reduced loads for hunting deer

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
milboltnut
Levergunner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:16 pm

reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by milboltnut »

Hey fellers
Got a nice mild load for one of my pump rifles. .30-06 180 grain Remington RNSPCL on top of 30 grains of IMR 4198. Sound good for short range for deer ? I'm sure there will be plenty of penetration and expansion 100 yards or less. Ant one hunt with this type of load for deer ?
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5581
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

While I don’t know what kind of velocity that load might generate, I know several guys who load their .30-06 down to .30-30 levels so that their kids can shoot deer without the heavier recoil.

Makes good sense to me.
41Redhawk
Levergunner
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2024 7:38 am

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by 41Redhawk »

Scott Tschirhart wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:55 am While I don’t know what kind of velocity that load might generate, I know several guys who load their .30-06 down to .30-30 levels so that their kids can shoot deer without the heavier recoil.

Makes good sense to me.
I might would use 30/30 bullets to do that however. 30 caliber bullets for the 06 might be a bit too hard for those velocities.......Just a thought
The Lord Bless You

Terry
User avatar
marlinman93
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 7069
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:40 pm
Location: Oregon

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by marlinman93 »

41Redhawk wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:58 am
Scott Tschirhart wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:55 am While I don’t know what kind of velocity that load might generate, I know several guys who load their .30-06 down to .30-30 levels so that their kids can shoot deer without the heavier recoil.

Makes good sense to me.
I might would use 30/30 bullets to do that however. 30 caliber bullets for the 06 might be a bit too hard for those velocities.......Just a thought
Since both use the same bullet diameter, why would it matter if the bullets were pushed down the bore of a .30-30 or a .30-06 at equal velocities?
The 30.0 gr. charge of 4198 is going to likely be around 2000 fps or slightly over, so no reason a soft tip or flat nose like a .30-30 uses wont penetrate and expand well. Regardless of which case propelled it.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
ywaltzucanrknrl
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 324
Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:58 pm

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by ywaltzucanrknrl »

I use 190 Hornady Sub-X's in a 30-40 Krag SRC and in a 1889 Schmid Rubin 7.5 that run around 1900 fps. I've shot several deer and antelope with them and had great performance.

I could load the 30-40 up a bit, but the 1889 action is weak and around 1900 is a good load for it. The are both pleasant to shoot with those loads and accurate.
milboltnut
Levergunner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:16 pm

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by milboltnut »

41Redhawk wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:58 am
Scott Tschirhart wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:55 am While I don’t know what kind of velocity that load might generate, I know several guys who load their .30-06 down to .30-30 levels so that their kids can shoot deer without the heavier recoil.

Makes good sense to me.
I might would use 30/30 bullets to do that however. 30 caliber bullets for the 06 might be a bit too hard for those velocities.......Just a thought
under a 100 yards I think it's fine. Brush hunting, most likely 30-50 yards. Be different if I took it out past 100 yards. Mostly off hand shooting, that's why I dropped it down some. If I knew I was shooting 100 yds or farther, I would use a standard load.

If at 200 yards @ 2K FPS will do the job, why would it do the job at 100yds or less ?
Last edited by milboltnut on Wed Nov 26, 2025 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5581
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

A whitetail isn’t that hard to kill. Last year I took my buck with a .45 Colt load that is safe in a Single Action Army.

You just have to punch a hole through them in the right place. If it’s accurate, you can certainly do the job.
milboltnut
Levergunner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:16 pm

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by milboltnut »

Scott Tschirhart wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 3:29 pm A whitetail isn’t that hard to kill. Last year I took my buck with a .45 Colt load that is safe in a Single Action Army.

You just have to punch a hole through them in the right place. If it’s accurate, you can certainly do the job.
For sure !
Lastmohecken
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2002
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Arkansas

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by Lastmohecken »

I have been thinking about the same concept, but in my case, I have a Remington 700 in 300 win mag, that I would like to load down to .308 levels for deer hunting. I don't need all of that noise or recoil of the 300 mag, but I like that rifle and scope combo for some of deer hunting. I know I can do it, just haven't got around to it yet.
NRA Life Member, Patron
User avatar
Ray
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3100
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:45 am

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by Ray »

Lastmohecken wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:34 pm I have been thinking about the same concept, but in my case, I have a Remington 700 in 300 win mag, that I would like to load down to .308 levels for deer hunting. I don't need all of that noise or recoil of the 300 mag, but I like that rifle and scope combo for some of deer hunting. I know I can do it, just haven't got around to it yet.
The bad news is the ideal for this application imr 4198 runs about $70 per pound. The good news is it greatly simplifies ciphering the per charge cost what with there being 7000 grains to the pound.....
samsi
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 708
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:55 am
Location: AZ

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by samsi »

One of my favorite knockabout rifles is a 7.62 chambered Spanish 1916 Short Rifle that I load to around 40k cup. 40 grains of 3031, Varget or RL15 are all in that ballpark and give 2500-ish for velocity with my dwindling stash of 150 CorLokts. Sadly 3031 is the least accurate but most available powder these days. I look at it as being sort of a 30-30AI thing.
milboltnut
Levergunner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:16 pm

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by milboltnut »

No snow opening day tomorrow ugh!

Sunday 1inch Tuesday 1 inch, if it sticks we should be in good shape.
Lastmohecken
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2002
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Arkansas

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by Lastmohecken »

Ray wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 12:57 pm
Lastmohecken wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:34 pm I have been thinking about the same concept, but in my case, I have a Remington 700 in 300 win mag, that I would like to load down to .308 levels for deer hunting. I don't need all of that noise or recoil of the 300 mag, but I like that rifle and scope combo for some of deer hunting. I know I can do it, just haven't got around to it yet.
The bad news is the ideal for this application imr 4198 runs about $70 per pound. The good news is it greatly simplifies ciphering the per charge cost what with there being 7000 grains to the pound.....
I guess that's a penny per grain. I guess that's not too bad. I need to get off of my butt and work up some loads.
NRA Life Member, Patron
piller
Posting leader...
Posts: 15399
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:49 pm
Location: South of Dallas

Re: reduced loads for hunting deer

Post by piller »

I loaded down a few 30-06 for pillher several years ago. I stuffed a ball of tightly rolled dacron on top of the powder to hold it in place. It was milder than her 3030. Accuracy was nice. Shooting at 100 yards, it grouped 5 in a circle that were all touching, but 1/2 inch lower than it grouped with standard velocity. Each shot blew pillow stuffing everywhere. Funny, but the bore stayed clean.
D. Brian Casady
Quid Llatine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur.
Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up---Robert Frost
Post Reply