Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Partition accuracy ?

That 56.5gn load with H4350 is quite mild. I would work up further. Most rifles will take several more grains.

That charge will only be generating around 2600fps, maybe a little more which is under the 2800-2850fps potential for a 180gn bullet in the .30/06.

That 56.5gn load with H4350 is quite mild. I would work up further. Most rifles will take several more grains.

That charge will only be generating around 2600fps, maybe a little more which is under the 2800-2850fps potential for a 180gn bullet in the .30/06.

I totally agree with Bob and Ingwe on this...

^^^^^^ This

I've had numerous 30-06 rifles shoot Partitions very well. I'd load 3 ea of 57, 58, 59 grains of H 4350 under a 180 Part, seated 0.010-0.020 off L&G. I'd bet a nickel one of them will turn in MOA - if your rifle is bedded properly. I'd also consider Re 17 under the 180. My current 06 shoots a smidge better with Re 17 than H 4350 with the 180.

Dirtfarmer,

The information about trying a slightly faster powder with Partitions didn't come from the Internet ether but Gail Root, who was the head bullet designer for Nosler for many years.

But I have also found that adding a grain or two more of the same powder can help. This is partly because most modern powders are designed to burn most consistently at 60,000 PSI or even more, but it probably does help Partition obturate as well. (Too many handloaders still give up if a "starting" load doesn't shoot all that well, having been told by too many people, including some gun writers, that milder loads usually shoot better. Which is BS.)

I also suspect the reason so many handloaders give up early when loading a more costly bullet like a Partition early is price. Which is why I normally start with a lower-priced bullet of the same weight and style when working up a load for a pricey bullet, finding out which powders and loads work best before switching to a Partition, TSX, Berger, Lapua or whatever for fine-tuning the load.

I have also owned and used a bullet runout gauge for at least 25 years now. One of the many things it taught me is that all the tools that supposedly result in straight-seated bullets don't help nearly as much as KNOWING which loading tools and techniques work by measuring your loaded rounds.

Interesting, I get 2720 fps out of the 22" barreled featherweight and similar in the other 30 '06 I tried that load in. 57.5 grains of H4350 made the bolt pretty stiff to open in both guns. I was surprised that that was where the max was for my rifles but I have repeated the load enough times to be sure.

Partitions aren't target bullets. But they aren't inherently inaccurate either. The fact that some rifles shoot them well,and some don't,makes me conclude that issues getting them to shoot are usually rifle or load related.

DF: I have noticed that going to a quicker powder may sometimes help a rifle shoot better with ANY bullet.

Partitions frequently shoot better as we approach maximum loads even with slow powders. I have seen it happen so often with things like the 270,and many magnum chamberings ,that I just wait for it to happen,and watch as the groups tighten up as max loads are approached.

Partitions aren't target bullets.But they aren't inherently inaccurate either. The fact that some rifles shoot them well,and some don't,makes me conclude that issues getting them to shoot are usually rifle or load related.

Aahh....the culprit emerges!

Some of the tightest groups I've fire with M70's have been with pre 64 FW's chambered 30/06. But.....they can be very persnickety and unless well bedded and tuned can be difficult.

I think the reason is simple. A 180 gr load is a lot of mass to push down the barrel of such a light rifle, and the barrel contour (IMO) is on the ragged edge of being heavy enough for a 30/06.

Put it in a light,stiff synthetic (which does not absorb vibration but rather transmits it) and the rifle will quickly show what it likes and dislikes. Small details become important with a light rifle and powerful load. It's harmonics.

Surprisingly (maybe) 150-165 gr bullets will sometimes shoot better.Matter of fact most of my pre 64 30/06's have been FW's and in general 165's will show better grouping ability than 180's but not always.

What I would try: Check your ammo for run out and segregate ammo using the stuff that measures .005 and under for grouping. Use the other stuff for off hand practice etc. See if that works. With proper bedding I have seen pre 64 06 FW's go from indifferent grouping to small groups by watching run out.I would bet $5 bucks that those "flyers" have excessive run out.

Get a Redding Competition or other straight line seating die and seat bullets straight as possible.Straight seating can be a bigger issue than seating depth.

Also, IMR4350 may not be "the" powder. I would try H4350 and RL 19.

Third, if the 180's still won't do it, switch to the 165 gr Partition. For most uses the animals will never know the difference.

BTW, stick those 180 gr loads in a standard grade and they will probably shoot knot holes. Just more rifle mass to soak up the vibes.

I don't think Bob is saying all lightweight rifles are persnickety. Instead his post is specifically about pre-'64 Model 70 Feathwerweights, especially in their original stocks with no bedding work. This isn't just because of the bedding but because pre-'64 actions weren't as precisely made (as in "blueprinted") as many newer rifles. Plus they had iron sights attached to their barrels, which can also affect accuracy.

That's nothing against the pre-'64 Model 70 Winchester. It was what it was, and the Featherweights I've owned have shot plenty well enough for general big game hunting. But they did NOT shoot like my NULA rifles.

I don't think Bob is saying all lightweight rifles are persnickety. Instead his post is specifically about pre-'64 Model 70 Feathwerweights, especially in their original stocks with no bedding work. This isn't just because of the bedding but because pre-'64 actions weren't as precisely made (as in "blueprinted") as many newer rifles. Plus they had iron sights attached to their barrels, which can also affect accuracy.

That's nothing against the pre-'64 Model 70 Winchester. It was what it was, and the Featherweights I've owned have shot plenty well enough for general big game hunting. But they did NOT shoot like my NULA rifles.

Their design does have an extra potential source of imbalance.

Bob,

Yeah, I have noticed the same thing about the .270 in a number of lightweight rifles. Have long suspected it's because there's more steel around a .27-caliber hole than a .30-caliber hole, in the same contour barrel, in light barrels enough to make a difference.

Have kinda wondered how a .243 Featherweight would shoot, but haven't been intrigued enough to pay for one and find out!