Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06.......R22........180's

Alliant list 62 grns of R22 as a low 2700ish FPS load for 180ngrn bullet in 30-06

I have read here that R22 could be the go-to powder for the fastest 180's an old 30-06 could throw.

Surely this is a tame load...or is it?

I get excellent accuracy and a chrono'd 2680 with 61 grains of R22 and 180 grain Hornady out of a 22 inch barrel. The Hodgdon site lists a couple of 4350 loads just shy of 2800. My guess is that's with a 24" barrel. I'm going to stay around 2700; that plenty of kaboom for me.

Hodgdon Data: http://www.hodgdon.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html

I worked up to 61 grains of RL-22 and also got outstanding accuracy with older Speer Grand Slams, but found it to be on the slow side.

I switched to 56gr. of IMR-4350, found the accuracy to be as least as good and velocity better.

I dont have a chronograph, but judging by the trajectories I should be getting right around 2700fps with 57grs PP4000MR and 180 Hor SP, these groups are at 200yds, 48.5grs RE15 is just under 2700 since its hitting 2.1" high at 100yds, but very good accuracy at either distance. 57.5grs H4350 is an excellent choice, too. See targets, its quite impressive. Both 57grs PP4000 and 57.5grs H4350 should be just over 2700fps. The pic that is there is 48.5grs RE15 @100yds if you cant read the target(2.1" high. Um, Im shooting a 22" Model 70.

I get 2755 fps with a Nosler 200 grain Partition with RL-17 in my 06 with a 24 inch barrel.

I have found that with 180s, I can get good accuracy with the RL22-MRP-H4831s, but that if I want more speed (which I'm not sure that I do), I can get it while keeping the accuracy with the 4350s and RL19. In my experience, I would say that the first group is just a bit slow-burning for 180s if top speed is the goal.

I've had great results from my Springfield & Speer 200s running a max load of RL22 from both an accuracy & a velocity standpoint (2600 fps).

In spite of Nosler's load guide info, RL22 & the 165 has not given top velocity, however.

To more directly answer your question, I'd cross-reference that 62 gr max to other available sources of information and most importantly run up a load of your own through your rifle.

Don't forget RS-Hunter, which has given me the best results velocity-wise w/ 165s and runs similar in speed to RL19 but allows for higher load density. Check out John Barsness' article on loading for the '06 where he suggests this powder for that cartridge.

Yes Mr. Thorn that's tame, I run 61 gns. of Rl-22 w/ the 200 gn. NP @2700 from a 24" pre-64 M-70, no high pressure signs in my rifle, pockets tight after 3 loadings.
And just over an inch @100 for 3.

Gunner

My Marlin eats 61grs of Rel-22 with no issues at all and puts the 180gr Nosler Solid Bases into the same hole. Velocity is around 2650 and that is fast enough.

If you load for an '06 you owe it to yourself to go here and study the data:
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/316101735

Granted this was "his" gun and not yours but I can attest to the fact that many of his results mirror "my" personal gun. Also remember that with certain lots of brass it is very possibly NOT TO SEE pressure indicators by looking at brass till you reach 70-75k pressure!!!
AND< please read some of the posts especially the last ones where the tester talks about re17 results.....I find him VERY CREDIBLE.

Whats the charge on that load, Randy? Alliant has a max of 51 for the Speer 200 grainer and 2552. You must have it upwards of 54 or so, huh?

hard to believe these guys that are pushing RE22 with that much powder and not getting as much as a sticky bolt??

I know what you're saying but there are alot of things that come into play. Alot of guns nowadays have a ton of freebore. I've got a 308 rem that darn near matches a 300 wby in that department. Lastly Alliants reloader powders for me seem to have much lot to lot inconsistancy. I've had re19 that was nearly as slow as re22. I know others results may not be the same. I've burned a ton of I7828 over the years and have been astounded by the consistancy from one container to the next.....I never know what to expect out of alliant.

Freebore? My model 70 doesnt know the word, 180 Hor SP set at 3.250" from the book is still very close to the lands,(like maybe .015") but I dont mind, the rifle is a tack driver. Im beginning to think itll outshoot my new Rem SPSS 308.

I have always used RE 19 in my 06' with 180's and run 2790 fps with great accuracy. The case capacity of the 06' generaly gets thin over 60 grains anyway. YMMV

Same here, 59/RL19/180 Nosler Partition in Rem. M-721 for sub-MOA groups and reliable performance on 3 elk and 1 oryx. I didn't chronograph that load, but probably in 2700-2800 neighborhood.

So far, they all have gone in one side of the chest and out the other.

I did try to move up to 60 grains, but accuracy was not as good in my rifle.

Hmmmm. . .maybe I ought to chrono these loads and then really screw myself into a tight spin.

55 grains of RL-17, I have the load posted in the sticky for 30-06 with a picture of a target and group.

Depends on your barrel...maybe and maybe not...

Awhile back I worked RL22 with 165's,and that top load in the Nosler Manual (63 gr IIRC) gave in the 2700's in my barrel....this seemed slow compared to the Nosler data....

I switched to RL19 and wound up at 61-62 gr and velocities in the mid 2900's,where I stopped.

This playing around tends to demonstrate that rifles truly are very different in what is a max charge;and what is a max charge in one won't be true in another....

Also,that data over on AR shows that a 30/06 operated at 65,000 is a bit different than one operated at 55-57000.This I think is why guys scratch their heads at some of these velocities....guys are willing to operate above 60,000 psi.

How much of a given powder does it take to get to those pressures/ Again, it will vary.