Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30’06 200 yard groups, Which would you hunt with?

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This link has my 165 Ballistic tip, 200 yard groupings w R17 in my Nosler 30’06 rifle. Powder volumes were...
55.5gr. -2840 FPS....1.1” group (5 shots)
56gr. -2870 FPS...2.2” group (4shots)
56.5gr.-2920FPS..1.5” group (4 shots).

Looking at the 55.5 vs the 56.5gr loads, which would you choose for a hunting load. Max range is 500 yards for whitetail.

If 500 yards is potentially on the menu, even with a little less velocity, I’d go what is behind “Door #1”....55.5 grains! memtb

Definitely load #1.

You could also try 56-57gr of IMR-4350 with that bullet and see if that tightens the groups up any.

Higher velocities won't mean much if you can't hit the target.

Load #1

If nobody has mentioned it yet, Load #1 looks to be the most useful.

You need to shoot more groups. A decent load isn't going to double in size with a .5 gr increase in powder, what you're seeing isn't statistically valid. Shooting two groups doesn't tell the story.

These are 200yd groups at 500 yards it even the 2.2 is only 5.5.Still in zone of an elk. Doesn't matter all that much.A t500yards,the accuracy is going to be the shooter,but still go with be best if you have it.

What is the drop of any of them at 500 yards?

I would still be shooting at 500yards to check out any load

100 yard zero @guesstimated 2800 fps 54.5” @ 500
200 yard zero @ guesstimated 2800 fps 45.01” @ 500

Crow hunter, is correct. The smallest group (1.1" 5 shots) may turn out to be the most accurate, but with such a small sample you can't know for sure. Also, saddlesore has some good thoughts too, in the end, it really shouldn't matter much.

When fired from field positions you won't shoot a 1/2 MOA rifle a bit better than a 1 MOA rifle. Those group sizes are only relevant from a bench. And while you have enough velocity with any of them for 500 yards all else being equal speed never hurts. I'd choose #3.

Option 1. Confidence in your ammo is mentally important. A 1/2 MOA load is more than adequate for 500yards; spend your time practicing field shooting positions.

I would shoot larger groups of 10 first to see if there is any real difference in accuracy among those three loads. The data you have is inconclusive. Barring that, I'd go with the fastest load, because with the small sample size you are shooting 1.1" and 1.5" are essentially the same.

I'd re-shoot 55.5 grains and see if it was repeatable or not.

Trick questions?? 😂

Not enough groups to validate

Don’t over think this - your 55.5 gr load would be my pick. Small differences in velocity mean nothing, especially in this day of rangefinders and ballistics calculators.

That is why my main hunting rifle in 30-06 gets 200 gr Partitions for everything - it is very accurate and I know the trajectory. Oh, and that 200 gr bullet will kill everything pretty quick and not cause much meat damage.

I'm loading 56.0 grains of IMR 4350 behind 165 grain Sierra Game Kings, 100 yard groups are great and killing power on whitetails is exceptional.

Even if this rifle is one you have shot for a long time and have supreme confidence in, one group of 4 or 5 shots means nothing. You need to burn more powder before making an informed decision.

I've always found IMR 4350/58gr/any 165 to be an "accuracy load". Essentially, even other powders "in that burn rate" have also been very good from 56-59gr. "what I do", is to shoot, say #3, over again and if I think its a good one, I actually shoot it out to 500yds ( though I don't shoot unwounded game much past 350) to look at drops and groups. If its consistent, bingo. I think any of the groups show promise, and try to stay at least around 2800fps/any 165. Good luck to you pard!

Exactamundo

Yeah, i also made the switch to 200gr partitions. It makes the most sense with the least amount of fuss.

Doesn't matter which one really out to 500 as you cannot draw any conclusions on your data....

Practice shooting in field positions and shoot groups far out then you can determine the data from the loads and yourself.

Here’s the 200 yard retest from a more windy day and less stable rest set up.
10 (2 five shot groups) shots w 55.5 R-17,
10 (2 five shot groups) shots w 56.5 R-17

Top 2 targets are the 55.5, bottom 2 are 56.5gr.
Scope is just a 3.5-10 leupold. Results seem to indicate that the 55.5 is definitely the way to go. Those are 3” circle targets.

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Yes 55.5 looks better.

I'd shoot group number 2 and 3 again and then again at 500 yds.

Just a vote of confidence re your 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. That's my standard 30-06 bullet. I've used it happily on whitetail, mule deer, antelope, black bear and elk.

The elk was a quick, one-shot kill at about 340 yards. I was trying to put the bullet behind the leg, but managed to strike the shoulder blade instead. Punched through, destroyed the lungs and she went down after a few faltering steps. The off-side shoulder blade was also broken, but I didn't find an exit wound. Bullet not recovered, I think it went out with the field dressing.

The black bear shot was a quartering away shot at 325 yards. The bullet went in, destroyed everything important and the jacket was recovered hanging up in the off-side hide. There was an exit wound and the lead core was gone. Again, a very quick kill. Bear only made it a few yards.

The results on deer & antelope have been just peachy as well.

Your loads look good. I used ol' H4350 to get the 165 up to 2940 fps from the 24" barreled Remington 700 I was using. Good accuracy, good velocity, good results on game.

Regards, Guy

I agree. Personally I’d load up 20 more at 55.5 and then shoot them one more time to see if multiple groups show the consistency you want.

I would be interested if there is any difference in point of impact versus point of aim with one shot from a cold barrel.

First cold bore shot was right in the middle of the grouping. Very pleased with my Nosler Rifle. Bought it used here on the fire a couple years ago. Experimented with some old SPEER Deep Curl bullets the other day. It stacked em tight at 100.