I thought about getting some Federal Fusion Lite Ammo in 30-06 for my younger nephew as an alternative to buying a smaller caliber rifle that he will soon outgrow.

https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/20rds-3006-federal-fusion-lite-170gr-sp-ammo

Anyone have any experience with this ammo?

In my experience a big part of recoil reduction is decreasing bullet weight. shooting a 100-125 grain bullet about the same velocity a 243 can throw a similar weight bullet will give you similar recoil to a 243. Ive done this with a couple 270's using 110 grain bullets and a 30-06 using 125's, both had very light recoil and will kill deer no problems.

I do not think the 170 grain is the best option but have never used them either. Are there any other reduced recoil rounds you have thought of? Might try Chad.

A 170 grain at 2000 fps is 30-30 spec. I’d say they will work pretty well.

I don't have any first hand experience with the factory ammo you specified. But I have used the Federal Fusion bullets & can't say enough good things about them on deer sized game. They are made by Speer & are called Gold-dot under Speer's banner. They are actually a very soft lead core plated bullet via their propriety process. Since the jacket is actually part of the core they hold 100% weight retention. Plus the core is so soft it will expand, even at very low velocities. If the recoil is reduced, I don't see why they wouldn't be ideal for what you are trying to do.

A few years back I Purchased 2 or 3 boxes of the Rem lites for a small frame woman. They kill WT dead in their tracks. A buddy loaded up several boxes for me and they too have done a very good job on hogs & Wt's. He used a 125 gr and was pushing it approx. 2500 FPS, recoil was very manageable for the woman and they killed. They were 30-06 loads.

I don't know if it was just the rifles, or the caliber, but of the 3 or 4, 30-30 rifles I have shot, they kicked pretty good.

No doubt I think they will both kill I guess I just prefer a little more velocity if I can. For deer and hogs id take the 125 grain at 500 fps faster with marginally less recoil every time.

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Does anyone have ACTUAL experience with the 30-06 FEDERAL FUSION LITE LOAD?

No experience with it but have ben around Remington Managed recoil loads and Hornady lite loads. Kid I took hunting killed a few hogs with the Remington ones and I have killed deer with the Hornady ones and some reduced recoil reloads that I loaded for a friends kid to use.

125gr 30 caliber fusion bullet started at 2660 or 2600 will be fine in the 30-06 for deer and hogs out to 200 yards or so. really not much different than the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 6.8 SPC. Both work well in that range and I will take the Grendel out further than that and not worry.

I've had very good success with Remington Managed Recoil ammo but only use them when hunting in close quarters where I know shots won't exceed 50-75 yards.

As for the standard loads, I've found nothing that produces tighter groups that Federal Fusion ammo. It has outperformed every Winchester, Hornady, and Remington load I've tested in every caliber that I own.

Well I have "ACTUAL" experience with the 30-30 170 gr. Fusion ammo on one feral hog. Shot great, hit the 150 pound hog right below the shoulder blade on one side and exited just under the center of the far shoulder blade. exit hole was around an inch. This was out of my 30-30AI as I was also trying to shoot up the three boxes of factory loads as my fireforming step. This would give me the virtual exact velocity you would get out of the 30-06 Fusion 170 gr, "Lite" loading though my little contender carbine likely bucked more than a 30-06 would.

I think it’s just you

I’ve heard this from others. 30-30s seem to all have hard butt plates. A good recoil pad seems to change the game for most.

And what he said.

Proper grip on rifle helps a lot! Take a course and get someone to show you how to handle pump shotguns and 30-30 carbines!

That’s groundbreaking stuff for a lot of folks, apparently.