Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 30-06 inherent accuracy

I have not researched it that way.

Mule Deer, thanks for your reply. Did the Hodgdon guys specify powder types? ie is 30 degree shoulder best for single base extruded powders? Or is 30 degree shoulder best with double based ball powders too? How 'bout double based extruded powders?

Guess I'll have to buy your latest book to see if there are these kind of correlations?

So many experiments ..... so little time. Ain't it fun though?

Yep, it's fun!

Hodgdon's results included ALL powders with 30-degree shoulders.

Since my experience seems to indicate that the 270 is slightly more accurate than the 30-06 is it throated differently?

Hope you guys don't think I'm flippant with my questions ..... been reloading many years but just got bit by the rifle loony bug kinda late in life.

Talk of 30 degrees providing most consistent muzzle velocities may be very true, however, since we've chosen bench rest as our measure, most bench rest top competitors ignore muzzle velocities and chase groups. This was reiterated in the "Houston Warehouse" article as well. As prudent shooters, we recognize that consistent muzzle velocity does impact long range groups and score, however, while it has minimal impact at short range.

But what of the simple fact that a 6mm bullet is slightly better at bucking the wind? Wasn't that a deciding factor too, in the quest for shaving thousandths of an inch off of 100 yard group sizes, and the general shift from .22's of any form to 6mm domination?

So then what happened to the 6x47?


I'll admit I was lying in wait for that question.

I brought it up earlier, we would have to ignore speed. Back to that question of getting bullets to their happy place.

And I stepped right in it!!

Thought I'd post a photo of a CZ 557 in .308 that I borrowed from CZ-USA a few years ago for a review in a magazine. The photo shows the results from a handload that was NOT developed for the CZ, but is the standard hunting load for my Merkel K-1, the 150-grain Nosler AccuBond with 46.5 grains of Varget.

In the Merkel--a break-action single-shot--the load will average around .9 inch for 3-shot groups, but it has a very light 24-inch barrel and weighs a little under 7 pounds with a 15-ounce Meopta scope.

Have had some other factory .308s that grouped like this as well, including a Franchi Momentum and a Ruger American Rifle--one reason I didn't keep the CZ, though it was tempting.



The only .30-06s that I've owned (all hunting rifles) would shoot anything like this are my NULA Model 24, which of course cost quite a bit more than a CZ 557--and a pre-'64 Model 70 "standard weight" that would do it with some ammo when the forend screw was screwed in tight.

Part of the difference between the .30-06 and .308 is the standard SAAMI chamber throat. In the .30-06 it's tapered, as on many rifles of its era. In the .308 there's a short cylindrical section measuring .310 in diameter before the bullet enters the rifling. This is a little like the throats of newer 6.5s such as the PRC and Creedmoor, but their cylindrical section only measures .645 inch, much closer to bullet diameter--which tends to keep the bullet "straighter" as it enters the rifling. But either beats a tapered throat.

From one of my herd of 308s:

LC15 brass, thrown charges of IMR4895, Hornady 168 bthp, SS 6x MQ scope, 100 yards, 17 rounds

Unless of course one breech seats a lead bullet fully into the rifling right up almost to it's base, ahead of the chamber.😁 I do that routinely with a couple .32-40 single shot target rifles and on a whim tried it with an '06. It works in that too. Much improved accuracy, but not a trick you want to try in the deer woods (or with a jacketed bullet🙂).

What's accuracy?

I bought a 760 because it was $150.
A 30-06.

A gun I disliked, a round I had no use for.

I like 308 and 300WM.

Looking around, I found a partial box of 180gr Pro Hunters.
Looked at the Lee Dipper set and manuals.
H4831 lined up as a choice from the shelf.

Mounted a 3x9x50 Tasco. (The effort involved is embarrassing)

And the M)*^$#@$^*!!!&%#×$%;!!!! shoots just under an inch, 3 shot groups.
Only a few, this rig is not much loved.
The Tasco left its elevation turret loose one year when it needed adjusted, now
there is a vari x 3x9 on it.


Still don't live 760s.
Respect them though.

Do kinda want a gun I like in 30-06.

Better send that old 760 to a good home! Let someone appreciate that old 06

Never a serious benchrester, I did follow it for years. This is one unpleasant fact, whatever cartridge/equipment in the winners circle...the next year you can bet the farm...70% of the competitors will be using that cartridge or equipment. I know an accuracy gunsmith in Washington that got caught with 20 Hart bbls...in two short years he couldn't get rid of them and had to sell them at cost to varminters.

Herd mentality in all forms of competition shooting. Everybody is looking for an edge...so long as it isn't practice and skill development.

I have one that I bought used on G/B several years ago. I have no idea how many rounds it already had through it but it shoots as well as I can. 😊 It likes 155s, 168s and 175s. For powders H4895, IMR4350 and IMR4451 have all provided good groups and velocities. As mentioned earlier, German Salazar put a lot of work and time into optimizing his ‘06s for competition.

I also have a 40-X in 300 H&H but I haven’t put as much work in it as I have my 308s and 30/06.

Years ago, and I don’t remember where I saw it, Remington’s accuracy guarantee for 40-Xs was published and in general as case capacity and bore size went up, the standard was loosened somewhat.

i have owned a 6PPC and yes it shot excellent and i should have kept that rifle , now i have 6 BR`s , 222 and 22 BR , i even have a 22 mag 40x custom , but i got a question . > yes the 6PPC wins plenty at 100-200 yards but after that the 6 BR does much better at 600 yards and 1000 yards why ?