Heaviest 30 cal varmint bullets?

[Marksman]

I'm curious what the 30 caliber crowd is using for bullets and what their heaviest bullet is that they shoot? I'd like to find something with explosive expansion to minimize any ricochet but it would also be nice to find something heavier than 125gr.

 

[CatShooter]

I'm curious what the 30 caliber crowd is using for bullets and what their heaviest bullet is that they shoot? I'd like to find something with explosive expansion to minimize any ricochet but it would also be nice to find something heavier than 125gr.

So far, The heaviest I currently use is the 125 bullets - the TNT and the Nosler BT.

10-ish years ago, I was shooting coyotes and feral dogs on a ranch. I first tried the 178 A-Maxs, cuz Hornady said they opened up like a V-Max. That was not my experience.

I shot them in a heavy 300 Win Mag with a 28" heavy 12 groove barrel. They were accurate, but passed through too often. I went to a 264 Win Mag, and 95 V-Maxs.

Currently, I don't think there is anything. I would love for Hornady to make a 135 or 140 V-Max with a thin skin and long boat tail... but Idon't think the market is there.

 

[2506]

The 125 Speer TNT is one of the most explosive I have used lately. The old Speer 130 HP was about like it. The 125 Nosler ballistic tip is not an explosive bullet unless your IMPACT velocity is over 3000 FPS. It makes a great deer bullet kept under 3000 fps impact.
I used to use the 110 Sierra HP in a 30-06 for ground hogs. If you want a heaver explosive bullet get you some Berger bullets. I shot a deer with one of their Hunting VLD 155 gr 30 cal bullets at a muzzle velocity of 2650 fps at 111 yards and it blew an exit hole the size of a baseball. It went in about 3" and evaporated. The deer sloshed inside.

 

[370bc]

I use 110 grain sierra in a 300 wsm for coyotes. Makes about a 2'' hole. Puts them down nicely. Very accurate.

 

[Fordnutter]

I feel your pain. I've come to the conclusion that high BC & varmint bullet don't go hand in hand. I purpose built a 300WSM for long range varminting with a 12" twist barrel. Intention was to shoot 155gr - 168gr Amax's fast for some splat. Problem was I forgot that the gun "tells you" what bullet it will like. Turn's out a Berger 190gr VLD is the only bullet that will shoot 1/4moa at the ranges tested. I need this accuracy for the ranges I shoot out to. SO I now have an accurate, flying drill bit........ :

When I wear out this barrel I think I'm going to unplug the brain & build that 16" twist 300 WSM varminter that I've always dreamt about. A 125gr at 3,800 fps must be like watching a horror movie when the hammer drops!

 

[MClark]

I have used the Barnes 150 grain RRLP on coyotes. I started using them to prevent ricochets but they work well, come completely apart on a coyote.
I do not shoot at much over 100 yards so I have no accuracy issues. Some rifles they shoot good others not.

Mark

 

[Marksman]

I see the 130 Speer listed, yet not in stock. I might have to keep an eye on them.

The Barnes 150 RRLP looks very promising. The fact that it's 150gr but built for rapid expansion is very impressive. The fact that it's lead-free is a bonus as well. The only downside would be it costs 2x any other Varmint style bullet. But for my low volume ground hog shoots, it wouldn't break the bank.