Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 30/06 Loads

+1 for 57ish grains of IMR4350 and a quality 165 grain bullet. I’ve used this load in four different 760 Gamemasters, a Tikka T3, and a 700BDL, all 1” groups or better at 100 yds.

My new general purpose .30-06 load is 180 gr ballistic tip, Fed 210 match primer, 56.0 gr of RL16 in a W-W case. Getting good groups in several different rifles. Have not chrono'd it yet.

My customary load for .30-06 for several years has been 55.5 grain of Re16 under my 180 Partitions. It seems to work well enough and yields about 2750 fps in my 24-inch Model 70.

This weekend I finally got around to trying some H4831 with the 180s, and I am encouraged. I loaded five each of 60.5, 61.0, 61.5, and 62.0 grains of H4831. The 60.5 grain load turned in a group that measured 0.82 inch, and the higher charges opened up somewhat. I forgot the chronograph so I cannot comment on velocity.

I intend to go back out with charges of 59.9, 60.1, 60.3, and 60.5 grains again and with the chrono to see if there's anything to be gained. Tight charge increments, I know...but I want data. I suspect there's a half-inch performer there waiting to be found.

I'm beginning to think this particular Model 70 will be the rifle I hang on to when the others begin to find new homes.

Went out this morning and tried some H4831 loads again as described above, groups of five rounds (avg. vel. / ES):

59.9 grains H4831SC - 2664 / 13

60.1 grains H4831SC - 2688 / 27

60.3 grains H4831SC - 2692 / 20

60.5 grains H4831SC - 2716 / 15

The 60.5 grain charge worked best again and came in slightly under 1.4 inches and velocity averaged just a smidgen over 2700 fps according to my Oehler 35P.

Maybe I should mention these groups were fired at 200 yards.

The target looks a little ragged because there was a brief downpour just as I finished shooting. The target was made using ordinary copy paper and it was soaked by the time I could get down there and take it down. The other groups were all 2 inches and larger and I didn't even make an attempt to salvage them.

My rifle is a BACO Model 70 in .30-06 Sprg. The scope is a Sightron Big Sky 3.5-10x50 held in place with Zee rings on steel Warne bases. The rifle is fitted in a B&C Medalist stock. I have more confidence in this rifle than any of the others suitable for big game in my safe.

Hate to quote myself but I used 56 grains under a 180-grain flat-base Hornady Interlock in a 30-06 to kill a young-ish black bear about a week ago. One shot at 353 yards did the trick.


Okie John

I am testing 56, 57 and 57.2 grains of IMR4350 with 165 gr. Nosler AB's in my .30-06 at the moment. I got .83" group with 55.2 grains, but still playing with the nodes from my ladder test. Had to take a break for a while, as I had a rear scope ring brake. I didn't want to buy the same style of mounts and rings again, but it's a pre-accu trigger and I had to take what I could find.

My loads for my 28" PacNor barreled 30-06 with 180gr and 200gr Accubonds
Winchester Brass
WLRM Primer
Reloader 26 Powder
63.5grs with 180gr
61.0grs with 200gr
Magnetospeed Chronograph

I just shot a ladder with RL 26 in my Rem 700 SS 24” 30-06 with 180 partitions
62.5 2892
63.0 2913
63.5 2899

Shot 3 groups tonight with 63.5 gr of RL26 with 180 partitions in my 30-06. All three 3 shot groups ( 2 off bipod and one off the bags) produced .75” and I haven’t played with seating depths yet. Very happy speed just under 2900 FPS

2900 fps with the 180 grain bullet should make you grin. (30-06)

Well my 30-06 load with 180 partitions at 2900 FPS tagged a Colorado 3x3 bull elk with 13” eye guards. Quartering towards me shot through the neck out the far shoulder dropped him right there. The shoulder bone hand 2 hand full of bone meat inside the front leg meat. Very happy with the results.

Looks like a keeper.I want to try it in a couple other 30-06's to see how they group and what kind of velocities I get.The amazing 30-06,better today than ever.

I tried the Reloader26 @ 63.5grs with 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tips in two of 30-06's.Both rifles grouped this load about 3/4".My 23" barreled rifle ran it at 2890fps and my 24" barreled rifle was 2882fps.Looks like a good solid 180gr load.

Anyone here found success with IMR 4350 and the 175 LRX?

150 grain Barnes TSX, 51.0 grains H4895 was sub-MOA in my buddies Rem 700 when I worked up this load for him. Book max load.

VERY interesting. I have a few pounds of Re26 that I can do whatever I like with and I have no plan for its use at the moment. A 180 @2900 is impressive, to say the least!

Questions:

- have you fired the load at higher temps, like in the 90s or above?

- how heavily compressed is the load?

Looking at QuickLOAD, it appears that you might not even be able to get enough Re26 under a 180 Partition to hurt yourself. I wouldn't put it to the test, but it does reduce the fear factor a bit.

While I have a bunch of RL 26....in my 06s, use to run 4831SC with the 180s and 220 gr Round Noses....

one can not get enough 4831SC in an 06 to exceed SAAMI pressure specs...

180s just short of of 3000 fps, right around 2975 ...

220s in the neighborhood pf 2800 to 2850 depending on barrel length..

don't need that kind of horse power any more... you do need to crimp tho.

Don't know why the 06 had load data that was usually short of what the pressure limits were established by SAAMI....

when I finally migrated to lighter calibers, I was using 150 gr FN in the 06, with a stiff charge of 3031.... it was always pretty darn accurate...and effective.

The load is compressed. Without a drop tube the powder is into the neck. After I cleaned the barrel after load work up my best 3 shot group was .2” at 100. With several other groups at or under .5” off bags and bipod. I shot most my load work in temps in the mid 70’s and we are at 600’ above sea level in the thumb of Michigan. I couldn’t be happier. I re checked my ES after clean barrel and it was 6 from 3 shots. 2894,2900,2898 on the magnetospeed

Check this site for loads reported by shooters. Always check a reloading manual against any load you read...typo's do happen, and barrels can surely be very different.

http://centerfirecentral.com/MDB/Ca...eight=&Powder=&Submit=Search+Now

1973 Rem 700 BDL. 22" barrel. Lapua brass. Fed GM210M primers. 58.0 grs H4350. Barnes 168 TTSX. 3.465" COAL 2847 FPS