How much velocity does a .30-06 bullet typically lose from muzzle to 100 yards (velocity loss and percentage)?

1. Why analysts disagree: different data, different bullets, different math

The sources disagree because they start from different muzzle velocities, bullet weights, and ballistic representations. Some references list typical factory muzzles between 2,700 and 3,140 fps, but they do not always provide matched 100‑yard retained‑velocity figures, forcing estimates ^{[4] [2]}. One practical summary table showed a 100‑yard velocity of 2,800 fps for a generic .30‑06 load and inferred a small loss relative to an assumed muzzle speed, yielding ~0–200 fps loss or 0–7% ^[1]. In contrast, a plotted, technical DTIC study with explicit retained‑velocity curves supports larger drops of ~200–300 fps for common loads, giving ≈7–9% loss, because those curves start from specific measured muzzles and include aerodynamic decay ^[2]. The discrepancy is not an error so much as different inputs and methods.

2. What the technical report shows when you read the curves

The DTIC report provides plotted retained‑velocity traces for multiple bullet weights and shows that for typical .30‑06 loads the velocity at 100 yards often lands in the 2,600–2,950 fps band depending on bullet and muzzle velocity, corresponding to ~200–300 fps loss for many popular loads ^[2]. That technical graphical approach uses measured firing data and ballistic coefficients to model aerodynamic deceleration, so it systematically captures first‑100‑yard losses better than back‑of‑the‑envelope tables. The implication is that high‑muzzle‑energy, light bullets and rounds with lower ballistic coefficients lose relatively more velocity in the near range than heavier, higher‑BC projectiles, and the DTIC curves demonstrate that behavior in a consistent way ^[2].

3. Manufacturer tables and hunting guides give smaller, “typical” figures

Ammo manufacturer charts and hunting guides often present values tuned for hunting practice and thus imply smaller, user‑friendly losses; one ballistics table cited a 2,800 fps reading at 100 yards and concluded a modest ~100–150 fps or 3–5% loss for typical factory loads ^{[1] [5]}. Those charts sometimes assume specific loads (e.g., 150‑160 grain bullets) and a particular zeroing approach, and they compress complex decay into a single table row that looks attractive for field shooters. This presentation can understate the range of possible outcomes because it hides the underlying spread caused by bullet weight, ballistic coefficient, barrel length, and real‑world muzzle velocity variability ^{[1] [5]}.

4. Spot the possible agendas: forums, manufacturers, and government reports

Forum posts and informal summaries may downplay uncertainty and present single values without method details, reflecting community shorthand or anecdote ^[6]. Ammunition makers present numbers favorable for their products and for hunter convenience, which can bias attention toward specific bullets and conditions ^[5]. The DTIC technical work offers the most neutral, measured approach, relying on plotted, empirical data, but it is more complex to use. Readers should treat manufacturer tables as practical defaults, forum claims as anecdotal, and technical reports as the most precise but least user‑friendly sources ^{[6] [5] [2]}.

5. Bottom line for shooters: expected range and what you should do

For practical purposes expect a .30‑06 to lose roughly 100–300 fps (≈3–9%) from muzzle to 100 yards depending on load; the common, practical rule across the cited material centers on ~100–200 fps (≈3–7%) for mainstream 150–165 grain hunting loads, while technical curves for lighter, faster bullets often show ~200–300 fps loss ^{[1] [3] [2]}. To know the exact number for your rifle and ammo, chronograph your load or use the specific manufacturer ballistics table matched to projectile weight and ballistic coefficient rather than relying on a single “typical” figure ^{[5] [2]}.