Critique this youth load

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Roothawk, the loads you are considering will most likely perform well but, here is another route to consider.
I like to use my Mannlicher-Schoenauer in .30'06 for our whitetail deer which go 130 to 150 pounds. The '06 is a bit excessive on my property where a long shot is 75 yards and most shots run 30-50 yards. I developed a load using a 170 grain .30-30 bullet and 42 grains of IMR-3031. Velocity is 2349 fps and recoil calculates to 12.8 foot pounds. Probably could use a 150 or the 160 FTx for a little flatter trajectory and less recoil.

@7x57Joe
For shots at that range I would be tempted to use 190gn subX projectiles loaded to 1,500fps 2" high sighted in at 50 and would be spot on at 100. These bullets are supposed to expand down to 600fps.
Recoil would be around 6-7# if not less
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Just teasing Bob.
Depending on the ranges being hunted, I would load 30-30 bullets at 2200.
30-30 just work within 150 yards.

@Wyatt Smith
I would love a REM 788 in 30-30 and load it with point bullets.
I remember reading Layne Simpson betting some one his 30-30 should shoot less than one inch groups. The man accepted the offer and Layne proceeded to shoot a half inch five shot group with his 788.
Bob

 

[rookhawk]

Apologies if my comment last night was harsh. I was operating on one hour of sleep in 50 hours.

Everything arrived and I’m giving it a try with my son.

 

[Tex .416]

Apologies if my comment last night was harsh. I was operating on one hour of sleep in 50 hours.

Everything arrived and I’m giving it a try with my son.

No apology needed needed from my view.

A photo of the rifle would be great to see.

He will be fine with a .30-06 with the 130’s loaded mild. The lower level loads are very mild recoil wise. This combination is duplicating a .270, which is well within almost anyone’s tolerance.

I hope to hit the range Sunday and test loads with Varget and 3031 for you. I do not have any RL15 to test. Figure you have that on hand to test. Might also try some H4895 and H335 as it is sitting on the shelf.

Is this a Christmas gift for him or does he already have it and what does it weigh? He is a lucky young man.

Bob 35 Whelen,

as to why a 130 TTSX, see post #5, my first post. The .308 130 TTSX is a bullet that has really proven itself to be quite effective on deer and pigs. It is duplicating the time tested basic .270 Win load, but with a bit extra surface area. Out of hundreds of deer and pigs, only three have been recovered. So about 1% are recovered, 99% exit. Our mature bucks prior to rut average around 225# on the scales with a few bumping 250# or more. We need a bullet that penetrates well. Tracking in the thorn brush is tough and not fun.

Here is a clip where a nephew shot a large buck that was quartering at us. The entry was on the near side point of the shoulder. The 130 TTSX was recovered from under the skin of the off side rear leg.

Bottom line - I too worked up this bullet for young hunters, but was so impressed with the results that it is my first choice for deer and pigs in the South Texas brush country. It is easy on the shoulder and very effective.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

No apology needed needed from my view.

A photo of the rifle would be great to see.

He will be fine with a .30-06 with the 130’s loaded mild. The lower level loads are very mild recoil wise. This combination is duplicating a .270, which is well within almost anyone’s tolerance.

I hope to hit the range Sunday and test loads with Varget and 3031 for you. I do not have any RL15 to test. Figure you have that on hand to test. Might also try some H4895 and H335 as it is sitting on the shelf.

Is this a Christmas gift for him or does he already have it and what does it weigh? He is a lucky young man.

Bob 35 Whelen,

as to why a 130 TTSX, see post #5, my first post. The .308 130 TTSX is a bullet that has really proven itself to be quite effective on deer and pigs. It is duplicating the time tested basic .270 Win load, but with a bit extra surface area. Out of hundreds of deer and pigs, only three have been recovered. So about 1% are recovered, 99% exit. Our mature bucks prior to rut average around 225# on the scales with a few bumping 250# or more. We need a bullet that penetrates well. Tracking in the thorn brush is tough and not fun.

Here is a clip where a nephew shot a large buck that was quartering at us. The entry was on the near side point of the shoulder. The 130 TTSX was recovered from under the skin of the off side rear leg.

Bottom line - I too worked up this bullet for young hunters, but was so impressed with the results that it is my first choice for deer and pigs in the South Texas brush country. It is easy on the shoulder and very effective.

@Tex.416
H4895 gave excellent results in my mates 30-06 with everything from 110-150gns.
Loaded at 60% of max load recoil was negligible and his son could use it without issue
The reason I asked about the TTSX is the are very expensive in Australia (over $120/50) so I have stuck mainly with the 150gn SST in the sons 08. Drops everything he shoots and $65/100.
They give quick kills on deer, goats and pigs but completely destroys rabbits
The TTSX is a great bullet but to expensive for shooting our thin skinned game.in my 25 the 100gn TTSX at over 3,600fps kill well. My longest shot to date on a fallow deer was a lasered 400 yds. Backline hold and it was like someone knocked the legs out from under it.
Bob

 

[Tex .416]

@Tex.416
H4895 gave excellent results in my mates 30-06 with everything from 110-150gns.
Loaded at 60% of max load recoil was negligible and his son could use it without issue
The reason I asked about the TTSX is the are very expensive in Australia (over $120/50) so I have stuck mainly with the 150gn SST in the sons 08. Drops everything he shoots and $65/100.
They give quick kills on deer, goats and pigs but completely destroys rabbits
The TTSX is a great bullet but to expensive for shooting our thin skinned game.in my 25 the 100gn TTSX at over 3,600fps kill well. My longest shot to date on a fallow deer was a lasered 400 yds. Backline hold and it was like someone knocked the legs out from under it.
Bob

That pricing is crazy Bob. The .308 130 TTSX is $42/box of 50 here, exactly the same price as the .308 150 SST. Sounds like more competition is needed among the retailers there. I have gone to the TTSX or LRX in all of my hunting loads. One minor point, my comments are specific to the TTSX, not the TSX. The TSX was inconsistent in performance. The TTSX has been quite consistent in terminal performance.

