Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06, 200 gr, Re 23 or Re 26 recipes?

Found a couple of older threads on use of Re 23 and 26 in the 30-06 with various 200 gr bullets. Still not much data on these 2 powders but various Quickload links seem to indicate 58 gr for Re 23 and 62 gr Re 26 under various 200 gr bullets at velocities of 2650ish for 23 and 2700ish for 26 in 24 inch barrels.

With a drop tube, I can get 58 of 23 and 61 of 26 in a case with reasonable powder compression.

I'm trying to reach 2650 safely and good groups. So far Re16 has been the accuracy champ and reaches 2600. I'm going to explore Re 16 a bit more but am still looking for the best load. I'm also playing with H4831 but 59 and 60 grains take some compression to work.

Anyone have any real world experience with Re23 or Re26 in the 30-06 with 200 grainish bullets?

Thanks.

Hi bwinters,

I don’t have any experience with either of those powders or 200 grain bullets in a 30-06, but being a lifelong fan of the .300 Win Mag and shooting 180’s the majority of the time and 200’s for the difference I’m curious what your load is destined to be used for.

Just curious.

300winnie

Elk in timber or 'out there'.

I have been using 62 gr/RL26 in the 30-06 with 200 grain Nosler Partitions for a couple years. I get 2730 fps in my main hunting rifle with 24” barrel. Very small amount of compression. Sub-MOA accuracy if I do my part.

It is not news that the 200 gr Partition works very well on all kinds of game, and it has proven so n my experience.

Thank you and agree on the 200 gr Partition. I have a couple boxes of 200 gr Accubonds so am trying those. The Accubond is longer than the Partition which is where the 'extra' compression comes in. This particular rifle hasn't been fond on either the 165 or 180 Partition, maybe the 200 would be different but kind of doubt it.

ya can't get enough of either powder in an 06 case to exceed SAAMI specs...

No real world here . . . I do note that Speer's online load data lists 60.0 gr of RL-23 as max for a 180 gr bullet, which leads me to believe the 58.0 gr for the 200 might be several grains too high.

Not what you asked I realize, but RL17 and the 200 NP has produced 2700+ in every 06 I've loaded for.

I tried Re17 on Tuesday. 2 inch groups in my gun. Plenty of velocity, groups sucked.

I called them yesterday and got that info. I strongly suspect the 180 gr load is within SAAMI spec or ~ 59 - 60k PSI as is most 30-06 load data. I've also noticed through the years that Speer data, for the cartridges I've loaded for, tends to run lighter/slower than most other load data providers. Maybe their jacket material causes more pressure? Thanks.

Roger.

Spent a lot of time trying RL 17 with 200 gr NP switching primers was the answer to accuracy for me. Fed 215 gave the best accuracy.

Went back and looked at my reloading logs loaded RL 17 with 200 gr NP in 2 30-06,s.

In my LH Win 06 accuracy was cut in half with CCI 200, and accuracy in the Ruger 06 was best with Fed 215 primers. Velocity in both over 2700 FPS.

Hmmm. I'll try that.

The 200gr partition goes with a 30-06 like peanut butter goes with jelly, or chocolate with peanut butter. I love the combination. It puts elk and deer down right now... Full penetration with ease, even at 2700 fps. I believe Gunner uses RL22 in his and gets some pretty good velocities out of it...

Looking for velocity and no exceeding SAAMI pressure Specs with a 200 GR Partition? 4831 SC...

Loaded up H4831 last night. Along with Re16 (refining the load) and Re26. I'd bet Re16 will win the accuracy contest when it's all said/done. It's becoming my favorite in the 4350 burn rate.

When talking 200gr bullets in the '06, RL19 is not a bad choice either.

I have found myself using quite alot of the RL16 and Staball 6.5 in a few cartridges, to include the 212 ELD's at 2720 with Staball from the 30-06. That load has changed my mind a little bit about what a 30-06 can do.

Keep us posted. I just use IMR4350 and it shoots damn good. I don't get screaming hot velocities with it, but it smacks the elk pretty hard.

Ya can't get enough 4831 in an 06 to exceed SAAMI specs, and alot of load data is not near max pressures to stay worrying with it...

on the other end, that 212 ELD at 2700 fps or so... that ready intrigues me.. I like that bullet.. and also the 220 grainer ELD...
should play around with it some.. I have had the bullets and the powder for several years to be able to do so...

I need to pull out and dust off that Winchester built 1917 Enfield I have in the gun safe...

Its got a long throat.... like Linda Lovelace had...

b - I've been eyeing Stabill 6.5 for a bit. Of course I cant find any locally but that's another story. I'm headed on a road trip in a couple weeks and will pass by several gunshops. If I can find some, I'll give it a try. Thanks

bsa - I dont see any velocities on those targets but in my mind anything 2600ish with the high BC 200 gr bullets works for me! I'm at or slightly above 2600 with Re16 and suspect I'll be there with H4831 and Re26. Just need to find a recipe that prints as well as yours!

