Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles the boring old .30-06 ...

OK ... picked up my first reloading manual the other day, and have been reading it, thumbing thru, just trying to get familiar with what's in there (besides load data charts). I had posted a while back about 'taking the plunge' into reloading, and got lots of great advice, but of course, I can still use more (can't we all?) ...

So, what I'd like to do is ask for some of you guys to list your favorite loads for the '06. Preferrably, I'd like you to list all the details ... brass, powder, primer, bullet, etc. because I'm very new to this, and need all the possible info I can get.

To help you guys out in what you want to list (if anything), here's what I've got... I have a CZ 550 w/ a 23.6" barrel, 4 lands/grooves, 1:10 twist, typical sporter contour. It's never really that cold here in southern Louisiana (meaning, I dont have to deal w/ extreme cold temps with regards to powder burning) ... I will be using this '06 for mid to long range shots (150yards - 300yards), mostly from some sort of stand. (I'll be doing my ground hunting and/or stalking w/ my .30-30) Our deer are not huge, but they are not tiny ... doe run the 80-120lb range, and nice bucks from 180-220lbs.

If left simply up to me, I'd probably choose 165gr projectiles, but I'm perfectly open to anywhere from 150-180 ... In fact, I know I'll end up going with whatever load is most accurate out of my rifle. So far, I've only shot factory fodder, many different brands and weights, and for the most part this rifle is a 1 to 1.5 MOA rifle, so I'm hoping that the handloading will get it to consistently be a 3/4 to 1 MOA rifle, if not better.

Thanks in advance to all who post loads for me to try ... I only have a few more reloading tools to acquire before I can start 'rolling my own' ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Favorite loads for several decades
1. hunting
Win case primer 58gr 4350 165 Nosler.
2. targets
any case primer 46gr 4064 168 Sierra Matchking.
-Doc-

My rifle is the older version of yours,zkk-600. I used IMI brass and 59grs. of rl-22 with a 180 gr. nosler partition or speer hot-cor with winchester primers. I got 2757 f.p.s. with that load. It was a good deer slayer.

I use 58 grains IMR 4350 with 165 nosler partitions and 165 hornady interlocks with tremendous accuracy. 5 shots at 200 yards at 2-2.25 inches.

For the smallish deer you are hunting, I would suggest a 150 partition or Interlock at about 2900 fps. Try IMR 4350 and a CCI 200 primer -- any case is fine. Load up from 57 - 59 grains. The max for my rifle was 60.5 and I was getting about 3050 fps. That's way more than you need. And it may be too warm in your particular rifle. My wife and daughter are using the 150 nosler with a Fed 210 primer an 46 grains of IMR3031 for a velocity of 2840 fps, and they both killed deer at just under 200 yards last fall with one shot. The doe was right around 170 pounds dressed, and the buck was a little bigger - mayber 180. My buck went well over 200 pounds last year and the year before I got a ten point that went 300.

shootist ... please export some of those crazy big canadian deer down here please ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

also, so far, thanks to all of you for your input ... much obliged.

W760 has also done some wonderful things for me with 165's, about 56 grains should work.

H4350 gives sub moa groups with bullet weight's from 150-180 gr's in my M70 while being temperature stable... I'd look no further than that powder.

I was told any 4350 and Hornady 165 FBs.

How about 58ish grains of H4350 pushing 168 TSX 2900-2950. There is no animal falling within the range where 30 cal makes sense that can't be cleanly taken with that load............

58.5 grns. H4350 and 165 Hornnady IB's @ 2800 fps gave me 4 out of 5 shots that I could cover with a dime last week. Great terminal performance on pigs.

Primers are Federal 210's

Cases are Lupau.

Good shooting to ya.. BP...

Win Brass, Win Lg Primer, 165 Hornady SST w/ 54.0 or 57.0 grains of H414. This load will do 1 moa or better consistently. The other one is Win Brass, Win Lg Primer, Hornady 165 BTSP Interlok w/ 55.5 of H414. Esox357

I've had good luck with IMR4350 and RL 19 using both 165 & 180's. Partial to Partitions but any bullet that expands well works fine on deer in a 30 caliber at '06 velocity.

If I were in your shoes and looking for a deer load, I'd look no further than 165gr. Hornady SPs and H4350. I'd figure on 56-58gr. giving me all I'd ever need in a deer load, best of luck to ya.

Sounds like you made a very good choice in the CZ / .30-06 setup. I also believe that you are on the right track with the 165 grain bullet. I know lots of people don't, but I really like Nosler ballistic Tips for deer. THe 165 grain BT will make you a death ray for whitetails at the ranges you describe. If you don't particularly like the BT's then just pick the 165 grain bullet that trips your trigger and you should be good to go!

Well, let me join the ranks of the 4350/165's ranks. I've shot mostly the IMR version, but will be trying the H version soon. I shoot Ballistic Tips on my Georgia whitetails, and it's pure poison.

The 150 grainers have also responded well to 4350 also, and some of the 150's open quicker than the 165's - something that I think helps put 'em in their tracks a bit better sometimes, again for our southern whitetails.

I've also shot a case full of H-4831 with the 180 flat base Hornadys, and it was amazingly accurate in the one gun I tried it in, but the expansion was more "controlled" than I wanted so I went with the 165's and 150's, shooting whichever shot best for me in the several '06's I've had through the years.

If for some reason one of the 4350's doesn't work with your rifle, I'd try IMR-4064, and if that won't shoot with the 150's or 165's, I'd have the bedding checked out. It just shouldn't be hard to work up a really good load in an '06. It ain't flashy like the WSM's, but it'll hold more ammo in the magazine, and you won't really notice anything special it's lacking in the field either, when compared to the WSM's, etc.

Darn good round, and she just doesn't get the respect this grand ol' lady's due any more ... at least except for those who still use her, of course. With all the "wonder bullets" out there now, and improvements in powders, she's even better now than she used to be when she was widely, almost universally recognized as the "do anything" caliber, and folks didn't know any better than to go out and slay great beasts with her. Sad to see the old gal abandoned for those flashy new calibers, with their painted lips and high dollar hairdos. The .308 may have taken the moniker of being "most accurate .30" from her, but she'll STILL make a good man's brows rise if fed and handled properly.

She's reliable and as trouble free as a caliber can be for most purposes. Darn fine recommendation if you ask me.

I am using some PMP brass that was once fired in my rifle so here is my recipe

PMP brass
H4895 47 gr
CCI 200 primer
trim to standard book length
150 gr Winchester Western Power pointed bullets.

180/4350 is a classic and only beats 165/4350 for really big game. The Partition will open on deer and punch completely through a mud-caked hog. There is a sweet spot at 57.5 grs; 58 is max in most rifles. In the nightmare scenario of having to stop a charging nutria, the faster 165 may edge out the 180.

Okie John

Blackwater - well said. Best, John

WGM

I was playing with the 130gr Barnes XLC in the 30-06. I would never use such a light bullet except for the fact that its an X derivative and should retain almost all its weight.

The only problem i had with it was that it didnt shoot too well, but i believe Barnes is making a TSX version which could shoot better. I used the max load from a load chart in the package of bullets which was different from their reloading manual #3 it listed a max load of 57.5grs of IMR 4064 at a stated velocity of 3,396fps. This load was hot, and i wonder about its velocity and pressure, in the manual they listed a max load of 54.5grs @ 3,261fps of IMR 4064.

If your wondering about the penetration abilities of this bullet, i have read on the net of people using this combo for moose with complete penetration and quick deaths. It should be awesome for deer and i would still like to see what it does on deer.