Mods...I'd like to start a 'pet loads' thread for 30/06s, similar to the one for 308 win. Would you sticky?

57grs of IMR4350 and Hornady 165gr SP or Nosler Accubond 165gr.

That was the load I was using until I chronoed it at 2668fps. Now I am using 59.5 gr IMR 4350 and getting 2828fps out of my 22" barreled Ruger. IMR lists 60.0 grains as max.

52 grains of IMR4064 and a 150.

Very interesting whit. I'm using 57 gr. of IMR 4350 in front of a 165 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip and my chrono reads 2852 average velocity for a 10 shot string from my 22" M70 FWT Classic SS. Must be the slow barrel/fast barrel thing. I've never gone past 57 gr., it's taken deer out to 425 yds down to 7 yds with no trouble or complaints with a 165 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip. I also average just over 2800 fps with 56 gr. of H380 in the same rifle. Both loads shoot under an inch at 100 yds with a BT, AB, or PT 165 gr. bullet. The IMR 4350 load is what we use in my father's and BIL's .30-06 rifles as well. 3.389" OAL on the tip.
Selmer

Old load that still works good!

My .30-06 Pet Loads are for 3 rifles:

57/4320/130 Hornady SP 3047 fps R-P brass, CCI LR primers.
56/4320/150 Nosler Solid Base 3006 fps R-P brass, CCI LR.
62/H-205/150 Nosler BT 3025 fps R-P brass, CCI LR.
59/H-205/165 Hornady SPBT 2952 fps W-W brass, CCI LR.
58/IMR4350/165 Nosler Part 2944 fps W-W brass, CCI LR.
61/R-19/165 Nosler Part 2935 fps W-W brass, CCI LR.
60/N-204/180 Nosler Part 2811 fps Fed brass, CCI LR.

Now, my main '06 is a tang Ruger 77, but these have also proved reliable in a Howa 1500 and occasionally in a Sako.

You should use your own criteriae and good sense in your own rifles.

59.0 gr. H4831sc and a 180 grain boolit of your choice...
Ingwe

We use 180 loads,that way they are good for either mule deer,elk, or moose.The one that if you truly lucky and works for the rifle is 61gr of RL-22 and a Accubond,it's both less than 60,000PSI and over 2800,about the only load that does that. Having said,I don't have any RL-22 and use N-560 instead. Five of the six 30-06s my sons and I have use some sort of 4350.

What I have found for '06s with Varget:

130s like 53 grains +- i grain depending on the rifle
150s like 51 grains +- .5 grains depending on the rifle

All of them I have worked up fall right on those numbers and group into an inch. Because I use Barnes bullets, the hard part is now seating depth. Take a Speer flat base 150 seat it at 3.200 over 51.5 Varget and seven out of ten rifles that can group into an inch will. The other three might need a little more or less powder.

165 Hornady flatbase: 60.0 Hunter, Win cases and Fed 210 primers chronys at 2850-2875 fps. 180 Hornady/Nosler partition: 57.0gr H-4350, same components chronys 2750 fps[this load out of my#1B]. Tom

One of the 4350's will serve you well.

Read JB's article:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/newsletters/May_2009.html

+1 I've been using that load for 40 years. I flirted briefly with IMR-4350, but the 4064 load was always more accurate and good for over 2900 fps from a 24-inch barrel. Most rifles will shoot it under MOA.

150 gr Accubond over 59 gr of IMR-4350.

165 gr Accubond over 58.5 gr of H4350

58ish gr of H-4350 and 165s

A good mild load is 48.5gr of H-4895 and 150s

A little slower load that is also very accurate and has mild recoil is 50 grains of 4064 with a 150. I'm using Sierra Pro Hunters with Win. LR primers. I got 2825fps out of a 22" barrel on a hot day last summer. That seems a little quick, my notes confirm it but I think I'll chrony it again. Anyway, it's accurate and I can shoot it all day.

58.5 IMR 4350,150 Fed 215M primer....

mathman, Calif hunter: That load of 52.0gr IMR 4064/150 bullet knocked over my first 3 mulies! It is a VERY accurate load. But was I satisfied? Oh, hell no!! I had to try other stuff. Ain't it fun? Tom

Anyone using H414? I'm loading a few 150's with it, starting at 54 grains toward a max of 60 according to Hodgdon data. What kind of velocity can I expect with a 24" barrel?

The load that I found when I first started reloading was

150 gr SP, RP cases, CCI-200, and 52 gr RL-15

The 165 load that shoots really well out of my M-1996 Mauser is

165 gr SST, RP cases, CCI-200, and 61 gr RL-19 (chronos up to 2950 fps)

The load that I worked up for pigs was

180 gr RN Interlock, RP cases, CCI-200, and 54 gr H-414 (I did this to burn up the last of my supply of that powder, and while it worked ok accuracy-wise my rifle is capable of better, I just haven't gotten around to playing with it much yet)

I'm currently playing with a new rifle and experimenting w/ H-4895 and 165s, as well as RL-15 and 165s. Based upon what I've seen so far the H-4895 is going to be no-more in my cabinet and a 5lb cannister of RL15 will be on the "to buy" list.

RL15 is da bomb in so many cartridges that I've taken to using it even when another powder might give more FPS. It is very consistent accuracy-wise, and that is my standard for most loads.

I use it for 150 and 180 grain bullets, along with IMR4350. I also use IMR4064 with 150 grain bullets.

190HdyBTSP over 55grs of IMR4831 for 2700ish

I use 56.5 grs IMR 43350 and Hornady 165 btsp.
I chronyied these @ 2886 fps from a 22" Browning Safari grade.
This load at 300 yds. seems to outperform the .270 loads I was shooting.
Whodathunkit?
whelennut

Why wouldn't a .30-06 outperform ANY .270 load!

R15 and the 125 TNT

57/IMR 4350 with a 165 Sierra HPBT

IMR 4350 and a 180 Horn sp or Nozler Pt @ 26550-2700

I could easily take one very good .06 and hunt the world with this combo and never once worry. Course I'd worry less if it were a .270....grin

Dober

This load has shot well,under 1 1/2MOA, in every 30-06 (7)it has been tried in,54.0gr H-4350 and Hornady fb 180gr. I went on a search for the "One Load fo All the 30-06s",this was as close as I got.

O! You blasphemer!

I have a couple faves.

1. 57 gr of H414 with a 168 TSX - very accurate, and kills well.

2. 60 gr H4831SC with a 180 partition -- scary accurate!

3. 58 gr H4831SC with a 200 Accubomb.

Can anybody with the current nosler book share the IMR 4350 data for the 165 g AB/BT bullets please.

Can anybody with the current nosler book share the IMR 4350 data for the 165 g AB/BT bullets please. [/quote]

The Nosler #6 shows IMR4350 as their most accurate powder with 165-168 bullets. Starting at 53 grains and hitting 57 grains with 57 being their most accurate charge with this weight.

I've loaded this, but have not yet taken an animal with it.

Expat

61.0-62.0 gr's H4350 and 150's.
58.5-59.5 gr's H4350 and 165's.
57.0-58.0 gr's H4350 and 180's.

57 gr H414 168 Barnes TSX 2900
Randy

For the last 50 years my go to 30-06 load has been 57gr IMR4350 behing whatever 165gr bullet I happen to be favoring at the moment and Rem brass. CCI LR primers. Its fetched everything I've sent it after so I haven't seen any reason to change.

57.5 gr H4350 and a 165 B tip or like

55 to 59 gr of 4831 and a 180 boolit

100% agree on load #.2.

52/4064/good 150 gr bullet (Sierra, NBT, etc.); consistently the first load I've used to determine if a 30-06 would shoot. Over 20 30-06 rifles over 35 years and it has always held true. This may not be the bullet weight you want, but you have a starting point in terms of the rifle's accuracy or lack thereof.

57.5/IMR 4350/165 gr Nosler Partition; one of the best hunting loads for 30-06 I've ever seen, accurate as well in most rifles. Many DRT on deer, including several very large mule deer, complete penetration through chest of elk (x2).

55/IMR4350/180 gr. Nosler Partition; outstanding accuracy, great killing power on large animals.

I use the same bullets but in front of H4350, good accuracy and outstanding on game.

58 grains H4350
CCI 200
180 Acccubond
Wiinchester Brass
Velocity 2816
Seated .03 off the Lands

You drive a strong argument!

JW

58-58.5 grs. of Ramshot Hunter, WW cases and primers over either the 180 gr. Nosler Partition or the 180 gr. SRA GameKing. Can go to 60 grs. w/o pressure signs, but 61 grs. with the SRA bullet shows a trace of pressure on a warm day.
Accuracy runs .77 MOA with 58.5 grs. and the NP, and .84 w/ the SRA bullet at 58 grs.
With the 168 gr. TSX, H4350, I'm getting .57 for 57 grs. and .47 for 58 grs. Do watch the seating depth w/ this bullet. The above were loaded to 3.25 COL. At 3.30 COL, I blew out a primer with the first shot with only 57 grs.......
Have not tested for top end in either the NP or the 168 gr. TSX loads. E

I'm with Alaskacub. My load is 57.5 H4350 with the 180 Accubond. Very accurate although I have not used this particular load on any critters. I know the 225 accubond out of my whelen does nicely on black bears and a 140 accubond out of the 270 works great on deer and antelope. Can't imagine why the 180 accubond wont be perfection on elk. I will let you know in a couple of months.

just got back from testing some loads
57.5grs of H4350 with 180gr sirrra 2150's very accurate under an inch win case fed 210 primer

still out though for Hunter tried 58 and 58.5 but was shooting in like what i guess to be a steady 15mph head wind. coming from my
1 o'clock i will try for a calmer day and try it again.

for now though i am loading up 300 or so of the 57.5 of H4350.

Don't know how I missed this thread, but I'm glad it's here.

I am really surprised that I am pretty much a vox clemartis in deserto recommending 200gr. bullets. Lots of good ones...Nosler, TSX, A-Square, others too. Velocity decreases; mass does not.

Greatest rifle caliber ever invented, IMO.

This subject goes back to 1903, its addressed in every reloading book ever produced, but everything here is good, just repitition..

I use 3 powders in the 30-06, that being some old surplus Milsurp 4831, IMR-4064, and H-414, but there are many others that work geat..I like the 180 gr. Nosler bullet for anything I shoot with it. I have no objection to 150 and 165 gr. bullets. I think the 200 gr. bullets are a tad heavy and see no improvement on game over the 180s...I do see a sugnificant improvement on game with the 200 gr. bullets in my 300 H&H so I mostly load my 06 with 180 Noslers at 2700 FPS and my 300 H&H with 200 gr. Nosler at 3000 FPS

RP brass, WLR primers, moly 168 TTSX, 54.0 grains of RL-15, 3.495" COAL (yes, Remington factory chamber, and that puts me square into the lands). 100 round average is 5/8".

I can like it.

My 30 06 likes 165 Gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and IMR 4350.

H414 150gr Sierra GK 56.0
Varget 110gr Speer HC 56.0
I4350 180gr eTip 52.0
H4895 150gr Sierra GK 47.0

The 180gr eTip is 1 full grain below Hodgdon's starting load. That bullet is so long that it generates higher pressures.

I haven't used the chronograph on the 110gr Speer HC, but the charge is 1 full grain above the Hodgdons starting load. It was a very accurate load both shots touching each other and no adjustment was needed to the scope that was setup for a 150gr load. After two rounds the barrel needed a rest. Of course it was probably over 100 degrees that day. I developed this load for Javelina before I switched over to HAM hunts.

Do you get the feeling that there aren't really too many bad powder bullet combinations in the 30-06?

I use H-4350 with my 165 gr Noslers and IMR-4064 with the 150 gr. They work great. But I'd load many other powders and get similar results.

I was going to load up some Barnes XLC 180gr BT for my 06 tonight. Going to try I4350, H4350 and N160.

I'll report back on Sunday.

It will be over kill for antelope next week but its the only bullets I have sitting around for my 06.

Anybody try 180s....either the Speer SPBT or the Sierra Gameking BTSP with RL-22???

I have been using 57-58 grains of IMR 4350 with exceptional results, wanted to try the RL-22 cause if it works as well as I hope, I'll be a 1 powder man. My 7 mag absolutely loves it.

Thanks in advance,
David

I'm seeing a few Varget loads but they seem to be limited to lighter bullets. Anyone use it for 165/168 gr. pills?

I had ok results with Varget and 165gr pills.

My favoriet load is 61 grs RL22, Fed 210, Fed Brass, 165 NP. It clovers all day, good velocity, and the few animals have dropped. I am still playing with 180-loads. I have not been able to get my rifles to shoot well with H4350 for some reason and I have a bunch of it.

I have 3-06's, just need more tags!

if you want to get rid of some H4350 i have family in Albuquerque

4831 SC will give some strong velocities with heavier than 180 grain bullets...'max loads' listed by Hodgdon are really only in the 44 to 45,000 psi range...

there are some rewards to working up...

another sleeper powder with 150 grain loads and down is 3031..

I play with a lot of load development...

but then in the field... I sure have used a lot of IMR 4064, IMR 4895... with velocity in the 2400 to 2500 fps range...as where I hunt I seldom need max velocity out of a rifle... but it is a good thing to know where it is, in case you ever do need it...

150's with 52grs of IMR 4064

Hard to beat that load Stan.

It's solid. I quit worrying, tweaking my 30/06 20+ years ago with it....CCI 200 lg rifle primers, Rem brass and a Nosler Partition or Hornady Interlock have the same POI. Why waste time trying to improve that?

Cloverleaf at 100.

Kilt somewherer's between 50 and 100 big game critterz with 53 Gr. of IMR 4064 under 150 gr. PSP core-lokts. I buy em in bulk by the thousand or 500's, cheaper that way and they will shoot MOA outa the 308 just as well.
Last one was a deer Friday morning.
52 gr and your brass will last longer probably, and the critters will never know the difference. Reckon I am just stuck in a load I have used about 30 years, but it has worked so well, for so long I am not changing now, and I have lots of brass.

700LH, I've considered those bulk Rem purchases for years, but always went with Hornady Interlocks.....those core-lokts still as good today as they were 10-15 years ago?

I have wondered that myself since Remington introduced the new Premier, ultra-bonded, Core-lokt. I have not shot any game with regular Core-lokts made since the new bullets were introduced, as I am still hunting with bullets I have on hand.
My guess is they are the same bullet as before, that the new one's are just bonded a little better to compete with other company's premium offerings.
It is so rare for me to recover a bullet a guy would almost need to do testing to really know.

A writer for a magazine should do this, it would make a interesting article.

59gr imr4350
150gr accubomb
r 9 1/2
RP brass

I've got two loads worked up right now for my pre-64 win70 .30-06.

The first one uses 58 grs. of H4350 and 165 gr. Horn. Interbonds. This gives me about 2850 fps and sub MOA accuracy.

The second uses 56 grs. of IMR4350 and 165 gr. Ballistic Tips. This gives me a tad better than 2800 fps and is considerably more accurate than the 57 gr. load I maxed out at.

Both of these use Fed210M's in Lapua brass and are both loaded to .020" off the lands.

56 grains H4350
180 grain Interlock
Mixed brass
Winchester Large Rifle primers
I get 2675 fps out of an older model 700 BDL.

59 grains MR-3100
150 Winchester Power Point
Super X brass
Winchester Large Rifle primers
2669 fps

42 grains IMR-3031
170 Nosler Solid Base FP
LC'67 brass
CCI 200 primers
2349 fps

Both loads shoot 1.5" or less in both my '06's, are pleasant to shoot, and work well on W/T deer. I never have an opportunity to shoot futher than 100 yards where I hunt, so I don't need the horsepower of the max. loaded .30'06.

I've used 54.5g of IMR 4350 and a 165gr bullet to take most of my deer with one rife (760), one load. I now load 56g of H4350 and a Hornady 165gr flat base for my M70.

I am trying to work up a load that would duplicate the remington reduced recoil 30/06 round any information or recipes would be appreciated
thanks

tinknocker,
What I have used for my sons is the 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip for the 30-06 reduced load.
Another option is to load the 30/30-06. I use 150 gr RN 30/30 bullets and IMR 4759 to get 2400 fps. You can also use the 170 gr flat nose @ 2200 fps. The Speer manual will list the powder charge.
These are very low recoil loads and quite accurate in a bolt action with a scope.
whelennut

Did some shooting yesterday with my sporterized M1917 Enfield with a load that I found a couple years ago for it.

165gr Hornady SP
58gr IMR 4831
R-P cases
WLR primers

The old guy (made July, 1918) will put three into 1/2" group at 100 yards on a regular basis. This is with an old (dare I say?) Bushnell Banner 3-9X scope and original military trigger.

FYI,
My rifle is Winchester 70 ( 30-06 )with an Elite 4200 3-9x40mm
I just did one simple test for fun.
I take 10 case, put WinLargeRifle primer.
I take a Look on different reloading data, and notice there almost the same for the H-4350 and the IMR 4350.
So, I put 59.5gr of each one in 5 case.
and seat over it a 165gr Nosler Bal-tip, COL: 3.250 inch.
I placed 2 target at 100 yard, and fire one round of H-4350 on the left target, and one of the IMR-4350 on the right one.
After all the 10 round were fired, i went to target to notice a huge difference.
The Load with the H-4350, give me a spread group of 2 3/4 inch.
the Load with the IMR-4350 give me a tight group of 3/4 inch. ( WOW )
Now the Speed:
H-4350 = 2865 fps
IMR-4350 = 2885 fps.

