Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles First day of load development

I just got my rifle back from the 'smith. Today was the first trip to the range doing some load development.

She's a Remington 700, 30-06. Some aftermarket work done, so all that's left of the Remington is the action.



I want to get 180-grain Nosler Partitions to shoot about an inch, or better. All our rifles shoot one-hole groups on the internet, of course. Oh, 5-shot groups.

I started around Mule Deer's 58.0 grains Ramshot Hunter. I loaded up 57.5, 58.0, 58.5, 59.0 grains, all 2.735 inches to ogive from base. Lapua brass weight sorted but not sorted for neck thickness, CCI Magnum primers. I used the Lee Collet Neck Die this go-round, but also have a Redding S-Type Bushing Neck die.

Here's the 58.0 grain group:



If I throw out a "flyer" I get just over an inch, but with the flyer it's 1.7 inches. I didn't call the flyer. I do remember seating a bullet in this group that took 2 seatings until it was the same length as the others, so that could have been the flyer.

Here's the 59.0 grain group:



Around 1.26 inches.

I was thinking of adjusting OAL next, working in by 0.04 inches per 5-shots. Thoughts on using the 58.0 group or the 59.0 group? At this point I'm leaning to the 59.0 grain group, as there was no flyer.

Oh, I haven't forgotten about Mule Deer's tip of trying a faster powder with Partitions, but I can play with OAL for free.