Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Powder For 165 Gr. 30-06

I got ready to load up some 30-06's today with a Hornady 165 grain bullet. My powder list showed that I had a couple of pounds of IMR4350, which is what I was going to use. When I go to pulling it out, I can only find one pound, and not knowing when I'll find anymore, I don't want to use it up, as I also use IMR4350 in the 243, and I'll shoot more 243's than 06's. So, here's what I'm asking, of the powders I have plenty of which would work better............H4350, Hunter, Big Game, maybe even W760 or Staball? What about other's that I don't have listed?

I load H4350 for my 30-06 165gr load.

I also use H-4350 for 165 gr '06 loads.

I've gotten good loads with H4350 and Big Game.

H4350 here, too. Big Game second.

Ed

H4350 was what I used most but lately have been using Big Game and Staball 6.5 with good groups.

I use IMR 4350, wouldn’t mind trying the H version. I mostly use 150 partition bullets.

I think the IMR 4350 is starting to become avail. I picked up 2 lbs at the LGS and have seen it on some of the web sites.
Have a great day.
Jim

I have H-4350 and Hunter both are excellent in the 30-06

H4350 and IMR 4451.

Me and Mary Mary, Quite Contrary use 4064..... 3031 second along with IMR 4895... honorable mention to RL 15.

I’ve used Big Game for 150 & 165g & Hunter with 180’s as MuleDeer recommended in GG 1 - both worked well but I stuck with IMR 4350 only because I’d accumulated a bunch of it.

I found 55g of Big Game / 165g Horn Interlock to be safe & accurate in my gun. Wasn’t a max load just pleasant and accurate.

Of those not listed, R-17 is my favorite if you can find some. 56.5 gr R-17 is a near max load in my rifle pushing them at 2870 FPS. 55 gr proved the most accurate in another rifle pushing at 2820 FPS.

RL16 worked pretty nice for me with 165’s as well.

H4350, Big Game, and H760 will all work well. If I’m not using H4350 with 165s in my 30-06s, then it’s RL17.

IME 3031, 4895, and 4064 work well with 150gr, but are not as good as those listed above with 165s.

Thanks to everyone that responded. I'm new to loading for the 30-06, even though I've been reloading for almost 50 years. This is going to be some ammo I'm loading for a "just in case I need it" type of scenario. Since I have plenty of H4350, I'll probably use that, although I'm tempted to use some Shooters World Long Rifle powder that I bought when everything else was hard to find.

All the powders you have will work, but the '06, 165s and 4350 are like peanut butter, jelly and cold milk!

Normally, I use H4350 with 180 gr. bullets in the 30-06. I prefer the "H" version over the "IMR" but either one will work just fine. I did play with W760 and the Nosler 165 gr. Accubond and it did a very nice job on a cow elk hunt. Just one shot and done. Rl17 is said to work nicely in the 30-06 but I'm saving my supply for use in a 7x57 Mauser.

FWIW, the W760 load is the 165 gr. Nosler Accubond, 56.0 gr. W760, Winchester (WW) brass and the Winchester WLR primer. Velocity was 2880 FPS average from my 24" barrel and accuracy on average ran .75" from the bench.

The elk was about 100 yard out quartering away from me when I shot. The bullet hit at the short ribs and traveled through the left lung. The elk went about thirty or so feet in a half circle and expired. The bullet was not recovered.

Another load I like in the 06 is the 180 gr. Hornady Spire Point over 57.0 gr. H4350 for a solid 2750 FPS in my rifle. Brass and primer are the same as in the W760/165 gr. load. Different rifle from the one using the 165 gr. load as it has a 22" barrel.
Paul B.

Two loads for you that have worked well out of my 30-06's with 165gr bullets are 55.5grs of Big Game and 59.5grs of Hunter.

4064, 4895, and Varget for me. Not going for the Nth Degree of performance/efficiency, just accuracy, and these powders deliver it. Besides, whatever .30-06 ammo on my shelf has to be compatible with the Garands if I get a wild hair and feel like shooting it.