Notice else to say, in my rifle, the IMR 4350 is the one she love!!!

Hey!!!! Bienvenue autour du feu de camp mon ami!!!!.....

(Hey, Welcome around the campfire my friend)

I clocked my 56gr H4350 and 165gr bullet 30-06 load last Sat. and got 2800 fps + with the 24" barrel. I don't reckon I need more powder.

I load 57 gr of IMR4350 with a Hornady 165 BTSP and get right on 2800 ft/sec. I used to load 58.5 gr of IMR4350 with the same bullet for 2892 ft/sec. It was accurate as all get out, and killed moose well.

Now I use 57 gr of H414 and a 168 TSX. Very accurate and kills well. Velocity @ 2900 ft/sec.

First 30-06 load that I chrony'd was a mid charge of IMR-4350 and 165gr Hornady SPs. This was out of a Remmy 760 pump (probably looks familiar). Anyway, it shot 1" groups like butter but clocked 2675 fps. I found this out after I already shot a deer with that load so it was to late to "fix" things.

59 grs. og RL-22 and a 180 gr. speer hot cor. 2757 f.p.s.

57grs of W760 and 165gr bullets

Prolly get ya about the same as my 57 gr of H414 with the same bullets.

Prolly, but I didn't read through all of them.

Neither did I, but 760 and 414 are pretty similar, aren't they?

Peas in a pod.

Ya'll reckon? Damned straight they are exactly the same from the same dadgum production line.

Of course, I'm going just from memory.

55 grains of IMR4350 with 165s clocked at 2750 in a 24 incher. Fast enough so far, saves powder and my barrel.

I have 3 favorite 30-06 loads:

150s - 52/4064
165s - 57.5/IMR 4350
180s - 55/IMR 4350

60 grains of Rel 19 and a 168 Barnes TSX boattail...shoots well in my son's lefty Ruger M77 and shot VERY well in a Sako M995 I had last year...plan to try it in my Pre'64 M70 Fwt....

I have been using the same recipes as Dave. Tried something a little different this year. I bought a custom FN lightweight '06 last year. Had to tweak it a little - replaced the follower (it had a magnum follower)and my gunsmith kissed the chamber with a finish reamer (it was way too tight, never finished). I sighted it in with some Sierra Game King 165 HPs over 56 grains of H414. They'd been sitting on my shelf for several years. Shot .60 at 100 yards for 3 shots. Consistently. Sierra told me the 165 GK HP's were a tough bullet and to put it in the shoulder. I tried them on deer Monday for the first time. It was a neck shot or nothing on an 8 pt. at something over 100 yds. Entrance was .308 and the exit was about 2.5". He proceeded to roll half way down into the hollow. If anyone else has used the 165 GK HP on deer I'd like to know what your experiences were. My sample of 1 may just have been pure luck and I have more hunting to do. Rooster

W760/H414 (same powder) or 4350 behind a 168 TTSX or 168 TSX should hold MOA or better and will kill anything in lower 48,

They are close but manuals show different loads as top end
Randy

medicman,

They are the same powder. What you are seeing for different charge weights would be the difference in lots (same powder though) or the differences in the pressures in the barrels tested.

Have a Great Day

slasher

I get the same velocity from a 22 1/2" barrel and a .308win using 46grains of Varget behind a 165grn SST. You might want to try a diffrent powder mate.

56.0 grains of H-414 (MAX LOAD) gives 2,899 from a 24-inch barrel with a 165-gr Sierra BTSP, at 48,700 CUP, in the older Hodgdon manual.

25 fps behind it is 50.5 gr of Varget.
70 fps behind it is 55.0 gr of W-760, 57.0 gr of IMR-4350 or H-4350.

These are all the book MAX LOADS.

How can folks get 20 pages on loading a 30-06 or a .308. both shoot about anything you can squeeze in them...

That's a fact.
They were figured out long ago.

I shoot 1/2 inch groups with the old 1917 loaded with 57 grains of IMR 4350 and the old style 165 grain solid base noslers.

I tried 12 loads for the 30-06 Saturday. I loaded 180 grain Barnes, 180 grain Nosler, and 180 grain Herter�s projectiles with 4 loads of IMR4350 each. The first one I shot (Noslers at book minimum powder charge) had 3 shots touching the bull�s-eye at 100 yards shooting off my elbows on the bench. The rest opened the groups to 2 � 4 inches. The faster I pushed them the wider the groups became. But I was delighted with the first load and loaded up the rest of the box of Noslers for future hunts.

Now what do I do with the remaining Barnes and Herter�s projectiles? Maybe I can swap them for Noslers?

They make good paperweights if you melt em down. I had a similar problem with my 06 in that I never got real good accuracy with 180's, but the 165's all shot from good to fantastic. Could be the 1-12 Hart I'm running though.

165 gr Sierra HPBT over 48.7 gr Varget and WLR primers. Well below max and very accurate in my rifle.

anybody using ramshot big game or magnum

Big game for 150's, Hunter for 180's

I am using 53.4 grains of Biggame with Hornady 150 BTSP. Shooting just under 1" but do not have a way to chrony. Took one deer this year dropped in tracks.

Only IMR powder are available in my area.
This week-end i've try
with some Nosler 165 gr Bal-Tip
Primer Fed 215 M
IMR4350 57.0gr
outside: +3 celsius
Rifle: Winchester 70, 22 inch barrel.
2731 fps, MOA 5 shot 0.850 inch

If you can't get 57 of IMR4350 and a 165 gr to shoot, you got more issues than powder and a bullet.

Yep, I haven't found a an 06 that didn't shoot that load great.

Elk in the dark timber always got the attention of those 220 grain Winchester Silver Tips back when Kennedy was Pres.

That's a fine load. I use a little more because my favorite .30-06 seems to like it, but I doubt that it kills any better.

56 grains of IMR4350, CCI 200, 165 grain Remington Accutip or Hornady SST. 2770FPS from Marlin XL-7 [best group - .485"]

60 grains of H4831, CCI250, 180 grain Nosler Solid Base. 2670FPS from Marlin XL-7 [best group - .274"]

59 grains of Win WXR [Rel-22], CCI250, 180 grain Solid Base. 2711 FPS from Marlin XL-7 [best group .197"]

I've got an Enfield like that.. mine is a hybrid tho..
the action is a Winchester built one, and the barrel is a Remington built one..

It still has the full 26 inches, and it is as accurate as any self respecting varmint rifle..still with military trigger...which I like and also like the cock on opening feature, regardless of what other folks say..

It will take loads all day, of a heavy charge of 4831SC and 200 grain bullets, giving an MV of over 2900 fps with that bullet!

Handloading for a friends M1 Garand for match shooting, I came across some older Speer data for the 06, using 4064..
using 50 grains of it with a 180 grain bullet, gives a very respectable 2800 fps out of both the Enfield and the Model 70..

This winter the Enfield is going to get Parkerized, and a Picatinny Rail mounted on it..the scope is getting changed to a Leupold 3 x 9 with a heavy German # 1 reticle on it..

"It will take loads all day, of a heavy charge of 4831SC and 200 grain bullets, giving an MV of over 2900 fps with that bullet!"

That must be some load... Wow... 2900 fps with a 200 gr bullet is good for a .300 Win mag!

Just how heavy is that 4831 load??? Wow!

will send you that info in a PM...

but actually I worked the load up to that, after a conversation with the "Ballistics Guru" at Nosler, who told me that one couldn't fill the 06 case up with enough H4831SC, to get themselves into trouble with pressure.

Take a look at my various 200gn loads. The best I could do was way short of what is being recommended and as usual, 760/H414 is still the world champ powder for my '06 at least.

.30/06 Springfield Page 1.

Bullet Load Powder O. A. L. Velocity Energy Comments
110gn Sierra HP 55gn IMR 4320 3037
55gn H 4895 3303
50 gn Rel 12 2855

125gn Speer TNT 55gn IMR 4320 2920
55gn H 4895 3152
50gn Rel 12 2855

130gn ADI HP 55gn IMR 4320 2939
60gn Rel 19 2590
55gn H4895 3167
50gn Rel 12 2751

130gn Speer HP 58gn VARGET 3280 .708" MOA 5 shots
60gn VARGET 3360 MOA load
also 58gn Rel 15 3244 MOA load
55gn Nobels #2 3202
130gn Speer SP 57gn Nobels #2 3281 MAX
55gn IMI Ball 3023 .731" MOA 5 shots

130gn Barnes TTSX 58gn VARGET 3100 Mild
59gn VARGET 3167 2896
60gn VARGET 3188 .5 Good Load
65gn H 414 3070 MIld

150gn Nosler Part 55.5gn VARGET 3036
57gn VARGET 3088 MAX
60.6gn AR 2209 2890

150gn PMC SP Factory 2628 1.904"

150gn Woodleigh 62gn Win 760 3067 3134

150gn Hornady SP 63gn Win 760 3046 1.351"
64gn Win 760 3076 3152 .842" 5 shots
53gn Rel 15 2940
also 55gn VARGET 2994
58gn VARGET 3156 1.414" MAX
150gn Hornady RN 58gn H 4350 2733 .8" Mild
60gn H 4350 2884 .6"
63gn H 4350 3037 .909"

150gn Sierra BT 64gn Win 760 3049 .849" 5 shots
same load 3078 .842" 5 shots
All 5 shot groups same load 3085 .551" 5 shots


150gn Win PP Factory 2853 2712

150gn Part Gold 62gn Win 760 3103 .527" 3 shots
63gn Win 760 3115 Warn Load

.30/06 Springfield Page 2.

Bullet Load Powder O. A. L. Velocity Energy Comments

165gn Win ST Factory 2680 2.695"

165gn Hornady BT 61gn Win 760 2942 .967"
61gn H 4350 1.139"
60gn Rel 19 2691 .8"
53gn VARGET 2887 1.01" 5 shots
55gn VARGET 2958 MAX

165gn Speer BT 61gn Win 760 2890 1.627"

165gn Barnes XBT 53gn VARGET 2913
55gn VARGET 3008 MAX
61gn Win 760 3039
55gn Rel 15 3078

168gn Barnes TSX 61gn Win 760 2961
62gn Win 760 3016
62gn H 4350 2966 Accurate Load

165gn Failsafe 52gn VARGET 3.144" 2841 1.25"
53gn VARGET 3.186" 2861 1.5"

180gn Win ST Factory 2621 2746 3.36" 3 shots

180gn Woodleigh 60gn Win 760 2886 3330
59gn IMR 4350

180gn Sierra SP 57gn Rel 19 2585 Mild
59gn Rel 19 2646 1.2"
57gn Win 760 2763 Mild
59gn Win 760 2808
52gn VARGET 2752 .8"
50gn Rel 15 2688 Warm load
55gn IMR 4350 2740 Mild
60gn H 4350 2823 3186 .890"
61gn IMR 4350 2889 3396 MAX

180gn Hornady BT 59gn Win 760 2814 .994"
60gn IMR 4350 2865 .638"
61gn IMR 4350 2933 1.266"

180gn Swift A-Frame 59gn Win 760 2790
60gn H 4350 2771 1.146"
61gn IMR 4350 2899 3.273"

180gn Failsafe Factory 3.160" 2632
60gn WMR 3.154" 2566 2 MOA
62gn MRP 2680
57gn Win 760 2720
58gn Win 760 2783 2 MOA
.30/06 Springfield Page 3.

Bullet Load Powder O. A. L. Velocity Energy Comments

180gn Failsafe (cont). 59gn Win 760 2867 3286 Warm
62gn H 4831 2722 MOA
58gn IMR 4350 3.153" 2756 3037 1.25"
61gn H 4350 2741 3004

180gn Ballistic S/T 57gn Win 760 2788 3106 .7"
58gn Win 760 2814
59gn Win 760 2882 3321 MAX MOA

180gn Barnes XBT 60gn H 4350 2806

180gn Barnes TSX 60gn H 4350 2842 3229 .5"

200gn Speer SP 58gn Rel 19 2572
53gn IMR 4350 2620
54gn H 4350 2644
55gn H 4350 2737 3328

200gn Barnes X 53gn H 4350 2659 3141
54gn H 4350 2694 3224 Warm

200gn Accubond 55gn H 414 2636 3087 Mild
56gn H 414 2720 2.5"
57gn H 414 2703 Warm
59gn H 4350 2650 3120 1" Good Load
60gn H 4831 2437 Mild - Compressed

200gn Nosler Part 57gn H 414 2733 3318 1" Good Load
58gn H 414 2762 Warm 1.5"
58gn H 4350 2556 Mild
59gn H 4350 2651 2" Seat out further
61gn H 4831 2496 Mild - Compressed Load
62.5gn H 4831 2559 2909 Mild - Powder too slow

220gn Woodleigh 57gn H 4350 2551 3180 .508"

220gn Sierra RN 56gn Win 760 2560
57gn Win 760 2605 1.2 MOA
57gn H 4350 2524 .556"
59gn H 4350 2603 Warm
51gn IMR 4350 2393
52gn IMR 4350 2403
52gn Rel 19 2170 .7" Mild

I have one load that I use because it just works that well.
59.0 grains of IMR 4350 behind a Speer 150 grain mag tip seated at the cannelure with a CCI 200 primer lighting the fire. Generic as hell but it works faithfully every time with great monotony. How fast, who cares, I don't own a chrony and neither do the deer.

168 hornady match hp-59gr IMR 4831
180 hornady spitzer-56gr IMR 4831

But for my m1 garand
150 fmj/sp-48.5 H4895 or
48.0 WW 748

+1

i have a stevens 200 in 30-06, with 48.0 gr of imr 4895 with 168 gr matchking 10 tho off lands makes 1 hole 5 shot group for me. {yes i know matchkings are punching holes in targets}

Lightsoutsix,
For many years H414 was the powder for my Remington with 150 grain bullets. Had no problem getting to the 3000fps range, and accuracy was good.
I shot the factory barrel out and re-barrled with a Shilen. I discovered with the new barrel I could not get the same velocity, ended up using H380.

Service Match loads for M1 GR.
49.5gr IMR4895 155gr MatchKing
50gr IMR4064 168gr MatchKing (My favorite it wins)

Hunting load for Pre64 Mod. 70.Win.
50gr IMR or Accurate 4064 165gr Noz.Part. (deer-elk)
2865fps. been using this load for 30+years

In my abolt, it turns my '06 into a 308. Factory federal 150gr. 308's run 2824 out of my 24" barrel Montana. 52 grains IMR 4064 push various 150gr. bullets around 2830 in my '06 A-bolt. Very accurate but I may push things to 53 grains and see what happens.

60 grains of IMR4350 will push that bullet along near 3K if you want. It was safe in my Tikka, but I worked it up. Actually went to 60.5 and clocked 3040.

Thanks, I'll try working up some IMR 4350, My 300 wsm loves that powder. I just haven't tried it in the 06' since H414 and IMR 4064 had been working so well.

whats wraong with 2600-2700. might produce fantastic results with the balistic tips and acubond. heck even the corelockts would perform great at that speed.

i wouldnt dub it cause its a couple fps slower

I ain't never see'd an .06 that wouldn't shoot well; if all else was good; with a full charge of IMR4350.

So let's step on the gas. Does anyone have favorite loads pushing 110 grain Sierra HPs at critter splashing velocities?

Bought a box recently and feel the need for speed from the ol' Gamemaster.

My best loads are 150gn Sierra or Partition Gold over 62gn of 760 for just over .5 MOA groups and 3080fps.

The other load is Hornady's 180gn BT ober 60 gn of H 4350 for 2886fps and 5 shot groups under .75 MOA.

The 130gn Speer HP was also good with 58gn of VARGET for 3300fps and 5 shots around .8 MOA.

JW

I've never loaded that light a bullet in '06, but the manuals show using medium burning rate powders for the little stuff, so how about some 3031 or RL15?

Haven't tried 110s yet but RL15 works good with 125 Ballistic Tips

Tried some old Nosler solid base 150's with 50 gr of Vargt for my son-in-law to get some trigger time with. Shot pretty good for him, and certainly no issues with pressure. I was jus trying to use up the Varget which doesn't work well in any of my rifles or cartridges -- seems to work well in his model 70.

Rifle:
CZ550 Prestige (25" barrel)
Load:
165 g. Barnes MRX
59.5 grn. of IMR 4350
1967 Lake City National Match brass
CCI 200 primer

on loading no. 6 in the brass, no problems.

Bullet- Hornady 165gr Interbond
Brass- Federal
Primer- Federal 210
Powder- 53.9gr IMR4350

This load isn't super high velocity but it shoots really well,(sub-moa), haven't chronied it yet but I'm guessing it's in the 2,600 to 2,650 fps range out of a 22" barrel.

I agree, every '06 I've loaded for liked IMR4350 a lot.

try this one 48 grn's IMR 4895, REM 9 1/2 LRP, 165 nosler accubond's, to length 3.340, shoot these out of the wife's 06 and she love's em, 2700+ out of a 21 inch tube and been very accurate out of two of our 06's, just shot 1 1/2 inch, 4 shot group at 200, out of a sako I just had rebarreled with a brux 30. #3, first day on the range with it, don't need to spend anymore $ looking for a load! MOA critter all day long! Thank you Ken and Norm at Brux and RWS for your fine work, I beleive I came upon this load via seafire awhile back, so kudo's to him for the help

SO WITH 13 PAGES and over 120 replies for good .30-06 loads we have given the OP a long list of "good loads", no two are the same. And none of them may do very well in his rifle.

