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

Not every 30-06 with 22" barrel ( or even 24" ) attained 2700 fps in this thread. A longer barrel would get a more complete burn, and yield higher velocities-making it easier to reach 2700 fps with 200 grain jacketed bullets.

Read German Salazar's posts about his experiences with match shooting with his 30-06 (300 - 1000 yards, with 1-11" twist, 4 -groove barrel). Very interesting. He finds 28" barrels in 30-06 with 200-215 grain bullets as optimum for 2700+ fps MV. I am not saying 2700 fps/200 grains can't be done with a 22-24" tube, but a 26" barrel in 30-06 shooting 200 grainers makes it more attainable with more powder options.

A 26" 30-06 barrel makes for a heck of platform for the 30-06 and heavy bullets, giving more complete burn rate in a reasonable barrel length. That's my point.

I like this. It's an effective way to get the bullet moving. Back before they chopped barrels down, and had fewer powders, this was an easy way to get a projectile flying faster.



Not bird, not plane, nor even frog.
Just little old me, Underdog!

Wtf are you bringing up an old thread to try to disprove everyone here that said they can get 2700fps with a 200gr pill and a 22" barrel? For fuggs sake..
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Guys, I’m NOT being rude honestly.
It doesn’t bother me 1 bit.
BSA pointed out that this is an OLD thread.

Just so y’all know. Otherwise carry on. No problem from me

Jerry

buttstock,

You have several misconceptions about this subject:

1) There are at least a couple of pressure-tested sources of data that show if not EXACTLY 2700 fps for 200-grain bullets in the .30-06 from the standard SAAMI 24" test-barrel, but within around 10-15 fps.

2) These data sources adhere to the long-time standard 60,000 PSI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) for the .30-06, which is somewhat lower than similar cartridges, due to the older rifles chambered for the .30-06. As one example, the .270 (the .30-06 necked down) has a MAP of 65,000 PSI--and there's no reason a modern .30-06 would explode at 65,000. According to the basic rules of interior ballistics, another 5000 PSI would add around 100 fps.

3) No, a longer barrel does NOT result in a "more complete burn" of modern powders. You're apparently a victim of long-time myths/assumptions. Modern powders essentially burn as much as they're going to within 2-3 inches in front of the chamber. The added velocity from a longer barrel is a result of the powder gas continuing to expand down the bore.

Settling for 2,700FPS is fine if you are shooting 212g bullets..

2,700FPS with the 212g Hornady ELD-X (.663 B.C.) monsters using Win 6.5 Staball powder-

https://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37252


Here is an example of 2,800 FPS + with 200g Accubonds and RL-26.

No 26" barrel required.

https://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37739

Mule Deer,

I appreciate the info about the higher MAP pressure issue/level ( 65,000 vs 60,000) which translates to higher velocity for the 30-06, including shorter barrels (both 22 and 24 inch mentioned in this thread). Got it.

I used the wrong term "complete burn" for powder, but should have been "more gas expansion,". as you wrote. I guess I presumed they were the same ( or related close enough).

A longer 30-06 barrel (26" vs 24" or 22" ) simply offers the potential for higher MV, allowing more powder combinations to reach 2700 fps (or more) with a 200 grain bullet from a 30-06, and likely at equal or lower pressure (less than 65,000).

Two inches of extra barrel will add about 25 fps/inch? So figure at least an extra 50+ fps-for a slower burning powder with 26" (vs 24") , and over 100 fps comparing 26" vs 22" barrels. Nothing to sneeze at-even with a max load of Reloader 26 with 200 grain bullets. Makes the 30-06 approach early-loaded 300 mags.

I will stand by my original comment:

"30-06, 200 grain bullet, 2700 fps....Best way for those three things to come together is with a 26" barrel, not 22" .
----- with the exception that "BEST way..." could be replaced with something like "" Easiest way... ". or "highest odds to reach 2700 fps with different powders... "

I offered that comment as shooters in this thread experimented with many powders to get a certain MV (call it 2700 fps), and many combinations did NOT make 2700 fps in even 24" barrels. A longer barrel will just get you there (2700 fps...and maybe 2800+ fps) with less fuss and time ("easier"), and at lower pressure, with different powders. I wasn't trying to change the world with the comment, or refuting anyone's results, just offering option that was not mentioned (26" bbl) .

A 30-06 firing a 200 grain jacketed bullet at 2550 - 2600 fps is still a fine-performing load.

Don't worry about it, buttstock. I think everyone got your point.

The last three rifles I got all featured 26 inch barrels. They are single shots, so even the extra few inches of barrel still makes the OAL shorter than a traditional bolt action. I always build bolt action rifles with 24 inch barrels. You know what they say. Everybody appreciates an extra few inches.

None of these are 30-06s, but the middle rifle is a 30-303 with a 26 inch barrel. The rifle at the bottom has a 23.75 inch barrel.

Be happy.

That’s hot on the heels of the 300 Magnums.


Okie John

StaBall 6.5 is also worth a try.
I worked up to 56 gn with 200 gn Partitions for 2625 fps.
20 3/8" barrel
Winchester cases.
215 primers.

Cheers,
Walt

Shot my 23" brl 30-06 Saturday - 200 gr. Accubonds, Re 26, 2684 ft/sec measured 15 ft from the muzzle.

Stir on.

People are up at night.

I don’t have anything constructive to add to the thread. So in the spirit of the campfire, I will post something anyway.

Pathfinder, Gotta love Mark Penrod’s work. I have a M70 classic stainless sitting around that I need to send to Mark. He likes rifles on the heavy side but they always shot.

RIght around 2690 from a 24" should be an accuracy node with RL16. You should get there in the low 50s in terms of charge weight depending on lot, case, primer, etc.

I'd rather have the temp stability of RL16 than the extra 50 ft/s and crazy pressure ramp up in the heat of RL26. But that's just me.

In terms of 200gr bullets the Terminal Ascent is exceptional. The Accubond might be a 2nd choice. The A-Frame has very good terminal performance but different load data and pretty high drag.

RL 26 is very temperature stable. And since when do you find broad spectrum accuracy nodes?

No it's not - it sort of temp stable in the cold, and utter garbage in the hot.

The temp stable Alliant powders are AR-COMP, RL16 and RL23.

As to accuracy nodes, they are a function of the physics of the load being used.

You forgot RL-15.5

True enough. Wonder if any will ever become available?

That rifle is ready. Another great shooting 06

I have a 22" Featherweight and use the 212 ELD's at a 2700 MV. Accuracy is very good with Staball and so far a bull elks front legs couldn't totally tear it apart. It shoots so well I don't plan to mess with that load. It is one of the combo's that really makes me wonder why I have much else. Hit's very hard, bullet is never pushed beyond it's limits and the BC carries FPS enough to expand it further than I'd try shooting.

I have evidently been holding the 30-06 back. I had a 742 that only functioned with slow powder and 220 grain bullets - I can guess why. With the other 30-06's I've, for some reason, stopped at a maximum mass of 180 grain - CL's, IL's, Hot Cores. and Partitions. They all worked well on deer and antelope. After reading this thread and comparing drop to 350 yards (about my maximum range) I'm thinking I'll be testing loads in a 30-06 with 200 grain partitions with plans on taking that load out this fall for a Wyoming cow elk and Wyoming buck.
As it turns out both my 300 Weatherby and my 300 Win Mag the best loads I've tested so far are with RE 26 and 200 grain Nosler Partitions, maybe it will work that way with the '06 or maybe it will be with 4831sc?