Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Fave loads for your 30-06

Pssport,
My 30-06 does not like 150's bit. It loves 165's over 57 grains of IMR 4350 but this is a max load.

4 the 165's I always kind of liked the 165 Sierra HPBT pushed by 57 of IMR 4350.

Dober

FWIW, here are my favorite 150-165 gr loads in .30-06. Velocities are chronographed averages over several shooting sessions on different days. These loads are pretty much standard but they really are the best I've tried.

Although I've used a lot of powders to load this cartridge, H4350 has given the best overall results. I'm now experimenting with 150 gr bullets and Ramshot Big Game. I think this powder is very promising and may end up to be better than H4350 for 150s-- but it's really too early to tell. The following are very solid performers.

150 gr Nosler AB, 59.0 grs H4350, 2,939
150 gr Sierra GameKing SBT, 59.0 grs H4350, 2,904
150 gr Nosler BT, 60.0 grs H4350, 2,940

165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 57.5 gr H4350, 2,801
165 gr Hornady Spire Point, 58.0 gr H4350, 2,766

Good shooting!

Current loads:

Remington 760
165gr Hornady Interlock SP
55.5gr IMR 4350
R-P cases
WLR primers

Winchester 1917 Enfield (circa July 1918)
165gr Hornady Interlock SP
58gr IMR 4831
R-P cases
WLR primers

Savage M110 (buddy's)
150gr Hornady Interlock SP
48.5gr H-4895
R-P cases
WLR primers

Cole: Absolutely; I agree.

58 grains IMR 4350
168 gr. TSX
2895 fps. avg.

Nice shootin Rancho Loco!! How do the TSX perform on game? I have been using 165 Nosler B tips and it has alwayse been bang flop so I hate to change bit really want to try something different...

Pigs hate them.

Last one I shot with a TSX was with that load pictured last May.

Around a 120-140 lb. sow running straight at me. I drilled it in the face at about 50 feet and then found the bullet about a month ago while slabbing out a smoked ham. Bullet went about 40 inches of pig including the skull, and ended up weighing 167 grains.



You can see the entrance hole..

That's about text book performance there.

I have found 55gr Accurate 4350 under Sierra 165gr SBT to be magic.

52.0 IMR 4320 under a 150 - (MAX or over by many modern sources.)

57.0 H4350 under a 165.

57.5 IMR 4831 under a 180.

Those are my better loads. But when I need a few for any '06 and plan to load and go out the door no special range time other than checking sighting, then 60.0 grains H4831 under a 180 just plain works well consistently - decent to very accurate in just about any rifle, doesn't set the house on fire accuracy-wise, but it won't blow up guns, moves fast enough to kill well, and can't be blamed for any misses at any reasonable distance.

57.5 grs of H4350 and 165 Accubonds @2850 fps. I stopped at 57.5 due to that being near what I consider max velocity for that bullet wt, but It would likely take 58grs OK like others have suggested. Got similar results with 60grs R-22 and 165 Hornadys, but I like the Accubond better.

50 grains IMR 4064 and 165 Hornady or 168 TSX. Under 1" from several '06s.

Light kicking 150 gr load is 57 gr. H or IMR 4831.

Much lighter kicking than top loads with quicker powders.

Bob

Today's finding.

Remington 760
165gr Hornady SP
56gr H-4350
R-P brass
WLR primers

Looks like another clear example of (pick one):
1. Barnes failure to expand/pencil throughs,
2. Barnes overpenetration/poor weight retention.

X2. My 30-06 loves 165's over 57gr of IMR4350.