So, is all this help any help? Not much. Desires for using other people's loads as "shortcuts" are futile when finding a good load.

boomtube, I've loaded for at least half a dozen bolt-action .30-06s and have come to the conclusion that if they won't shoot a load of 57 gr. IMR 4350 and a 165 gr. jacketed bullet (pick your poison), then there's something wrong with the rifle (or the shooter in the case of my BIL...he called me complaining something was wrong with his rifle or scope, it wouldn't shoot less than three inches. I turned out three MOA or better groups in a row and asked him to shoot - he shot a 3" group...) So I would conclude that it's helpful to know there are dozens of different combinations that shoot well, but ultimately, shortcuts can be futile, but the 57 gr. IMR 4350 load is my benchmark and has been for many years.

I've been looking for a load that duplicates the Federal High Energy load. That one looks like it does. Ever use that recipe with a harder bullet like a Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame?

Be advised that the recommended max load for H4350 is 57.5 grains.
That being said, I am in the exact same boat. I have 7 boxes left, and my rifle really likes the load. I have been directed to RL-17, using the same starting/max as H4350. If I can get 2820 ft/sec MV or better with good accuracy I'll be happy.
I plotted the difference in drop between 2730 ft/sec MV (Federal Premium, 180 gr. Nosler Partition) and 2881 ft/sec MV (Federal Premium High Energy, same bullet) and was surprised at the LACK of difference, despite the difference in velocity. With a 3" high at 100 yard start, the difference in drop at 300 yards was 2.1 inches. The difference at 400 yards (my max) was 4.6 inches. Not enough to warrant risking high pressures or sacrificing accuracy.
Bullet placement, expansion, and penetration are the keys.

P

After reading this thread, I worked up a load of 58 gr of H4350 with 180 accubonds right off the lands, and my factory barreled Rem 700 with heavy duplex scope shot a .62 group last night with it. Amazing how that load works so well in so many rifles.

With the .30/06, when using the premium bullets, I have tended to use X, TSX et al, and Swift A-Frame in the 180gn weight, though they don't really offer anything much over the Hornady for most applications and then step up to the 200gn Partition.

I have used to A- Frame out to around 450 yards on pronghorn and it was fine on the windy Wyoming prairie. These days, I would standardise on the 180 Hornady BT as my particular rifle shoots them very well.

JW

Anyone loading 130gr TTSXs, have any thoughts. I have a Rem 700 with a 22" barrel and want to put together some loads. I've been seeing a lot of chatter on lighter and faster but don't see any loads here.

Thoughts on the TTSXs in 130gr or 150gr?

try Varget (near max, work up to it) and push the 130 ttsx to around 3200 or so....My cooper really likes it (1/2 inch groups). I have killed one large hog and it went thru both shields (shoulders) and he ran about 30 yds, did a flip in the air and was dead when I got to him.

Why do you say Varget? I thought it was a better powder for short actions. How many grains do you use?

Varget is a very good powder in the .30/06 with 130gn bullets. I prefer it over all others I have tried. 58 grains will get you around 3200fps with the 130 TTSX and closer to 3300fps if you swap with the Speer 130gn HP which most .30/06's simply love when mated with VARGET.

JW

Any body know the ballistic drop at 300 yds with a 130 starting at 3200 vs a 165 at ~2750?? Just wondering what the advantage of using the lighter bullet.

Approx- 3200 for the 130 is 1.8 high at 100 and dead on at 200 with a drop of 6.7 at 300. Or, 2.25 high at 100, 1.93 high at 200, and -3.26 at 300.

Approx- 2750 for the 165 is 2.5 high at 100 and dead on at 200 with a drop of 9.3 at 300. Or, more optimistic figures, 2 high at 100, dead on at 200, and -8.6 at 300.

Why limit yourself to 2750 with a 165 in '06? You should be able to get at least 2900 without trying too hard. Then you'll have better than a 308.

Winchester Model 70, mfg 1961, 24" barrel (factory).
Hornady 180 grain Interlock Spire Point, (Cat# 3070).
Federal Brass (once fired in another rifle, FL resized).
Winchester Large Rifle Primer - WLR.
Ramshot Hunter ball powder - 58.5 grains.
Beta Master Chrony @ 10 feet, Temperature 75F, 2735fps.
COL 3.274", 7/8" group @ 100 yards.
Data Source: John Barsness article on 24 Hour Campfire (Getting the most out of your .30-06), data cross-checked in Ramshot 4.4 (60.0 MAX).

win m-70 1957 24" brl
200gn partition
61gn rl-22
cci-250
col 3.310
2725fps
1.21moa w/ old kahles 2.3x7
extreme penetration-deer, pigs, and 1 cow elk

For what it's worth I'm getting the same POI and good accuracy at 100 yards with these two loads from my Model 70:

Sierra 150 Pro Hunters with 50 grs. of 4064.
Nosler 125 Ballistic Tips with 52 grs of RL15.

With three 3 shot groups each the 150s are grouping around 3/4" and the 125s less than 1/2". Chronied the Sierras at 2824 and the Noslers at 2860.

Someone here said the Nosler manual could be pretty optimistic on velocity and in this case I agree. According to their #5 manual the above load gets 3136 with a 24" barrel. My barrel's been cut to 22" but that's still a big difference. YMMV.

Well said. Not only is it futile, but just the thought of someone jumping at the bit, loading some of my '06 loads in a low numbered 1903 Springfield is downright spooky.

Shortcutting load work up and development of safe, accurate ammo is not only unwise, it's also a recipe for disaster. Do it right. Each rifle "likes" it's own, unique combination of powder, case, primer, bullet, OAL, etc. One size does NOT fit all.

Wayne

The .30/06 case is an incinerator. It will burn almost anything well. The case mouth is a diameter that will hold anything in its caliber, never deliver an unusable group, and excel when you mate the bullet bearing surface with the twist.

The only criticsm this cartridge can absorb is its perfect balance to man's ability to shoot it well, deliver good velocities over normal hunting ranges and provide impact with an assured result on 99% of the world's game.

Overall, this is a cartridge that closes the door on legitiamte argument in the ballistic mind game that has no end to it.

If you ever intend to spend premium dollars on a tailored hunting rifle, this chambering will cover coues to Kodiak's.

JW

I have taken some of the advice here and my best load is 55gr IMR 4350 pushing a 180gr Hornady interlock round nose, Winchester brass and CCI primers. First group at 100 yds was 3/8 and the second was with stong winds and that group was 5/8. Rifle is a Savage 114 euro with a Nikon 3-9x40. I am more than happy with that load, I have to reload all the fired brass to this load and take the rest apart and refill them as well. I hope those groups weren't a fluke

Well said!

I just tested some speer 150 spbt's over 52.5 grains of Imr 4064 and got 2890 fps on a 95' day, and 4 of 5 went into 1/2" at 200 yards. Not the fastest round but it's the best group I've ever shot in my '06 at this range. The fifth bullet opened the group up to about 1.25" and there was a little wind. I think the speer 150 boat tail is going to be my new favorite 150gr. bullet. But just about everything shoots well out of my 10 year old Abolt II.

Hi.
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,66265.0.html

Well I finally got to the range to experiment with Varget. 3,100 with 55.8 and 130gr ttsx. Not sure if I need much more than that, this is my wifes rifle after all.

55.5 grains of H4350 and a Sierra 180 grain. I can't hunt pretty much anything with that load in my Husky 30-06.

Well, hard to justify having any more rifles after those results. Just don't tell the Misses!

Found another one today.

150gr Hornady SP Interlocks
58gr Ramshot Big Game
R-P hulls
WLR primers
3/4" groups

Didn't clock this load as my chrony still has a bullet hole in it.

Feel your pain on the chronograph. My wife put two, count 'em, two consecutive shots through mine. I told her I believe the first one was a DRT.

150 Speer Mag Tip, CCI 200, IMR 4350 @59 grains
165 Speer SPBT, CCI 200, IMR 4350 @58 grains
180 Nosler BT, CCI200, IMR 4350 @55 grians
180 Speer Grand Slam, CCI 200, IMR 4064 @ 50grains*

* This load hit the same POI as a Barnes 150 XLC load I used which made for a nice transition between the two. Didn't list the 150 XLC load as they don't exist anymore.

All these loads were MOA or better in my rifle which is a Ruger #1 RSI with a 20" barrel. Most if not all are max or approaching max so use caution. I did not record velocity as I don't have a chrony but end results on game showed them to be fast enough

One more I stole from someone else; 62.5 gr H4831sc 200 gr Nosler Partition CCI 200.

I chronographed that same load in my Featherweight .30/06 and it does 2560fps which is a lot less than others have stated. By contrast, when I load 57gn of H 414, I get 2733fps with easy extraction and good accuracy.

JW

Is that load over listed max or compressed? Just curious as I'm thinking of getting some H414.

I develop my own loads, I do not use reloading manuals becuase of their custom barrels and tight chambers. After spending so many years reviewing rifles and cartridges, I have not seen a manual that was as close to reality as the Hornady Volume 2.

The other thing is that many loads I developed are for cartridges with limited or no data so I have always travelled my own road.

JW

+1 on that load ,I use that one and works well
why no others listed it,who knows but it shoots good.

I believe there is a balance point where a bore/caliber/bullet weight range and construction balanced to the impact velocity tends to generate a spread of effectivness.

That is the reason why a reader may quote a mild 57gn 4350 (any) with either 165gn or 180 gn and all will be happy with the effectiveness noted. Another hunter may load up to 61 grains in some rifles for more velocity.

I find this is relative to the usual use for shooting 150-400 pound animals where all are adequate which is why the reputation is there.

This same ballistic phenomenon is noted with the .375 H&H whereby many users shoot a given load at 200-800 pound animals and the balance of caliber/bullet and velocity is again in very comfortable territory.

Where the .30/06 shines is the ability to shoot flat with say 130-150gn bullets and take small antelope/pronghorn/deer with ease and then when loaded with heavier 200-240gn premium bullets seems to be just as reliable on animals very much larger, just as the .375 is, again, with heavy for caliber bullets on game considerably larger than plains game.

What is missing from this equasion is shootability and that is the most key of factors as after the bullet/caliber/velocity is adequate to the task, the ability of "most" people to shoot straight is the important factor that allows all the other ingredients to work their magic.

The older I get and the more memories I accumulate, the more respect and reverence I place on the .30/06. If you knew me 30 years ago, nothing that breathes coudl sell me one. Today, the sale is made and the magnums are fading from the rack.

I personnaly like Hornady 180gn BT loaded over 60gn of IMR or H 4350 for velocities around 2820-2850fps. It is very effective and that is an understatement. This load will shoot "very" sub MOA in my favourite .30/06 Featherweight.

I should use it more often.

John

I think that one came from me.... out of 4 different brands of 06s, with barrel lengths from 22 to 26 inch... mine all chronographed over 2900 fps..

that is quite a major difference in results..

however on H 414.. I have almost nothing but good luck with that powder in a variety of cartridges..

with a 180 grain RN, my 'go to' load is 50 grains of 4064...

52 grains Varget with 150 grain Accubond, (CCI 200 primers, RP Brass 3.275 OAL. 3 shot groups consistently range between 0.8 and 1.1 inch at 100 meters (based on 11 3-shot groups shot on different days). 2700 fps from my Remington 7600 Carbine (18.5 inch bbl).

Here's a groundbreaking load (smile). 57 grains IMR 4350, 165 grain hornady BTSP, CCI 200 primers, RP brass, OAL 3.29 inches. 2600 FPS. 3 shot groups around 1 inch. Increasing to 58 grains runs around 2650 FPS with groups in the 1-1.25 inch range. Remington 7600 Carbine.

This gun and these loads are not barn-burners but will do the trick on anything here in eastern Canada.

Absolutely, a classic 30-06 load that has worked for me as well!

Another great load is 58.0 grains of IMR-4350 with a 165 Bullet of your choice. Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, Barnes, Speer...

This is the exact same load I just shot in my Vanguard SubMOA, except brass was W-W. Shot a 1.16" 3 shot group.

180 gr partition, 58 gr Ramshot Hunter, W-W brass, WLR primer. This gave 3-shot 100 yd groups under 1" in 4 different .30-06 rifles.

47.5 grs IMR 4064 with Hornady 180 grain SP.

I have mostly used 56 grains of IMR-4831 powder using a 165 grain bullet. Velocity for this load according my Chrony was 2775fps.

I also used 56 grains of IMR-4350 powder for a Velocity of 2800-fps, with a 180 grain bullet.

Agree on the IM4350. If it won't shoot well with 57-58gr and a 165 it won't shoot

To bring this thread back up.

From my Savage 116 30/06 22"

59.5grs H4831
180 Nosler Ballistic Tip
CCI 200
Winchester Brass
2668fps average
ES 9
.5-.75 MOA

One that hits dead on at 135yds for me.

25.0grs IMR-sr4759
Federal Brass
CCI 200
110gr Hornady V-Max

3 shots 1" @ 135yds - 6 shots 1.5" wind picked up

Here's mine. http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1748/target0010001new.jpg
I'm not real computer savvy. Sorry for the difficult viewing.

Hello Everyone,

I'm brand spanking new to reloading, just bought RCBS reloading kit which came with Speer's latest edition reloading book. I've also got Hodgon's 2009 Annual Reloading Magazine. I also bought Nosler's latest reloading book as well.

Where are you guys finding your load data for 180-grain bullets at 2800fps? The manuals I'm looking at only list around 2700fps for 180-grain load in the 30-06.

Thanks!

Leo

Stick with the reloading manuals data. See what it does for ya, with a chrony.

Yep, and some of the older manuals listed loads that today's manuals (with lawyered up loads) consider too hot. As a Newb, stick with the data in the manuals, and slowly work towards the higher loads.

Best wiishes in an exciting sport, and remember, if you want 300 magnum ballistics -- buy a 300 magnum, and don't hot load the 30-06 to that level.

Thanks raybass and the_shootist! Any suggestion as to what chrony to buy? Hoping to stay under $200 if possible as funds got tapped buying all the reloading equipment to get set-up/started.

Shooting Chrony was what I used till someone liberated it from my truck. Thats the only one I had experience with, it worked fine.

The F1 Chrony is under $100 and the Pro Chrono is about $125. I have an F1 and a friend bought the Pro Chrono. We tested them side by side and the results were within 5-10 fps.

My loads for the 30-06

Intriguing.

My loads for the 30-06
150gr nosler part. 52gr IMR 4064 210m fed primer R-P brass
165gr nosler part. 50gr IMR 4064 210m fed primer R-P brass
200gr nosler part. 57gr IMR 4831 215m fed primer R-P brass

These loads have served me well over many hunting trips out west both in the US & Canada. The 200gr load is a very hard hitting load and very accurate. I have taken a dall sheep and a tundra grizzly in the Youkon, one shot each with complete penatation.

For my Husqvarna 1640 I use these loads and they both shoot exactly an inch group every time (and also to the same POI so I can swap between them at will)

180 grain Interlock SP with 57.5g of H4350
Federal brass / CCI primer OAL 3.25
Chrony: 2819fps

150 grain SPBT interlock with 60.0g of H4350
FED/CCI OAL 3.25
Chrony:3018fps

H-4350, 57 grs, Nosler 168gr,-e-tip
Fed 210M primers, COL 3.230
2850 FPS
I reload these for 3 of my hunting buddies,absolutely fantastic.

That 200 NP load looks about 2 g on the heavy side esp with a F215M. Any pressure signs on that? what type of rifle are you running that out of and what velocity are you getting? Thinking 2600+

brinky72 I still got a couple of boxes of those XLC .308 dia 150 gr xbt. What load you use with them and did they copper foul bad in yours? Magnum Man

In my Model Six Remington, a VERY nice accurate load is a 170 Rem RNSPCL over 46 gr IMR 4064 in neck sized Federal cases CCI 200 primer OAL 3.19( yes its alot of shank sticking out of the case...) Chrono'd velocity 2380 fps and consistent groups of 1 1/4 inch or less at 100 yards. One group center to center was 5/16th inch for 3 at 100 yards. Nice deer load and its easy on the shoulder too!

I have a new one that I discovered for my Weatherby U/L 06, RL-17 56.5 grs, Fed.210 M primer, Winchester brass, 168 gr TSX @ 3.280". Chronographed at 2932 avg.

165 SST 0r 168AMAX or MK, 50grs RE15, 210M or WLR primers, rem. brass. H4350 didnt work for me.

Here's what 50grs RE15 and an 168Amax will do, um, this is 3 shots @300yds.

I've always had good luck with 56grs of IMR4350 over any good 165gr bullet.











I also have had good luck with H4831 and Rel-22/WXR under 180gr Nosler Solid Base bullets.





[img]http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/dmsbandit/targets/ML-7target41209c.jpg[/img]

Very Nice dmsbandit.

