Any experience with small bullets with 30-06?

Evil_Dark

Evil_Dark

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Hi there, I want to use the maximum versatility of my 30-06, and wanted to know what is the smallest bullets I cn reload with a reasonable good result. I saw some nice 110gr Barnes bullets, before buying I want to know how it will work on my barrel...

I have a Browning A-Bolt stainless, 22 inches, 1 in 10 twist rate, with the Boss system.

I saw in some reloading manuals smaller bullets too... Which can be the smallest usable?

I like the idea of being able to shoot a wiiiiide range of bukket weights, some for 'yotes hunting, some for moose, some for deer... Some for long range plinking.

Reagrds,

Dark
 
Hi, years ago my father built some 90 or 95 grain handloads for a Ruger M77. Sorry I don't know more details about the load itself, regardless, these thing tumbled and flew randomly at 100 yards. He tends to load the minmum listed in published manuals so they won't likely too hot.
 
Check the throat length.. most factory rifle are chambered to favor heavier bullet from factory ammo. Then tend to have long throats.

If so, odds of decent accuracy with lighter bullets is slim to nil.

Jerry
 
since all rifles are a god unto themselves, why not pop for one box of 110 grainers, one of 125 grains, and give it a go? Then you will have data for your rifle, learn a tad more about hand-loading, and just maybe get a load that does at least one of the things you mention - especially the plinking at the range. Learning how to administer your hunting rifle, by getting hits repeatedly and rapidly without dismounting the gun, remembering to sneak in individual cartridges to top up the magazine when you get the chance, is all more fun to practice if you are not shooting heavy for caliber, full house door knockers! Hey, if your groups off a bench are two inches instead of the mystical 3/4 inch, well, give your standing snap follow up groups a couple inches of grace. There is more to riflery than 1/4 inch groups and snot-knocking velocity.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Check the throat length.. most factory rifle are chambered to favor heavier bullet from factory ammo. Then tend to have long throats.

If so, odds of decent accuracy with lighter bullets is slim to nil.

Jerry
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I know that this is the generally held feeling and how some folks preach that the bullets must be very close to the rifling. But I keep reading reports of surprisingly good accuracy from the short 110gn .30Carbine bullets in bigger .308 rifle casings and long throat chambers. Between the wrong twist rate for the lighter bullets and the long throat when these same smaller bullets are loaded I'd have guessed that they wouldn't shoot well too. But too many folks are saying that they shoot well despite the possible issues. And not just in this thread. Such reports are found all over the place. I know it's the dreaded interwebz but it seems like it's worth the gamble of buying a box of the 110gn .30Carbine bullets to try.

Hey Evil Dark, do a google search for ".30-06 small game loads" and you'll find a bunch of recipes for modest velocity loads using the 110gn'ers for small game.

There's also the cheap 150gn Berry plated bullets too. Being plated you can't push them too fast. But at $18/100 from Budget Shooters Supply it can produce some cheap plinking and smaller game ammo.
 
Suputin said:
Best bullet I ever used in the 06 was the Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip. Accurate and faarcking deadly on yotes.

I have had excellent success with this bullet in my 308 as well. It will easily print 5/8" 5-shot groups all day and flies well out to 700 yds.
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They work pretty well on big game too. My dad used the in 2010 with good results on an antelope at about 175yards and a 180" mule deer at 250yard. The bullet broke both shoulder and exited on the deer resulting in the buck landing on his chin.

If I was going to have a "light" bullet it would be the 110 vmax as it shoot really well in most 30cals but I'm more of a one weight two bullet guy. One bullet for targets/steel/coyotes and one for big game.
 
I am working on a load right now that i am using a Hornady 110 sp. in a 300WSM.i am relatively surprised how it is performing .Only shot one group so far, got a ways to go yet though.I personally had zero hope that it would shoot these bullets,but ya never know till ya try.
 
Sask_Hunter said:
They work pretty well on big game too. My dad used the in 2010 with good results on an antelope at about 175yards and a 180" mule deer at 250yard. The bullet broke both shoulder and exited on the deer resulting in the buck landing on his chin.

If I was going to have a "light" bullet it would be the 110 vmax as it shoot really well in most 30cals but I'm more of a one weight two bullet guy. One bullet for targets/steel/coyotes and one for big game.
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The 110 VMAX is very destructive. I shot a few coyotes with them and they produce a huge exit hole with the interior body cavity of the yote resembling blood soup. I think the 125gr BT is a better choice. It is more accurate, easier to load, causes less havok at the other end and is better at longer ranges.
 
Suputin said:
The 110 VMAX is very destructive. I shot a few coyotes with them and they produce a huge exit hole with the interior body cavity of the yote resembling blood soup. I think the 125gr BT is a better choice. It is more accurate, easier to load, causes less havok at the other end and is better at longer ranges.
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It's not really an apples to apples comparison. The nosler is a way more stout bullet then the vmax. Give me a 150 ttsx and a 155 lapua to do what the OP wants.

I'm so done with having a million loads and bullet weights loaded up. One bullet weight 2 bullets one load for me
 
I've done a quick search and didn't find a lot of small bullets for the .308 diameter... Where do you find them? I've tried cabela's and Wholesale sports, they have a good choices but not many Under 125gr...

Dark
 
Remington Accelerator's were horribly inaccurate. They were Remington's attempt at marketing to guys who owned a deer rifle and nothing else. And they're collector stuff now. Discontinued.
E. Arthur Brown Company doesn't export anyway.
Not a lot of demand for 110 grain .30 Carbine bullets theses days. Not a lot of demand for light .30 cal bullets at all, but your local gun shop can order 'em for you. Be prepared to pay up front. Ordering components through the mail/on-line gets expensive due to shipping costs.
 
Evil_Dark said:
I've done a quick search and didn't find a lot of small bullets for the .308 diameter... Where do you find them? I've tried cabela's and Wholesale sports, they have a good choices but not many Under 125gr...

Dark
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Budget Shooter's Supply (link at top of page) has them. The .30Carbine 110gn ones listed under Rifle Bullets > .30Cal.
 
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