Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30.06 load opinion

Hey fellas,

I am looking for some opinion on a load that I am working with. I am loading a 165 grain Sierra Game King SP boat tail with 48 grains of IMR 4064. I am using mostly Hornady Brass with Winchester primers. The gun is a Ruger Ultra Light with the old boat paddle stock. The barrel is only 20 inches and is pretty darn thin. This is the best load that I have ever shot in it. Other loads/ammo have been o.k., but this load clearly shoots the best. From my estimate I believe that it is shooting about 2700 fps. What are your opinions on this on deer sized game. I read that it is not good to push the game king too fast. Any suggestions on how to improve on this load? I have the gun sighted to shoot 1 1/2 high at 100 yards to maximize my range. I will be hunting in Nebraska this fall where shots could exceed 300 yards, but most tend to be in the 150 to 200 yard range.

Have you tried IMR or H4350.

Nope. All that I have tried is IMR 4064.

you probably have room for a couple more grains if you want to. but i bet it'll make em dead if you hit them right

The Sierra book says to limit the load to 48.7 grains. I figure that backing off a little can't hurt too much.

If the load is accurate enough it will be fine. If you are looking for more accuracy I would suggest trying H4350 h414 or Ramshot big game. I think you will find most rifles shoot better as you work toward max. Otherwise if the load you have is shooting well learn it's trajectory and you'll be fine.

WH, as mentioned before, 165gr bullet and a max load of either 4350 with a standard primer is to GOTO load for the '06. It's hard to beat for deer sized game, unless you replaced the GK with the Nosler BT's. A 250 yard sight in should give you better flexibility if your shots could exceed 300 yds.

I have been using IMR 4350 in my .270 WSM with a Nosler Accubond and it shoots VERY well. I will try it in the 30.06 and see what happens. Thanks for the tips guys!

I have been using IMR 4350 in my .270 WSM with a Nosler Accubond and it shoots VERY well. I will try it in the 30.06 and see what happens. Thanks for the tips guys!

The load you have worked up is fine for what you are going to do. If you want I believe you could go up a couple of grains safely.

Use to buy 4064 by the jug. Varget meters better and is temp stable, it is all I use for full power 30'06 (Except 220s that is RE22 country) and 416 and 35Whelen and 30/40 Krag.

For what weight of bullets? OP's asking about 165's. I've had the best luck with numerous rifles using IMR and H4350. A friend who has recently started reloading found that 4064 was a very poor choice for the 30-06 and heavier bullets. I agree that it works well for 150's, but that's about it as far as I'm concerned.

I load 49 grains of Varget for 2825 and 165 grainers. H4350 is faster but not as accurate in my rifles unfortunately.

It may be moot in the grand scheme of things, but with the shorter barrel, I found 4895 gave me better results in the 20" I used to have.

I use the 4350 in my 24" now with 165 SGK's

I would think in this market, you shoot what you can find.

Good thing the '06 will do pretty well with an assortment of powders. Big Game is one of my favorites, and I just so happen to have some...

DF

Well, seeing how the powder supply is, and you already have IMR4350 on hand I'd just try some of that.
It actually gives me best accuracy in a couple of 06s, but all guns have there favorites.

Either IMR or H-4350 are old standby powders used by a lot of people for a long time with 165gr bullets (and many other weights).

Usually between 56-58 grs of IMR4350 and a Win. LR primer will shoot well with most 165-168gr cup & core bullets, including the Sierras, Noslers & Hornadys.
Most books show max. load at about 56.5-57grs, but most of my 06s will go at least to 58grs before showing pressure signs ; but you should start lower and work up looking for pressure and an accuracy node/sweet spot.

If hunting the ranges mentioned, and you don't twist scope knobs, a 200yd zero would work well.
Should put you approx. 1 3/4" high at 100yds, dead on at 200 & about 8-9" low at 300yds depending on the elevation & weather conditions.
Good Luck
-Ted

What's to improve?

Seriously put a bunch of those loads & a big load of water filled recyclables into your vehicle & cruise into the country. Scatter the targets across a field from 50-300 yds, and engage.

For me that is where I learn what I need to know. Chronographs be damned.

My 165 load in fact is a grain over hunting1's. Sierra 165s also 165 BTips's for 2880fps and 2840fps respectivly, this is a tick over published loads and fired from my 700 Mt Gun 22" barrel. I now shoot 130 TTXs 55.5gr or 150TTXs over 51.0 Gr, flatter shooting and even more accurate at 300 yards. But, of course, that is MY GUN and in no way something to just "try". As always, use every caution and do not substitute anything ever or trust anyone's loads in your rifle. The Sierra people have always been kind and helpful, but I have not needed to call them in a while. My first jug of 4064 was burned in a 22/250 and a 17 Remington in , well let's see 1978. Used 4064 in a 338 SAKO carbine to elk hunt with (Wooter's load) with 210 partitions. It is really too fast for general 338 work, BTW but a jug of powder to a college kid was one of my few possessions. Lost it in the apartment one time. My girlfriend was dusting and moved it off the top shelf in the closet on to the WATER HEATER! Jeeze.

According to Hodgdon you are 1 full grain under Minimum for the 165gr Sierra GK, so I would not go any lower than your 48gr.

Hodgdon lists 49gr at 2752 with a 24 inch barrel.

Hornady lists your 48gr at 2700 with a 24 inch barrel.

Lyman 48 lists 47gr at 2495 with a 24 inch barrel.

Plugging these velocities and barrel lengths into Quickload I came up with an estimated velocity with your 20 inch barrel at 2525-2575fps.

Ballistic calculators, 1.5 inches high at 100 yards will yield about a 13-14 inch drop and 300 yards.

If you you are going to shoot that far with this weak load, you may want to set up a Chrony and get "actual" velocities. Or better yet, test it at 300 yards, and know for sure how much drop this weak load actually has.

+1 My go to load as well