Here a load usin my Marlin XL7L 30-06 using 168gr TSX .050" off the lands,win brass,cci-br2 primers and a dose of H4350 @ 57.5grs

109 yards

Here is a load that works well in my 30 06

200 grain Nosler Partition

55 grains of RL-17, WLRP, Norma brass, 2755FPS.
This load is always begging for tight groups.
No pressure signs observed.

My gun has a #2 Lilja 3 grove 1~11" twist cut at 24"

Your done my friend. No other rifle or load necessary for the balance of your days. Go hunting and enjoy your rifle.

John

Thanks John
It is a real nice gun to hunt with.

Max loads with WW760 and either a 150 or 180 gr bullet were traditionally the best in my '06 but lately have been running IMR4350 with 150's and 200's.

And I started with IMR4350 and graduated to H414 and RL22. That's the great thing about reloading - it brings about a constant state of flux.

I will be developing some 180 grain hunting loads for the first time and could use some help with powder selection. Which two powders would you select to start with? Thanks...

H4831 - 59grs

Did you buy that die set in the classifieds?

Yes I did, since I am feeding 3 30/06's I wanted another set of dies.

Great minds must think alike .

That must be what it was, my mind has never been reffered to as great though.

I tried this load this very week with my old Husky 1640- this was the result with 180 interlock RN's.

Load work complete?

Good shooting

Hornady Round Nosed bullets are considerably underrated by those mesmerized by pointed plastic.

I love round nose bullets. I have been championing them for a while, but no one takes me seriously I think. Which is fine - the bullets stay on the shop shelf until I get round to buying them.

The end result on red deer can be absolutely devastating with a heavy round nose bullet. And I have found the Hornady interlock RN bullets in both a .30/06 and 7x57 to be startlingly accurate.

Bingo. I used to snavel all the Speer RN bullets that went on sale because all the experts wanted spire point bullets to shoot 95% of their animals inside 150 yards. Shrewd.

John

OK, Ive been working on some "pet" loads for my model 70 last few weeks with 180 Hornady SPs, today i did some verifying tests with 48.5grs RE15, 57grs H4350 & 57grs 4000MR(Alliant)used CCIBR primers & Rem brass shooting at 100yds. Im not done with the 4000MR powder just yet even though it shot those 3 shots in just over 7/8", maybe Ill drop it a half grain and see what I get, or just load more of the 57grs and try again, the 57grs seems to have the velocity edge, albiet by just a nudge, that is if by hitting higher and a bit more right means a higher speed.

Sorry for the delayed follow up.
(30-06 load) 200gr nosler partion, 57gr IMR 4831, rem brass, 215m fed primer
The load came form a speer number 7 manual, it disapeared from their books with the number 12 manual.
I started shooting this load with my hunting partner about 1986. My rifle is a steyr model M prohunter with the Cycolac (plastic) stock, 23.5" barrel, and detachable mag.
The load crony's just shy of 2700 fps, groups around 3/4". In this gun there are no pressure signs and my hunting partner shoots the same load in a rem custom shop 700 Ks mountian rifle, without signs of pressure. Have reloaded the brass upto 6 times.
The 200gr nosler flies very well, in this load at 300yds it equals 210 gr. 338 nosler which started at 2900 fps faster, but most likely in a lighter gun.

RL 17 and 150 TTSX. Accidentally primed some brass with 215 instead of 210's and decided to try RL 17 with this bullet as I had only so so luck with H4350. 55 and 57 gr loads six shot went into 3/4 inch, 59 opened up and 60 gr went right back into 1/2 inch. Rather be lucky than good any old day. Rifle is pre 64 fwt in mickey w/ 6X42 Leo.

Any others using RL 17 with 150,s?

I am very pleased with a Deep Curl Speer 180 grain bullet with 59 grains of Ramshot Hunter in my 30-06 with a Winchester magnum primer. A consistent 3/4" @ 100 yards with my Tikka T3. This load is measured on multiple passes at 2800 FPS in a 22.5" barrel. So for you 180 grain guys in a 30-06 this may be one for you to try. It also burns very clean and meters in the powder drop like a dream. Good load for big Whitetails and Elk.
Buckfever1

165 HPBT Sierra under 57.5 IMR4350, Win.Brass, CCI BR primer.Accurate in most guns.

Winchester 760 which is the same as H414 worked real good
in my M77 Ruger with 150grain Hornady,s years ago. 60gr
gives 2960 in my gun.

IMR4350 - 57.4 grs. - Winchester case - Federal 210 primer
Ruger #1B - 26" barrel - fixed 4x Leupold scope - 100 yards

56.0 Gr of 4350 with a 180 Gr Sierra Game King.

Logged in the notes, thanks. That is a good running load for a 200 gr

I noticed a post for 59 gr of IMR 4350 and a 150 accubond. It seems 59 gr of IMR 4350 and anything 150 gr bullet flavor flies well in both my '06.

HOW DO THE ACCUBONDS PERFORM, ESPECIALLY THE 150? HOW WELL DO THESE HOLD UP ?

I shot 2 deer with 150 Accubonds over 59 gr of IMR-4350 out of my Ruger KM77 mkII .30-06. Hit heart-lung area on both. Both were bang-flops.

goodnuff! thanks.

48gr 4064 168's

No that's a good load for a 180 .

i found this load and am gonna stick with it.
58.5gr h4350
168 ttsx

Sabot, what kind of speed are you getting with that combo? I have some 168 "plain" tsx coming from Midway. For '06 powders I only have H414 and RL-19, may have to try the 4350.

Not Sabot, but I have used that load extensively. Most '06 will do between 2800 fps and 2900 fps with that load.

Been shooting some Berger 155 Hybrids lately along with H4350 and R17 it perks very well.

Dober

I"m pretty much a one load to rig guy,,,,most often anyway.
My favorite for the .30-06 is the 180 Gr. Nolser Partition at 2800 fps. H3450 is my rifle's likes with this bullet.

"I"m pretty much a one load to rig guy,,,,most often anyway.
My favorite for the .30-06 is the 180 Gr. Nolser Partition at 2800 fps. H3450 is my rifle's likes with this bullet."

We think alike! 165-NP with 58-grs and 180-NP with 57-grs. RL22 works well too with a picky rifle.

Yep, I use the 165gr. PT's in the .308 Win.

150 gr bt over 52gr of 4064

54.5 gns of IMR 4350 behind a 180 gn hornady interlock. 2775 fs

TSX 168 with Fed 210 primers and 57.0 of H414 is accurate and plenty fast for deer and moose. I put two deer on the mat this fall with it, and I think medicman used it in Africa. Velocity right at 2900. 3/4" groups out of a box stock Tikka M65. Working man's load.

sorry for taking so long to get back.im getting 2913 fps with this load,it shoots very well and is reliable

58 gr of Ramshot Hunter behind 180 gr accubond. Lit with remington 9 1/2 magnum primer. 2725 fps chronographed 24 inch barrel. 4 inch groups at 500 yds. 12 inch groups at 500 with standard primer( inconsistent ignition) load taken from nosler 6 reload guide with exception of magnum primer. 58 gr is Max load in nosler guide but pressure appeared low to moderate. I didn't go beyond 58 gr because I am fairly knew to reloading. The load was consistent in a variety of temperature and weather condition 0 to 60 degrees

Does anybody have good load data for 200gn sierra gameking and H414? Looking for a shortcut rather than loading and shooting dozens of rounds.
Happy new year

world of info for sure
literally!!!!!!!!!!!


what about the sierra gameking 165 bthp
i have always thought about reloading
heck even just with the lee load all hand loader
get a digital scale and go for it
maybe case trimmer
primer pocket tool
inside outside chamfer tool

pipe dreams for myself on the reloading thing
shoot hornady 165 sst super performance ammo currently

Years ago I loaded 48 gr.'s of IMR4895 and a 150 gr Seirra bullet for my M-1 Grand. A couple of years ago I bought a real nice Remington 03A3 so I tried my M-1 grand load and it shot around MOA. Since then I have tried 48.0gr of IMR4895 with a 150 gr Nosler ballistic tip in 3 different Remington model 700 30/06's and have shot less than MOA out of all 3 rifles. May not be the fastest load around but it's the most accurate 30/06 load I have every tried.

Below is the response I got back from Mr. Berger regarding their 230gr hybrid loaded for the 30-06. Note the 3.340 OAL is the SAAMI max OAL

I love H414 in the .30-06. My current load is 58.5 over a 150 Barnes TTSX seated .058 off the lands and lit by a Fed 210. Groups under 1/2" out of a factory 700. Load is close to max in my gun, book max is 60.0.

I have used 414 and bullets from 125 up to 150 and it always shot under an inch. Have used H4350 in the past with average results with cup and core 165's.

Mine likes the Fed primers over CCI and WIn.

Found a one-hole load for my 700 today. 165 gr Speer Grand Slams fueled by 57.2gr of IMR 4350 in Winchester brass sparked with GM210M primers.

I was a happy camper until I went to Sportsmans Warehouse to replenish my bullet supply and all that they had were HotCores. More testing...

Glad you found a good load. That load sounds pretty light- I was using 57.0 gr of IMR-4350 with 165 gr bullets.

59.0 gr Hunter, 180 gr Accubond, CCI 200 primers, Remington brass, 0.020" off the lands.
Just over half an inch at 100 yards.
Start low, go slow.


P

OOPS! It was 57.2gr. I corrected it above.

Never trust internet loads

Let me look under my reloading bench- I might have some 165 Grand Slams to trade.

180 grain Nosler BT atop 56 grains of IMR4831 sparked by CCI 200's gives me bug hole groups at 100 yds. My W760 load pushing 180 grain Accubonds was a failure. I tried varying charges of W760 with CCI 250's with them and all groups were minute of a broad side of a barn. Horrible groups. Seriously about three to five inches after firing five shots into one hole with the above mentioned 4831 load. What I have left loaded are getting pulled and reloaded with 4831.

If they were Hot Cor mag tips buy them. Those are damn near as solid as the Grand Slams and half the price almost. I've had great results with 150 MagTips in 30 cal and the 160's in 7 mm.

What kind of velocity are you getting with that load? I have a box of 165 interlocks waiting for me and three pounds of IMR 4350.

I had 57.0 grains of H4350 using the Hornady 165gr SP also. I was shooting a Remington 700 with a 22" bbl.

My dad loads 165 grain Ballistic tips for deer and 180 grain speer grand slams for bigger stuff. Loaded in a Win M70.

if you go to RIFLEMAN'SJOURNAL.com you find a whole bunch of articles by an expert on the 30-06.

I could get over 3000 fps with a Hornady 150gr SPBT using
winchester W760 in a 22" barreled Ruger. When I was young
and foolish. Also very accurate, worked well with
165Gr Hornady SPBT also, in the 2900+ range. Killed quite
a few deer with the 150gr load.

48 grains varget 168 smk, thats my garand load. 4064 works well along with re15

54.0 grains H414
180 grain gameking.
CCI Benchrest primer
Have killed everything from mulies to elk out to 250 yards with this load out of an old mauser action rifle.

GOOD REDUCED LOAD FOR NEAR DUPLICATION OF THE 30-30

35 grains of H4198 over a WLR primer and a 150 grain RN of your choice. Originally developed with a Speer hot Cor RN but a Hornady works just as well.

This load is well under MOA in my Ruger No.1 RSI basically clover leafing at one hundred yards. Actually measured distance with a three hundred foot tape measure.

Why? Good for kids, kicks like a 243 and less than the ol 30-30 due to the heavier average weight of an '06 v a 30-30 carbine. And where I hunt my average shot has been well under 100 yards in the past decade.

And thanks to Seafire for the help on this load. He's the reduced load Yoda

59.5 gr. RE 19 and 168 gr TSX CCI 250 primer

For 700, 56.5 gr H4350, WLR primer, 180 gr Nosler partition spitzer

muskybite and I have almost the identical load.
Browning X-bolt
New or FL resized remington brass
CCI BR-2 primer
56.6 gns. of H-4350
180 Partition seated .020" off lands

58gr Hodgdon Superformance, Lapua brass, Fed 210, 180TSX, .080 off the lands, .75 moa, 2850-2860fps, Krieger 24" barrel

My go-to load was 165gr Hornay BTSP pushed by 57.8 grains of H4350. It was through a standard Remington 700 ADL.

Not sure what some object too. I'm a beginning hand loader and this has been very educational. It has given me good starting points on powder, primer and bullet suggestions. Sure, some dosages and powder type are mention a few times, others mentioned MANY times...guess where I'm going to start?

Thanks for all the contributions.

All this shows is that most 30-06s are incinerators for powder, and very effective at shooting good groups and killing stuff. I love it, and this thread is on my watch list.

A 168 gr TSX in front of 50 grains of IMR 4064, best load I have found for my Tikka "super" lite.


Runs below 2800 fps but shoots .75 groups at 200 yards!

45.0 grains H4895, 125 gr NBT, 2600 ft/sec, great reduced recoil load for the youngsters.
2.5" high at 100 yards puts you dead on at 210.


P

I have just reviewed all these pages as I am working up loads with Norma 180 gr HP's and Speer 180 gr SP's using H4350.

Out of 7 manuals ( old and new) I could find none that ran over 57 gr of H4350 or IMR 4350 using any 180 gr bullets. Some guys must really like living on the edge as those 60 gr loads must be something.

From 54 gr to 56 grians in 1/2 gr increments,the sweet spot with my Pre 64 Model 70 FWT in .06, 55'ish grains looks promising.Book value on velocity is in the 2760fps realm.These were set about .020 off the lands They hover around 1" at 100 yards which is about the best this gun will do.

Loads satrted out giving 2&1/2 " groups,shrunk downto 1" and thenopednbak up to a little over 2" as I approached 56 gr.

I was out two days ago,but could not chrony them.

I completed loading today of another batch in 1/4 grain increments around the 55 grain load.

With 180 gr Sierra GK,my accuracy load has always been 57&1/2 gr of H4831,but it did good if it broke 2600fps

My 700 Remington likes 59 grains of IMR 4350 with a Seirra 150 grain spitzer very well

I'm using Barnes 150gr TTSXs and 51gr of H4895. Seems to shoot flat and accuracy has been exceptional.

25 years ago,2 721s and a 700 all liked this recipe. It's been proven in various 30/06s over time by a bunch of folks. Bread and butter Otter fodder.

Another version of a .30/30 bullet load -

170 grain Hornady FN interlock and 46.0 grains of IMR4895
gives me 2490 fps chronographed out of a 22 inch Winchester featherweight and easy one inch groups in two rifles.

This is about .307 Winchester ballistics or about the same as a .303 British load.

56.5 gr H414. CCI LR primer with 150 grain Sierra GK or 150 grain Hornady BTSP. Winchester WW Super brass.

Ugly, Ugly, Ugly!

Had 150 rounds of those ugly .250 gr. Hornady bastids come with the 2nd hand .338 WM I bought about20 years ago. 15 years or so later, I got tired of looking at the ugly things, so I picked a high-end load (one grain under max, IIRC) out of the book, a different primer (on hand) (and possibly brass, too) and threw together the whole batch of bunch of junk loads to just shoot up. Screw any work-up. Rugers are tough!

Fuggers shoot MOA, drop like a rock at longer ranges, but since I shoot moose at 100 yards or less (mostly), no prob. Now I'm stuck with boxes of the buggers, since my ideal moose season goes like this... Take rifle out of storage, check screws, run patch down bbl, fire 1 round across the bench to confirm POA (I already know how it groups, carries, and shoulders).

Shoot moose. Walk up. Employ insurance round from a few yards out (had the crap scared out of me a couple times.... )

Clean gun, put away for another year.

Kinda boring, really. Leaves me free to enjoy the hunt.

I'm probably gonna die before I run out of those ugly things.... I just don't let my hunting pards see them....

I have obtained a Remington 742 in 30-06. With Winchester factory ammo it groups under 1 1/2" at 100 yards. Are there problems reloading for the Remington semi autos? Ammo is scarce in this area. I am considering reloading for this rifle in order to have a supply, not for accuracy. The gun will be used for hunting in woods with proper functioning more important than velocity.

Pick any 165 grain pill you want, and work up from 55 to 57 grains of either of the 4350s and you're good to go. I would full length size every case, though. If you want more weight in the bullet, go with a 180 grain and work up to 55 grains of IMR4550. Lots of combos work well in the '06 case.

Tried 56-57.5 of Imr 4350. With 165 gr. GMX.
Seated. .020 off the lands.
57.5 left a little wiff of smoke coming from the bolt after I shot. I thought uhoh. But the brass extracted ok examined the primer, did not smear it, but there was a little gray/black circle on the brass around the primer pocket, so I figured that was my limit.
56 grains actually produced the best results, somewhere in the neighborhood of .5 inch 3 shot group. I figured good enough for my Ruger MKll M77 boat paddle. When I got the gun, I bedded it, free floated, worked the trigger down to 1.5 oz's, and had it braked. Then duracoated snow gray.

1.5 ounces??? Are you sure??? Even 1.5 pounds is plenty light.

Typo. Meant to type 1.5 lbs.

This works great!

Tried with 180gr Nosler Partitions and shoots a 4 shot 1/2" group.

58 grs. IMR-4350 Hornady 150 gr. SP Rem 9&1/2 primer.
I used that load in three different 760's. Small Base Dies.
100 yard Groups were 1 to 1&1/4 inch. Bullets were seated to the cannelure to fit the clips. Great deer load.

