Hello:
Has anyone had any experience using 125/130 grain bullets in a .308 on whitetails? I am trying to develop a lighter load (i.e. less recoil) for a youngster who wants to use his deceased father's .308 for his first deer hunt, which I have the pleasure to take him on. I was considering Hornady's 130 grain spire point - I'm concerned that Nosler's 125 gr. Ballistic Tip might be a little too explosive, even at reduced velocities. Thanks.

That bullet should be just fine for that use.It would be nice if it was an Interlock. I agree on your thoughts about using Ballistic tips on Deer,they can do strange things at times.
Best of luck to the young man on his first hunt.

I normally use the Hornady 150 gr. in my 308 but I don't see why the lighter one wouldn't work. Mine has been used on whitetail, Axis and antelope with no problems.

Most are of varmint bullet construction, but many monolithics are available in those weights, so thats what I would use...I shoot the 130 or 125 gr. ?? Barnes X in my .308 M-99 Savage and it has worked well on deer..Still I like the old 180 gr. RN Corelokt on Whitetail.

I have recently used sako 123 grain gamehead bullet in .308 on fallow buck. Propelled by 50 grains of reloader 15 this has performed well, with 2" exit hole.
Across a chronograph I get 3200 fps and considerably milder recoil than 150 g.
Also tried 125 g sierra sp. but have not yet found accurate load,;when I do I suspect the terminal performance and recoil will be much the same.

I'd pay real close attention to what Ray said...... JMO, Dutch.

Here is a link to a Company that offers a commercial load that falls into this category

low recoil big game loads

rimshot
Blue Collar Shooter Magazine

Pagris:

On what deer I have seen in most of Maryland, except for far western Maryland, they were not real big.

I have used the 125 grain BT on deer and it works just fine, in a reduced load. 2000 to 2500 fps would be a good load. Over 2700 fps, it starts blowing up and making a mess. It will open down to about 1600 fps.

The 130s are also fine. Not to discount the wisdom of Ray Atkinson ( you can never go wrong with Ray's input) ballistic tips usually make messes when they are pushed at high velocities.

Downloading they are one of my first choices in bullets for any deer size game. With the 165 grainer BT I have taken an Elk at 175 yds, when the MV on the load was 2250 fps. Destroyed both lungs and the liver, and stopped on the off side under the hide. The Elk was 650 pounds on the hoof. Montana Fish & Game hung it field cleaned at 405 lbs.

The 125 should be up to the task on a Maryland deer.

Good luck

I've ordered from the action outdoors "LRBG" guy and can attest that his rifle ammo is first rate. I had him cook up some 300WinMag loads - same as the 308 loads advertised: 135gr at 2600fps. That was good for 1MOA.

However, I don't think he's in business anymore. I think he got injured and quit. It's unfortunate that my father-in-law had an order in with him but never took delivery or got any money back.

Handloaders can now accomplish the same thing using Hodgdon's Youth Loads. My 300WinMag is shooting H4895 w/ 130gr Hornady very well so far (+/- 2500fps).

Thanks for the input, members.

Seafire/B17G:

"More people should consider downloading."

I agree wholeheartedly!

TRY THE 125 GR SIERRA AT REDUCED VELOCITIES

I have a couple of friends who use nothing but the 125/ 139 gr. bullets on the Tn whiteail deer & they work very well-- it is easy to be over bulleted on these thin skinned animals--having said that I use a 225 gr 35 cal lots of times

Yeah, I was looking at three of our TN whitetail does up close last night. (5-10 yards) Pretty little things, but they're scrawny.

I have used 125 gr serria's out of a 06 to shoot deer with on broad side lung shoots they cream the insides of a deer. When you feild dress them the lungs pour out. I wouldn't try any texas heart shots with them but other then that they well work just fine.