Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06 Velocity Load Data - Any Input?

Developing first load for my Rem 700 30-06 w/ 24" barrel.

Most stable velocity node is 56.0 to 56.6 but 56.9 to 57.5 is good as well. My thought was to load up some different seating depths at both 56.5 and 57.4 to compare head-to-head.

Any differing opinions? I'm still trying to learn how to analyze data. Thanks!

H4350
Bullet seating depth of Jam minus 0.020"
Nosler BT 165

Load 1 55.7 grains 2735 2732
#2 56.0 2750 2772
#3 56.3 2771 2771
#4 56.6 2777 2775
#5 56.9 2837 2830
#6 57.2 2857 2827
#7 57.5 2836 2842
#8 57.8 2893 2897

165/168 grain bullet?

Thanks Louie. Yes Nosler BT 165. Added to post

No need to push those BTs to the max. Looking at that you have a good powder node at 2770ish and I would load 56.5 and start shooting groups playing with seating depth. Remember only change one thing at a time.

57 gr. of 4350 with a 165 gr Nosler BT has killed a whole heck of a lot of deer for me. Accuracy has been good in every .30-06 I've sent that load through, which is at least ten different rifles. All run in the 2750-2825 fps range.

Small samples don't tell you much.

You didn't say what brass you used. In old school WIN brass we typically loaded up to 59gr with was right at 2900fps.
Back off a grain for Rem brass, and 2 grains for if the brass it thicker then REM, like some Nosler brass.

Shoot some groups, and let the rifle tell you which one it likes.

All my brass is REM - once fired. What is a more appropriate sample size to velocity test?

FWIW, I’ve found additional stable and accurate nodes in the 59.5-60g area. I load for two rifles both of which shoot very well. Velocity is 3000+fps in one rifle and high 2800s in the other. This is using Nosler brass and 210 primers.

Which load shoot best? Use that one.

Same here

I think some guys just don't like to shoot, so they look for an easy way/shortcut??? I've seen the same thing at my range in WA. A guy used to come out, set his fancy chrono up, shoot about 10 shots, and then leave. The straw that broke the camels back with me was when he came to me asking why the numbers said that load would shoot the best (low es and sd), but it was shooting like chidt. I finally told him to leave the damn chrono at home, and shoot his fu cking rifle...

Or...some guys are just learning to reload and they watch/read information that seems valid to first find a velocity node, then start adjusting seating depth to fine tune. While other guys (I guess you)...say just shoot and don't worry about data - let the rifle speak for itself. It seems maybe a stretch to call an inexperienced shooter lazy who is taking more of a paint by numbers approach to things (until they bank up more experience).

It's kind of challenging to set up an old school chrono on a public range where you have just a few minutes of cold range such that you can shoot through the wings and at a defined aiming point to measure both velocity and grouping at the same time. I am just trying to make sure my bullet path hits the backstop/berm - so only getting velocity data. I know doing both would be possible with a better chronograph - but that's not what I have right now. A Garmin is def on the wish list.

One beef I have with some expositions of the "velocity node" approach is insufficient data being used to draw conclusions. One shot at each charge level simply doesn't cut the statistical mustard.

Well...I did post two shot velocities at each charge - so I'm 100% better than One-Shot Johnny.

I usually target a velocity range then shoot 10 or so 5 shot groups around .3 grains apart, of course depending on how many projectiles I have to experiment with. Then I usually build off of the best group/SD combination. Some powders like IMR 4350 - I only need a few 5 shot groups because I know my best results are going to be at the top of the range. At the end of the day though, I really enjoy the process and shooting so I probably spend a lot more time and ammo building loads than necessary - but isn't that what a hobby is all about.

If you have a bit of width to the node I start right in the middle of the node and maybe try some other loads one just a bit over the middle and one just under to confirm you've found it. If you're centered on a wide node a temp swing or something is less likely to bump you out of it.

I use h4350 in all of my 30-06s except for with 200g bullets and heavier. I usually use h4831sc on the heavy bullets of sometimes rl17. I usually am at 57g or close to with h4350 and 165s. I used to use 57g and a 165g interbond years ago and it shot in most rifles. Based on what your seeing maybe try 57g and play with depths a bit.

Bb