Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ask John Barsness Questions About "GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR .30-06"

Hello all, new here and wanted to ask a few questions myself. I am fairly new at reloading since factory ammo has gone crazy around here. Been hunting all my life, just bought the factory stuff.

I wanted to develop a load for my Ruger Hawkeye 30-06 using Speer 200gr Sp. I have some R22 on hand and a friend has stated its would be a good choice for the bullet.

After reading the article and seeing H4831 being used in a ruger if that would be a better way to go?

My other question I have is H4831 the same load data for H4831SC?

I have Fed, Hornady, R+P, and W-W brass on hand.
I also have Winchester LR primers.

By the way I really appreciated the article on O.A.L cleared alot of questions I had about how to find the right seating depth!

I hunt deer and Black bear mostly still looking for my moose though!

Thanks ans great forum,
Bob

Bob,

Welcome to the Campfire!

Reloder 22 is also a fine powder with 200-grain bullets in the .30-06. I would only use H4831 instead if you hunt quite a bit in real cold, as H4831 doesn't lose much velocity (if any) in temperatures down around zero, while RL-22 tends to. This won't make any practical difference in "killing power" but it can change the point of impact of the load.

The same loading data can be used with H4831SC and H4831.

Thanks, I don't really hunt the extreme cold. Most of my hunting is done between 60 degrees and 20 degrees.

What sort of accuracy should I consider acceptable for this bullet?

I have experimented with some 180gr Accubonds and have gotten good groups averaging around 1 1/4" at 100 yards. Sometimes I'll shoot a 3/4" group. I'd be very happy to get a good consistant 1 moa @ 100.

Think that would be good out to 300 yards?

Thanks
Bob

Has anyone used the 240 grain Sierra on game?

Lots of long range hunters have, but in the big capacity 30's not in the 06 to my knowledge, but I'm not JB

Not that I know of either in the .30-06.

The only 240 I could see a rational use for in the .30-06 is the Woodleigh.

John,

I have a friend who decided to become a long-range hunter with his then new .300 RUM, and he started working up heavy bullet loads for the rifle. By the time he got to 240 gr bullets diminishing returns had definitely set in.

I remember back in the day when I was shooting on one of the Navy teams that we explored heavier bullets in the .308 Win/7.62X51, and weights over 190 gr showed the same effects.

jim

John...very generous to use your time responding/debating all of us!

I have a Steyr Professional, plastic version of their standard wood bolt actions in 30.06 & 7x57 - the .06 shoots 150g to 200g all in a 3" group at 100yrds - each respectiive load grouping 1/2 to 1 1/4".

My question is that with 180g TSX using 60g RL19, WW case, WW primer, it groups about the same as a 180g Winchester factory load and about 1" lower than a 165g Winchester load.

There are no over-pressure signs though this .06 seems to digest any load and eject with no issues anyway.

60G of RL19 really fills the case with a little crunching during bullet seating. Do you feel there would be overpressure concerns at temperature extremes to either direction?

Also-not quite an .06 question other than this scope is mounted on the Steyr - I find that an older Swarovski NOVA 30 mm scope in 1.5x6 is the easiest scope to aquire a picture with very little wiggling. Everyone who has shot it sez the same thing.

The 7x57 has a German Zeiss 3x9 and it seems to need a little eye centering to see a complete scene. Is there something unique about 30mm scopes that makes the less critical view possible?

Hi John,
Just got back from testing some loads in my Rem. pump, '06. I partial re-sized, as in your article. An elder gentleman said that he thought cartridges for pumps should be fully resized.

So.... Partial, or Full sizing on my previously fired brass in my Rem. 7600, pump??

Thanks!! Ken

Hi Ken,
why not try it both ways and see what works best for you? Cuz that's what it boils down to, anyway.

Try 10 cases full length resized, 10 partial, from a bench..
If you don't find a difference in terms of difficulty of extraction, then partial resize. The more you resize a case, the more you work-harden the brass, shortening case life. You may see an accuracy difference too, maybe not.

Re: grvj post 60g RL19 load - info is for a 165g Barnes TSX bullet - not 180g

John,
Your article on the 30-06 made me go buy one. I have been a 270 and 300 magnum guy. My question for you is, what bullet for elk with a maximum range of 400 yards (and that would be pushing the envelope for me). thanks for your insights and time.

Any of the premiums from 165 up will do the job really well, and the monolithic 150's such as the Barnes TSX, Nosler E-Tip and Hornady GMX.

Most of us make too much of relatively minor differences in bullets. Along with about every kind of big game bullet Nosler makes (including Ballistic Tips) I have seen elk killed with premium bullets from (alphabetically) Barnes TSX's to Trophy Bonded Bear Claws. They all worked well. In fact about any cup-and-core 180 will do the trick in the .30-06, even at fairly steep angles. The Hornady Interlock in particular is darn good.

thanks for your input. I will likely use a 180 Gr premium because I am going to be paying big $$$ for a guided hunt and not going to take any chances. However, I have seen the hornady interlock at work as well..dead elk. thanks again

There is no sense in paying a ton for a hunt and using par equipment. Kudos to you
30.06 is one of my go to rifles.

4rds just over half inch @ 100yd (30.06) with IMR 4350 and Hornady Interlock
Could ya ask for more from a factory barrel?

I came across this informative thread while looking for info on the 30-06 and elk killing bullets. I recently acquired a 30-06 and intend on using it for my elk hunt this year and will hopefully find the right accuracy with either the 165 gr GMX, Interbond, or Accubond. I'm wondering if I shouldn't have gone with the 180 gr but the bullets have been bought and if I find acceptable accuracy with one of them it's what I'll be using. Ive got h4350 and imr 4830 at hand as well as Fed and CCI primers. And, from reading I feel the 165 grainer in a premium bullet will do it's part if I do mine. I'd really love to read this article and joined the mailing list and am hoping it's not to late to get it sent.

Thanks John for you answers in this thread and I look forward to reading your article.

I have a two part question; I own a Ruger #1 RSI with a 20" barrel. How much velocity am I really loosing with the 2" shorter than norm barrel. I have posed this to Hornady and they told me maybe 50 FPS. Does that sound about right? What if any powders can I use that may perform better in a slightly shorter barrel giving me optimum velocity? I using the good ol IMR 4064 and 4350 combinations still.

50 fps would be about right. On average most centerfire barrels will lose 25 fps per barrel.

The same powders that provide top velocities in onger barrels will provide the top velocities in shorter barrels.

One other general rule is that the least veliocity loss will come with slower-burning powders and heavier bullets.

Good morning, JB. Got to try out your H4831 loads with the Nosler 200 gr. Partition the other day. 59 grs. didn't shoot too well with WW cases and WLR primers. Say 1.7 inches. Not great, but I can and have hunted with worse. 57 grs. did .63. And 58 grs. did .42 ! Wow ! Had good luck with your 58 gr. Ramshot Hunter loads too. The Sierra 180 gr. GameKing doing .77 inches while the 180 gr. NP did the same at 58.5 grs.
Thanks for the ideas. They sure work well. E

Glad to hear it.

Yeah, if you don't need every last bit of velocity, some rifles do shoot 200's better with a little less H4831. In fact I first started using H4831 and 200-grain Partitions back in the 1970's when the older-style Partitions still were "semi-spitzers" (round noses). If I recall correctly, they shot best with 58 grains for around 2575 from the old 1903 Springfield sporter I was shooting back then.

Accuracy was really good even from the less-than-perfect barrel from that old rifle, and the moderate velocity (and round nose) didn't matter at all because most of my elk hunting was being done in the really thick timber of northwestern Montana--where a long shot was 100 yards.