Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles the boring old .30-06 ...

Well, thanks! Now I have to deal with that at night!
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Back in the day when I was a '06 junkie, I loaded 165 Hornady Interlok BTSP's with IMR4350 - 58.5 grains and a CCI 200 primer for a MV of 2892 fps. Shot real well in my rifle, and it killed moose real well. I think my extreme spread was 23 fps on a 10 shot string, and all ten shots went into just over an inch. I also shot IMR4350 with the 180 Hornady BTSP Interloks -- 55 gr. IIRC, the MV was 2840 fps and it shot about an inch and a quarter at 100 yards. Killed moose like a thunderbolt.

Boring regularity for an old gentleman. (the round, I mean -- not me!)

Hi from the land of the big whitetails you got some very good advise from everyone for loads for 06, I had a rem 700 with 26" hart barrel for hunting rather long. 1 in 12 twist imr 4350
59 grs "don't start there" gave me 1/2 groups with 168 sierra
match and a hair bigger with nosler partitions 165gr I have seen bucks 300lbs one behind sholder is toast. same for a moose. good luck
he man don't be discouraged with the 06 there is not much out there better.

Has anyone mentioned 4350 and a good 165gr bullet?

Oh yes, I see they have! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK ... here's the update ...

I just finished ordering and/or acquiring the rest of my reloading supplies... and will be working to assemble my bench asap. I'm going to be loading up some once fired WW and R-P brass, and possibly some virgin Lapua brass with CCI primers, H4350, and 168gr Barnes TSX's ... I will be shooting them from a CZ 550 with a 23.5" sporter bbl w/ a 1:10" twist ... Temperatures around here will be about 60 degrees, with slightly above average humidity... and hopefully not too much wind. I'll let you know more as it happens.

125 gr. bal tip 57.5 gr. IMR 4350. 3in high at 100 , 2 inches highat 200. 3 to 4 in. low at 300. very accurate,very fast. I only like long shots, will wait all day for a chance at 250 yds plus. I'm too old to pound the bushes anymore. For average deer woods ranges 50 to 150, partitions at 165gr. and IMR 4350 can not be beat. Been using these since 1978 and the partition has saved my bacon more than once.

Welcome to the world of reloading!

IMO, the 30-06 is about the easiest rifle round in the world to load for. Most people find that almost anything shoots well in this caliber. That might make it boring, but its a good kind of boring. AKA reliable and consistent. My unoriginal favorite load is a 180 gr Sierra prohunter over 56 gr H4350. Some manuals say you can go up to 58 grs or a little more with this powder, but I get best accuracy and no pressure signs with a little less. You can use about the same amout of IMR 4350. As others have said, you can basically just buy some kind of 4350 powder and never use another for loading this cartridge. But where's the fun in that?

H4350 and Barnes 168 TSX?

I don't speak from experience (on the TSX) but reputation says you're in good hands for taking many critters.

I agree with Chinook. Most of the '06 loads especially with 165-168gr. bullets involve IMR or Hodgdon 4350.

oh ... believe me ... I'm very much looking forward to this load ... all things point toward wonderful accuracy, velocity, and the ability to firmly anchor any deer sized game I encounter ... what else does someone need or even want ???

I'll report back when I have a chance to load and test.

OK ... I've not got everything I need to start reloading in general, and for my '06. Got my last package from Midway today, so this weekend I need to find some time to get the bench set up. I've got a swingset to build for my son, so I'm going to be heading to the depot for pieces parts .. and will pick up the remainder of things I need to actually build the bench. Hopefully that will all be done within a week or so, and then I can get some loads worked up in time to test them at the range before the season.

Just to go over my "inventory" ... I've got the following:

Lee O-Ring press
Lee Powder Measure
RCBS Powder Trickler
Hornady Case Trimmer
Lee Powder Scale
Lyman check-weight set
Loading blocks
Redding 2 die set (.30-06)
Lee Case Lube
Digital Calipers
Once-fired and virgin brass
Barnes 168gr .308cal TSX's
Lee Chamfer Tool
Case neck brushes
Lee Primer Pocket tool
H4350 powder
Lee Powder Measuer Scoop Kit (15 scoops)
CCI Primers

That should cover it, right? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

(edit to add primers ... I knew I'd forget something)

Looks like a complete list--just think of all the money you are saving.

The only things I could think to add are a priming tool (I like the Lee, others like the RCBS, which I hate with a passion) and a good loading manual, or one of those caliber-specific Loadbooks.

