Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 212 ELDX in the 30-06

Guy,
I never owned a 30-06, but my best friend and hunting buddy for over 60 years had one and used it for everything; except water fowl and upland game birds . I witnessed many times it's capabilities in his hands. However being the wimp I am, I went with his little brother the 308 Win; which I admit does rather well also. The 30-06 dominates in the heavy bullet arena, but the 308 Win with 180 grain Partition holds it's own and has served me well for elk and deer. I used to reload his 30-06 ammo for him and I admire the round. But being a tight wad, I didn't want to spend the money to step up to the 30-06. LOL

In recent years I have discovered the wonders of the old 7x57 cartridge, that provides such excellent ballistics performance with the .284 bullets, with low recoil as well. So now I own two 7x57s (Ruger M77 MK 2 and a Brno made Peruvian sportified Mauser based on the 98 model action). They have become my primary deer rifles and with the right reloads can serve as backups for elk hunting.

Still the 30-06 stands out as the American standard for big game hunting, and has earned that reputation over and over. That ELD 212 rounds sounds like it is ideal for elk! Enjoy and good hunting!

CJ

What does everyone think of the load being discussed using the 212 ELDX on Moose?

I'd use mine on moose. I know they aren't the toughest bullets ever made but at the 2700 or so launch speeds the 06 is going to deliver they hold up really well. I pinned a bull elk last fall with complete penetration on the front legs and the bullet in the hide on the far side. I usually like a bit more robust bullet with faster moving stuff but they work well at 06 speeds in my opinion. With a caveat that is an example of one.. So maybe the next ones won't work as well but so far they've faired the same in my homemade water jug tests and in a bull elk so I am inclined to think they will be just fine.

Thanks. I was thinking the bullet would open well at '06 heavy bullet speed. I'm not settled on what to use yet but it's now on the list.

Roll crimp will stop that from happening....

4831 SC was always my powder choice....and my preferred bullet was the 220 gr Round Nose from Sierra or Hornady...

you can't get enough 4831 SC in an 06 case to exceed SAAMI specs....per Mike, their chief ballistician at Nosler ( if he hasn't retired)...

I worked that up on my time....would use 65 grains of it with a 200 grain Bullet, either Speer or Partition....

and 62.5 with the 220 gr Round Noses....

No slam on RL 26... I've got a bunch of it....

But I've used H4831 SC..... and got accuracy, and velocity....

and yeah, it will need a Roll Crimp...if you don't have a Lee Crimp Die...

it has done well out of a Browning A Bolt, a couple of Model 70s, a Remington 700, a Springfield and a 1917 Enfield.

its velocity with either bullet weight was substantially higher than the 2600 fps range... and still gave tight primer pockets for the next reload.

I'd pick it over RL 26, if nothing else, I think its almost like it was hand made for the 06.

Yeah Mike has long since retired. A wealth of knowledge. I saw him last year as he was traveling for a hunt. He's living the dream.

As far as Hunter goes, 57.5gr got me to 2625 fps with both a 208 ELD-M and a 200 partition. This was out of a 22" Rem 700 with a long throat. 58gr gave pressure signs. I had trouble getting enough 4831SC in the case with the 208s.

Fill it up... seat bullet... crimp immediately... it'll stay in there....