Light for caliber bullet loads for .308 and .30/06

[cf2fan]

I would like to load 125/130 grain conventional cup and core bullets for close to mid-range deer hunting. Do any of you use these types of loads. I also want to use them for lighter recoil due to shoulder injuries. I could use a .243 or something like that for reduced recoil but I have a couple .308 and .30/06 rifles that I really enjoy using. Also, I am interested in the members here opinions and experience.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ashray]

i have used 110gr sp ,110gr v-max and 135grsp.all to very good effect but if you want to save meat DONT chest shoot using any of them .ideal for foxes etc .my advice is stick with 150gr and fit a muzzle brake or moderator. good luck with your choice.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

i have used 110gr sp ,110gr v-max and 135grsp.all to very good effect but if you want to save meat DONT chest shoot using any of them .ideal for foxes etc .my advice is stick with 150gr and fit a muzzle brake or moderator. good luck with your choice.

I have a gamekeeper buddy who uses 110's in his 30-06 for foxes only, he's never injured one yet. Devestating would be close to the proper description.

 

[soother223]

Bought some custom lite to try this season in the 30-06. They shoot really well and are considerably milder than standard ammo.
If anyone else has tried them I’d like to hear how they went...

 

[the_greenman]

Used to use 123gr sako gamehead sp in my 308. Great on roe. Not sure if they still produce them.

 

[cf2fan]

Very interesting information and experience.
Thanks.

 

[SSN100]

Bought some custom lite to try this season in the 30-06. They shoot really well and are considerably milder than standard ammo.
If anyone else has tried them I’d like to hear how

I tried them in .308, but they didn’t group in my rifle, so haven’t tried on deer. Noticeably easier shooting with a very light rifle holding on target reasonably well through the shot. I’ve been trying to find something found the 130 mark, Sako Gameheads seem to group okish and are still noticeably softer shooting than the 150 Hornady Whitetail I normally use.

 

[Smellydog]

Shot hundreds of 110 gn v max in a 308.
Better than you would think performance wise even at range!
Never shot a deer with one but I really think that from my 308 back then it would of done fine across the ribs.

 

[cf2fan]

Excellent reports on actual experience.
Thanks.

 

[Puds]

I tried the 123gr Sako in my .308 and whilst they were superbly accurate, the damage they did to anything other than a head shot meant I had to stop using them.
Below is the exit on a muntjac buck, shot at about 150yds. Entry was halfway up the body, with no shoulder strike on that side. I’ve now gone back to 150gr and find them much less damaging.

 

[NOTSHARP]

Many moons ago, I loaded 110g Speer, RNSP for my .308, and used them on Roe for several years. Very accurate, easy on the shoulder, and very effective, with little carcass damage.




Steve.

 

[Heym SR20]

Appreciate the OP wants a cup and core bullet, but close range at high velocities of light for calibre bullet will result in lots of mess.

You might want to consider a light monolithic - 110 grain etc.

Also check your stock fit. Many rifles are pretty short in the stock. Addition of a slip on recoil pad can make all the difference in terms of felt recoil. So too does a firm hold of the rifle.

 

[jthyttin]

No need to load the lighter bullets to full speed. I have mild load for 308, 125gr Accubond, 32gr N120 @ 775m/s V0.

Accurate and very nice to shoot (that contributes to accuracy in field conditions). Reduced muzzle blast / burden to moderator.

Vihtavuori does list N120 for 123gr FMJ, 32.1gr MIN, 36.9gr MAX.

 

[Dave_45]

A contractor friend uses 110gr monolithic with tremendous success from roe to sika and red.
He has them moving along at warp speed

 

[Dave_45]

In regards to 123gr Sako I found they would group really well then one would fly off a few inches and the next back to normal.

Enough to put me off using them

 

[tackb]

find whatever bullet you fancy using bearing in mind that lighter varmint type bullets will perform differently at lower velocities than their usual max velocities then just load them up at the starting load from the manual , you'll be surprised how effective this is.

 

[cf2fan]

Great information from all of you. I really appreciate it.

 

[Heym SR20]

An alternative may well be that actually lighter especially if driven fast actually give more felt recoil. Recoil is very subject. Light bullets accelerate faster, and thanks to Mr Newton and equal and opposite this will result in snappy recoil the other way.

In the past RWS used to load a soft round nosed 173gn bullet in the 7x65r for use on Roe. This trundled along at about 2400 fps. And they were very soft on the shoulder. For many years my preferred load was a mild load of quite slow imr 4831 underneath a 140 gn bullet doing 2600 ish fps. Minimal recoil.

Remember that recoil energy is s function of mass multiplied by the square of the velocity, so you may well get less recoil, in particular slower recoil using a bigger bullet and slower burning powder at the lower end of recommended weights. Have a look at load data.

 

[old 30-06]

I mainly shoot off the wing mirror, and I have also looked for a "lighter" bullet for my 30-06. I am unable to fire a fully charged 180gr in this manner with comfort. Currently I am using Nosler 125gr solid base ballistic tip bullets (43980) with (mid range) 50gr of Hodgdon H4895 producing 3000 fps. It is absolutely devastating on foxes. Plenty of punch there for most beasts. The recoil is not excessive. I shot four foxes the other night ranging from 150 to 250 yards without even noticing the recoil.

 

[cf2fan]

An alternative may well be that actually lighter especially if driven fast actually give more felt recoil. Recoil is very subject. Light bullets accelerate faster, and thanks to Mr Newton and equal and opposite this will result in snappy recoil the other way.

In the past RWS used to load a soft round nosed 173gn bullet in the 7x65r for use on Roe. This trundled along at about 2400 fps. And they were very soft on the shoulder. For many years my preferred load was a mild load of quite slow imr 4831 underneath a 140 gn bullet doing 2600 ish fps. Minimal recoil.

Remember that recoil energy is s function of mass multiplied by the square of the velocity, so you may well get less recoil, in particular slower recoil using a bigger bullet and slower burning powder at the lower end of recommended weights. Have a look at load data.

Heym SR20,
That is very interesting. Loading a 150 grain bullet at around 2400 fps, or so, in my beloved .308 and .30/06 rifles seems very viable. Thanks for the idea.