Now in my Dad's 1903 Springfield a3-03 military rifle I used 57 grs. IMR-4350 and the 150 gr. Hornady or the Rem. 150 gr. Bronze Points. (why'd they stop making the Bronze points?) CCI 200 primers.

I load 53.0 grains of IMR4895 with 150 BT's and get sub MOA with a velocity of 2930 fps. The load also works with 150 grain Hornady flatbase interlocks. Out of a Winchester 70 fthwt.

I have a Remington model 7600 30-06 that shoots Hornady factory ammo 150 gr, 165 gr, and 180 gr very well (MOA at 100 and 200). I am new to reloading and have briefly read through a couple of reloading manuals on the 30-06 and powders used and the starting load to the max load.
I know Hodgdon makes a Hornady Superformance powder, but after reading the label I wasn�t sure if it would be the best for my 30-06 even though I shoot really good groups with their SST and Interbond Superformance ammo from the factory. I recently purchased a bottle of Hodgdon 4350 after talking to some friends that shoot 30-06, 300 win mag, etc and they recommended this powder.
Are there any others that I should strongly consider? I am wanting to get as close as possible to the factory FPS as possible.

H4350 will get you the speed, but I'd also consider Hunter and N160 or N560

The 30-06 case is an incinerator for gunpowder. Lots of different powders burn very efficiently in that case.

150 grain bullet with 55 grains of IMR 4230
180 grainer 50.5 grains of IMR 4064
220...56 grains of IMR 4831

Per Jack O'Connors loads from his book "The Hunting Rifle".

Don't you mean 4320 instead of 4230?

Also, IMR-4831 was not available in 1965, when O'Connor's book was published, so I'm pretty sure he was using 56 grains of H 4831 with the 220 grain bullet.

Probably O'Conner was using surplus 4831 back then when it was 50 cents a pound like the rest of us.

Correct. When I wrote H 4831, I meant the surplus powder that Bruce Hodgdon was buying in bulk and re-packaging.

I believe IMR-4831 wasn't available until around 1973.

H-4350 & a 165 are 180 gr. bullet

Like a few others, I love 52 gr IMR-4064 and a 150 gr bullet - most recently a 150 gr BT has been my choice for deer. A partition, bonded bullet or TSX in that weight are also good for hogs. In the '06, I go up to a 165 gr for elk, but have used 180 gr Interlocks and Partitions, too.

The 150 gr Sierra or BT and 52 gr IMR 4064 has been accurate in every rifle I've tired it in, though. It is right at or just below 3000 FPS from a 24-inch barrel.

58 gr of Ramshot Hunter with a 180 Nosler partition
Winchester brass and Winchester primer seated .010 off lands of my Kimber 84L.
Shoots 3/4"
Shy of 2800 fps
Just returned from Africa with this combo where it worked perfectly.

This is the MuleDeer special! Works great!

I've settled on 53.8gr of RL-17 with a 200gr AccuBond and Federal match primer, gets 2725fps out of a 22 7/16th" barrel.
I have shot 19" 3 shot ( first three shots vary 8 fps) and 29" 5 shot groups at 1050yds off sand bags with the ( Leupold 3.5x10x40 VXIII ) elevation maxed minus 2 clicks and using the point of the lower dual X post as an aim point. Rifle is stock Sako M85 Finnlight 7.5 lbs ready to shoot.

I have been loading 50 grains IMR 4064 with a 150 grain Sierra Gameking this summer. What kind of velocity loss could result in say 30 degree temps when hunting this fall?

Probably not much, if any, significant loss at 30 degrees F.
If it bothers you, Varget or Ramshot's Big Game make a good substitute. E

My Featherweight Model 70 loves 62 grains with the 150 grainers for 3080fps and top accuracy.

John

It's my understanding H414's the same as W760. I had a Model 70, 30-06 push feed Sporter with a 24" barrel. It shot well at just a little over 3K fps with 60.5 grs. of 760 and 150 Ballistic Tips.

I use 168 TSXs in my Tikka M65 30-06 with 57.0 grains of H414. Very accurate -- about 3/4" at 100 yards, and kills game very well. Never tried it with 150's. My S-I-L says he is using 150 Hornady BTSP with H414, and getting good results as well. I like the powder. It meters very consistently.

168 NBT, WLRM, 61.5 gr Ramshot Hunter, approx 2875 fps, VERY sub-MOA.

Good shooting.

Question you guys shooting imr4350 my Lyman book shows for 165 max charge 57 grains and some of you are over that is there other load books stating different max?

57 is a good safe load in any of the '06s I have loaded for. Back in the day, the Speer #8 manual listed 59 grains as max, and I used to shoot 58.5 of IMR4350. 57 works well, though. The Hodgdon load site shows a starting load of 52 gr of IMR4350 and a maximum load of 56.6 grains for a velocity of 2770. Pretty tame, really. And then there is this one

165 GR. SIE SPBT IMR IMR 4350 .308" 3.300" 56.0 2746 48,100 PSI 60.0C 2934 57,600 PSI

That one may be a little rich for my blood.

Load Data Tables

I got to get some other reloading books to compare

59.5 g superformance
rp brass
150 horn sst
win lp
sears model 53 24 inch (WIN MODEL 70)

58.0/IMR4350/150NBT/CCI200

I just picked up an older [1968] Winchester 70 this summer, clean, nice rifle; mounted a period correct Redfield 4-12 scope I had laying around.

I tried a few different loads surrounding the Nosler 150 grain Ballistic Tip using Varget, IMR4064, IMR4350, and a few other powders I had laying around. IMR 4350 seemed to be the most consistently accurate. At 50 grains, Varget would throw two nearly through one hole, then would always toss the third round opening up the groups to around two inches. IMR 4064 just plain sucked, I couldn't keep anything under about two inches despite the powder charge. As for the IMR 4350, 58 grains seemed to be the magic number, as it will CONSISTENTLY put FIVE shots into about an inch at 100 yards over and over again.

I seated the 150NBT's to .010" short of the lands, as is customary for my reloads when I'm searching for accuracy.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth.../true/Re_Husky_30_06_Project#Post7713722

Check out this link.

DF

Anyone have real world speeds with Superformace and 180 grainers in the '06? Hodgdon's sight indicates 2,840 with a max load. Has anyone come close to that in a 24' barrel?

I have WW brass, WLR and Fed 215 primers along with Hornady 180 BTSPs on hand for what it is worth.

Thanks

Z

Rl-17 in 24" 30-06 COAL at 3.340" with 180 Swift Sciroccos, 2915 fps average with no pressure signs at all and 3 shot group touching at 100 yards...none too shnabby

How many grains of powder are stuffed in there?

Some of my 06 hunting loads were worked up in an old Ruger M-77 with a very long throat so I am hesitant to post them. They could be way to warm in someone elses rifle. Enjoying the thread and everyones recipes though.

I use 210 bergers with 59.0 imr7828ssc 2750..one holes em at 100 3" at 600

Wow! I always thought of myself as a pretty reasonable shot, but I'm leaving my guns at home if you're around!

Holy smokes! What barrel length? I'm shooting 208 amax's with Ramshot Hunter around 2700 fps with 24" barrel.

The one I've "settled on" for my favorite:
56 grains of Reloader 17
Barnes TTSX 168 grain (tipped TSX)
Federal large rifle primer

This load cooks along at about 100fps faster than IMR 4350, without any pressure signs whatsoever. (RL17 is advertised to pick up speed at a more uniform pressure curve, and it does.)

I took Barnes technical advise and hold the bullet a full .070 from the lands, and it really does increase accuracy to sub moa in my 06. (this bullet likes a small jump)

don't know why more don't use RL17, as it is a sweetheart.

180 Sierra or Woodleigh and 56.5 of H4350. Clocked it today at 2841 fps with an extreme spread of 11 fps. Brand new 26" Benchmark 5R barrel.

Having read through most of the recipes for 06 here, and just starting to load for it myself, I have noticed that no one makes mention of using Win 760. I only bring this up because I have been offered a new 8lb jug of it and the reloading books all show it as a good powder for the 06. Any opinions or experiences to share out there?

I haven't used the 760 branded powder but, do use H-414 which is the same powder. My Husqvarna really likes it in full power loads. Try it, you'll like it!:-)

My .30/06 loves 760 by the bucket load. A favored load is 150gn Partitions over 62gn for 3080fps. 59grains with 180's tops 2800fps plus, and cases fall out of the chamber.

My loads tend to be a little higher than you see around here because of my sloppy chamber.

THe 220's zip into .5MOA using 55 grains in my rifle and many blokes are using charges around that with 180's so it pays to beware of recommended loads. These are mine for a reason, they are mine.

I do however, recommend you grab that keg while it is available. 8 pounds can kill a lot of game.

Guy is selling me a sealed 8pds for $130 in town here, so no shipping. My next question is this, can Fed 215 LRMP be used with this powder? I once lived in Alaska and hunted with a 7mm ultra mag that used these magnum primers so I I have quite a few that I don't need anymore, but someone told me I could use them for the Win 760 ball powder?

That is an excellent price and the 215 primers will work fine. Congratulations!

Thank for the input!

Its a 24 Douglas match heavy barrel 1x9 twist and its a 1903a3 Springfield

59 grains of 760 runs right at 3000 fps with 150's in my 06. One note the old data for 760 had 57 as max. Newer data is 60 i believe. Also as mentioned h414 is the same load data.

Mine loves 62 grains with 150's for 3080fps. When I bought the rifle new in 1993, the current 760 0f the day consumed 64 grains to achieve that velocity.

Always best to validate burning rates and even smarter to buy the 8 pound jugs so you don;t have to worry about that for a while.

I got 2940fps with 180 ballistic tips and 59grs of Hunter and Fed 215's. This was in an older Ruger #1 with 26" douglas barrel.

Groups were about 1.2" for 6 shot average. Used winchester cases.

Shot over a ProChrono.

47.5 grains of IMR 4064, barnes tsx 165, Fed 210 primer
Model 70, pre-64 transition.
cuts holes at 120 yards.
kills anything in its tracks between muzzle and 200 yards

55 grs. IMR4350, Lapua cases, F210M primer. Ten shots from 1000 yds. using Berger 185 VLD Hunting bullet.

https://flic.kr/p/mLJq7n

how big is the white circle....

Very nice.What's the speed for IMR 4350? I'm going back to 185's in 30-06. WI'm pondering on using 185 Hunting or Classic.

Some of these are repeats, but here goes: 52 grains of IMR 4064 with a 150 grain bullet; 57 grains of 4350 (either) with a 165-168 grain bullet; and 58 grains of Hunter with a 180. The first two are Ken Waters loads and the last is from Mule Deer. I have found all three below maximum and accurate.

200grn.smk 52gr. Imr 4350 3.35 oal. 2650 fps. 24in 5r barrel

the nosler book is all on line

57.5 gr imr 4831 and either 165 sierras or 165 partition. Fed 210m or cci 200. Didn't matter. Shot both to same poi and both around 1/2 moa. In fact first 3 shot group was closer to 1/4". Chrono said 2925 fps but I'm not completely convinced it's quite that fast.

57.5 gr imr 4831 and cci 200 or fed 210 puts 165 gr sierra gk or nosler part into tiny groups(1/2" or sometimes better). Chrono read around 2925 fps outta a 24" tube. Tried a few other loads with mediocre results. This was my buddy's 30+ year old load and luckily my forbes seemed to love it.

59gr H4350, Win brass, Fed 210 primer, 165 Hornady Interbond. Chrono avg 2928fps

49 grainsIMR4064, 150 SST, CCI primer,RP cases, loaded to w/in .020 of the lands in a Mod. 700 w/ 25 inch Douglas barrel
Also 56 grains IMR 4350, 150 SST, Win LR primer, Lapua cases used in a Weatherby Vanguard II, also loaded almost into the lands. These loads are very accurate at a little under 2850 fps on 65-70 degree days. Some of the loads I see listed here would cause over pressure in my rifles, hence the wisdom of the work up. I shoot with a friend who uses a stock Mod. 700 of about 1995 vintage and my loads are low velocity in his rifle. His rifle has what I consider a too generous chamber and a long bullet jump to the lands. You would have too little bullet in the case to load near the lands. Seems common in Remingtons nowdays.

56 grains of H-414 behind a 165 grain Sierra BTSP, Rem 9 1/2 mag primer. I haven't fired any through the Chrony but I figure it should be in the vicinity of 2800 fps.

I'm getting consistent groups averaging 3/4 of an inch with a Tupperware stocked Charles Daly Mauser. That Tupperware stock has the action and 2 inches of the fore end bedded with Acraglas and some atomized aluminum thrown in for good measure.

Dan

For years I used IMR4350... didn't think there was a better choice in .30/06..... then I tried Ramshot hunter. The IMR4350 is now collecting dust on the shelf

Out of the Cooper Western Classic- 165 Grain HPBT. 62.5 Grains of Ramshot Hunter fired off by CCI 200. Chronographed at 3,000 FPS. I cannot imagine a better load and it is absolutely deadly on deer.

I have an early Remington Sportsman 78 that has a very long throat. It hates boattail bullets of any kind. It loves a case full of IMR4831, Fed210's and Speer or Hornady 180 Spire points. Will keep them on an old fashioned oil can at 400 yards. Kills 150-200lb Mississippi Whitetails with aplomb, might try a premium bullet if I ever get to shoot something bigger, but probably not.

Michael

55 grains of N560 under Hornady 180 grain spire points seems to work well for me.

looking for anyone using H380 for 30.06 loads ill be using nosler 165 ballistic tips. picked some up at a gun show havin a hard time finding load data for it

Hodgdon recommends with a 165 Sierra and H380 a starting load of 51.0 at 2669fps and a max of 56.5 at 2892fps. Would probably put you in the ballpark for substituting a NBT. 380 seems to be between Varget and 4350 in burn rate. Both good 30-06 powders. Your results may vary.

GRIZ... believe it or not; straight out of the book....150 NOS.-either the old solid base or B.T/59.0 gr.IMR4350/WW Brass/CCI 200 primers/3.285" OAL: This load is covered with a dime/3 shots @100yds out of my: Mossberg 810A; Savage 110; Win. Mod70 Black Widow; Chrono thru Oehler 35P @12Ft.is 2920 avg. for the Mossberg and 2930 avg. for the Savage. Haven't done the Win.24" or the Sav.116 HBSS 26" yet, but they've got to be at least 50-80 FPS faster but, WTH it's the accuracy that counts as I keep my shots within 150yds. and head shots are more the norm than not...(don't like to waste ANY meat). My neighbor/hunting partner and his wife love the ribs and feed the innards to their dogs...and I haven't found even one recipe for antlers in 40+ yrs. of hunting deer and the racks don't mean anything to me. Don't know how this load works for others but it's a good one in my book.
A .30-30 equiv. load in these rifles, too, is: 29.0 gr. IMR4759/Rem. cases/200 primer/and either HOR..SPEER, or SIERRA 170gr. FP seated to cannelure for 2142 FPS avg. in the 22"brls.
Either bullet goes into a quarter/5 rds.@ 100 yds. with change due.(this load is used when my shoulder/rotator cuff gives me trouble. Never lost an animal-hogs included- with either load.
Just my $.02 worth. They should work for you and/or as a reduced load for the young kids starting out.
GOOD LUCK. WILL

Wondering from your past experience Nosler, 30 cal. 180 gr partition in a 30-06. How far off the lands was more accurate? Some bullets like more, some less. Hoping to save myself a lot of experimenting.

.010" jump is usually a safe bet for accuracy and it leaves a little wiggle room for error. I've shot 180 PTN and used .010" jump with good results.

Yep.

SS...I wish I could save you some time but every rifle/load is its own identity. However, I usually start at .050" off-lands and work to .020" in .005" increments. If no improvement, I go back to as much as .100". Sounds crazy but as I said....Each rifle is different and responds to loads in peculiar ways. It takes time to find just what each one likes. What is accurate in one might be crappy in another. My three rifles all use different OALs and differ by as much as .040" (WITH THE SAME LOAD DATA).
GOOD LUCK in finding yours.
Apologies for getting back so late to you, but I've been under a sort of strain lately. [Recovering from a recent heart attack, and not feeling too well]

WILL

SS... the loads I've developed for my rifles were done so many years ago and tweaked as new bullets/powders came along over the years. Lately (past 20 yrs. or so), I've relaxed my expectations to what I call "coin groups", and concern myself more to 'hunting loads'. In the larger calibers-3 shots- (.338; .444), anything covered by a quarter is o.k. In the smaller-.25 to .30 calibers, a nickel is acceptable. In the .223.and .243 cals. I'll sometimes go for 'dime-with-change' groups. I've gotten some as small as .118"C-C but the trouble to measure them became too much for me, so.... the "coin groups" Keep in mind one thing: Unless you want to spend time and money chasing "Bug Hole" rifles and groups; The rifle is only as accurate as the person pulling the trigger, and the shooter is only as accurate as the rifle. If either one is less than 100%(forget all that 150-200% BS; 100% is ALL you have to give) sometimes what you get is less than what you expect. If the equipment is not up to par, the best shooter in the world will not get good groups, and the most expensive(read that all-top-of-the-line-Bench-Rest-quality-equipment and rifle)will not let the so-so shooter get good groups. Learn to accept the best that you and your equipment can do and be satisfied with that...I have. I don't mean to discourage you in the least, but be ready to experience some disappointment before finding the best results with your equipment.
WILL
Best of luck. WILL

61 grs RL 22 and a 180 Sierra pro hunter gets over 2800 from Ruger 77 22" and its very accurate.