I forgot to mention that too !!! I have the Lee AutoPrime hand tool ... and I have the Nosler 5th edition Reloading manual. Even though I'd rather have 3 or 4 manuals lying around, I think that the Nosler, plus all the info here, will do me just fine. I've got all the measurements I need from the manual, and I have more than enough info from all of you about H4350, 55 to 59 grains ... I know that any of the primers (Federal 210, CCI, WLR) will all do fine for me .. just pick one.... and if the TSX 168gr BT's do what they are supposed to, I should be shooting great groups quickly, and anchoring any deer I shoot at with ease.

More later, as it transpires... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey all,
Just returned from the range with my custom '06 and 58.5 gr's of H4350, 168 gr. Barnes Triple Shocks seated .030 off the lands .5 inch groups and 2950 fps out of a 24" Krieger barrel.

Man, I love this rifle!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Huntr

Huntr ... your results, and your excitement, are precisely what I'm hoping (and kind of expecting) from that same basic load from my '06 and it's 23.6" bbl ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the info on precisely what your load is ... Now, just to top it off, how about sharing the primer and brass combo with us? Once fired, or virgin brass?

I gave my teenage boy a boring Mauser with 24" barrel and sent him to Wyoming this afternoon. He was told not to come back until he gets a mule deer and an antelope or has a good time whichever comes first. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I stuffed some 150 Hornady SST bullets on top of 52 grs of 4064 to make sure they don't get stuck in the barrel halfway down. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Hope he has fun!
GWN

One thing you will find handy and cheap is the Lee trimmer and 30.06 gage.If you chuck it in a drill motor,you can clean the inside of the necks with a bore brush(RCBS makes handles)and polish the outsides with piece of extra fine Sctchbrite.

The Lee scale is very accurate but must be on a dead level surface.

Record your setting with the powder measure,BTW my last run of Bang,51.5/IMR4064/150 Hornady BTSP.I was able to get within 4 sticks of 4064.That was very good day.

I started with 30.06,mine and my two sons,but after a while I realized that no caliber is odd,I now have a 308Norma,264WM,8x57 and a 338.06.

WGM,

It aint a sexy powder in 30-06, but H4895 and either the Nosler 180 Accubond or Ballistic Tip give me 5 shot groups over and over that all stay within an one inch. My best is .337". And this from a Rem 700 that I had customized over 20 years ago. The barrel was turned down to a toothpick (.550" at the muzzle) and only has an M8 4x Leupold scope. I'm over Hodgdon's max by 3 to 3.5 grains but both Noslers are seated out to 3.395". Win cases, WLR primers. Powder charge is "thrown" from my Harrells or RCBS Uniflow powder meters, not weighed.

Works for me!

Big Al

Well...looks like you got some excellent advise here. Considering your scenario, deer out to 300 yards, you can almost use anything reasonable in your '06 and not go wrong. Even 200 grainers loaded semi-hot and sighted in 2 1/2 - 3" high at 100 yards will let you hold center-of-chest out to about 250yds + or -. Hold on the back of deer at 300yds and your right where you need to be. Either way, here are my loads for my '06:

I use RP cases and Fed 210 primers.

For 150 grainers - 50-53grains of RL 15 has been accurate. 51 grains with a 150gr Hornady got a nice, light kicking 9/16" group for me once. I also got good accuracy with RL 19, but I had to crank it up to 59 grains or so to get under 1" groups.

With 165 grainers - 57 grains of IMR 4350 - Done. My last experiment was with 165gr. Hornadys...3/4" groups at 100 yards is common, and my last group at 200 yards was exactly 1". If you can this (or something close) to shoot in your rifle, I would say you probably would not need to look any further. The Hornady should do everything you would need your '06 to do. Another thing I like about reloading Hornadys is after you've tried different recipes and shot fouling shots and even sighted in, you still have 70 or 75 of them left in the box.

180 grainers - I tried 59 and 60 grains of RL 19 behind a 180gr. Nosler Partitions. Both shot right at 1" at 100 yds - I was happy. I split the difference and loaded 59.5grs. and now it shoots that bullet under 1" - I'm happier. Does it matter in the field? No. But again, I'm happier, that's what counts.

Good luck!

WGM,
Sorry for not getting back to you, I just clicked on this post again been busy getting ready to pack into elk camp tomorrow!

I use Winchester brass and WLR primers.

HTH's

Huntr

My deer round is 59 gr of H4350 in a Winchester case with a CCI primer. I am getting Sub MOA groups with this load behind a 150 gr Hornady SST seated 0.015 off the lands at 2980 FPS. Oddly enough I have worked up the same load for 165 gr Interbonds at 2925 FPS. I have not been able to duplicate the accuracy but I am still shooting MOA. On shooting sticks I can maintain 3 inch groups at 300 yards. I am praying for the opportunity to use this load on a Elk this year during Colorados 3rd season.