Cost comparison from one of our big retailers.

Barnes TTSX (Tipped Triple-Shock X) 30 Cal (308 Diameter) Bullets 130

The Tipped TSX features a 100-percent copper body with rings cut into the shank. A polymer tip boosts the ballistic coefficient, improves long-range...

www.midwayusa.com

Hornady InterLock SST 30 Cal (308 Diameter) Bullets 150 Grain Polymer

Super Shock Tip Bullets combine proven Hornady performance with a higher ballistic coefficient than available with most hunting bullets. The sharp,...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Daisy]

No problem! He’s in good hands I can tell and I’m sure a reduced load will do great.

I should have read the original comment better.

 

[steve white]

Apologies if my comment last night was harsh. I was operating on one hour of sleep in 50 hours.

Everything arrived and I’m giving it a try with my son.

Now that you've had sleep, and in the same vein of this thread--for youth/women shooting a 375 H&H out of legal necessity in Africa, what are your powder choices to reduce recoil?

 

[rookhawk]

Now that you've had sleep, and in the same vein of this thread--for youth/women shooting a 375 H&H out of legal necessity in Africa, what are your powder choices to reduce recoil?

Nosler Solids and Accubond softs in 260gr using IMR4064 as the powder. That load is producing exactly the performance of a 9.3x62mm full load. Effective recoil in a scoped 375HH with a recoil reducer (10.25lb total weight) was 26lbs of recoil, about the same as a 180gr full load out of a 30-06.

 

[7x57Joe]

@7x57Joe
For shots at that range I would be tempted to use 190gn subX projectiles loaded to 1,500fps 2" high sighted in at 50 and would be spot on at 100. These bullets are supposed to expand down to 600fps.
Recoil would be around 6-7# if not less
Bob

You are probably correct but, I was using up what I had and I won't buy Hornady products if anything else is available.

 

[Tex .416]

RH,

have you shot any tests yet with your son’s rifle?

I finally finished up loading some test rounds for you with the minimum only for H335 and H4895. Varget is going to have bit more work up from minimum to near max as I have lots of Varget on hand. So, hopefully the wind lays down and my schedule cooperates some this weekend and I can give it a quick go for you. I am curious about the outcome. This will be a quick pass with three shots each, far from exhaustive.

Varget ladder on the left, H335 and H4895 on the right.

If you already know your result, please let us know. Interesting topic.

 

[rookhawk]

I haven't shot the rifle yet, but we loaded the Reloder ammo one with 130gr TTSX. A good friend gave me some Varget yesterday and we're going to do the same load with that powder.

Interestingly enough, with varget's starting load for a TTSX, its really zooming and its roughly a max load for a lead core equivalent bullet.

 

[Tex .416]

Rook,

caught a few minutes with relatively calm wind this afternoon before going out to hunt.

The first load tested was Varget for two reasons. First, I have lots of it on hand, which is an important factor to keeping life simple. Second, Varget provided the most case fill, which usually produces better accuracy.

Varget worked so well on the lowest charge weight of 53.5 grains with good velocity, this will be my hunting load for .30-06 for deer and pigs.

The recoil was very noticeably milder than my .308 load with the 130’s. This experiment reaffirmed something I have noticed in working on low recoil loads in other cartridges, a lower pressure load can produce less felt recoil than a higher pressure load even though it uses less powder. That is one reason recoil calculator numbers are only general guidelines for me, not hard and fast as the numbers might indicate.

Anyway, this 53.5 grains of Varget with the 130 grain Barnes TTSX is a cream puffy load. Your son should be fine with this one. I’d let a 10 year boy shoot this load in this rifle without a second thought. This rifle does not have a muzzle break.

The target was at 200 yards. The rifle is one of the Winchester Model 70 push feeds no one likes. It shoots pretty good. The big scope goes up top for load work, not for walking around so much.

Thanks for the nudge to try this load.

 

[rookhawk]

Rook,

caught a few minutes with relatively calm wind this afternoon before going out to hunt.

The first load tested was Varget for two reasons. First, I have lots of it on hand, which is an important factor to keeping life simple. Second, Varget provided the most case fill, which usually produces better accuracy.

Varget worked so well on the lowest charge weight of 53.5 grains with good velocity, this will be my hunting load for .30-06 for deer and pigs.

The recoil was very noticeably milder than my .308 load with the 130’s. This experiment reaffirmed something I have noticed in working on low recoil loads in other cartridges, a lower pressure load can produce less felt recoil than a higher pressure load even though it uses less powder. That is one reason recoil calculator numbers are only general guidelines for me, not hard and fast as the numbers might indicate.

Anyway, this 53.5 grains of Varget with the 130 grain Barnes TTSX is a cream puffy load. Your son should be fine with this one. I’d let a 10 year boy shoot this load in this rifle without a second thought. This rifle does not have a muzzle break.

The target was at 200 yards. The rifle is one of the Winchester Model 70 push feeds no one likes. It shoots pretty good. The big scope goes up top for load work, not for walking around so much.

Thanks for the nudge to try this load.

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View attachment 734082

Outstanding post. Thank you

 

[Tex .416]

You’re welcome.