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.30cal 125gr bullet experiences? Anyone?

2

Replies

  • Ernie BishopErnie Bishop Posts: 8,606 Senior Member
    I have some 200 grain+ Berger Hybrids you can try, if you ever desire to play with the heavyweights.
    Ernie

    "The Un-Tactical"
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    Which 125s did you see dismal performance out of?

    Specifically, some Remington factory loads in .30-06 my neighbor bought after he had excellent results with the 130 grain handload I just described. He figured a 5 grain difference in bullet weight wouldn't matter. He lost 4 well-hit deer that season, and recovered another after a long tracking job with minimal damage to vital organs but a totally blown-up front shoulder. I believe the 125's didn't have enough bullet jacket to reach the boiler room.
    Jerry
  • BigDanSBigDanS Posts: 6,992 Senior Member
    FWIW the 125 gr bullets used for the SKS are intended to fly at around 2400 FPS, and I can see 3000 FPS causing them to fragment rather than penetrate.

    IMHO

    D
    "A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
    Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    Dan, those 123 grain SKS bullets are also .311 diameter. They don't work very well in a .308 bore. I bought 500 of them when I was reloading 7.62X39 for my CZ-52 carbine with the chamber reducer installed.
    Jerry
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    I have been reading very good reviews on Midway regarding the 125gr Nosler BT. The few reviews I've been able to find elsewhere on the SST seem alright as well.

    At my lower velocity, I don't think blow-up is going to be a problem.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    At my lower velocity, I don't think blow-up is going to be a problem.

    Give it a try, by all means, but don't load a bunch of them until you've done some field testing. I'll stick with nearly 30 years of successful performance with my Hornady 130's, from powder burn distance to 300+ yards.
    Jerry
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    I don't doubt your experience at all. I'm just wondering if the extra velocity in your '06 is perfect for the 130 Hornady and the polymer tip of the BT or SST will help at my lower velocity.

    Pass or fail, I do love experimenting and seeing the how's and whys.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    As a side note, it seems the only failures I'm reading on the 125gr Nosler BT are from those trying to scream the bullet at high velocity. I mean, who runs a 125gr bullet at .300 WM velocity and wonders why it blew up on impact at sub 100 yard distance?

    that just seems par for the course.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    They have also worked well in my grandson's 7.62 CETME 1916 Spanish Mauser, loaded to about .300 Savage velocity, and my granddaughter's 7.62X39 small ring Mauser. That's a performance envelope of low 2K velocity to over 3K.
    Jerry
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    Well, there ya go. I'll add them to the list of bullets to try.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    In reality, I said I didn't NEED to reload. At the time, I didn't. Then, I said I didn't NEED to handload for the .308 Winchester. Which is true, I don't. But, when this project is done, I just might.

    The Savage thing, yeah...........I'm claiming temporary insanity.

    The chronograph, I said one was not needed to handload. Never said I would not get one. Just not needed.

    XD? Ain't happening.

    That CPJ, he be prone to exaggeration.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • snake284snake284 Posts: 22,429 Senior Member
    Bigslug wrote: »
    Get thee to a 220 grain RN!!

    Oh shoot! Why not just get a rock? :silly::silly::silly::tooth:
    Daddy, what's an enabler?
    Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
  • Ernie BishopErnie Bishop Posts: 8,606 Senior Member
    Sounds like someone with compulsive behavior trying to justify their actions:jester:
    Zee wrote: »
    In reality, I said I didn't NEED to reload. At the time, I didn't. Then, I said I didn't NEED to handload for the .308 Winchester. Which is true, I don't. But, when this project is done, I just might.

    The Savage thing, yeah...........I'm claiming temporary insanity.

    The chronograph, I said one was not needed to handload. Never said I would not get one. Just not needed.

    XD? Ain't happening.

    That CPJ, he be prone to exaggeration.
    Ernie

    "The Un-Tactical"
  • snake284snake284 Posts: 22,429 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    I don't doubt your experience at all. I'm just wondering if the extra velocity in your '06 is perfect for the 130 Hornady and the polymer tip of the BT or SST will help at my lower velocity.

    Pass or fail, I do love experimenting and seeing the how's and whys.

    One thing to remember, an 06 extra capacity pays off on heavier bullets more so than light ones. Even a 150 grain bullet loaded full house in the 06 isn't usually much over 100 FPS or any faster than the same bullet loaded full house in the .308. But try it with a 180 and up weight bullet and the 06 will pull ahead fairly fast.
    Daddy, what's an enabler?
    Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    snake284 wrote: »
    One thing to remember, an 06 extra capacity pays off on heavier bullets more so than light ones. Even a 150 grain bullet loaded full house in the 06 isn't usually much over 100 FPS or any faster than the same bullet loaded full house in the .308. But try it with a 180 and up weight bullet and the 06 will pull ahead fairly fast.

