Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 200-grain bullets in a .30/06

Is it possible, at safe pressures, to handload a 200-grain bullet to 2,700 FPS out of a bolt-action rifle chambered for the standard .30/06 cartridge?

I think Montana Marine posted some RL17 loads with a 200 grainer that was in that neighborhood. Maybe do a search, and/or punch it out to an improved.
I'll search for you:
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/3496369/1
So the answer is yes.

Oh and be careful doing that.

With all of the quality bullets available now, the question is why?

I've pushed 200's past 2700 fps with RL17, and RL22. No problems in my rifles.

Thanks for the info.

I've never gotten the listed velocities with either RL22 or RL19. I get around 2,540 to 2,580 with them, at what I feel are safe pressures. I have come close with IMR-4831, about 2,650 or so. I have some RL17 and will give it a try this spring.

using H 4831 SC, I have pushed the 200 grainers beyond 2900 fps, and not in an 06 AI..

I just worked up, after noticing the pressure listed for a 200 with H 4831 SC was in the 45,000 psi range....

that and little offline, counseling from a ballistician at Nosler..

so 2700 is not unobtainable at all..nor is 2800..

didn't see a need to use it, as I own a 300 Win Mag or two..but when someone on the forum asked, I thought I would test it out and that is what I got..

worked fine with no pressure problems out of an Enfield, a Model 70, a Model 700 and Browning A Bolt..

cases were loaded 5 reloads with tight primer pockets at the 6th reload.. so I called it good.

anyone who tries it, all I can advise is work out and keep an eye out for pressure signs..

Never chronograpned a faster powder than 760 in terms of generating highest velocities in the .30/06. That includes all my test rifles.

The claims made with the slower powders, I will not dispute, though I have never seen it on any of my Oehler 35P's over the years.

JW

..........That`s going to depend on the rifle itself. Such as, whether you have a slower bore or a faster bore, the bullet style (type of ogive) which determines how much of the actual bullet surface touches the bore, and a few other variables including the powder used and barrel length.

Although 2700 is a nice #, I can assure you, that if your rifle was only able to give you 2550 to 2600 fps with a 200 grain bullet and even from the same killing distances, it wouldn`t make a darns worth of difference on any game you could hunt using a 30-06.

If anything, it`s more of a curiosity factor. However, we are all curious as to how much bullet speed we can get out of our rifles.

By experimenting with some different powders including some RL 17 and using a chrony will you know for sure.

Here are a few I have tried:

.30/06 Winchester Featherweight - 22" barrel.

200gn Speer SP
58gn Rel 19 2572
53gn IMR 4350 2620
54gn H 4350 2644
55gn H 4350 2737 3328

200gn Barnes X
53gn H 4350 2659 3141
54gn H 4350 2694 3224 Warm

200gn Accubond
55gn H 414 2636 3087 Mild
56gn H 414 2720 2.5"
59gn H 4350 2650 3120 1" Good Load
60gn H 4831 2437 Mild - Compressed

200gn Nosler Part
57gn H 414 2733 3318 1" Good Load
58gn H 414 2762 Warm 1.5"
58gn H 4350 2556 Mild
59gn H 4350 2651 2"
61gn H 4831 2496 Mild - Compressed Load
62.5gn H 4831 2559 2909 Mild - Powder too slow

JW

I've owned three 30-06s and each one, if you tried to red line it in the least, would start to spray the bullets. I killed my first elk with an '06 and a 200gr Speer bullet. 52.5grs of I4350. 59grs of 4350 in a 30-06 case would be kinda tedious loading, IMO.

To date in the rifles I've worked with (most all 22" tubes) once I got to 2600 that was the end of the game with H4831.

I've not tried R22 with it yet but the time I did with 180's once I got to 2800 I could tell that it was at the top of the pressure chart.

Having spent enough time with barrels to know that theres fast ones and slow ones it wouldn't suprise to see some tubes make 2700 but I gotta believe that's pretty mucho the end of the sane game.

2900 is a darn good speed for a 200 in a 300 wsm, and I'm not sure you get there with it even, but for a 06....no tanks. Thinking good old Seafire is boshing us a bit here and just trying to see if anyone is really reading this ..

Dober

I used to run moly'd 190 SMKs at 2920 fps via 61gr RL22, and a 26" bbl.

Dober, I got 2900fps with the 200Accu/300WSM using about as much H4831sc that would fit in the case. They didn't act like hot loads but who knows(only had a few bullets to test and that's where I stopped), 24" barrel.


Shane, how'd the 190's shoot for you? Dober got me try a box awhile back and they shot pretty good!

I know you used to and I think that used to is the smart way...grin

Seriously, I don't think it's a good idea for the average Joe to start thinking about those kinds of speeds with the heavies. First thing you know they'll take their good old 06 carbine and blow it up trying to get to 2900 or whatever.

This is just my opinion but if that rig was a 23" tube and one was pushing a 190 @ over 2800 I'd still be a bit twitchy about dropping the hammer with.

But you and Sea are two from the Fire that consistently take rounds to places that no where else has the stones or the crazies to do so. So you're either smarter at it than we are, or you have clocks that are a lot quicker than we do or you have the fastest tubes known to man or...you're more willing to red line things and push it to get the rounds to where you want them.

For years I did that very thing, for years I pushed things as hard as I could. Not anymore, I've learned that for me I can lay off the gas a bit and let dotz and or turrets or a bigger case get me to where I want to go.

Not wrong just different ways to do things. But, I would say it is wrong if people get the impression that every loader and every gun should be able to attain those kinds of #'s.

Just different ways to float the river I guess. No matter what I still have respect for you and you're ability to shoot the steel and want to bring my 260 that's in the works over to your place to have you help me run it out a ways come end of spring bear?

Dober

My velocities with the 190s correspond with a QL pressure calc of 59K lbs-psi.

At 60gr I was still getting sooty necks.

Mark, I'd enjoy meeting up with you to burn some powder. Just let me know when the time is good for you.