Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Tips on loading the 190 Hornady BTSP in a .30-06

Ok, I decided not to shoot at the range today, just in the field at home. We don't have a bench at home, so I just shot prone, and the gun only has an old Weaver K4, plus the target had two MOA black squares. So suffice to say accuracy wasn't stellar, and with only 1 3 shot group each, it's hard to say which were lucky groups, which were fliers and which were unlucky groups. Either way, it was all over the board accuracy wise. Typical groups were around 2.5 inches, with two groups MOA or better and two groups closer to 5". Oh yeah, and it's pretty windy today.

More pertinent to other folks may be the velocities. I did not push these loads very hard as I'm having a hard time reading pressure in the gun. But bolt lift was easy on every one of these. Also, I was wrong about what I reported before, I guess I only took it up to 54 grains of H4350, not 55 grains.

50 grains IMR 4007: 2584 2555 2554
52 grains H100V: 2701 2676 2665
54 grains H4350: 2636 2718 2703
54 grains RL 17: 2811 2789 2812 Sub MOA
55 grains Hunter: 2581 2579 2586
55 grains IMR 4831: 2640 2676 2656
56 grains RL 19: 2706 2673 2694
57 grains N160: 2673 2784 2763 poor accuracy
57 grains AA 3100: 2708 2665 2696
59 grains Win 780: 2701 2730 2780 MOA
59 grains H4831: 2630 2670 2668
59 grains RL22: 2764 2765 2743 poorest accuracy

I think you still have some room to operate with Ramshot hunter, but I'm not sure I wouldn't buy a couple more kegs of RL17 and not look back.

Expat

I think you're right on that one. Hard not to like top velocity and accuracy.

It may not be the most ideal powder but H4831 has always been my easy "go to" for the 190 Hornady. The IMR version has been my preferred 180 powder since it reaches better speeds. The 190 BTSP Interlocked has been a good moose killer when I've been loaded with that bullet. Never recovered one.

As you mentioned, one three shot group is hardly statistically relevant.

I know that I would be sending ten rounds downrange soonest, all loaded with RL17. And that might well become the only load ever used in that rifle.

But from my own experience, you might also be pleasantly surprised with 4831 of either persuasion as you approach maximum velocity.

IMR4831

check out the pressures listed as MAX loads on the 190 with H4831SC.. they are only about 46,000 CUP, or less!!!

so in other words, there is definitely some work up room...as the 06 is rated at 52 to 55,000 CUPs or so..

don't know why the factory load data is so low on pressure..

but with that powder cranking up the 190s to 2800 to 2850 fps is not real feat.. and its pressure is still below what the 06 is rated at...

Seafire,

The biggest drawback to H4831 and the 190 (in my rifle) was getting enough of it into the case to make that 2800 to 2850 fps you mention.

In a 22 inch barrel, 64 grains only got me to 2775 fps. 60 grains of IMR4831 put me to the same velocity and is a lot easier to get in the case.

I decline to discuss how far I pushed the load and what velocities I achieved with IMR4831. I will say, I sure wish I could have had a Pressure Trace system through the nineties. I still have all my fingers, and both eyes. Though that may be solely due to good fortune.

I've managed to get those velocities in a 1917 Enfield and then a pair of Model 70s with 24 inch barrels..

the Enfield has a military 26 inch barrel...

can't remember if I tested it in the Browning A Bolt, the only 22 inch barreled 06 in the gun cabinet..