Well, buying a copy of quick load is a start. And I don't have any problems with the simulations you ran, although there's no reason I can see to avoid compressed loads. 120% is insane for a small bore though - 110% is a reasonable limit. Now, if we do that in .308, we get a max velocity with RL-17 of 2779 ft/s in a 24" barrel. Great.
Of course, if you look at the Nosler data you'll see every single powder they list for the 180 BT in .30-06 is SLOWER than that, except one (RL-22) which is 33 ft/s faster. The .308 beats nearly all the ,.30-06 data.
So what we find is that .308 loaded with modern techniques and Quick Load will safely give you what you THOUGHT was .30-06 max until you bought your own copy of QL. If you liked what you thought was .30-06 when you started this thread, then guess what - .308 is a ballistic twin. Now it's true that the same techniques can be used to push .30-06 too. But all the .30-06 round that supposedly made it such a versatile cartridge didn't use those techniques. You were unaware of them yourself until a few days ago.
The reality is the .308 is the ballistic equal or superior of all the .30-06 loads everyone gets excited about. If you think .30-06 is good, you have to acknowledge that .308 is exactly the same.
There is nothing inherently "wrong" with compressed loads, I simply prefer not to use them or to use minimally compressed loads. That way I don't have to crimp or deal with bullets being pushed out by the load expanding if neck tension isn't enough to keep the bullet in place. I don't have a long drop tube so my way helps keep my reloading issues to a minimum. Besides, compressed loads don't yield all that much extra velocity. Diminishing returns...
Once again you cherry pick your data, providing .308 data but not .30-06 data with the same inputs. Let me help out.
You claim a .308 Win/180g/110% load will hit 2779fps in a 24" barrel. OK, a SAAMI 60,000PSI.30-06/180g/110% load can do 2943fps for plus 164fps over your highest velocity for the .308. The .308 Win cannot keep up.
Here's the simulation for the .30-06, 180g, 110%, 60,000PSI load. Loads below 2850fps are not listed.
Code
Cartridge : .30-06 Spring. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 180, Nosler BalTip 39583
Useable Case Capaci: 59.087 grain H2O = 3.836 cm³Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 60000 psi, or 413 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
5 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26 110.0 64.4 4.17 2943 99.9 59514 10713 1.142 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
ReloadSwiss RS 60 100.4 57.4 3.72 2896 100.0 60000 9555 1.139 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Norma MRP 110.0 62.5 4.05 2889 98.4 58486 10610 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 70 106.5 61.8 4.00 2882 98.8 60000 10314 1.140 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Elcho 17 99.5 56.8 3.68 2876 100.0 60000 9502 1.146 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-17 99.5 56.8 3.68 2876 100.0 60000 9502 1.146 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-16 106.5 56.5 3.66 2853 100.0 60000 9384 1.156 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Somchem S365 106.8 57.9 3.75 2852 100.0 60000 9066 1.156 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828 SSC 110.0 61.5 3.99 2850 95.4 59740 10242 1.145 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Here's what I get for the .308 Win, changing only the max pressure to 62,000PSI. It is a bit faster than what you show but still 151fps behind the .30-06. Loads below 2700fps are not listed.
Code
Cartridge : .308 Win. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 180, Nosler BalTip 39583
Useable Case Capaci: 45.762 grain H2O = 2.971 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ReloadSwiss RS 60 110.0 48.7 3.15 2792 100.0 61474 8082 1.133 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-17 109.5 48.4 3.14 2784 99.9 62000 8038 1.133 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Elcho 17 109.5 48.4 3.14 2784 99.9 62000 8038 1.133 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Winchester 760 108.4 48.4 3.13 2730 96.6 62000 7953 1.148 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H414 108.4 48.4 3.13 2730 96.6 62000 7953 1.148 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
ReloadSwiss RS 52 104.6 45.6 2.95 2728 100.0 62000 7375 1.153 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
PB Clermont PCL 511 110.0 49.4 3.20 2713 97.1 60141 7977 1.159 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895 103.1 43.5 2.82 2706 99.7 62000 7475 1.164 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N550 110.0 47.4 3.07 2706 98.6 59628 7854 1.173 ! Near Maximum !
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
