Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06 Powder of choice?

I agree with california hunter. For 150s , 4064 is very hard to beat. I have loaded for at least 12 06s and imr 4064 was the powder of choice for the 150 gr in all of them. I loaded for two that liked 4895. I have used 4350 and while it was good in some guns in others it was not so good. Hope this helps.

h414 with mag primers for 150/165gr

H4350 and Reloader19.

Either one of the 4064 powders as wll as either one of 4895 powders.TomM has his head screwed on right.

Have always used one of the 4350's for 165, and still have no reason to change after perhaps 20 .30-06's. But have found Ramshot Big Game really great with 150's (it is not quite as slow as the 4350's) and lately have found Ramshot Hunter fantasitic with 180's, with tiny groups and muzzle velocities of 2800+ with standard loads.

H4831 with 200's has worked well for 30 years or more, in many .30-06's.

John Barsness

I also like 4350 for 165's, or 760 in some. R-19 in the 150's though....

RL19 with 165/168's and 4350 for 180's.

I'm pretty sure good '06 loads could be made with 4350 or 760, with any weight bullets. R-19, however, seems to only excel with the lighter 150's in my 2 30-06's........

Am I the only one running VV powder?

N550 rocks!

Now are Ramshot Big Game and Hunter temperature insensitive?

John,

What do you mean by "standard" load w/ Ramshot Hunter? Book values?

Ramshot's guide only lists 2-180 gr. bullets w. Hunter; Hornady at 2769 & Barnes @ 2672fps.

Looking at their guide, one would not be particularly excited as you seem to be.

Are you over their powder weights of 60 & 58 grains, respectively too?

I tend to get a bit nervous when going over book loads......

MM

Why?

I also use 52gr of IMR4064.

But I've been playing with H4350 because of the excellent results I've had with my .270. It looks very promising.

Someone may have mentioned it, but there is hardly a bad powder choice for the 30/06. If forced to pick just one powder for my '06, it would be IMR 4350. It will do well with all practical weights in the big game category. If you're looking for a powder just for 150 grainers, I have had very nice results with RL 15, and it doesn't take much of that powder either to get those lighter bullets going. I have heard enough people over the years swear by 4064 (are Varget of today) that I may need to give it a try before too long.

I mean 58 grains. Have tried this loads with various bullets (180 Sierra, 180 Nosler Partition, 185 Berger VLD) in three different '06's so far and all shoot as well or better than they do with any 180, and muzzle velocities have been 2800+ in every rifle.

The rifles: Modle 24 NULA, pre-64 Win. Model 70, and a Sauer 3000 drilling made in 2002. The first 2 have 24" barrels, the drilling 25".

Actually, no powder is totally temp-insensitive. Many are pretty good in cold temperatures, and gain less pressure (and velocity) in heat. Big Game and Hunter are about as good as anything I've tested, including the Hodgdon Extremes.

VV 550 is a very good powder, as are all the VV's I've tried. But I can get Ramshot a LOT eacier around here....

JB

MD,

At your powder charge weight of 58 grains of RS Hunter for 180's to achieve 2800+ FPS in 3 different guns from a reliable source definitely warrants giving it a try.

Thanks for the info.........

MM

No, Sir, you are not!

N550 is my chosen medicine for 165gr in my '06. It shoots an IB into 0.6MOA at 2911fps and a TSX into 0.4MOA at 2929fps - no pressure, velocity aberration or otherwise. Just point and press performance.

I do have a 150gr load, for which I use Varget. Mild recoil and low to mid 2600's - a .308 Lite, if you will. Shoots into 0.8 MOA and works fine on lighter species.

All the best from these shores.

Regards,

Jacobite

4350 is synonymous with the .30/06 like 4831 is synonymous is with the .270 Winnie. Many folks swear by 4064 and 4895. I'm looking forward to trying Varget in the '06.

52gr of IMR 4064

Varget, H-414, H-4350 are my favorites