57gr IMR 4350 165gr horn BTSP. got my cow elk this yr in Ut.

56.5 gr RL-17
Cheap ol' hornady 165 btsp
Fed 210 primer
Lapua Brass
.75" 4 shot group at 200 yrds
2780 fps...

Anyone try either RL 23 or 26 in the '06?

I have tried different combinations of 150 gn bullets and powders in my son's 30-06 and thought the rifle was just a lemon.
Yesterday I shot some loads of IMR 4350 behind a speer 165 gn BT. It yielded nice enlarged holes or very tight groups.
Shot a progression of 180s that were around an inch. His rifle likes the heavier bullets.

What do y'all think of Hunter powder with 180-208 grain bullets in an 30-06.

I want to start loading for my new Remington LRR..

Viking, I've had good luck with hunter and 180's. I tried it out after reading Mule Deer's article on the '06 and was more than happy with the results.

Hello everyone,
this is my first post ever on 24 hrs.
My main hunt is the driven on russian boars (very thick skinned guys)using.30-06 and .444 Marlin so far...I do plan to use 7mm RM or a 300 Winnie in the future.
That said, I'm a selftaught handloader (I whish to thank all of you American guys who gave me all I needed) and I did most of my experience using a Browning BAR Mk II. Now I changed it for a Blaser R8 semiweight fluted barrel (22").
I'd wish to place thousand of questions here but first I would like to share my recipes.
Self loading rifles need milder loads.
I did always use Lee Factory Crimp Dies for proper feeding, this is a further element of variability.
I tried most of conventional and premium bullets, good results with the Hornady IL 180 grains Round Nose...on the top of
- 47.5 grs of IMR-4064
- 53.5 of IMR-4350
- 51.0 of Vihtavuori N-550
- 55.0 of IMR-4831,
COAL 81,25 mm., Winchester brass SMALL BASE sized, CCI 200 primers.
Longest shot 230 m., shorter 3 m. (charging critter)! The bullet exited most of times but when recovered it was perfectly mushroomed and I've never experienced core/jacket separation.
Round Nose are better over spire points where thick brush is like to be around.
Best accuracy with TBCC 180 (old shape) say 6x12mm group, 47.0 of 4064, unfortunately way too long for my magazine (BAR)...but not in the Blaser.

Happy new year!

How many here have tried the Hornady 178gr, 200gr, 212gr and 220gr ELD-X bullets in there 30-06? They have good BC numbers. It seems that it would be possible to reach 2700fps with the 200gr bullet using 4831 which looks great on the ballistic calculator. My Hodgdon No. 20 manual say's 2690fps using 59gr of the 4831.

So my questions are a little apart from usual discussions:

First: I'm concerned about carbon fouling, for example I do clean very quickly my Marlin M444 using IMR-4198 and CCI-200 but the work on the 30-06 is much much harder no matter the powder, also the cases appear to be very smoked inside. Some experienced handloader told me that the right combination of load/primer/barrel length should improve this situation. Someone else told me that Federal primers are usually much more clean than others.

Second: The velocities obtained in my old 22" barrel auto-loading BAR were usually 200 fps less than those claimed in most of manuals and I assumed that was due to the gas spill (the shorter barrel should have affected a little less than 200 fps over a 24"). In the Blaser is the same story...In other words it seems impossible to get close to 2700 fps with 180 grainers and 22" barrels. Any thought?

TY

The Nosler web has reload data for the 30-06 with there high BC bullets. There AccuBond LR bullets have a High BC.
http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/30-06-springfield/

Has anybody shot the 220 grain 30-06? I read a Hemingway story years ago about a guy named Francis McComber (I think) that was using that on Cape Buffalo. His first shot bounced off the horn boss and he never got a second shot off as he picked the wrong wife for sure!!
Anyway the 220 has stuck in my head for the last 40 years or so but I have never seen a box of them for sale. The idea of 220 grains at 2400 fps seems pretty good, it seems good enough to hunt anything dangerous, in fact, with that sectional density.

You've never seen a box of 220 grain RN bullets????

Federal loads Sierras in 220 gr RN....and Rem loads Hornadys( I believe)....

Used it pretty exclusively back in MN, and the 180 grain RN when I was going light for caliber...

they are available in for handloaders...

if you want the max velocity out of the combo, H 4831SC is your friend...

No I've never seen one. I just use the 180 grain partition and 4895. I don't want to do all the testing and experimenting anymore; too old, easier to stick with what works. If you know a good 4895/220 load I might try it.
Also I admit to being cheap - accountant by trade. I just bought 50 .375 GS bullets for nearly $100 and 50 Hornady 375 casings for $50. Three bucks a bullet w/o powder and primer and labor - and I can buy them ready madefrom Midsouth cheaper than that. Both Ruger and H&H.

I think I would prefer a 200 grain Accubond with some H4831 to shove it downrange.

I have a fairly old, tang safety, Ruger M77 in .30-06. I've owned it since the '70s.

I have 2 all-purpose loads for it, that my particular rifle likes...

165gr Sierra GameKing BTHP
Win brass and WLR primer
48.0grs of IMR 4064
2700 fps range out of a 22" barrel.
5-shot groups are under 0.75 moa
This load is devastating on Muleys and White-Tails.

180gr Nosler Partition
Win brass and WLR primer
54.5grs of IMR 4350
2700fps from my 22" barrel
5 shot groups around 0.6 moa
I've taken Elk sized game with this, if the shot range is reasonable. The recovered Partitions lose the whole front part of the bullet. They work every time.

Hi Eremicus

I am trying to achieve 2,800 fps with a 180 Accubond or a Swift Scirocco in 180 gr for my '06. Have any advice on this I could use. All of my reloading manuals reach about 2,700. Rem 700 24'' barrel.

A .10 jump to the lands NPT. 180Gr. is real good in my Tikka T3...A case full of I4350 Fed. cases all prepped fed-210pmrs.Scary accurate n devistatig on Bear n Elk...ScottyO.

I've been loading my two 30-06's CZ550 and Sako Finnbear,both have 24" barrels with Accurate Arms 4350.I'm getting a little over 2850fps with 180gr Nosler BT @ 57.0grs with Winchester Magnum Primer.I'm loading 58.5grs with 165gr bullets @ around 2940fps and 150gr bullets @ around 3000fps,these also with Winchester Magnum Primers.I'd work up to these loads if you decide to try them,but both my rifles seem to handle them fine.

I was loading a 130 gr TTSX in a .30-06 with 62 gr of Big Game. Since I can't get Big Game, I needed to try something else. I noticed that Mule Deer's .30-06 loads in the Gack book showed very similar results between 62 gr of Big Game and 56.5 gr of Varget.
I tried the 56.5 gr Varget load and it shoots very similarly (group size and point of impact) to the Big Game load, but I can't do a chrono comparison since I'm out of Big Game.

Good thread. Took me a while to read it, and I noticed several references to 56.5 grains of Re17 with 165s. I find that interesting as I am working up a load for a new-to-me .30-06 using this powder and 180-grain Partitions and it appears there is a node at 56.5 grains, but I need to do a little more shooting to verify it. I do know the velocity will be around 2840 or so. I just need to see if it really WILL shoot that load consistently.

I'd likely have gone with H4350, but had none on hand when this rifle came to me. I do have about 3/5 of a pound of Hunter on hand, but the only Ramshot powder I've seen available for quite some time was TAC.

Funny that my post is still the last in this thread.

I've reached a conclusion on Re17. Even though its velocity potential can be astounding (for instance, a 180-grain Partition at 2900 fps out of a .30-06!), it just plain sucks due to temperature sensitivity.

I was able to obtain a few pounds of H4350 a few days back, and I found that charges of 57.0, 57.5, and 58.0 grains all yielded sub-MOA accuracy with velocities coming in at 2791 to 2831 fps. I think the 58.0-grain load is too hot for my rifle, though (my case capacity is a little on the light side as I am using LC69 brass). I believe my load will be 57.5 grains of H4350, and I will do a little bit of tweaking via seating depth next time out.

There's a reason so many tout H4350 for the '06. It works!

RR, Yeah seems about right? I was using 57.0grs H4350 in Lapua brass with 185 VLD's. Speed was around 2800 fps in 24" barrel. Shot really well to 1K too. Ramshot Hunter is another powder to look at as well.

59 grains IMR 4350, Nosler 150 grain accubond

Newbie here but i'll have to agree with 57 gr IMR 4350 and 165 gr NBT. Used this load exclusively in an older 700 Mtn Rifle . Works very well , groups right at 1" .

Don't forget about H414 either. In my '06 I get great results with both 168 and 180 grain projectiles.

+1

If H4350 doesn't work H414 will!

I've been trying to develop a good hunting load with 165-168 grain bullets in my Tikka 30-06 using IMR 4350 and XMR 4350. It's been frustrating, my rifle doesn't seem to like either 4350 very much. I tried several different bullets and primers but didn't get the kind of accuracy I wanted. Good velocity, but ho-hum accuracy. It shoots great with IMR 4064 but the velocity is lacking (I haven't pushed much with 4064 though).



My usual hunting load which puts three shots under 1/2 inch.

Bullet: Nosler 168 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: IMR-4064 49.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Winchester
LOAL: 3.340 (2.720 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Velocity: 2639.38 fps
Extreme Spread: 30.43
Standard Deviation: 10.14
Comments: Loaded for .018 bullet jump to lands.

The XMR 4350 load I checked today (2 inch groups - yuck!)

Bullet: Nosler 168 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: XMR-4350 57.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Winchester
LOAL: 3.340 (2.720 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Velocity: 2796.87 fps
Extreme Spread: 42.78
Standard Deviation: 19.74

I put my chronograph up (why check the remaining ammo?)

And then I tried this load to use up what was left... WOW!



Bullet: Hornady 165 gr. Spire Point Boat Tail
Powder: XMR-4350 55.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Hornady
LOAL: 3.230 (2.673 with Stoney Point)
Comments: Jam length 2.683 base to ogive, seated for 0.010 jump to lands. Six shot group at 100 yards measured 1.059 inch.

Back to the drawing board!

Found two good hunting loads today. One used the Sierra 165 gr. HPBT GameKing and the other the Nosler 168 gr. Ballistic Tip. I'm glad I kept with it, I'd be happy to use either load for whitetail.

Five shots at 100 yards with the Sierra 165 gr. GameKing (1.207 inches).



Bullet: Sierra 165 gr. HPBT Game King
Powder: XMR-4350 55.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Federal
LOAL: 3.188 (2.713 with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2811.52 fps
Spread: 37.90
Standard Deviation: 16.30
Comments: Seated for 0.022 jump to lands.


Five shots at 100 yards with the Nosler 165 gr. Ballistic Tip (1.405 inches). I tensed up on the fifth shot in the upper left.



Bullet: Nosler 168 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: Hodgdon H-4350 58.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Norma
LOAL: 3.340 (2.720 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Velocity: 2810.29 fps
Extreme Spread: 24.84
Standard Deviation: 9.27

165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip over 58-59 gr H4350 has done really well for my son and I over the years. Just this year I've tagged:

Black bear at 325 yards.


Pronghorn at 245 yards.


Mule deer at 140 yards.


Still have a late season cow elk tag to fill, and I figure I'll use the same load. Expands well. Penetrates well. Kills well. Accurate too.

Regards, Guy

Thanks Guy! Now I know I'm on the right track!

I wished I'd taken some pictures yesterday but it seems I've broken through the accuracy barrier with my Tikka 30-06 and XMR-4350. I tried Wolf Large Rifle primers for the first time and got a BIG improvement in groups. Didn't think a primer change would make that big a difference but I was wrong!

I was getting clover leaf groups for the first time. I've only been able to do that with IMR-4064, never with 4350!

I'm liking 55.5 grains of Re16 under 180 Partitions. Three shots go under 3/4-inch if I do my part. Velocity is about 2750 fps out a 24-inch barrel at 60 degrees F.

Here's a good discussion on temp sensitivity and RL-17.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/11164502

DF

Interesting thread that seems to go in several different directions. All I know is what I've experienced myself with Re17, and that I've got six or seven pounds of it sitting here on my shelf but NO desire or inspiration to fiddle with it. Chronographing is central to my handloading activity, and it's entirely possible that mine has misled me due to one or more of any number of reasons, but somehow that never seems to happen when I am using other powders. Re17 is the ONE powder that just flat scares me.

It has been said that a powder may show excellent temperature tolerance in one cartridge and pronounced temperature sensitivity in another. I'd go so far as to say that MAYBE a powder could look temperature tolerant with one bullet weight in a given cartridge, but misbehave with another bullet weight in the same cartridge. So many questions, and so little time...and money, components, equipment, expertise, yada yada yada.

I like Re16 and have no reservations about it. I'll chronograph the load again when summer comes and I can test at 100 degrees F. I intend to see what the Hunter and .30-06 combination is all about next since I have an 8-pounder sitting there unopened.

If that Reloder 17 scares you , box it up and send it to me. I hammers out of my .260 and .243. Even works decent in 7x57. Antelope season here is early October and weather is always 45-75 degrees so temperature issues are no problems. It even works good in my .300 win mag with 130 ttsx's.

One thing i have noted though with Reloder 17 is that it hides pressure signs. Until you are WAY past high pressure.
But if you use current published data in calibers it likes it is still pretty dang good. Creedmores, .260s and medium 6 mms ( 6XC,6 Creedmore , 6x47L)really like it.
Just my humble opinion............

Yep, that smooth pressure curve can be a double edged sword.

Great performance without pressure signs.

Is it a stealth powder that could be off the charts when pressure signs do show up?

Some discussion, no real consensus on temp sensitivity, different answers/different applications.

All said, I like RL-17. Ya just gotta understand it.

DF

I'd swap it in a heartbeat but for the shipping problem.

Different strokes.

Impressive groups. Looks like you've got the right recipe.👍

My Ruger #1A is particularly fond of 165 Hornady SP's (flat base), seated .03" short of the lands, with 58 gr. of H4350 stuffed into Rem. brass & sparked by Fed. 210 match primers. Velocity from the 22" barrel averages 2838 fps. and (3-shot) groups average about 1" at 100 m. (sometimes a bit more - sometimes a bit less - depending on my 70 yr. old diabetic eyes). I've used this rifle/load combo for years and have killed a few truck loads of white tails and muleys with it.

Worked up a load for my Kimber Montana, 55 grains of Varget with 125 gr Nosler Accubond, 3050 fps Indiana first deer season with larger caliber rifles this combo worked great.

At 300 yards today, about 53 degrees F. Prone, over the pack:



53 grains of H4350, R-P brass, CCI large rifle primers.

Three shots on the 300 yard gong, spread of about 2.5" and the 200 gr Partitions were averaging 2612 fps. That first round hit, the gong rang, and I got a big ol' grin on my face. I wish I'd explored 200 gr bullets for the .30-06 long ago. My rifle & ammo did well last season with 165 grain Ballistic Tips at 2900 fps, but I think this load would have been even better, particularly on the bear and elk.

JB/Mule Deer mentioned that this bullet penetrated well and worked great on a wide variety of big game, but I never anticipated such accuracy!

Regards, Guy

Great shooting Guy and beautiful rifle there. I too have been playing around with the 200gr. partition. I was low on H4350 since it hasn't been around here in a few years, so I went back to my go to powder (IMR4350). Here's how my old 1917 does with that excellent 200gr partition, sans the buck and bull I also shot with this set-up:


My pre 64 model 70 fwt also loves this load...

I've not run it yet, but plan to soon and someone was asking about the 26/210 lrab

My favorite 30-06 loads are:
1) 150 grain bullets - 52 grains of IMR 4064
2) 165-168 grain bullets - 57 grains of IMR 4350
3) 180 grain bullets - 58 grains of Hunter.

The first two loads have been quoted by several gun writers - Ken Waters, John Barsness to name two. The last comes from Barsness, and I tried it - it's a good one. It shot great in my Tikka M695 with 1 in 11" twist. I loaded the second one for two friends who don't handload. They were happy with the results. I loaded Barnes 168 grain TSXs for them.

A 165gr Nosler Accubond pushed by 58gr H4350 for a muzzle velocity of 2860 fps was always my "go to" in my custom barreled 30.06(25" Pac Nor). Accuracy has always been stellar with this load producing consistent 3/4"( or better) 3-shot groups at 100 yds.

But, difficulty finding H4350 has caused me to start experimenting with Alliant's newer RL-16. Boy am I glad I did. This past weekend I found that 57gr of RL-16 will put 3 165gr Accubonds into 0.6" at 100 yds at 2915 fps over my chronograph. 57.4gr(Alliant's Max) produced 2942 fps! First 2 shots went into 1 ragged hole! I pulled the 3rd shot an inch to the right, so I'll need to confirm accuracy again on that one. I'll add that the ES and SD on these two RL-16 recipes were in the single digits! Temp was 81 degrees while shooting.

Temperature stability and de-coppering agent to boot with RL-16!

Looks like I may not need H4350 in the future!😁

Leftybolt

Anyone got information on RL19 and 165 Nos Accubonds. Looking for information in the 57 to 59 gr range. MV and pressure mostly. Thanks Daniel

180gr accubonds and a 23" M700. Would like the best velocity I can manage

I have a ton of H5350, a lot of RL17, some RL19 and some RL22.

