Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 30-06 200gr load

How did you determine that?

Since I've started loading Ramshot powders I've been pleasantly surprised how good the powder is. As far as the 200 gr partitions in the 30-06 goes, I loaded only 4831sc 59 grains with 9 1/2 primers and I have not loaded more, because both my 300 Win and my 300 Weatherby shot those 200's so well and I didn't want to use up my supply getting the 30-06 to shoot them more accurately. That load in the '06 BTW left me less than satisfied.

In my 22-250, 22-250AI and 6mm Rem the most accurate loads were with Ramshot powders - Magnum and Hunter.

One grain more had brass flow in case head

MD, have you found it to be a fairy temp stable powder & use regular rifle primers?

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Have found Hunter to be fairly temp-stable, though in some instances not as much as TAC, Big Game and Magnum--all of which have done very well in my tests. An example is the handload Eileen uses in her NULA .257 Roberts, with Hunter and the 100-grain Barnes TTSX. Muzzle velocity drops about 100 fps from 70 to zero Fahrenheit, but point of impact doesn't change, so she's used it with no problem down to -15 or so. That's with Federal 215 primers.

I'm working on the RL26 and 200 partitions for an all around load.

As far as published data goes, the closest I can get is my Sierra manual for 200gr bullets. It brackets RL26 with 7977 and H1000 (burn rate chart). The max loads are 58.7 and 58.1 respectively, with 2450 from a 24" barrel.
Based on that, I would think ~58.5 would be a max and 2400fps from my 22" Winchester would be near pressure. Not knowing the bearing surface of the two bullets and pressure differences will be a factor also, not sure how to handle that. I read a guy once that said once you see brass flow you well past presuure limits.

I'm not understanding these 60gr and greater loads, unless the Partition produces way less pressure.

Case shape and volume can alter a powders perceived/exampled burning rate but using the 280A! case for example, I found 7977 to be a little faster burning than H1000 and Rel 26 to be a little faster again, delivering the highest velocities using 150gn BT's.

Moving to the .30/06 case and 200 grain bullets, I found the various 200 grain bullets generated different velocities which is not unexpected, as there is variation in design and bearing surface between them. Using the Partition, I found same/similar velocities with both 62 and 63 grains topping out both the velocity and case volume but it's an honest 2700fps load with a 22" barrel in my Model 70 Featherweight,

I'd be ecstatic to get 2700 out of my M70 !

Using the Forster long funnel, I have no doubt I could fit it in there, but I'll start low and see where the gun wants to be - 2500fps would be just fine and well away from pressure if the groups are there.

Thanks.

Thanks. Sounds like a hotter lot of Hunter. I have been using 58-59 grains with bullets in the 180-185 class for many years, including some that tend to produce more pressure than other bullets such as Nosler Partitions, without ever seeing anything like that.

See my post above. I easily got over 2700 with R17 and that was the first load i tried. You might get 2700 or close in a 22" barrel.

My brass might be soft considering what John said about the Hunter load. I might try it again with different brass.

2700' was easy with RL-26 and the 200 NPT in my 22" barrel as well.

I get a bit over 2700 with the 212 ELD and SB 6.5 in my 06 Featherweight in Lapua cases. One of my all time favorites.

Today's results with RL26 / 200gr Part / Federal once fired / Rem 9 1/2 primers:
The rifle is a M70 FWT 22" barrel

57.7 - 2659
57.9 - 2698
58.1 - 2670
58.3 - 2690
58.5 - 2723 - Pressure (light extractor signs on case)
58.7 - 2713 - Pressure (Extractor signs on case)

I plan on going back with 58.2 and playing with seating depth. I should be in the ~2680 range away from pressure.

I suppose a different case or primer might get me into the 2700 w/o pressure, but this'll work just fine.
Also, gun is new (84 rounds) so should speed up a little as I shoot more.

Rifles and More....Federal brass is pure crap! SOFT!

Lapua puts you in a different league in terms of case head strength. We found that R#26 loved the cci 250 and the Federal 215 primers when it comes to accuracy with speed.

You will NEVER wear out the Lapua brass!.

Winchester brass is pretty good brass, but not in the class with Lapua. PMC has been tough brass also, but tough to find.

R#26 loves warmish loads but with Federal brass, you just can not get there in the 2800 fps area, I will take the accuracy first.

I used R26 in a 7mm Rem Mag and a .280 for some wicked fast loads...but at 85 deg. they both went wonky on me. YMMV

This thread has been interesting. I have been able to get at least 2675 fps from 22" barreled .30-06's for many years, using published data for H4831, generally with excellent accuracy.

Haven't fooled with RL-26 with 200s in the '06, but have in other cartridges, and have not been impressed with it's temp-resistance. It's far better than RL-22, another powder known for high MVs in the .30-06 with 200s, but not as consistent as H4831. But then I live and mostly hunt in the state with the widest spread of recorded temperatures.

If you hunt somewhere the temp-spread isn't as wide, RL-26 would no doubt work well. But so far I haven't found enough advantage to switch, especially for another 50 fps or so.

MD, in what scenario would you pick a 200 grainer over a good 180?
How close would the 168ttsx be to the 200 grn PT in performance?

For decades I used the 200 Partition in the .30-06 at around 2700 when I wanted the most penetration possible at closer ranges, along with a reasonably flat trajectory--because it was the best bullet available for that purpose. (The bonded bullets then available didn't penetrate as deeply, because they opened wider.) The G1 BC of the 200 Partition is around .500, so it does work pretty well at longer ranges, and it also opened easily on smaller big game, yet didn't shoot up much meat.

Also used it in the .300 Winchester and Weatherby Magnums on bull elk, at a muzzle velocity close to 3000 in both rounds, and penetration was impressive. Had it penetrate well into the chest on a rear-angling shot, and also had it break the big shoulder joint on a quartering facing shot--and then exit at the rear of the ribcage on the other side.

Have used the 168 TSX enough to know it will penetrate similarly to the 200 Partition, but in the .30-06 am presently using the 175 LRX at about 2800 fps. The most penetration that's been required was about 3 feet, which ain't all that much, especially with no heavy bone in the bullet's path. Haven't used the 168 TTSX but would expect about the same penetration.

I'm not currently seeing the RL26 magic, but it is more a product of availability for me. I have a jug of RL26 and no H4831. I did recently see one pounders at $60 each - Not ready to face that reality either.

That temp spread thing has me thinking though....

What about H4350 and the 200?

Must admit I've never tried H4350 with 200s in the .30-06, due getting such great results with H4831, both SC and the "long cut" version.
Have used plenty of H4350 with other bullet weights, especially 165-168 grain, where it's among the very best powders.

It probably would work fine with 200s, but due to its burn-rate doubt H4350 would match the velocity possible with slower powders.