Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles OAL on 30/06

I can load my .3082.8 and .2232.260 which is magazine length .Can i load my 30/06 mag length in my howa 1500 with 168 and 150 grainers? Is there a common OAL?

3.34" OAL is standard for the 30-06.

Depending on your magazine and throat geometry you probably have some wiggle room.

I have a pretty short throat on my M70, for instance, 168AMAXs are kissing the lands @3.325".

There is no common OAL for best accuracy.

In my FN mauser a 165 gr Hornady BTSP touches the lands at 3.286". They shoot best/most accurate at 3.265". Other bullets like a 180 gr Partition need to be seated waaay out there.

It always a good idea to measure the distance to lands with each type of bullet in your rifle to see what's up.

YES!!!! +1

I have a 1500 in '06, if I loaded to mag length the ogive would be DEEP into the lands (like not going to chamber deep). I suggest measuring before deciding on a OAL.

Thanks for the help guys,i took a piece of brass and split the neck so the bullet will slide back when chambered.Am i not supposed to lock the bolt all the way closed when doing this ,just push it up flush?

In what position is the bolt when a round is fired?

The tutorial at the top of the page says do it like this.
I tried it both ways though.
Now we need to take a resized, UNPRIMED (as in no primer) case, containing NO POWDER and seat a bullet long. Say .200� longer than book spec for the bullet you are using. Take this dummy round and gently slide it into the chamber. Bring the bolt up VERY gently behind it until you just feel the bullet touch the riflings in the bore. Now take a good rubber band and loop it over the scope and onto the back of the bolt to hold it in a forward position.