Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Are.30-06 factory loads under loaded?

It's not as bad now as it used to be, manufacturers have stopped underloading ammo as much now that personal chronographs are common and people can tell what they're doing. When I got my first chronograph about 20 years ago I'd have it set up when others came to shoot at my place. The velocities of factory ammo were pretty eye opening many times. I remember a 25-06 shooting 120 gr factory ammo that was about 450 fps slower than advertised. My cousin's 7mm rem mag was clocking about 2950 with 140 gr. federal premium ammo (advertised at 3200) when suddenly it started reading 2750 for several shots. It turned out that he had ran out of one box and opened another box from a different lot, supposedly the same ammo but 200 fps less velocity than the first box.

Today they've got better, most ammo gets reasonably close to advertised velocities. I guess they had a lot of irate customers when chronographs became common and people figured out their 150 gr. 30-06 loads were doing 2500 fps. A 150 gr bullet doing 2500 fps has certainly killed a lot of critters, but if I'd wanted a 30-30 I'd buy one.

Most factory ammo I have chrono’d were slower than advertised, regardless of cartridge, 270 ammo being the worst.

BUT, 2 years ago I bought a Remington 700 American Wilderness Rifle in 30-06, 24” barrel. I bought 2 boxes of Federal Premium ammo. 165 gr Nosler partition advertised velocity 2830 FPS and 165 gr Sierra Game King advertised velocity 2800 FPS.

I chrono’d the Partitions, they averaged 2917 FPS, with very low ES. The Gamekings averaged 2900 FPS.

I soon traded the rifle but was skeptical about the readings.
Fast forward to two months ago, I was shooting with some friends, one guy was shooting a 700 sps 30-06. Remembering I still had a partial box of the Partitions I went home and got them and we chrono’d them in his rifle over a different chrono than mine and averaged almost identical velocity

So I can say in this instance the ‘06 factory loads exceeded advertised velocities. As a side note I pulled one of the Partitions and it held 56 grains of powder.

A load can make exactly the velocity on the box and still be very slow. Accurate labeling doesn't mean hot.

I always look at factory ammo vs. what load data and simulation says is possible. Quick Load and GRT tend to understand the relationship between pressure and velocity well even when they're off on charge weight.

That's the truth. It chewed up Delta Elites.

I agree

You're right about that

A hand loader can always make hotter loads. But factory loads will dispatch any animal you hunt if you put the shot where it should be. Dead is dead.

Only the early Delta. It only cracked the small bridge in the frame gap. In the later models, Colt removed the bridge. Problem solved.

Also, the original loads exceed what modern loading manuals list today.

Yes, but likewise, if I want a slower load I would choose a different chambering. Also, if I want a chambering because of its full potential, then I expect that.

A major reason why I hand load for a bunch of cartridges is to realize its potential. The only reason why I don't hand load (yet) for my '06 is because it was purchased almost 50 years ago before I started reloading, then it found its way to the back of the safe. I plan on using it for an Elk hunt (hopefully) with hand loads if it comes to fruition.

PPU 6.5x55/139 gr. FMJ.

Disassembly is marksmanship training.

Reload w/ SPEER 140 gr. Grand Slams.




GR

PPU 6.5x55/139 gr. FMJ.

Disassembly is marksmanship training.

Reload w/ SPEER 140 gr. Grand Slams.

---------------------------------------------------------


A diff bullet will not ADD 600-700 fps.


Jerry

When I've used factory ammo I've never had a problem either hitting or killing with it. I've never chronographed it either because I thought it was to expensive to use for that. When I want premium loads I make them and use them thru on target testing and the chronograph before the hunt for no surprises. Factory ammo would be a damned expensive bad habit for me considering how much I like to shoot. I envy you guys with the big budget for shooting factory ammo but not your smarts for doing so. Way I see it. Mb

There have been some .30-06 factory loads that got quite a bit more than "standard" velocities. Over 20 years ago Federal had a "High Energy" load with the 180-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw that they claimed got 2880 fps. This was apparently possible at SAAMI specs by using a heavily compressed load of well over 60 grains of a slower burning spherical powder. It worked great in my NULA .30-06, getting a little over 2900 fps and grouping a little under an inch. Essentially it was a .300 WSM, before the WSM appeared.

But other rifles could have some difficulty with it. A friend had another NULA, and bolt lifts were so stiff he didn't use the ammo in the field. Back then I also had an old FN Mauser sporter .30-06, which had a slightly shorter than average throat. In the FN the ammo blew primers--and got over 3000 fps from the 22" barrel! The guys at Federal very interested to hear this, and asked me to send them what remained of that box of ammo for testing. They reported it got "normal" pressures in their test barrel, around 58,000 PSI.

In my NULA most 180-grain factory ammo gets right around the standard 2700 fps velocity, but I suspect the 24" barrel has a tighter chamber and perhaps bore than most factory .30-06s. And of course many factory rifles have 22" barrels--or even shorter.

A few years ago three friends and I hunted elk on a ranch about 100 miles south of here. The rifle season had been open for a couple weeks, and consequently a lot of elk had had come onto the ranch from off the surrounding Forest Service land, and we all got decent 6-point bulls.

One of the guys used Federal .30-06 factory ammunition with 180-grain Partitions in a lightweight Weatherby Vanguard with a 20" barrel. I'd guess the muzzle velocity was around 2600 fps, but he never chronographed it. Instead he knew the trajectory out to 400 yards--and made the longest shot on the 4 bulls, around 360 if I recall correctly. The 180 Partition landed about 1/3 of the way up the chest behind the shoulder, and the bull ran about 40 yards before keeling over.

Bob

I don’t think it’s a waste of $ because you don’t have to shoot that many rounds of ammo to get an
IDEA of its speed.

You save $ knowing it’s vel. when figuring the
trajectory. You can shoot MORE ammo at distance to find that out.

Jerry

Shoot it... and then reload the brass.

9>)




GR

I’ve chronographed many factory loads that didn’t meet printed spec, the two worst offenders were Winchester 250-3000 100 gr. Silver tips, advertised at 2780, I got 2470 in an older 99. Good accuracy, though. The other was a PRVI 7x57 175 gr. RN, clocked it at 1975 out of a 20” barrel on a whitworth Mauser. I have found out my pre64 FWT 308 has a very slow barrel, best I can do with 165s is 2500, but it bug holes them and kills deer.

Old70

So what velocities would one be looking at with the 140 gr. 280? Same as 130 gr .270?

RM

Depending on rifle and barrel length but 3100+ is feasible

I just PULL the bullets -- DUMP the powder THEN reload properly. SAVES barrel life.


Jerry

yep JW, simple enough.....not that hard to figure. I've handloaded 280 R for a friend in the 80s and we got 3100 w/140s.

Jerry