Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Campfire A-bolt -06 range day

About a month ago, I was lucky to say the magic words before anyone else, on a very nice A-bolt 30-06. I mounted a Burris 3-9x40 3P#4 Illum. in Leupold DD mounts.

Because I have them and for something different, I loaded Barnes 130gr. TTSX in Remington brass and four different medium burn rate powders for my first range trip. I'm liking how this rifle is shooting and will continue load development. CFE223 is looking like a good place to start. My apologies for crowding the targets together.

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That’s a great range session! I also picked up an A-bolt 3 in ‘06, and it’s just as good of a shooter as my A-bolt 2 in 7mm-08, which I have often described to my uppity Remington/Tikka/Ruger-type buddies as “the best out-of-the-box shooter” I’ve ever owned. Keep the faith!

Never owned a Abolt 1 or 2 that would not SHOOT. They just work!!!!!!!!!

I've been wanting to try the 130 gr Barnes in one of my 06s . Just haven't yet

Looking good!! Definitely not gonna be a picky shooter as all those are acceptable especially for initial results. Keep us posted

👍

Ditto! What fuzzy said!

Yep, 30+ year old Abolt II Medallion with BOSS system shooter here. I must admit, I put it in the safe and started shooting my Tikka T3 308 the last few years, but the beast made a come back. Started loading for mine and played with th3 BOSS for the 1st time. Still shoots fantastic.

This A-bolt is an 80s stalker model. I got it for a good price and it's in excellent condition. Happy to have it.

I have a battery of Tikka T3 rifles and like them very much. I have said this before, but will repeat it. I would sell every other rifle in the safe before I would part with the A-bolts.

^^^ x1000, my Medallion 7mm rem mag is still the queen of my safe.

I had a follow up range day this morning with the A-bolt -06. After reviewing the first range day targets, I decided to concentrate on the CFE-223. All other data is the same, excepting powder charges. I made up 4 rounds each of the original 55.5gr. load, then 4 each of 56.0gr. and 56.5. I think the 56.0gr. load will work. Can't say I'll shoot that group all the time, but it'll kill.

Those starting charges of Big Game are too light to get decent accuracy , IMHO. Did you go higher than 60g???

Barnes date for BG tops out at 62.5g and Western Powders lists 64.5g as max for a 130 TSX .

Do you have any way to measure the velocity of your loads??

I didn't go up with Big Game. That first picture shows my initial loads with the rifle. You're probably right that BG needs more powder. I focused in today with CFE-223 simply because I had the tightest initial group with it. It also helps that I've got a bunch of it. All those initial powders are good and I'm sure if I focus on any of them that I could work up a good load.

I know it's going to wound many of the more hardcore loaders here, but at this point in my loading life, I'm happy to work up a good shooting load and call it done. All I'm trying to do is load a solid, safe load.

I do have a chronograph and will check loads with it, but today it's overcast, cold and six fresh inches of snow. Simply didn't want to mess with it.

I am.in full agreement with regards to accuracy trumping all else.

Time and components are too valuable these days to chase your tail for a few more FPS of velocity if you are already there in terms of accuracy.

I guess I have never seen CFE-223 recommended much for the light bullet 30-06 loads. For the .308- yes , but not the '06.

From Hodgdon's data , lt looks like you shoukd be running about 3;100 FPS and should be under 58k PSI pressure. Should be easy on your brass and rifle.

I don't have any CFE on hand but I am going to test the
130 TTSX with IMR 4166, Big Game and IMR 3031.. I also want to try Varget.

I'm finding CFE-223 to be a very good powder in .30 and .35 cal. cartridges. It's working well in my 30-30 and 35 Whelen. I find it working better in those calibers than the often recommended .223.

I included BG in initial test because Barnes #4 has it listed as the most accurate powder tested.

Dang it man that cfe 223 looking strong in that ought6 abolt. I have been a fan of cfe 223 for quite sometime now as it works great in 3 of my 308’s and a 7mm08
But never thought using in a 30-06. I vote more threads like this. Thanks aboltfan