Better or Worse Bullet Weight for Semi? .30-06

hogdogs · September 11, 2013, 11:08 AM

In Remington semi auto loaders, do they tend to prefer the lighter bullet weights or heavier as a rule of thumb? For accuracy? Any reduced felt recoil from the lighter bullets? I expect there to still be plenty of knock down from any of these weights on hogs and deer...

Brent

Brian Pfleuger · September 11, 2013, 11:11 AM

Generally speaking, lighter bullets produce less recoil than heavy bullets in the same caliber. The difference is fairly minimal though.

If I wanted to reduce the recoil of a .30-06 and I was going to use it on hogs and deer, I'd sell it and get a .243.

hogdogs · September 11, 2013, 11:17 AM

But .30-06 is just such a cool round

Brent

Art Eatman · September 12, 2013, 12:29 PM

A flat-base 150-grain bullet ahead of maybe 50 grains of 4064 oughta work. It's about 5% under my max load. Or any similar load with an equivalent burn-rate powder.

I dunno. Odds are, a book's starting load with any suitable bullet would likely work for hunting anything in Florida. What counts, generally, is groups inside 1.5 MOA. That rifle would do that with Hansen (Czech-made) GI-type ammo.

Flat-based bullets hold together a bit better than boat-tails. That has to do with how they're made.

New brass or full-length resize in a semi-auto. Just don't set the shoulder back, to keep proper head-spacing.

hogdogs · September 12, 2013, 08:36 PM

Factory loads only for me... Not a reloader at all...

Brent

hogdogs · September 12, 2013, 08:40 PM

Got junior to fire the 742 today... Four rounds. Looks like I will be able to get it padded enuff for me to be safe...

Brent

Mobuck · September 12, 2013, 08:46 PM

It's been a long while since I had a 742 around but the several that I had between 1971 and 1988(all 30/06 BTW) shot 125 and 150 grain bullets slightly better than other weights of factory loads. I did shoot 180 grainers on deer for several years because they didn't waste as much meat but shots were close so a slight reduction in accuracy was inconsequential. I shot a lot of 125 grain Hornady Spire points through a couple and killed quite a few coyotes using this bullet.
The thing I remember most was that point of impact of 125/150 was nearly the same while 110 & 180 POI was about 4-5" higher.

JD0x0 · September 12, 2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

I'd sell it and get a .243.

Quote:

But .30-06 is just such a cool round

How about a compromise? .25-06 or .270 win Which in case you didn't know, are the .30-06's younger siblings, which more or less, use the .30-06 case necked down to .25 cal and .277 cal, respectively.
Generally, they have less recoil and are flatter shooting than the .30-06 and they still have plenty of punch. The .270 can take the same game as the .30-06 with the right load, and they are pretty much equal on power. The .30-06 has heavier bullets, but you said yourself you wont be reloading, not that you'd need heavy bullets for the game you intend on hunting.
130 grain bullets in the .270 is more than enough for deer and hogs. You will likely get nice exit wounds, depending on bullet construction, you choose. If you don't think 130's are enough (trust me they're more than enough)
You've got 140's and 150's in factory ammo. The 150 grain bullets in .277 cal have comparable sectional densities to 185 grain bullets in .308 cal. Not that you'd need anything that heavy. I've seen ethical, DRT shots on Elk with 130's from a .270 win.

Mobuck · September 13, 2013, 06:35 AM

Don't see many Remington semiauto in 25/06. Of the failures of the Remington SA platform I've seen, all were 270. The 30/06 is the best functional wise but the 6mm Remington is a very good alternative.

September 11, 2013, 11:08 AM	#1
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Better or Worse Bullet Weight for Semi? .30-06 In Remington semi auto loaders, do they tend to prefer the lighter bullet weights or heavier as a rule of thumb? For accuracy? Any reduced felt recoil from the lighter bullets? I expect there to still be plenty of knock down from any of these weights on hogs and deer... Brent

September 11, 2013, 11:11 AM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	Generally speaking, lighter bullets produce less recoil than heavy bullets in the same caliber. The difference is fairly minimal though. If I wanted to reduce the recoil of a .30-06 and I was going to use it on hogs and deer, I'd sell it and get a .243. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

September 11, 2013, 11:17 AM	#3
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	But .30-06 is just such a cool round Brent

September 12, 2013, 12:29 PM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	A flat-base 150-grain bullet ahead of maybe 50 grains of 4064 oughta work. It's about 5% under my max load. Or any similar load with an equivalent burn-rate powder. I dunno. Odds are, a book's starting load with any suitable bullet would likely work for hunting anything in Florida. What counts, generally, is groups inside 1.5 MOA. That rifle would do that with Hansen (Czech-made) GI-type ammo. Flat-based bullets hold together a bit better than boat-tails. That has to do with how they're made. New brass or full-length resize in a semi-auto. Just don't set the shoulder back, to keep proper head-spacing.

September 12, 2013, 08:36 PM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Factory loads only for me... Not a reloader at all... Brent

September 12, 2013, 08:40 PM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Got junior to fire the 742 today... Four rounds. Looks like I will be able to get it padded enuff for me to be safe... Brent

September 12, 2013, 08:46 PM	#7
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	It's been a long while since I had a 742 around but the several that I had between 1971 and 1988(all 30/06 BTW) shot 125 and 150 grain bullets slightly better than other weights of factory loads. I did shoot 180 grainers on deer for several years because they didn't waste as much meat but shots were close so a slight reduction in accuracy was inconsequential. I shot a lot of 125 grain Hornady Spire points through a couple and killed quite a few coyotes using this bullet. The thing I remember most was that point of impact of 125/150 was nearly the same while 110 & 180 POI was about 4-5" higher.

September 13, 2013, 06:35 AM	#9
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Don't see many Remington semiauto in 25/06. Of the failures of the Remington SA platform I've seen, all were 270. The 30/06 is the best functional wise but the 6mm Remington is a very good alternative.