30-06 light-for-caliber mono options/loads

[Macintosh]

I am heavily invested, objectively and emotionally, in a specific 30-06 deer rifle. It is far more gun than I need, and Im interested in coming up with an ammo option that is very light in the recoil dept using the 130gr TTSX or similar. Bullet could even be lighter, thats just the only light .308 mono bullet I am aware of. I highly prefer monos so at this time I am not interested in any other options.

This is to be shot from a 18” 3006, with absolute maximum range to be 200 yards. 99.99999% of shots are inside 100 yards. I want plenty of velocity for reliable expansion to 200 yards, but thats all I need. I do not reload, but hoping to enlist the help of my brother who does, and wondering what material he’d need, etc.

*Suggestions for other bullets? i have had good results with ttsx, but generally prefer LRX which afaik isnt available in a lighter .308 option. I see Hammer 101, 103 and 124gr options…???
*Suggestions for powders and starting loads?
Any Issues typically encountered with this approach I should be aware of?

 

[sndmn11]

I had some 130gr ttax and I think had them over 3200fps. I never shot anything with them.

I'd mess with the light hammer bullets, the animals I've shot with their 85gr out of a 6.5creed died just fine and velocity was unbelievable.

 

[Andouille]

150cx shoots near 3000 fps from my 18" 30-06 and accuracy is excellent. Recoil is perhaps reduced compared to 165gr bullets. The high velocity at a shorter range will ensure full expansion, which is paramount with monos. 130 is perhaps a sweet spot for the mono use you describe. Varget should be a good powder for that weight class, as it was a tad too fast burning for 150s out of my gun which shot better and faster with H4350.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I load the Hammer 138HHT at basically 3100fps out of a 19ish” suppressed using Big Game powder.

Super accurate, low recoil, good exterior ballistics (relatively). I have not killed anything with that load however, my 6.5CM has been my go-to the last two seasons.

 

[Macintosh]

Thanks @Andouille, yeah, lots of 150+ options, Im looking to go significantly smaller.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

Hodgdon publishes reduced recoil loads that might suit your needs.
In addition, there is a guideline that it's safe to load 60% of max published loads using H4895. Note, this is only for H, not IMR4895. Here is the link.

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I don't know the answer to it but I'd look around to see if anyone has shot the 120gr TAC-TX (intended for the 300blk) out of a faster caliber and what the effect on game was if so. Its made to expand at lower velocity, not sure what happens if its hitting much faster.

 

[alexnelon]

Barnes has a 110 grain TTSX and published .30-06 load data for it.

A reduced load with a powder that is appropriate (H4895 is the easy one) could give you a 110 around 2750 fps.

 

[lelliott8]

Im getting 3100 out of a 308win with TAC using the 130ttsx. It has worked well for me on deer out to 250yards so I think it would be a great choice. The 130ttsx is well liked, if you want to listen to way too many subjective stories about it there is THIS podcast. They talk about loading it in 30-06 if I remember correctly. No experience on the 110.

You could load a nice mild charge of pretty much any 30-06 friendly powder and get similar velocities and have a very effective low recoil round.

 

[Macintosh]

Barnes has a 110 grain TTSX and published .30-06 load data for it.

A reduced load with a powder that is appropriate (H4895 is the easy one) could give you a 110 around 2750 fps.

Thanks, they have it listed separately on their website and I missed it.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Gel blocks aren't apples to apples with animals but here is the 120 tac-tx shot at some faster velocities. It'd certainly be something to play with at <200yd deer hunting to test results.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

168TTSX is my favorite. It has a much lower recommended impact velocity than the 130.

 

[shmtastic]

Lots of people used the 130 TTSX in the 30-06 when it came out. 4064, Varget and 4895 have all pushed them well. Higher velocity= higher muzzle blast. Aim for 3000 fps, which is what I get out of an 18" 308, and you'll be good to go.