Nosler data doesn't seem to have a clear winner. Not sure I want to compress as much as the RL22 load.

Any real life experience?

I finally chronographed my hunting load this morning, I'm getting a lot more velocity than I was expecting from my Tikka's 22 inch barrel! I might start backing down to see if the ES&SD readings improve - or maybe not, accuracy is very good! Easy extraction and rounded primers!

Handload

Bullet: Speer 165 gr. BTSP
Powder: XMR-4350 58.0 grs.
Primer: Wolf Large Rifle
Case: Norma
LOAL: 3.300 (2.691 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Velocity: 2870.93 fps
Extreme Spread: 40.80
Standard Deviation: 17.02

Factory Load

Bullet: Federal 165 gr. Ballistic Tip (Factory Load)
LOAL: 3.268 (2.647 base to ogive with Stoney Point)
Velocity: 2812.50 fps
Extreme Spread: 16.32
Standard Deviation: 6.92

Found a great load for accuracy (1/2 inch) but cannot find any information as to MV! 165 Accubond and 56.5 of RL19 in a 22 inch barrel. Plan on it being my elk load this fall unless I get bad news from responses. Would be great if it's 2650 or so, 2750 would be even better. I have looked everywhere and even called Alliant Powder, but they couldn't help. Ironic for a powder that is marketed as a number one 30-06 powder.

A chrono will give you the info you seek.

Mathman, I guess your response indicates you don't have a clue. LOL

Alliant says their maximum load for Re-19 with a 165 gr. Nosler Partition is 62.1 grs. for 2890 fps. with Federal cases. Sierra says their maximum load for their 165 gr. bullets with Re-19, again with Federal cases, which are heavier than say WW, is about 56.8 grs. for 2800 fps. That was with a 26 inch barrel. Other sources, using WW brass, and powders with similar burn rates, like IMR 4831, do list velocities as low as 2500-2700 fps. If you have no chrono to test your ammo, I suggest you see how much the bullet drops at extended ranges. E

57GR. IMR 4350 sierra 165GR. game king BTHP extremely accurate and extremely deadly,,,,,,,,,,,,

54 gr. of big game, 168gr. BT silver tips. 2800 fps+/-. Tikka T3

Ive been shooting 165 SGK over 57.5 gr. IMR 4350 about 2780 out of my 22 inch barrel. Shoots about .75 on average out of my factory rem barrel cut to 22in. Stuff always dies when hit.

17 pages of loads. Oh my.

57 grains of IMR 4350, federal cases, Remington 9.5 primer under a 180 grain partition. The older I get the heavier I prefer my bullets.

58.0grs of Accurate 4350,3030fps with a 168gr Nosler Ballistic Tip out of my 28" Pac-Nor barreled 30-06.

I have one of thems,shoots like the house is burnin

Same load out of my Remington Long Range 30-06 26" barrel....2840fps.....Looks like the custom barrel with a couple extra inches may make a big difference.

58.5gr of RL16 3030fps with 150gr Accubond WLR primer Win case 3.260 OAL.
57gr of RL16 2976fps with 165gr Accubond CCI250 primer R/P cases 3.260 OAL
24" barrel

I was messing around with the Sierra 165 gr. Game King BTHP this weekend and was impressed as always with it's accuracy. Much as I like the various 4350s and the velocity they give IMR 4064 is no slouch! The attached file shows my eight shot group @100 yards (one inch target sticker).

This load is over the Sierra maximum but I'm using higher capacity Norma brass and I worked up. My chronograph batteries crapped out so I'll have to chronograph it later. Sorry!

Gun: Tikka T3 Lite 30-06 22 inch bbl.

Bullet: Sierra 165 gr. HPBT Game King
Powder: IMR 4064 50.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Norma
LOAL: 3.188 (2.713 with Stoney Point)

Here's a similar load I chronographed earlier.

Bullet: Speer 165 gr. BTSP
Powder: IMR-4064 50.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Norma
LOAL: 3.300 (2.691 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Avg. Velocity: 2673.02 fps
Extreme Spread: 22.45
Standard Deviation: 9.16

An 8-shot group at 100 yards.

Went back this weekend and checked the above load with my chronograph.

Bullet: Sierra 165 gr. HPBT Game King
Powder: IMR-4064 50.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Norma
LOAL: 3.188 (2.713 with Stoney Point)
Avg. Velocity: 2730.07 fps
Extreme Spread: 30.06
Standard Deviation: 11.09

Last month I checked a load on my chronograph. It was 65gr of RL26 165gr Ballistic Tip 215M primer Win cases 3.280 OAL
the 30/06 got an average of 3003fps. Rifle had less than 200 rounds thru 24" barrel. Norma MRP was also over 3000fps.
both loads were compressed. So far the RL26 load was the most accurate I,ve gotten with that powder in any rifle.

+1 on IMR 4064, I get great accuracy with it not only in my .30-06 but also in my .257 Roberts and .35 Whelen. It has been my go to powder for quite some time now, while I also use IMR 4350, RL-15 and Varget none of these gives as good accuracy as IMR 4064. I used IMR 4064 to develop a load for my .35 Whelen more than 25 years ago, prior to last fall's hunting season I did extensive load development for all three rifles, IMR 4064 was still the powder that gave the best accuracy. I use it with 100 grain bullets in the Roberts, 165 grain in the .30-06 and 225 grainers in the .35 Whelen, I'm sure it would work well with other bullets weights those are just my choices. Try it, I'm sure you'll like it.

Reading through this long thread I saw a load for 52gr of IMR 4064 behind 150gr bullets. I have had decent shooting 150gr loads before but nothing stellar. After shooting the IMR 4064 load, wow. Put 3 in just under 3/4". Reloaded 7 more and put all 7 into a group just over 1 1/4", one right after the other and on a day when the wind was whipping ~15mph no less. I always thought my rifle just liked 180's but I have since changed my mind. Need to try it with some 165's now - I have a new favorite load for 150's. WW brass, CCI 200 primers, 52gr of IMR4064 and a Hornady 150gr SP. And as a bonus IMR4064 is cheap - a local shop has lots of it for 22.99/lb.

Confirmed accuracy of above load on less windy day - first group small cloverleaf, second - two touching 1 just outside just a tad over 1/2". Amazing accuracy from an 80 year old rifle and 3-9 hunting scope.

IMR 4064 has been my go to powder for 125 gr and 150 gr bullets in the .30-06 for over 50 years. 52.0 gr with a 150 gr Sierra or Ballistic Tip and 55.0 gr with a 126 gr bullet have always shot under an inch in just about every .30-06 I have tried them in. I have tried other powders but have had no reason to change. The 150 gr load comes close to 3000 FPS in a 24-inch barrel of a sporterized 1903 Springfield with original barrel and shoots under an inch all day long.

Nosler rifle, 24” barrel. Nosler 165 ballistic tips, pushed by R-17, 56gr, to 2920 FPS. Federal 210 primer, 5 shots .70” group at 100 yards.

Went to range today with 30/06 and 270 Winchester.

Best 30/06 load with 63.0gr of Norma MRP 165gr Trophy Bonded Tipped. 215M primers and Win cases
Got 3027fps with SD of 4.6. Load was most accurate of 3 loads I shot. Then New LabRadar Quit. Rifle
was Weatherby Mark 5 with 24" barrel. Over all length of shell was 3.280 when I load to 3.340 bullets
stick in barrel. Must be short chamber.

I have had a couple of stand out loads that are very uniform in their accuracy which is very sub MOA in my Model 70 Featherweight.
150 Partition over 62 grains of H 4350 and CCI 200 primer and 175gn Barnes LRX over 60 grains of H 4350 and the same primer.

Work up from below and maybe they will shine in your own .30/06.
John

Funny, I see a lot of fans of the 52gr load of IMR 4064. That's my recipe for this year's hunt with a 150gr Speer HotCor. My rifle seems to like the Hornady Interlock a bit better, but I'm out of those and the Speers only open up the group slightly.

Over the years I've found my most accurate loads were 48gr of IMR4064 with a 180gr Speer RN, 48gr of IMR4320 with a 150gr Hornady iInterlock (mild load btw), 52gr of IMR 4064 with 150gr Speer or Hornady, and 55 or 56gr of IMR4350 with a 180gr Sierra Spitzer Flat Base. For a 30/30 equivalent type load I've also done 43.5gr of IMR4320. Very mild and accurate. Took a little white-tail a few years ago with it and it dropped just like all the other loads I've listed.

Tag for my records.....I need to research the 175 LRX a bit.... Thanks AGW

Finally tried H-4350 in my Tikka T3 30-06 and hit pay dirt right off the bat! Getting the accuracy of IMR-4064 and velocity of the 4350s! SWEET!

3-shots @100 yards.



Bullet: Speer 165 gr. BTSP
Powder: Hodgdon H-4350 58.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Norma New (Headspace - 2.042 with Stoney Point)
LOAL: 3.300 (2.691 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Avg. Velocity: 2806.44 fps
Extreme Spread: 22.07
Standard Deviation: 12.16

Speer 170 grain flat point, Federal case, Remington 9 1/2 primer, 45 gr IMR 4064, OAL 3.17 velocity 2450 fps. Had some 30-30 bullets leftover. This is a good 303 British class load. Polite to.shoot and quite accurate from my 7600 Remington.

My Kimber Subalpine is super accurate with a 165gr TTSX over 53.5 grains of H4350 and a CCI large rifle primer. I have never chronographed this load but I know its not hot at all and thats the way I like it......Easy on the throat 👍......Hb

Has anyone tried seating bullet at different oal

I might try this with the Nosler Partition170gr RN. It's a 30/30 class bullet, too. Easy on the shoulder. Hell on deer.

For a 180 Hornady SP... H4350 from 56-59.5 gr with F210's and R-P cases all grouped under an inch in a 700 BDL. The best coming at 59 grains with a .62 group. Tried that load again with a WLR primer and got a .53 group. Velocities ranged from 2600-2760.

53 gr of IMR4064 with 2 different 150's were sub MOA with velocities in the 2940 range.

58 grains of IMR4350 and 165 Sierras were under half inch.


I dont know that any gun Ive ever owned has been so easy to load for and so accurate over as wide of a range of bullets as this one. Small wonder people love them, Recoil is a tad stiff on this one with no pad but manageable. Def a do-all round. Im kinda sentimental on this one as I killed my first deer way back with a 180gr WW round nose.

First post - Love the site.

Taking my lead from an old federal loading now no longer in production I made the following load:

Barnes 110 grain TTSX flat base
Varget 58.5 grains
Lapua brass
Federal 210M primers
COAL 3.190 (measured from the federal commercial load)

Groups measured 0.4 inches out of a Browning Safari grade (three shots at 100 yards)
Velocity (LabRadar) = 3404 fps

Responsible for two whitetail does around 160 yards. Neither took a step.

Recoil is like a 7mm-08 reduced recoil load - Really fun to shoot. Just clean your barrel often.

Always. every time a new bullet is tried.
2+1 means seat deeper.
3 apart means seat out further.
The finesse is being very subtle if the barrel is thin and whippy and a little more,, like 1/8th of a turn if the barrel is number 2 or more.

Welcome Snakeskin!!! I will be trying out a very similar load to this and anticipate the good results you have seen. I really like sending the lighter per caliber TSX bullets as fast as possible. They are very effective with great penetration and expansion.

This load is probably posted in here already by someone else, but here you go.
Factory Rem 700
Bedded in McMillan Classic
Cut at 18" and threaded
Win brass
CCI large rifle primer
155 Scenar
59 gr H4350
3.395 oal in my rifle with worn throat
4 shot group

at 60 grains H4350 was only slightly larger

When in HS (1974), an older friend taught me to reload. I was shooting a sporterized, surplus Springfield. 30-06. Loading 5 rounds, laser loading. Ended up with 52.5gr 4064 over a Win LR primer and 150 Sierra FB SP. Consistent 5 shot groups of 5/8", @ 100 yards and 1" - 1 1/2" @ 200.

Have NEVER loaded any other powder or 150 gr bullet.


Going on elk hunt in 1983, I decided I needed 180 gr. Using same type load ladder of 5 rounds, ended up with 54.5 gr H4831 and Hornady SP.


Recently acquired a classic Winchester Model 70, first trip to the range, took both loadings. Outstanding accuracy.

Grandson wanted a .30-06. Tried to talk him into a .260, 7-08, or .25-06. He insisted on .30-06.

Son got him a Savage for Christmas. We sighted the scope in and then shot a 3/4" 5 shot group. He fired 2 shots and hasn't touched the rifle since.

I'm thinking 115-125gr loaded around 2600-2800 fps would suit him better, for now. Any real world experience? Preferably using 4064, 4350, or 4831SC.

I keep reading about these 4064 loads of over 50 grains some as much as 53 plus. I have 2 rifles in .30-06 that cannot handle over 49 grains without getting in trouble with pressure. One is a Weatherby Vanguard 2 with no alterations and the other is a M700 with a #4 Douglas barrel. Both are stainless but that probably has no bearing on the pressure issues. Both shoot exceptionally well and have good velocity. The 700 rifle shoots the 4064 best and the Vanguard is best with IMR 4350. It also pressures up with 4350 if I go much over 56 grains. My scales are accurate so as they say I let the rifle tell me what it likes.

I like 130 gr. '06 loads for WT's and hogs. If a bullet will shoot thru a deer, why go heavier. And at 3+K fps, they hit like a magnum, kill quickly.

I like the 130 Horn SP, not the varmint version. Also have 125 NAB's. This load was with Ralph Council 130 BR quality bullets. Ralph says they work well on deer, just never tried it.

The gun was an HVA project rifle that turned out pretty well. Because it was so light, I went with lighter bullets to keep down recoil. I was amazed how well they killed, never tried heavier in that rifle.

BG is also a great powder in the 7-08. Ask Pharmseller about his 7-08 loads, or do a search here on the Fire.

DF

I’ve enjoyed this thread a lot. It’s been a good reminder of how each rifle is different. In a rush a couple of years ago, I loaded 165g accubonds with IMR 4350 and using Nosler recommended coal. My first string confirmed My T3x had a “slower barrel”. Ultimately, 59.5 grains brought velocity to 2830 with 3 rounds touching. I’ve been planning on tweaking seating depth to see if I could improve things (there is significant room to extend coal. However, with all my projects, I just haven’t gotten to it.

I’ve learned that loading without a chronograph is frequently an inefficient use of time/resources. There’s lots to learn if your paying attention. It will also provide early warning if you have a tight chamber (I have T3x in 270wsm that has one) or if you need to look at case expansion when other pressure signs are not present but velocities are unusually high.

Hope this thread keeps going.

Just worked up a 200 Accubond load for my brother to go to on his Kodiak bear hunt this week. Using RL-17 was able to get the 200 Accubond to 2640 fps (16" barrel). Should be a decent setup for the little brush buster rifle.

Responding to a throw back thread, but oh well.

My Rem 700 will not shoot 57gr of IMR4350 w/165 gr anythings. Groups are like 1 1/2" at 100 yards with that load. The same rifle shoots 180gr bullets over 46.0gr of H4895 fantastic with groups <3/4" at 100 yards.

I've come to think there are no hard and fast loads that work in all guns, or maybe even MOST guns. There are just lots of loads that work in different rifles. Just have to search until you find it.

Nosler recommended load and COAL for the 220 grain Partition using H4831SC puts 5 round groups just under 1 inch.

When I seat them deeper to where a cannelure typically would be (~3.297") my groups tighten to under 3/4 inch.

Happy Camper

Light load:

R-P cases with deburred flash holes and trimmed to book minimum
Sierra 150 grain round nose flat base(30-30 bullet)
CCI 200 Primer
40 grains IMR-4895
Bullets seated to bottom of cannelure

Velocity: Slow

1.5" 5 shot groups @ 100 yards in my heavily pitted bore 1930 1903 Springfield
Took a 5 point Kentucky buck on opening day at 85 yards. One shot through the ribs with an exit hole about the size of a golf ball.

I've taken a lot of boys out over the years....when they are 12 to 14 or so... and carrying Grandpa's old 30/06 they were given...
that kicks the crap out of them...

but a 150 grain FN and 30 grains of IMR 4198... right at the 30/30 velocities....

shootable, rifle will kick less than a 30/30, due to a little more weight...and stock shape...

and on the average, more accurate than many 30/30s, especially Grandpa's old one that's hung in the closet for a long time...

Cool! How'd that work out?

Couple of years ago I used the 30-06 with 200 gr Nosler Partitions over H4350 for about 2600 fps, and took a grizzly in the Brooks Range. The ol' 30-06 works well on quite a variety of game.

Regards, Guy

Harvester both my KY whitetails this year with 165gr. Sierra Game Kings over 56gr. IMR 4350. This is my go to load in .30-06 for whitetails, it is accurate and kills with authority.

Well he didn't get a bear so can't comment there, but it do as you'd expect on deer.

Took some rifles out to zero at 200 yards yesterday while I was playing with some 6mmAR loads at 100. Decided to see what my chronograph would tell me about my load on a cooler day (by about 25 degrees...just curious) since it was set up and ready to go anyway. Actually got slightly higher readings, averaged 2763 fps fifteen feet from the muzzle. No loss from 70*F down to 45*F, but that's no real test. Accuracy is holding up at 200 yards, too.

