Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Highest velocity 165gr 30/06

Has anybdy reached 3000 fps with a 165gr 30/06 ? If so,what powder was used?

That's pretty dang hot. Some 165gr Hornady Light Magnums I ran through a 22" 30-06 made 2,940fps, so there is a chance that they would have bumped 3,000 with a 26" barrel. Maybe some of that Superperformance stuff can do it. I don't know of any handloads that will hit 3,000fps in a typical 22-24" barrel.

I've done so with Hornady BTSP and Sierra BTHP bullets with 3 powders: R-19, N-204, and H-205. And in these 2 rifles: Ruger M77 tang model that has a longish leade, and a S&W 1500 (Howa) with a 24" barrel. This was back in the 1980s when I was younger and, perhaps, more foolish.

Although I saw no obvious signs of excessive pressure, ie sticky bolt lift, burnished case heads from the ejector, >.001" head expansion; I backed down to around 2900 fps for general use.

Like handling snakes, I can't help but believe that, in time, toying around with over-max loads is inviting trouble. I don't like to red-line the tachometer on my pick-up either.

If you only have 2960 fps you will have to move the truck
4 feet closer.

.............You might not be able to find an available over the counter powder which will get 3000 fps from a 165 grainer. Though some faster `06 barrels might get that.

Hodgdon as of now, doesn`t list their new Superperformance powder for the 30-06.

But for now, you may have to look to Hornady factory ammo to achieve 3K.

www.hornady.com/store/Superformance-with-InterBond-bullets

Play the video. About 2 minutes in, you`ll see Boddington shooting the factory 165 gr Hornady Superformance ammo and getting chrony results of just over 3K from a 30-06.

A while back I did it with R19 and a 165 Sierra HPBT.

Dober

What will 3K fps do for you that 2900 won't?

.........Either you are running a darn fast bore along with a longer barrel or Alliant, Sierra, and Lyman are listing "lawyer loads" as their max loads.

From Alliant; 22" barrel 30-06; 59 gr RL19; 165 gr Speer @ 2614 fps. (Didn`t specify max or not)

From Sierra; 26" barrel 30-06; 55.8 gr RL19 (max); 165 gr Sierra @ 2800 fps.

From Lyman; 24" barrel 30-06; 60.4 gr RL19 (max & compressed); 165 gr Nos BT @ 2816 fps.

In any event, 3000 fps w/165 bullet using RL19 from a 30-06 is extraordinary.

....Nothing. But it`s more a curiosity (push to the limits) issue than anything else.

Out of that barrel it did it with (and I'm going from memory) but it seems to me it was with 61/R19. One of my manuals lists 60/R19 @ 2980.

Side note, in my Mothers M70/06 with 22" barrel I run 59/H4350 and a 165 Horn and it runs in 41 degree weather @ 2943 fps.

It worked last fall on this bull opening morn last year @ 411 yds..



Dober

I ran 57.5gr of RL-17 and 168gr tsx with cci BR2 primer was getting avg 2970fps at 10' from the muzzle. The accuracy was good but on different days it would have different POI. Drop it and went to H4350.

Dober,
I'd say that worked!

I have seen it from a couple of 30/06's with H205,a long gone powder, but very good in the 30/06. Rifles were a Savage 110 and a Dakota M76 with 23" tube....

I'm more relaxed at at 2900-2950 or so and 59 H4350.

Dober's load of RL19 comes close;I have had similar results.

Side note, I've come to a play in my loading where I pretty much work up to max and then back off 100 fps so as to help out with hot and cold temps (meaning pressure is fine at both temps) and to help out with how lots of powder can differ.

I run dotz or turret and 100 fps means nothing to me, even on the guns I do the old 2" high or something like that I'm quite fine with it.

Dober

Dober a 165 at 2850-2950 is a pretty hard load to beat for about anything that we commonly hunt.....if that won't work for ya,a guy should pop a Coors and stay home.

I loaded some for my 19 year old that were a mere 2886 fps with 56.5 grs. IMR 4350. He was pretty happy with the performance at 20 yds.
They won't get stuck halfway down the barrel either.
I guess at 3,000 fps it would really flatten out the trajectory for those long 30 yd shots!
whelennut

You can do it, but I would get a Rem 700 action, and chamber a 28" barrel w/ 3/8 th's freebore and do it the easy way.

Gunner

I can do it with mine. 168 NBT 24" 3 grove. No problem, RL-17

I know from a conversation with Mike, in Nosler's ballistic department a few years ago, that he indicated one couldn't get enough H4831 SC in a case to overpressurize it past SAAMI specs..

so that really ought to hold true with a 165...

I know I can reach 3000fps. with the 165gr bullet in an .06, but the draw back is I'd probably only be able to do it once then I'd need a new rifle. Seriously, I'm the cautious type, 2900fps or so will be safe and powerful and with the right bullet it'll kill the biggest cud chewers in this part of the world.