    I'm not interested in speed with the heavy weight bullets. Actually, quite the opposite. I want slow. Real s-l-o-w.

    Try to keep up. :wink:
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • Ernie BishopErnie Bishop Posts: 8,606 Senior Member
    http://accurateshooter.net/Blog/litzulr03x400.jpg


    230 grain Hybrid=Big and slow & high BC!
    Ernie

    "The Un-Tactical"
  • BigDanSBigDanS Posts: 6,992 Senior Member
    http://accurateshooter.net/Blog/litzulr03x400.jpg


    230 grain Hybrid=Big and slow & high BC!

    Subsonic ballistics from JBM, using 230 gr .308 at 1150 FPS muzzle velocity 100 yard zero:
    230gr308sub1_zps1bddca1e.jpg
    230gr308sub2_zpsb6277118.jpg

    That's 621 FPE at 100 yards, and silent... :cool2: equal to a point blank 180 10mm silvertip but with a higher sectional density.

    Edit to add: If you do this with a silencer, you might have to use a chrony to figure out what loads meet 1150 FPS.. just sayin'... :wink:

    D
    "A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
    Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
  • snake284snake284 Posts: 22,429 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    I'm not interested in speed with the heavy weight bullets. Actually, quite the opposite. I want slow. Real s-l-o-w.

    Try to keep up. :wink:

    Yes, and I agree with your reasoning here. But I was just saying that the extra capacity of an 06 doesn't in my experience, make a lot of difference with the lighter bullets, because of what you said in response to Teach.
    "I'm just wondering if the extra velocity in your '06 is perfect for the 130 Hornady and the polymer tip of the BT or SST will help at my lower velocity."
    Daddy, what's an enabler?
    Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    snake284 wrote: »
    Yes, and I agree with your reasoning here. But I was just saying that the extra capacity of an 06 doesn't in my experience, make a lot of difference with the lighter bullets.

    I will be shooting with quite a bit shorter barrel than Teach. So, my velocities will be noticeably slower than his.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • snake284snake284 Posts: 22,429 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    I will be shooting with quite a bit shorter barrel than Teach. So, my velocities will be noticeably slower than his.

    Fair enough, but that's a different issue than what you quoted.
    Daddy, what's an enabler?
    Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    No, it's not. The polymer tip should help at my lower velocities and the extra velocity (compared to my estimated one) of Teach's '06 might be perfect for the 130gr Hornady.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • SirGeorgeKillianSirGeorgeKillian Posts: 5,463 Senior Member
    knitepoet wrote: »
    Hodgdon has a full page of reduced loads for kids (and recoil sensitive women)
    http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf
    H4895 is the only powder they suggest for reducing.

    So why don't he just get a 270? :tooth:
    Unless life also hands you water and sugar, your lemonade is gonna suck!
    Wambli Ska wrote: »
    I'm in love with a Glock
  • snake284snake284 Posts: 22,429 Senior Member
    So why don't he just get a 270? :tooth:

    Ahh, but that might be a bit much gun for him.......:silly::silly::silly::roll2::tooth:
    Daddy, what's an enabler?
    Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
  • sarg1csarg1c Posts: 1,707 Senior Member
    I've loaded the. 308win. for my Rem. 700 with about every bullet going except the 125 gr. Even loaded the. 224 sabots. I've loaded for the SKS but with. 311 pills.. I don't think I've loaded the .130 gr. Someone on here suggested the.130 gr, but I have not got around to it yet.
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    Finally!!!

    I had 4 different bullets (Nosler, Hornady, Speer) on my watch list at Midway. All were out of stock, so I decided first come, first serve.

    Well, I got notification that the 125gr Hornady SST was in stock this evening. Ordered 200 of them for the .308 Short. Some will be reduced loads and others will be full bore.

    Hopefully, they shoot well. I'll let you know.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    I thought we were close?
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    So, you prefer fresh nuts rather than salty ones?

    image-26.jpg
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    Those suckers are already sold out!!!!

    (SST bullets.......not nuts)
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • BufordBuford Posts: 6,724 Senior Member
    I use 125gr Hornady Spire points with IMR 4895 for a 308 un-ported Lone Eagle hand gun. This makes the gun more user friendly.
    Just look at the flowers Lizzie, just look at the flowers.
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,379 Senior Member
    Cool. I'll be using H4895 for both reduced and full bore loads.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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