Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 8mm-06ai finally got some good loads. Pics added

Good time at the range this morning. Finally got my 8mm-06ai to shoot. I have been working with IMR 4451, with no real data to work with in any of the bullets. I started low and have been working up trying to make it to my target muzzle velocity with each of the bullets. Looking for accuracy along the way. I chose the 175 sierra, 180 nbt, and the 196 Prvi bullets. Goals were 2850 for the 175 sierra and 180 nbt, and 2700 with the 196 Prvi. 61.5 grains of said powder with the 175 went into 1.3 with an avg of 2830 for 5 shots. 61 grains pushed the 180 to 2845 and 1.2 in group with 4 shots in a .5 inch cluster and one little flyer which could have been me. The 196 with 59 grains clocked 2645 with another 1.2 inc group again with 4 shots into a little bunch at .6. I am sure some will think my plus 1 inch groups are not great but this rifle has been a mundane 2.5 inch rifle on all the loads up until now. This rifle is a thrown together Hodge podge I have put together over some time. Found the mauser action at a gun shop about 7 years ago it had already been budda'ed, Bent bolt, drilled and tapped. Bought a timminy with side safty. Found a 8mm-06ai barrel on gunbroker, Then bought a Houge stock off amazon. Got it all together and put a redfield 4-12 x 40 on it. Then it was dies. Got mine from CH4D, They had them in stock so I got those sent and it was time to play. The only thing left really to do with the rifle is to extend the box magazine so I can load longer than 3.300 which is where i maxed out the 180 grain. and the 61 grain charge is a compressed load at the length. To be honest I am good with this result. I would have no problem whacking a deer or hog with a 180 going 2850. and the 196 at 2650 isn't a weak load. I haven't taken pics of the targets or the rifle so I wont worry about posting pics unless you guys really want to see. Good day guys M8x57

Picture of the rifle

picture of 180 grain nbt load. nickle used for size


picture of 175 grain sierra


picture of 196 grain load

That ought to do the trick.

One of my first AI`s. I`ve had this rifle now close to 40 yrs.Found IMR 4064 to work best, in my rifle, with most all bullet weights. Currently pushing the Barnes 160 TTSX well over 3k, and with accuracy. Sierra`s 175 Pro-Hunter my choice. Always consistant performance, even on elk. Push that a bit over 2900.
Looking for start loads, you might try Sierra`s load manual, you can also start with 06AI load info. That will get you close, work from there.
My rifle is a 98 with a douglas 24 inch, 1x10 douglas barrel. I`ve not moved the mag box..found I didn`t need to.
Great cartridge, good luck with it.

I’ve always wanted one, good shooting!

Looks pretty darned good to me; good for anything in NA!

Tried one more load with the IMR 4451 and the 175 grain sierra. 62 grains .5 grains more than the last load. Weirdly, the first 4 shots averaged 2900, next 5 averaged 2870, and then 5 more averaged 2839. I loaded them all the same. Trickled the last half grain in and seated them to the same oal. 3.275. I am still wondering why I got decreasing average fps for the groups. They shot the same size groups at any rate. both were 2.1 inch total with 4 going into a group of 1.1 inches. The fifth shot on the pic I am posting made the group 2.1 inches, so it could be a heated barrel doing the spread on the last shot. This is a hunting rifle and five shot groups are maybe unnecessary. Anyone ever had a decreasing average fps reading from first group to last like this and what could be the cause?