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Fact check: What is the average velocity of a .30-06 rifle bullet at 100 yards?
Executive Summary
The average muzzle-to-100-yard velocity of a .30-06 Springfield bullet is not a single fixed number; it depends on bullet weight, load, and rifle. Published test tables and independent chronograph tests in the provided materials show 100‑yard speeds typically ranging from roughly 1,460 to 2,730 feet per second, with most common hunting loads clustering in the ~2,200–2,500 fps band depending on grain and powder [1] [2]. Use specific factory or chronograph data for a precise value for any given cartridge and rifle because variation between loads and firearms is substantial [3].
1. Why the question has no single answer — the load and bullet matter
Ballistics summaries and factory tables repeatedly emphasize that the .30‑06 family spans a broad range of bullet weights and powders, and that velocity at 100 yards varies accordingly. The aggregated sources show that light 150‑grain bullet loads and high‑velocity match or hunting rounds can still be delivering around 2,200–2,500 fps at 100 yards, while heavier 175–180‑grain hunting loads often measure lower, sometimes near 1,460–1,980 fps in the tests cited here [1] [2]. The ballistics compendium referenced in the materials underlines that published data lists velocities, energy, wind drift and BCs for hundreds of loads — meaning the meaningful answer is always a per‑load figure, not a cartridge‑family average [3].
2. What the empirical tests say — real chronograph results vary widely
Independent test results summarized in the material show substantial spread: one set of chronograph tests reported specific Remington, Federal and Fiocchi loads with 100‑yard velocities spanning roughly 1,461 fps to 2,497–2,730 fps, depending on bullet weight and type [1] [2]. Those tests illustrate that factory listed muzzle velocities do not map directly to 100‑yard speeds without accounting for ballistic coefficient and air resistance; heavier bullets with higher BCs retain velocity better but often start slower, while light, high‑velocity loads decelerate faster but begin at a higher muzzle velocity. This underscores the need for load‑specific chronographing when precision matters [1] [3].
3. Where the authoritative compiled data sits — ballistic tables and reference books
Comprehensive references cited in the provided analyses, like the Ammo & Ballistics compilation, offer standardized tables that report velocity, energy, and drift for many factory loads out to long ranges; these are the practical way to get a reliable published 100‑yard velocity for a named load [3]. Those tables are compiled from factory and test data and can show a consistent published 100‑yard velocity for a given bullet‑weight/powder combination. The materials point readers toward these compilations for accurate, load‑specific figures rather than relying on a generic single number for the .30‑06 family [3].
4. Reconciling conflicting figures — spotting errors, dates and context
Some summaries in the material present isolated numbers that appear inconsistent—e.g., a 1,575 fps figure for a 150‑gr FMJ vs. 2,259 fps for another 150‑gr Core‑Lokt in the same set of tests—because different factory loads and ammunition manufacturers use different powders and pressure specifications, and because some source excerpts omit context like muzzle velocity or ballistic coefficients [1]. Where a source date falls after the October 29, 2025 cutoff it is referenced without a date in the compilation; that does not invalidate the ballistic content, but it requires extra caution and cross‑checking with pre‑cutoff published tables when historical provenance or continuity matters [4] [5].
5. Practical takeaway for shooters — measure your load or pick a published load
For practical use, treat the .30‑06 as a family of cartridges and pick the exact factory load or handload recipe and consult a reputable ballistics table or chronograph it in your rifle to get the 100‑yard velocity you will actually see [3] [1]. The materials consistently recommend load‑specific data: compiled ballistics tables give a trustworthy starting point, while independent chronograph tests reveal the real-world spread. If a single working figure is required for rough planning, most popular 150–180‑grain hunting loads will be in the ~1,800–2,500 fps at 100 yards range, but rely on specific published tables or chronographing for precision [1] [2].