125 gr 30 cal bullets

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Wyosmith

New member
Well I just came into about 1,300 125 grain 30 caliber bullets in a trade. I have some Sierras, some Remington Core-Lokts and some Nosler BT "hunting".

In all my years of hand-loading and shooting, I have never used a 125 grain in any of my 30 cal rifles.
I have some 308s, some 30-06s and one 300 H&H.

So.............. Any insights?

Have any of you ever used any of those bullets for hunting before. If so what was your impressions of them? Do they hold together on deer sized game, or blow up?
Tell me your stories please.
 
M

Mobuck

Moderator
Generally speaking, .308 125 grainers would be considered varmint to light game bullets.
I used Hornady and Sierra 125's for years in 30/06 for coyotes.
I can't remember how/where I found the Remington 125 grain bullets I have but they mike .3095" diameter even though they were advertised as .308". I use them in 7.62x39 for deer hunting with good results.
 
J

jmr40

New member
That bullet weight is pretty common for reduced recoil loads. Loaded light so impact speeds aren't too fast they apparently work quite well on Whitetails. I've never used them personally, but have seen them recommended for that purpose.
 
B

Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
I tinkered with some in hopes of using a .30-06 as a varmint gun. Why would I do such a thing, I ask? I’m not really sure. ;)
In any case, they proved to be useless, for me.
They were labeled varmint and I’m sure much too lightly constructed for big game, though I have no doubt they would have been quite effective against deer sized animals.
The bigger issue was they they were incredibly inaccurate. As I recall, worst loads I’ve ever tried. I pondered why and how to make improvement briefly, and then came to the staggering conclusion that a .30-06 is not exactly a great varmint gun anyway.:D
 
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Zen Archery

New member
I've got a great load using a 125 Sierra out of my 30.06. I would have no qualms shooting anything up to hog and deer size animals with this load.
 
N

NHSHOOTER

New member
I shoot a 7-08 which is nothing more than a necked down 308 and I shoot 120 gr nosler BT and sierra game kings with excellent results, accuracy and penetration without coming apart..
 
C

CarJunkieLS1

New member
The 125 Sierra's and 125 Noslers were 100% designed to be medium game bullets not Varmint bullets. A friend of mine uses the 125 Sierra in his .308 and he punched through both shoulders of a buck at 20 yards. A varmint bullet wouldn't do that. Another buddy loads his daughters .308 to 2750fps and she's dropped every single deer she's hit with it and 5/6 bullets have exited.

I use the 125 Nosler Accubond at 2800fps and it was devastating at 15 yards on the doe I shot. It was a "light switch" and the vitals were totally destroyed.

Load them and shoot them at 3000fps and lower and you'll have no problems.
 
W

Wyosmith

New member
My thinking was that if I load them to about that speed (2700 to 2750) in the 308s and 30-06s they may just be a good combo for deer and antelope. They can be driven quite a bit faster, but I can't see any reason to do it.

I read about some super good accuracy from a 300H&H with 125s, but I can't imagine they would not come apart on a deer at any distance this side of 400 yards when they leave the muzzle at 3500+ FPS. So I doubt I'll load them in the 300 mag no matter how accurate they are.

I like my venison so I don't want bombs, but if they will not blow up I may just try them on deer and antelope.

Of the 3, do any of you know any pros or cons as to which ones are the best or worst?
I am hoping someone has specific info for me.

The Noslers are not bonded. They are "Ballistic Tip Hunting" bullets which are reported to have thick jackets through the shanks.
The Sierra's and the Remington's are standard cup and core bullets but I don't have any idea of how thick their jackets are. I guess it's time to cut them and see.
 
T

T. O'Heir

New member
I'd be forgetting the .300 H&H. Jackets would probably be stripped off upon firing. Although there's 130 grain data on Hodgdon's site. Starts at a tick over 3100 FPS.
Sierra makes a 125 grain Matchking, a Tipped Matchking and a Prohunter SP(a long range varmint bullet(so is a 168 or 200 grain bullet), or low recoil medium game bullet according to them.). Which one you have matters. Matchkings are not for hunting anything except varmints.
Remington has basically quit making their 125. Limited Production. However, Core-Lokts are the bullets everything else is compared to despite what No$ler thinks. Still an SP that'll do for varmints or deer sized game.
No$ler doesn't make anything but what they call a hunting bullet. Also made for deer sized game.
Use the Sierra SP data on Hodgdon's site. Velocities are with a 24" barrel and 1 in 10 rifling with .30-06. 1 in 12 in .308. Kind of daft that twist.
 
6

603Country

New member
I have two friends that shoot Nosler 125 gr BTs in handloads in their 30-378 wby rifles. It seems that the bullet works just fine, or they’d quit using it. It probably wouldn’t be my first choice in that caliber.
 
J

jmr40

New member
I shoot a 7-08 which is nothing more than a necked down 308 and I shoot 120 gr nosler BT and sierra game kings with excellent results, accuracy and penetration without coming apart..
Click to expand...

Not really a fair comparison. A 120 gr 7mm bullet is a mid weight bullet that compares more closely to a 150 gr 30 caliber bullet and will perform much like a 150 from a 308. A 125 gr 30 caliber bullet is really on the light side.

The SD of a 120 gr 7mm bullet is .213
The SD of a 125 gr .308 bullet is .185
The SD of a 150 gr .308 bullet is .226
 
6

603Country

New member
All this back and forth is interesting, but if the OP has hundreds of them, i’m sure he’ll try them out. I sure would. It would probably be great for deer or pronghorns.
 
W

Wyosmith

New member
I found I was wrong. I don't have 1300. I have 1950 or them.
1000 Remingtons
600 Sierras
350 Noslers
So I think I should find something to shoot with them.
 
B

Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
It would be fun to try them with Trail Boss. It would probably sound like a cap gun and max out around 1,600 fps. Not very useful, but fun.
 
J

jaysouth

New member
13 grs. of Red Dot in the 308 or 30-06 will give you a 1600 fps fun load for the range. Great way to get a youngster shooting big rifles
 
S

Sure Shot Mc Gee

New member
Ive used 125s for target practice only. Don't knows I would use for deer hunting. Could duplicate the speed of a 130 gr 270 I suppose using 125s in a 30-06 barreled rifle. But why when I have the real McCoy (270) already parked in my safe. Besides I'm found of 30-WCF 94s. Not one iota interested in 30-06 toting about. You others may differ in your preference and that's fine and dandy.
 
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taylorce1

New member
My recommendation would be to section one of each bullet to look at the jacket thickness, just to satisfy your curiosity. However, I can tell you the 125 grain Nosler is a deer killing SOB. It has accounted for 10 whitetail and 2 pronghorn in the last 4 years from my daughter's .300 Savage with a MV just over 3000 fps. They don't blow up and they punch through bone, she's used them from 50-350 yards.

I've considered loading them up in my .30-06 just to see how hard I can push them. It's a great medium game bullet IMO, and if you're not really interested in them I'd happily buy them off you. I'll bet if you try them you'll be hooked, and they'll hold up on game even out of a .300 H&H.
 
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