AZ - I have Re19 but have shied away from using both it and 22. I hunt in temps from 0 to 80 and have found velocity swings in both that make me leary. Being this load is for elk in Oct/Nov, I always start with temp insensitive powders. I may load up a couple to see how it goes.

Thanks guys - keep the recipes and ideas coming. I'll post results when I'm done.

I'll be packing a 30-06 with 200gr Partitions over H4831 doing exactly 2600 at least some of the time this year. It shoots so well, into 3/4" over and over again, that I don't mind the "slow". It will do just fine at any sane range, and holdover is just a number.

Next year I'll try R-26 for the same Partitions, but it won't be needed. Just gotta play.

I may need to try the 200 gr Party. I shot about $300 worth of components on the 180 gr Party with limited success.

BW, I won't mention the load here in general population.. but its been years ago, but someone asked what was the max velocity one could safely get with a 200 grain bullet, out of an 06.. that kinda stuff interests me, and I have the most fun at the reload bench figuring out questions like this...

so I notice max pressures out of an 06, with 4831, where kinda low compared to other load data with other powders... so I picked that powder ( in the Short Cut version), and worked up, using my old 1917 Winchester built Enfield...with a 26 inch barrel...

What the chrono told me, was real surprising, and the brass showed no pressure signs.. same 10 pieces of brass loaded over and over... I posted the results here on the campfire, and was flamed all the way to the moon and back.. several times.....Peope were cursing my wife, kids, the dog, My Mother Wears combat boots etc.... add the famous old standby from the All KNOWING.." did you professional pressure test that info on Expensive Professional 100K Lab Test Equipment???".. nope, I was short a Lab and a 100K.. so no....

The someone can on the campfire and actually defended my posting and info.... his name was Mike...so the ALL KNOWING crowd hit him with the same questions...and he said that actually yes he did.... and left a phone number to call him if anyone wanted to talk to him... Area Code 541.. right here in Oregon....and I guess those guys did call him... being mad I was posting stuff that you won't find in a load manual...

So I called Mike at the number he had given here... the Receptionist answered the Phone: " Nosler Bullets, How may I direct your call?".... We talked... right after that, the thread itself quickly became page 3 in about 4 to 6 hours...and then disappeared into the archives...

With 4831 SC, and a light crimp... you can exceed 2700 fps out of an 06 with a 200 grain bullet, by quite a bit...

Mike was the one he gave me the expression, you can't get enough 4831 into an 06 case to exceed SAAMI specs...so I gather as Nosler's Chief Ballistician at the time, he might know what he was talking about...

just passing it on, if you are chasing velocity potential with that bullet in that caliber....and in my old Enfield with an original factory 1918 made barrel, the accuracy was right there....so no worries there... I also duplicated the same results with a 1990s Model 70, a 1970s Model 700, an early 1990s A Bolt, same results with brass having no loose primer pockets after 5 to 10 shots with the same load...and using standard Large Rifle Primers.. any major brand readily available...

I remember that thread and the postings. I agreed with you then and now. I've talked to Mike more than a few times. Hes a good dude and great source of info. I've not played with 200 gr bullets in the 30-06 much but believe your statement is true of several powders - Re23, Re26, H1000 come to mind. I'm seating mine to 3.365 and am compressing the heck out of H4831, Re26 specifically. I also wish SAAMI would change the avg pressure to match the 270......

Thanks.

I'm running H4831 in my 308 Norma magnum and it runs right at 2,800 fps. Thats using more powder than the ol 06, with not a whole lot more gain. My IMR4350 load in my 06 averages 2,600 fps, and I've killed deer and elk with it and have never found a bullet. Always get complete penetration. I like that load because its pretty mild mannered. I've also shot quite a few 200gr partitions in my rifles because about 5 years ago, SPS had a sale on them for $13.45/bag, so I bought 500 bullets (10 bags). Now I'm getting low on them and I wished I would have bought 1000 instead!!!! Now they are $23.45, but in stock for you guys wanting to buy some...


This rifle used to be a 30-06, but I had it rechambered to 308 Norma...^^ It still likes that 200 gr partition too.. I'm also interested in what seafire posted. I may try H4831 in the 06 as well. Its a great powder that works well in many cartridges, so I always have some on hand..

Well, I know it's not a 30-06, but if you really want to kill elk in "the timber", get yourself a 45-70 with a good loading for a tough 400-405 grain bullet.................you'll be impressed with how it kills.

