Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 30/06 Loads

So let's step on the gas. Does anyone have favorite loads pushing 110 grain Sierra HPs at critter splashing velocities?

Bought a box recently and feel the need for speed from the ol' Gamemaster.

My best loads are 150gn Sierra or Partition Gold over 62gn of 760 for just over .5 MOA groups and 3080fps.

The other load is Hornady's 180gn BT ober 60 gn of H 4350 for 2886fps and 5 shot groups under .75 MOA.

The 130gn Speer HP was also good with 58gn of VARGET for 3300fps and 5 shots around .8 MOA.

JW

I've never loaded that light a bullet in '06, but the manuals show using medium burning rate powders for the little stuff, so how about some 3031 or RL15?

Haven't tried 110s yet but RL15 works good with 125 Ballistic Tips

Tried some old Nosler solid base 150's with 50 gr of Vargt for my son-in-law to get some trigger time with. Shot pretty good for him, and certainly no issues with pressure. I was jus trying to use up the Varget which doesn't work well in any of my rifles or cartridges -- seems to work well in his model 70.

Rifle:
CZ550 Prestige (25" barrel)
Load:
165 g. Barnes MRX
59.5 grn. of IMR 4350
1967 Lake City National Match brass
CCI 200 primer

on loading no. 6 in the brass, no problems.

Bullet- Hornady 165gr Interbond
Brass- Federal
Primer- Federal 210
Powder- 53.9gr IMR4350

This load isn't super high velocity but it shoots really well,(sub-moa), haven't chronied it yet but I'm guessing it's in the 2,600 to 2,650 fps range out of a 22" barrel.

I agree, every '06 I've loaded for liked IMR4350 a lot.

try this one 48 grn's IMR 4895, REM 9 1/2 LRP, 165 nosler accubond's, to length 3.340, shoot these out of the wife's 06 and she love's em, 2700+ out of a 21 inch tube and been very accurate out of two of our 06's, just shot 1 1/2 inch, 4 shot group at 200, out of a sako I just had rebarreled with a brux 30. #3, first day on the range with it, don't need to spend anymore $ looking for a load! MOA critter all day long! Thank you Ken and Norm at Brux and RWS for your fine work, I beleive I came upon this load via seafire awhile back, so kudo's to him for the help

SO WITH 13 PAGES and over 120 replies for good .30-06 loads we have given the OP a long list of "good loads", no two are the same. And none of them may do very well in his rifle.

So, is all this help any help? Not much. Desires for using other people's loads as "shortcuts" are futile when finding a good load.

boomtube, I've loaded for at least half a dozen bolt-action .30-06s and have come to the conclusion that if they won't shoot a load of 57 gr. IMR 4350 and a 165 gr. jacketed bullet (pick your poison), then there's something wrong with the rifle (or the shooter in the case of my BIL...he called me complaining something was wrong with his rifle or scope, it wouldn't shoot less than three inches. I turned out three MOA or better groups in a row and asked him to shoot - he shot a 3" group...) So I would conclude that it's helpful to know there are dozens of different combinations that shoot well, but ultimately, shortcuts can be futile, but the 57 gr. IMR 4350 load is my benchmark and has been for many years.

I've been looking for a load that duplicates the Federal High Energy load. That one looks like it does. Ever use that recipe with a harder bullet like a Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame?

Be advised that the recommended max load for H4350 is 57.5 grains.
That being said, I am in the exact same boat. I have 7 boxes left, and my rifle really likes the load. I have been directed to RL-17, using the same starting/max as H4350. If I can get 2820 ft/sec MV or better with good accuracy I'll be happy.
I plotted the difference in drop between 2730 ft/sec MV (Federal Premium, 180 gr. Nosler Partition) and 2881 ft/sec MV (Federal Premium High Energy, same bullet) and was surprised at the LACK of difference, despite the difference in velocity. With a 3" high at 100 yard start, the difference in drop at 300 yards was 2.1 inches. The difference at 400 yards (my max) was 4.6 inches. Not enough to warrant risking high pressures or sacrificing accuracy.
Bullet placement, expansion, and penetration are the keys.

P

After reading this thread, I worked up a load of 58 gr of H4350 with 180 accubonds right off the lands, and my factory barreled Rem 700 with heavy duplex scope shot a .62 group last night with it. Amazing how that load works so well in so many rifles.

With the .30/06, when using the premium bullets, I have tended to use X, TSX et al, and Swift A-Frame in the 180gn weight, though they don't really offer anything much over the Hornady for most applications and then step up to the 200gn Partition.

I have used to A- Frame out to around 450 yards on pronghorn and it was fine on the windy Wyoming prairie. These days, I would standardise on the 180 Hornady BT as my particular rifle shoots them very well.

JW

Anyone loading 130gr TTSXs, have any thoughts. I have a Rem 700 with a 22" barrel and want to put together some loads. I've been seeing a lot of chatter on lighter and faster but don't see any loads here.

Thoughts on the TTSXs in 130gr or 150gr?

try Varget (near max, work up to it) and push the 130 ttsx to around 3200 or so....My cooper really likes it (1/2 inch groups). I have killed one large hog and it went thru both shields (shoulders) and he ran about 30 yds, did a flip in the air and was dead when I got to him.

Why do you say Varget? I thought it was a better powder for short actions. How many grains do you use?

Varget is a very good powder in the .30/06 with 130gn bullets. I prefer it over all others I have tried. 58 grains will get you around 3200fps with the 130 TTSX and closer to 3300fps if you swap with the Speer 130gn HP which most .30/06's simply love when mated with VARGET.

JW

Any body know the ballistic drop at 300 yds with a 130 starting at 3200 vs a 165 at ~2750?? Just wondering what the advantage of using the lighter bullet.