Has anyone had any firsthand experience with the 30 caliber Speer TNT 125 bullets for deer hunting? I know that its an explosive varmint bullet in a rifle, but I am getting less than 2,000 fps with my current load. Most of the deer in our area field dress well under 100 pounds, so I was thinking this may be a suitable bullet for my intended purposes. Just curious if anyone has any actual experience with it on deer sized game at similar velocities.

Thanks

I wouldn't use them on deer. I'd stay with a soft point.
I have some 130 HP's but they are for 'yotes and such.

My 4 cents worth....

Charlie

No clue about the Speer TNT bullet you asked about in that situation (I have loaded them in 7-30 waters for a p-dog load and wasn't impressed with nose uniformity) but look at some of the bullets used in 300 blackout factory loads. They are typically pretty slow compared to most 308 caliber loadings and should function better at slower velocities.

I'm using the 110gn Black tipped Barnes TAC-TX bullet (#30321) in 30-30 for deer (14" contender, 2500fps). Barnes says the minimum velocity for expansion in a water tanks is 1350fps and they recommend ~ 100fps faster minimum for hunting which is astounding compared to all the other bullets I looked at. The bullet has full weight retention at 2200fps (in water, don't think they tested faster). In my experience, it works great on deer (full penetration, lots of damage in the wound channel, broken bones/ribs and drops them faster then a 12g slug). If you want a little heavier bullet (not really necessary with a tough copper bullet and full weight retention) they have a 120gn version with similar specs.

The only problem I've found with the bullet is that they are expensive compared to standard lead bullets, but for deer hunting, I don't shoot many of them. I load the 110gn vmax for general use.

No experience with the TNT, but I've used the 125 grain Sierra Pro Hunter at 2200 fps. in a 30 Raptor to cleanly take whitetail deer out to 80 yards.

Ballistic Tip or Pro Hunter is all you'll ever need.

I believe Franchise runs the TNT out of his 300 Whisper with good results on deer.

Like karl above, I've had great success with the Barnes TAC-TX bullet in the Whisper/BLK cartridges.

And if Doc says that the BT's or Sierra's will work at those velocities, I would bet he has a "couple" of autopsies that back up his claim

X2

SCHUNTER is right! I've had great success with the 125 gr Speer TNT bullet...the 125 gr Nosler BT has also worked well for me....both bullets are perfect for deer sized game.

I've also used the Nosler 125 BT for deer size game from a 300 Whisper with good results.

I use 150gr Ballistic Tip or 150gr RN behind a healthy does of LeverRevolution in a 30-30 Contender up here in this ice box.

What cartridge and what barrel length?

I want to thank everyone for their reply to my post. The gun that I am using a 10" 30-30 Contender.

Good luck! let us know what you end up with.
I am using RL7 with the 110gn bullets based on loading data from Speer. I recently experienced how temperature sensitive RL7 is (in a 45-70) and am looking for recipes using AR-Comp. If Quickload is to be believed, it will maintain existing velocity at a lower pressure (or add ~100 fps at the same pressure).

You are on the right path with lighter bullets. Lots of good advice from folks here.

125 NBT or the 150 NBT.
Would lean to the 125 NBT first.

My son and my wife have accounted for 4 deer using the Nosler 125 BT at 2200 fps in one gun and 2260 fps in another gun.

Shot distances were about 50 to 70 yards in distance.

Only one deer dropped at the shot and it was a neck shot.

One deer ran maybe 150 yards before falling dead. The other two ran perhaps 50-60 yards before expiring.

At the velocity we are pushing the Nosler 125 BT, it certainly isn't what I'd term a real powerhouse, but it does kill deer.

My grandson also used the Nosler 125 BT in a gun that was about 2600 FPS muzzle velocity. This makes the N125BT work much better in my opinion.

This year, for my son and my wife, the plan is to try the Barnes 110 TAC-TX bullet. I think it'll work better at the velocities we're achieving in their guns.

Try the 130 gr Speer HP. It is a varmit bullet but works well at lower pistol velocity's in my 10 in 30-30.