And, yes, I do like the 200 gr Partition in the 'o6 as well & as to that round in the timber, the elk is never gonna know the difference between 2600 & 2700 FPS.........................now, at 6 or 700 yards, that's a different can of worms................just sayin'.

So I can see obsessing over the velocity in open mountain hunting, not in "the timber".

MM

RL-17 in a Tikka 30-06 Superlite

My brother downed a 6x6 on a wilderness area backpack hunt yesterday morning with one of my 30-06 200 grain partition loads with H4831SC. Identical performance to my last 2 bulls, a couple of steps and down. If only the pack out was that easy...

I shot the 200 Partition today over RL26 in my Kimber Montana.

Nosler Brass, Federal 210Match primers.

61.0 - 2709 average fps
61.5 - 2717
62.0 - 2745

61.5 grouped the tightest.

My 200 gr Partition load uses RL22, don't remember the charge off the top of my head. But I get 2550 fps out of a Remington factory carbine, 20" barrel. Great little rifle in the elk woods.

StaBal 6.5 and the 212 ELD X worked well on my bull this year.

I’m beginning to see why the 06 gets so much love for the 200 and over. With newer powders and sleek bullets it really brings a bunch to the table, not that it was getting left behind the other 100 years but the slicker sharp nosed bullets work well in most 06 chambers and it’s got the room to get them big bullets really moving well.

what rifle are you shooting?

P64 Featherweight.

I settled on 60.0 gr Re 26 under the 200 Accubond. It shoots a tad over 2700 and right at MOA or a tad better. Surprisingly recoil isn't bad with my 7lb 10oz rifle. I like it!

Even older bullets in that weight range work well. Like the 200gr partition, for example.

GF1,

What's a "very small amount of compression"? Where about in the case is that weight of powder filled to?

That's a long bullet that takes up a lot of case volume, depending on COAL............what COAL are you loading those to?

MM

Yup, I’d run that one nearly anywhere as well. In just about any 30 caliber.

I just like to try some other stuff but if I had to choose, that or the Accubond would be the ones.

That’s a do everything sorta load!

Tag

I have a 22 1/2" barrel on my 06', and one of my recipes uses 200gr partition and RL17.
Worked up a load that gives me excellent accuracy and 2650 fps muzzle velocity.
(11" twist barrel probably helps with the accuracy with this bullet)

Am also using RL17 on 6.5x55 Swede and 375HH, and never have a problem in dialing in an accurate load with careful load development.

of the two.. RL 23..

but truth be told, I'd be using RL 19, or even better 4831 SC

as long ago from Nosler in a communication with their chief ballistic guy..

you can't get enough 4831 into an 06 case to exceed SAAMI specs...

and that powder will yield you more velocity and accuracy with a 200 grain bullet than you'd ever think possible..
and still not exceed SAMMI specs...

Sorry for the late reply. The powder is about even with the base of the neck, Lapua brass. I feel just a little compression as I seat the bullets. COAL is 3.344”, which is about maximum length for the magazine length of my FN Mauser barreled action with custom stock.

I couldn't get enough Re23 under a 200 to make it worthwhile. Re 26 is denser than 23. As an FYI, I use a drop tube on my Re26 load and still get some powder crunching.

I played around with the 30-06 and the 190 ABLR in a pre 64 M70 a few months back. I tried Hunter, RL17, RL16, and RL26.

I settled on 55.5g of RL17. This shot just under an inch at 100 yds at 2,800 FPS. 55.5g of RL16 and 62.0g of RL26 were also right at 2,800 FPS, but groups were 1.5-2.0". I was hoping to go with RL16 for the temp stability, but it liked that powder the least.

Need to check my logbook when I get home but off the top of my head, cramming as much RE23 into the case as I could with a drop tube, crunching heck out powder, velocities topped out around 2550 with a 200gr partition out of a 22" rem factory barrel. As B Winters said...it don't fit.

I ended up with a very accurate load with Ramshot Hunter around 2625 range, as I remember, but I need to check. Wanted to try 4831 but didn't get a chance.

This is a great topic. I said it before, but I have been having a BLAST with my P64 30-06 Featherweight with the 212 ELD's and Staball. It pounded the little raghorn through both front legs this fall and he just reared up, made a 50 yard death run, and was in a heap.

The bullet did real well in pre season water jug tests and performed as well on the elk on the recovery. I believe it is one of those loads I am going to leave alone and just keep handy. That 212 gives the 06 some serious legs and man, it is easy on a fella to shoot and the P64 in the Hunters EDGE is might nice to pack as well.

I need to try those 212s......

Thats an awesome combination.

They aren’t bad B. I’m usually a bonded-partition sorta super bullet guy, but with a start speed of 2700-2800 those long bullets tend to hold up real well, and man do they wreck stuff.