Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 168gr Nosler E-Tip Info

Anyone shooting the 168 E-Tip through a 30-06? I read all 15 pages of the '06 thread and did a google site search as well. Not much info, though I assume you can use similar data to the other monolithic bullet loads.

I'm starting with RE17, CCI200, & WW brass

RL17 has a very similar burn rate to H4350, so it'd be safe to start with beginning H4350 loads and the 168 e-tip. I'd start with 55.0 gr's RL17... typically e-tips require a full grain less powder than a standard cup and core loads IME.

From the for what it's worth category, today I tried 56/R17 with the 165 Sierra HPBT. R-P brass and a fairly warm primer the 9 1/2M. I went to 56 cause of the mag primer and the aliant sheet calls for 56.5 with a std primer.

Speed out of my 22" 06 was 2777 fps for what that's worth.

I'm with Brad and with a hard bullet like the 168 ET I'd start with 55 and I think...that 57 will be max with it with a standard primer.

Dober

Thanks for the info so far guys. I have to order a different neck bushing size before I can actually load some ammo (hoped to start this weekend) so I'm making notes....

Difficult proposition - Relatively new bullet with Relatively new powder.

Start at about 50.4 grains. An Article by Richard Mann from Handloader Magazine recommneds starting at 5% below the MINIMUM charge listed for IMR4350 when developing loads using RL17 - in the case of a 30-06 + 165/168 grainers, this would be 5% below 53 grains of IMR 4350. Increase the load until your velocity is 50-100 fps faster than the velocity for IMR4350 - again, the recommendation from Mann's article on RL17 (i.e., 2832 fps +50-100fps) or when you see pressure signs (however, these are not reliable with RL17 - often appear after pressures well above safe limits).

Interesting, applying Mann's recommendations to data for Barnes bullets (another monolithic)would give you the same recommended starting load of about 50.5 grains OR 50.35 grains to be exact(Min load for Barnes 165/168 in 30-06 with IMR4350 is 53.0 grains as well).

Hope this helps