you using behind those 130 grain bullets?

[SHOOTALL]

looks like you could get more speed out of a 125-130 in a single shot . We did in the Contender
sorry i missed your stated speed ,

[quickdtoo]

JP, most manuals list pointy bullets in their 30-30 handgun data, the Speer #13 lists 27gr start to 31gr max Re7 for their 125gr-130gr bullets, velocity is 2328fps from their 14" Contender.

Tim

[SHOOTALL]

quickdtoo, what is listed for the carbine ? don't have a book at work .

[quickdtoo]

Same data for Re7 and the 130gr Flat SP, velocity is 2393fps from their 20" barrel.

Tim

[SHOOTALL]

we must have stretched it a bit !

[Steve P]

The Nosler 125gr Ballistic tip works well on deer at .30-30 velocities.  I have taken rock chucks to 250 with good success out of a Savage 340.  Never shot at deer, but would if presented with a shot.  Hornady makes a nice 130, Sierra makes a good 125, and Speer makes an exceptional 130FN that you could even use in tubular magazines if you have other .30-30s.

In your Handi (22" barrel?) you could be pushing 2500fps or so with the right powder.  Reloader 7 is a good old standby powder with the light bullets.  Some do will with IMR 3031 also.  You could also try the VVN135, N140 or similar powders with this bullet and do well. 

Steve

[coyotejoe]

Reloading data from different sources seems to vary more with the 30/30 than most rounds so by all means start light and work up. With that said, I have gotten the following velocities from a 26" barrel with Speer FP or Hornady SSP 130 grain bullets. All bullets were seated out for a long COL and uncrimped, the Speers were seated with the crimp groove about 1/8" above the case mouth.
30 grains of RL-7= 2577 fps
31 grains of RL-7= 2589 fps
38 grains of RL-15= 2539 fps
You'll notice that with RL-7 there is very little difference between 30 and 31 grains. I double checked that, fired both loads again with similar results. The velocities posted are the average of two five shot strings fired on different days. That seems to be a sort of plateau or null point between 30 and 31 grains. As there were no indications of excessive pressure I stepped on up to 32 grains and got 2667 fps and 33 grains gave 2729 fps. That last load showed flattened primers but was still safe IN MY RIFLE I don't advise it for any other. Do most certainly start with 28 grains and work up slowly. As for myself, the 30 grain RL-7 load was the most accurate and that is what I have settled on for hunting with that rifle. The RL-15 load was equally accurate but offered no advantage so why burn more powder?  But RL-15 is an option if you don't find the accuracy you like with RL-7. With 150 and 170 grain bullets RL-15 can produce higher velocities than any other powder within safe pressure limits, it is a great powder for the 30/30 which measures very uniformly.

[Freezer]

    I've loaded 130gr bullets for Pa whitetails in both 30-30 and 30-06 for friends with good results.  125 & 130 gr bullets were designed for pistols like the Contender but as long as you take neck or open chest shots you'll be fine.  I'd have some reservations about shooting through the shoulder though, they might break up and not penetrate enough.  Have you considered 150s.  They're designed for rifle velocities so shot placement won't be as critical.

[jpshaw]

They're designed for rifle velocities so shot placement won't be as critical.

The 150 Speer behind Re15 is my deer hunting load.  The 125/130 grain is for a walking around "coyote load" but wanted to know if it would handle deer without breaking up if a shot came up.

[Freezer]

Take the shot

[njanear]

I know the Remington Managed-Recoil Loads for the .30/30, .308 and the .30/06 all use the 125gr bullet - so it must be OK if Remington continues to market these for deer hunting.  I bought 200 of those 125gr bullets a while back, to primarily load up for my 8YO to shoot through a .30/30 Handi - I guess I had better get to work loading some of them up if I want to have him ready for deer season 

[Snowshoe]

I have shot hundreds of rounds of Remington 125g PSP's out of several .30-30's.  The load that most of the rifles liked was 37 1/2g of H335, at a velosity of 2550 fps from a 20" barrel. My wife took several whitetails with that load, and I shot more than a few coyotes. We are down to one Savage 340 in .30-30, and it gets very little use these days, but there are still about 200 rounds of 125g bullets loaded for it. Good luck and have fun.

[SingleShotShorty]

I have taken several deer with my Encore 15" 308 Win. I shoot 125 grain Nosler BT's in it and my standard rifle load.

[billy_56081]

Hornady used to make a 130 grain SSP as in single shot pistol bullet that had a thicker jacket than thier standard 130 grain .308 bullet. Sadly this bullet is discontinued. You may be able to find them still on some shops shelves. MY daughter has used them on black bear and wild boar with great sucess.