Phil you have done some work with the .30-06 and heavier bullets, so if you don't mind I'd like to pick your brain.

You have mentioned in the past that you use MRP + 200gr Partitions for 2700fps, which is great. I will find a 5 leaf clover before I find any MRP, so that combo is out for me. I have 200gr and 220gr Partitions. For powder I have IMR7828, H4831SC, IMR4350, RL22, RL25, H1000, RS Magnum and some faster stuff like 4064. I cannot get any other powders, although there is a rumor that some H4350 will show up soon.

This load is for a Bison hunt in Norther BC at the end of November, so -15 to -20 degrees F is a possibility. So this is a concern with RL22 and maybe IMR4350 as well. I've loaded up some rounds with IMR7828 and 220gr Partitions, but would like some input and pointers seeing as you live in a cold climate and hunt big stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Hopefully Phil will be along and provide ideas but that H variety 4831 would be my top pick from your list - and it's what I generally load with 220s in my '06 even when powder options aren't limited. It will work well in the cold- perhaps better than your rifle and certainly better than your fingers.

Here is some info.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/4011018761

I have had great luck with H4831 and 250 grain Barnes originals. I can't imagine using anything slower in a 30-06.

RL-22 is identical or nearly identical to Norma MRP.

I've always used H4831sc w/ 200's.

The 220 NPT semi-spitzer is not a bad one either.

Wish I could be more help but I squirreled away what I thought was enough MRP to last for most of my shooting days. Then I found that it also worked great in my 505 Gibbs.
I am now down to my last couple of pounds so am paying attention to this myself.
I would guess that the RL -22 would be the closest and have plenty of that, as well as plenty of 4831sc.

RL-22 is indeed very close to being MRP. I am sure Alliant and Norma would have something at least slightly negative to say about that, but my latest lots of both produce identical velocities with the same cartridge/load combos.

Western Powders in Miles City, Montana is apparently the new U.S. distributor of MRP (and a couple of other Norma powders) they have some in stock, is anybody's local store is interested in ordering any.

MRP powder is in stock at Powder Valley today, 10-21-14.

Just as food for thought, I have experienced my biggest - surprise pressure spikes with RL 22.

For cold weather, and to minimize velocity losses, I would only load with a Hodgdon Extreme series powder, and a mag primer for the slower varieties. H4831SC or H4350 will push the heavy bullets about as well as they can be pushed, and Varget will only be about 100fps behind.

If it's really cold out, I would lean toward a faster powder, but on your list the only powder I would pick is H4831SC. Since you already have some H4831SC you are in good shape, because it will produce top velocity.

If some H4350 shows up, that will give you another good option, but at this point, I wouldn't consider any of the others.

It is about 59 F here now and during the hunt it may very well be -15 F or less. This is one of the reasons I did not want to use RL22. Given what has been said here I think I will try a few different powders and report back after testing at the range.

With respect to MRP, and other Norma powders for that matter, I have contacted the company that is listed on Norma's web site as the Canadian distributer and was told, about MRP, URP and 204:

H4831 is what I normally use with 200's in the .30-06, and muzzle velocity has always been very consistent from 70 down to below zero. in 24" barrels the velocity is usually around 2650-2675 with 59.0 grains.

What kinda speeds with that load JB?


We use 59 gr of H4831 behind 180s in Sharis gun. And we were guessing them at 2650.....

At lot depends on the brass. Remington and Federal brass is typically heavier and thicker than Winchester, and 59 grains is about all that can be stuffed in the case, even with H4831 SC. But in Winchester cases I used to use 60 grains of the "long-cut" version, and even from the 22" barrel of the Ruger 77 I was shooting back then it got around 2675.

I've gone up to 61 H4831 with 180's with no problems. In fact that same rifle shot bugholes with 180 Speer Grand Slams and 61 grains, at right around 2800.

The primer can make a difference too. A magnum primer will result in a little extra zip--or the same velocity with a little less powder.

I did some load work in a 22.5" 30-06 with 4000-MR and some heavy bullets. Seems like a powder with potential for heavies in the 30-06.

Here are my findings,

30-06 22.5" 1/10 Douglas bbl
Win brass
CCI 200 primer

225 gr Hornady BTHP, moly'd
3.40" OAL

54.0 gr - 2446 fps
55.0 gr - 2496 fps
56.0 gr - 2537 fps
57.0 gr - 2599 fps (no indicators of excess pressure)




208 AMAX, moly'd

60.0 gr - 2713 fps (no indicators of excess pressure)


I noted that 4000-MR packs tighter than RL-22. 60 gr RL22 under a 208 Amax is a compressed load, 60.0 gr 4000-MR still has a little room to shake in the case.

natches shooters supply has MRP INSTOCK RIGHT NOW

I went out to the range today. Unfortunately the weather is poor - overcast and snowing - so I couldn't get any velocities. I tested two IMR 7828 loads with 220gr Partitions.

56.5gr, Lapua brass, BR-2 primer and 3.310" OAL and the same but with 57.0gr. The lighter load was a hair over 1" at 100m (about 110 yards) and the heavier load really opened up to just over 2". The first load would be fine and I guess it should be somewhere just over 2500fps.

I will go out again with some more loads with different powders and hopefully the weather will be such that I can get some velocities to post as well.

I'm making note of that..

My LSA-65 does just under 2700fps with 180 Partitions and 60gr of H4831SC. That is with R-P brass, and as you say it is really quite full with that amount of powder. But it appears to be quite consistent with what you and Ingwe have seen with similar loads.