I got ready to load up some 30-06's today with a Hornady 165 grain bullet. My powder list showed that I had a couple of pounds of IMR4350, which is what I was going to use. When I go to pulling it out, I can only find one pound, and not knowing when I'll find anymore, I don't want to use it up, as I also use IMR4350 in the 243, and I'll shoot more 243's than 06's. So, here's what I'm asking, of the powders I have plenty of which would work better............H4350, Hunter, Big Game, maybe even W760 or Staball? What about other's that I don't have listed?

I load H4350 for my 30-06 165gr load.

I also use H-4350 for 165 gr '06 loads.

I've gotten good loads with H4350 and Big Game.

H4350 here, too. Big Game second.

Ed

H4350 was what I used most but lately have been using Big Game and Staball 6.5 with good groups.

I use IMR 4350, wouldn’t mind trying the H version. I mostly use 150 partition bullets.

I think the IMR 4350 is starting to become avail. I picked up 2 lbs at the LGS and have seen it on some of the web sites.
Have a great day.
Jim

I have H-4350 and Hunter both are excellent in the 30-06

H4350 and IMR 4451.

Me and Mary Mary, Quite Contrary use 4064..... 3031 second along with IMR 4895... honorable mention to RL 15.

I’ve used Big Game for 150 & 165g & Hunter with 180’s as MuleDeer recommended in GG 1 - both worked well but I stuck with IMR 4350 only because I’d accumulated a bunch of it.

I found 55g of Big Game / 165g Horn Interlock to be safe & accurate in my gun. Wasn’t a max load just pleasant and accurate.

Of those not listed, R-17 is my favorite if you can find some. 56.5 gr R-17 is a near max load in my rifle pushing them at 2870 FPS. 55 gr proved the most accurate in another rifle pushing at 2820 FPS.

RL16 worked pretty nice for me with 165’s as well.

H4350, Big Game, and H760 will all work well. If I’m not using H4350 with 165s in my 30-06s, then it’s RL17.

IME 3031, 4895, and 4064 work well with 150gr, but are not as good as those listed above with 165s.

Thanks to everyone that responded. I'm new to loading for the 30-06, even though I've been reloading for almost 50 years. This is going to be some ammo I'm loading for a "just in case I need it" type of scenario. Since I have plenty of H4350, I'll probably use that, although I'm tempted to use some Shooters World Long Rifle powder that I bought when everything else was hard to find.

All the powders you have will work, but the '06, 165s and 4350 are like peanut butter, jelly and cold milk!

Normally, I use H4350 with 180 gr. bullets in the 30-06. I prefer the "H" version over the "IMR" but either one will work just fine. I did play with W760 and the Nosler 165 gr. Accubond and it did a very nice job on a cow elk hunt. Just one shot and done. Rl17 is said to work nicely in the 30-06 but I'm saving my supply for use in a 7x57 Mauser.

FWIW, the W760 load is the 165 gr. Nosler Accubond, 56.0 gr. W760, Winchester (WW) brass and the Winchester WLR primer. Velocity was 2880 FPS average from my 24" barrel and accuracy on average ran .75" from the bench.

The elk was about 100 yard out quartering away from me when I shot. The bullet hit at the short ribs and traveled through the left lung. The elk went about thirty or so feet in a half circle and expired. The bullet was not recovered.

Another load I like in the 06 is the 180 gr. Hornady Spire Point over 57.0 gr. H4350 for a solid 2750 FPS in my rifle. Brass and primer are the same as in the W760/165 gr. load. Different rifle from the one using the 165 gr. load as it has a 22" barrel.
Paul B.

Two loads for you that have worked well out of my 30-06's with 165gr bullets are 55.5grs of Big Game and 59.5grs of Hunter.

4064, 4895, and Varget for me. Not going for the Nth Degree of performance/efficiency, just accuracy, and these powders deliver it. Besides, whatever .30-06 ammo on my shelf has to be compatible with the Garands if I get a wild hair and feel like shooting it.

this

Dave Emary has posted that the original Hornady M1 Garand match load was 46.5 grains of Varget under a 168 grain Amax.

A friend of mine was getting started with a Ruger American in 30-06 and bought several factory loads to try out. I put together a box of the Emary load for him using the Hornady BTHP instead of the Amax. Did my usual procedures for low runout. After the range trip my friend told me that was the best grouping ammo he'd ever shot.

RE15, RE17, RE19 all work well for me

Using my Weatherby 30/06 6 Lug. I got the following.

RL26 using 165gr TBBC 3027 FPS

Norma MRP 165gr Ballistic tip. 3010 FPS

RL16 using 165gr Accubonds 2987 FPS

RL17 using Barnes TTSX 2914 FPS

Norma MRP was most accurate, followed by RL16, RL17 load could have been a little hotter. AS usual RL26 gave top speed.

H414

Coincidentally that's the load of Varget I use with 168 Sierra Matchkings and 165 BTHP's.

Some where between 56.5-57.0 grain IMR 4350, about any lr primer, any 165grain bullet. Done. Go forth and kill stuff. Easiest combo out there.

Look at the top of this sub-forum, second thread down.


HORDES of loads in that sticky-thread, very easy to forget it's there, done it myself.

Agree with DaddyRat IMR 4350 produced the best accuracy for me along with DRT killing power on whitetails. It is my go to load for deer hunting with the .30-06.

Got that right.

The 30 06 is boring... deadly boring... 57gr H4350 and the original 165 X bullet killed lots of elk, same with the TSX, HNDY interlock shoots same poi for deer.

Kent

Ahh, but another factor to consider in choosing between the slow burning powder and the medium burning ones is that with 10 grains less powder per charge, every four or five cartridges you load in effect you get a free one. A not inconsequential matter in this day and age. More bangs for the buck.

I am shooting 58.0 grs of H4350, Lapua brass and Fed primers. Getting 2850 fps with a 22" barrel and Barnes 168 TTSX. Rifle is a mid 70's 700 BDL that I bought new. Hitting steel plates out to 550 yards. All original except that I free floated the barrel, bedded the lug and swapped triggers.

Check the sticky above for many `06 loads.

How big?


Sorry, had to ask.

8” plates. Should have added that.

I'd like to get a few of the guys from my deer camp out to the range. It might be thought provoking for them to go to work on an 8" plate at only 300 yards.

Win 760 and H 414 are the same thing. When I was doing a lot of shooting I wanted a powder that worked well thru a measure. Those being ball powders they worked fine. They also seemed to Mirror IMR 4350 in performance. In fact I would say they are the ball version. I found before H 450 was discontinued it duplicated H 4831. Hasbeen

When I joined the range where I shoot, I was quite content at 300 but that lasted a few weeks. The 1000 yard section is nearing completion and I can’t wait to jump into that.

Shooting at distance has become an eye opener on many levels.

I also agree with this but would consider up to 58.0gr on the high end.

I like the temp stability of H4350 for 165s in the 30.06. My load is 58.0gr and a 165gr Accubond. Vel= 2860fps.

My favorite is RL-16….57.5gr w/ 165gr Accubonds. Vel= 2950 fps(24” barrel)

Both loads shoot 3 shots well under an inch at 100 yds.

Leftybolt