At 100 yards:

Just curious as to why use large rifle primers for 1 load and large rifle magnum primers for the other?? Also, what kind of accuracy are you seeing with the RL-16?

Hornady brass
WLR
168 AMax, 168 hpbt or 165 SST
46.3 gr. N135
Approx. 308 ballistics, easy shooting in the 30-06
Very precise
Learned about it from Dave Emary in an online conversation about Garand match ammo.

Thanks for sharing that load!

Try it, it's almost like cheating.

I've been working with a 30-06 that had a couple of issues and I wanted to test the fixes. I looked to Garand match loads to find ones with good precision potential yet at somewhat less than full boat 30-06 recoil. The idea was to be able to shoot a bunch without fatigue.

John Barsness published an article along these lines and his best loads also worked quite well for me. Those were with Varget, RL15 and N140. I tried the N135 combo because of Emary's suggestion along with the fact a local store had a very good sale on N135.

Nothing really new to offer. My 30-06 liked the Barsness Ramshot Hunter load with 180's. 56grains had better accuracy than 58 in my rifle. Consistent 3/4" load.

Federal GM Brass
180 Partition
56 GR HUNTER powder
Federal GM210M

Becoming a fan of the Ramshot powder. Rifle also liked the following load.

Federal GM Brass
168 Gr Barnes TTSX
53 Gr Big Game powder
Federal GM210M

This light weight rifle is a bit picky and a challenge to shoot for me. These two loads are very consistent in it.

I’m super late to the party here but for me 56-57 grains of IMR-4350 and any good 165 grain bullet will cook in any .30-06 Rifle I’ve tried it in. For the PNW, that’s plenty of bullet and a good all-around choice.

Ive had good results with 180gr Accubonds 57gr H4350 for 2800fps+ in a 24" barrel. Accuracy has been very good.

I really like 50 gr IMR 4064 with a 168gr. Barnes TTSXbt. In my rifle it is highly accurate, and the speed is perfect to drop deer in their tracks.

Here`s one if you use the heavies.

Krico model 700 .30-06 - 20 inch bbl

220 gr Woodleigh RN Weldcore
RL 26

chge - 60.7 gr
coal - 3.340

MV- 2570

24 inch bbl
Woodleigh Weldcore 240 grain PP
Hodgdon H4831SC 52.5 grains
MV: ~ 2280 - 2300
COAL: ~3.297" (between -0.040 & -0.045" from the rifling in my rifle)

30-06 variety:

180g E-tip
H4350 52g
CCI 200
OAL 3.262

165g NBT
H4350 56.5g
CCI 200
OAL 3.315

168g NBT
H4350 56g
OAL 3.315

168g NBT
Ramshot Hunter 58.5g
CCI 200
OAL 3.315

180g NPT protected point
RL-17 55g
CCI 200
OAL 3.225

150g E-tip
RL-17 58g
CCI 200
OAL 3.30

220g NPT
RL-17 50.8g
CCI 200
OAL 3.280

Sub-sonic
220 NPT
Trailboss 14.2g (21 in bbl 1:10 twist)
CCI 200
OAL 3.280

Here's one with Nobel Sport Tubal Vectan 7000, which is a lot like 4350. I emailed Barnes and Nosler looking for data but neither have done any work with it yet, so I used data from

https://www.grafs.com/uploads/technical-resource-pdf-file/20.pdf

and

https://www.lhs-germany.de/en/powder/smokeless-powder/vectan/tubal-7000/

This data seems pretty conservative but I'm getting a solid 2,700 fps with the max charge in a couple of 30-06s with 180-grain bullets. Still working on accuracy. Right now it's holding 1.25 MOA in two rifles using the Hornady 180-grain boat-tail.


Okie John

I would really like to load up a box or two of 30/06 with 4350. Only problem, I don't have any and having a hard time finding 4350. I do have some RL19 and it works well too. 4350 is no doubt the go to powder for 30/06. I can't remember what year I started using 4350 must be 35-40 years back.

I have an old, 27" heavy barrel .30-06 I take along on PD shoots. I shoot VMax's out of it exclusively:

Hornady 110 grain VMax
Hodgdon H4895 56.5 grains (+- 0.1 grain)
Lapua brass
Federal 210M primer
COAL: ~3.245"
MV: 3,300+ fps

It's a sad day when 5 shot groups go over 1/2"

Lately my .30-06 hunting has been almost exclusively hogs which around here can go over 300# sometimes well over. The shots in our setup are usually 200-275 yards using the truck hood and a bag of corn as a rest. I've opted for a 180 bullet as sometimes a Texas heart shot is all you get. My best results have been with the Speer RN but as the shots seemed to be getting longer I went to the Hornady 180 SST which does shoot tighter groups. Both were loaded over 58.5 of H4831 and the load has not been chronographed but I'm assuming about 2700 fps out of a 24 inch barrel. With the SST the only issue I have is they seldom exit and if a hog makes a run for the thicket there is no blood trail. I'm not confident enough to shoot for the brain or neck in the dark so POA and POI is the middle of the ship.

+1 for 57ish grains of IMR4350 and a quality 165 grain bullet. I’ve used this load in four different 760 Gamemasters, a Tikka T3, and a 700BDL, all 1” groups or better at 100 yds.

My new general purpose .30-06 load is 180 gr ballistic tip, Fed 210 match primer, 56.0 gr of RL16 in a W-W case. Getting good groups in several different rifles. Have not chrono'd it yet.

My customary load for .30-06 for several years has been 55.5 grain of Re16 under my 180 Partitions. It seems to work well enough and yields about 2750 fps in my 24-inch Model 70.

This weekend I finally got around to trying some H4831 with the 180s, and I am encouraged. I loaded five each of 60.5, 61.0, 61.5, and 62.0 grains of H4831. The 60.5 grain load turned in a group that measured 0.82 inch, and the higher charges opened up somewhat. I forgot the chronograph so I cannot comment on velocity.

I intend to go back out with charges of 59.9, 60.1, 60.3, and 60.5 grains again and with the chrono to see if there's anything to be gained. Tight charge increments, I know...but I want data. I suspect there's a half-inch performer there waiting to be found.

I'm beginning to think this particular Model 70 will be the rifle I hang on to when the others begin to find new homes.

Went out this morning and tried some H4831 loads again as described above, groups of five rounds (avg. vel. / ES):

59.9 grains H4831SC - 2664 / 13

60.1 grains H4831SC - 2688 / 27

60.3 grains H4831SC - 2692 / 20

60.5 grains H4831SC - 2716 / 15

The 60.5 grain charge worked best again and came in slightly under 1.4 inches and velocity averaged just a smidgen over 2700 fps according to my Oehler 35P.

Maybe I should mention these groups were fired at 200 yards.

The target looks a little ragged because there was a brief downpour just as I finished shooting. The target was made using ordinary copy paper and it was soaked by the time I could get down there and take it down. The other groups were all 2 inches and larger and I didn't even make an attempt to salvage them.

My rifle is a BACO Model 70 in .30-06 Sprg. The scope is a Sightron Big Sky 3.5-10x50 held in place with Zee rings on steel Warne bases. The rifle is fitted in a B&C Medalist stock. I have more confidence in this rifle than any of the others suitable for big game in my safe.

Hate to quote myself but I used 56 grains under a 180-grain flat-base Hornady Interlock in a 30-06 to kill a young-ish black bear about a week ago. One shot at 353 yards did the trick.


Okie John

I am testing 56, 57 and 57.2 grains of IMR4350 with 165 gr. Nosler AB's in my .30-06 at the moment. I got .83" group with 55.2 grains, but still playing with the nodes from my ladder test. Had to take a break for a while, as I had a rear scope ring brake. I didn't want to buy the same style of mounts and rings again, but it's a pre-accu trigger and I had to take what I could find.

My loads for my 28" PacNor barreled 30-06 with 180gr and 200gr Accubonds
Winchester Brass
WLRM Primer
Reloader 26 Powder
63.5grs with 180gr
61.0grs with 200gr
Magnetospeed Chronograph

I just shot a ladder with RL 26 in my Rem 700 SS 24” 30-06 with 180 partitions
62.5 2892
63.0 2913
63.5 2899

Shot 3 groups tonight with 63.5 gr of RL26 with 180 partitions in my 30-06. All three 3 shot groups ( 2 off bipod and one off the bags) produced .75” and I haven’t played with seating depths yet. Very happy speed just under 2900 FPS

2900 fps with the 180 grain bullet should make you grin. (30-06)

Well my 30-06 load with 180 partitions at 2900 FPS tagged a Colorado 3x3 bull elk with 13” eye guards. Quartering towards me shot through the neck out the far shoulder dropped him right there. The shoulder bone hand 2 hand full of bone meat inside the front leg meat. Very happy with the results.

Looks like a keeper.I want to try it in a couple other 30-06's to see how they group and what kind of velocities I get.The amazing 30-06,better today than ever.

I tried the Reloader26 @ 63.5grs with 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tips in two of 30-06's.Both rifles grouped this load about 3/4".My 23" barreled rifle ran it at 2890fps and my 24" barreled rifle was 2882fps.Looks like a good solid 180gr load.

Anyone here found success with IMR 4350 and the 175 LRX?

150 grain Barnes TSX, 51.0 grains H4895 was sub-MOA in my buddies Rem 700 when I worked up this load for him. Book max load.

VERY interesting. I have a few pounds of Re26 that I can do whatever I like with and I have no plan for its use at the moment. A 180 @2900 is impressive, to say the least!

Questions:

- have you fired the load at higher temps, like in the 90s or above?

- how heavily compressed is the load?

Looking at QuickLOAD, it appears that you might not even be able to get enough Re26 under a 180 Partition to hurt yourself. I wouldn't put it to the test, but it does reduce the fear factor a bit.

While I have a bunch of RL 26....in my 06s, use to run 4831SC with the 180s and 220 gr Round Noses....

one can not get enough 4831SC in an 06 to exceed SAAMI pressure specs...

180s just short of of 3000 fps, right around 2975 ...

220s in the neighborhood pf 2800 to 2850 depending on barrel length..

don't need that kind of horse power any more... you do need to crimp tho.

Don't know why the 06 had load data that was usually short of what the pressure limits were established by SAAMI....

when I finally migrated to lighter calibers, I was using 150 gr FN in the 06, with a stiff charge of 3031.... it was always pretty darn accurate...and effective.

The load is compressed. Without a drop tube the powder is into the neck. After I cleaned the barrel after load work up my best 3 shot group was .2” at 100. With several other groups at or under .5” off bags and bipod. I shot most my load work in temps in the mid 70’s and we are at 600’ above sea level in the thumb of Michigan. I couldn’t be happier. I re checked my ES after clean barrel and it was 6 from 3 shots. 2894,2900,2898 on the magnetospeed

Check this site for loads reported by shooters. Always check a reloading manual against any load you read...typo's do happen, and barrels can surely be very different.

http://centerfirecentral.com/MDB/Ca...eight=&Powder=&Submit=Search+Now

1973 Rem 700 BDL. 22" barrel. Lapua brass. Fed GM210M primers. 58.0 grs H4350. Barnes 168 TTSX. 3.465" COAL 2847 FPS

I used to load a lot of 150 gr. Hornady Interlocks with 57.5 gr. IMR4350 and CCI 200. My brother and nephew killed a bunch with that load. I switched a couple years ago to 49 gr. IMR 4895 and CCI 200.

My go to 30 06 load for deer and elk is...

56.5 gn IMR 4350
180 gn Nosler E-Tip
Winchester primer
Hornady brass
C.O.A.L 3.300

My Winchester model 70 shoots this load very accurately and it kills em dead.

Max or near max load of IMR 4064 is amazing with those bullets. Not a real big surprise as it lands between those 2 on the powder burn rate chart.

I also bought some TU-7000, I wonder what data you finally settled on?

Just wondering if anyone has had any luck getting the Barnes 175 grain LRX working in their 30-06 ?
Thanks.

Just setting up my COAL today to start at 3.350 going to start with IMR 4350… what range are you shooting at? New to the People’s Republic and still looking for a good range for load development. IIRC you are pretty close to me.

I don't have a specific range to use. Sometimes I use a spot of land my friend has, or I shoot at a range in Yuba City.
I just picked up some of these bullets, I haven't loaded any yet.

Take care.

haverluk, is the Sacramento Valley Shooting Club still open off of Sloughhouse road? I have not been there in over 12 years but it was a very nice place to shoot, I helped build and was match director for rimfire and high power silhouette matches, moved to SD.

I've been hunting with 180gr Hornady SST bullets over 58gr of H4350 the last few years very successfully. COAL 3.355. Would have gone longer for this particular rifle but am limited by the length of the box mag. It looks funny with the cannelure so far above the case mouth, but oh well.

I tried some 150 and 168gr Barnes TTSX bullets but haven't been able to get them to group. I will try again, perhaps with different powder.

Anybody ever try imr 7977? I know it’s pretty slow for 30-06 I bought a bunch of it for my 300 WM and it just didn’t like it so I moved on to imr 7828 and found a great load. So I was hoping maybe someone has found good results with the imr 7977 with some heavy bullets in 06

I used 56 grains under a 180-grain Hornady flat-based spitzer for about 2,689 fps. That combination is about as old-school as you can go while still using smokeless powder but I killed a smallish black bear with it with one shot at 353 yards.

I'd buy more of that powder if I could find it. I used a max load and I'd really like to find data that pushes it harder than I did, but all of the data I could find was pretty conservative.


Okie John

Years ago I got a deal on a case of RWS uniclassic 180 grain. After buying TU7000, I pulled one of the RWS bullets and weighted the charge. It was 54.5 grains of an unknown powder that to my eye looked like TU7000.
I then worked up a load with tu7000 and stopped at 55 grains with a Federal fusion 180 grain so flat base with cannulure. The point of impact was the same as the uniclassic, accuracy is around an inch.

I still have 2 cans left and I'll try to use them with a round nose Sierra or Hornady once they come back. But I'm in agreement, if it becomes available again I'll buy more.

I have 10+ 30-06 rifles and would start with any loads using IMR 4064 powder. It has always served me very well.

WW-760 and H414 are basically the same powder, but follow published reloading data from a reliable source. H414 is a very good powder and easy to dispense. Don't always depend on "book" FPS velocity's. Purchase a chronograph to get true FPS information.

Ramshot Hunter worked well for me in a 23.625" Model 70 Classic Sporter. I got multiple 0.75 MOA groups out to 320 yards with three loads:
• 58.5 grains/180-grain Hornady flat-based spitzer at 2,800 fps
• 61.0 grains/168-grain Barnes TSX at 2,930 fps
• 61.6 grains/165-grain Barnes TTSX at 2,800 fps

All three loads used Remington brass and Winchester Large Rifle primers.


Okie John

I'm shooting through a pile of Data 85 which loads to Ramshot Hunter data. I'm using the Sierra 180 HPBT Match & some Hornady 178 A-Max.

My 721 likes this load:
30-06 Remington 721, 180 GR Hornady Interlock, 55 grains IMR4451, 0.09 MOA

For many years our 30-06 load was a 200 grain Nosler Partition on top of a case full of surplus H4831. Same load used in our three 30-06 rifles my daughters and I used. Never "tailored" the round for any of the three rifles, yet they all shot well. I attribute that to the wonderful 200 grain Partition.

Some time in the late 80's I switched to the Barnes X bullets. My go to 30-06 load now is a 168 grain Barnes TTSX bullet over a case full of H4350.

One load all I need for Alaska.

LOL , know what you mean , I remember in the old days when a red hanker chief safety pinned to a hat was your blaze orange .
A lot of old timers swore by the 220gr core lokts, never gave them a spin till two year or so ago and came across a couple boxes at some LGS and thought what the hell .
Still haven’t driven them into any game .
Hope to this year , that old round nose is amazingly accurate in my BAR and 700 , snot 3” low compared to my 125 and 180 loads
But dead center and well under an inch .
Kenneth

Anyone try Hornady's LeveRevolution or CFE223 in the 30-06? QL seems to indicate good speed and low(er) pressures.

In my rile a Kimber Classic Select I loaded 64 hrs. Ramshot Hunter behind the 168 TTSX, Federal 215 prime for 2951 FPS

Shot this 3 shot group at 200 yards

Why would anyone make a 150 gr load their pet load in an '06.

When you could have a 150 in a 270 280, or 7-08?

Beats helloutta me.

MM

I’ve gotten best accuracy with 180 grain flat base bullets. First with CL’s, later Interlocks - H4895 & H4831 & H4831sc powders, oh yes MR3100 too

I have 13 each 30-06’s. Well now it’s down to a dozen since I sold my early 700. The 03A3’s definitely prefer the 180 grain bullets. I’ve shot Springfields since 60 years ago. Not as much lately.

The 700’s shoot multiple bullets better than the Springfields with other than 180 grain bullets. But I’ve shot many - less than 1/2” and sometimes 1/4” or better groups with those Springfields and 180 grain bullets.

My M1’s I’ve mainly shot 150 grain and H4895 bullets. Mostly at steel silhouette, but also 500 yard and 500 meter paper.

More than one load for a rifle makes sense of you only have one, a couple or three. So does having a spectrum of rifles chambered in various cartridges and having overlapping application if you wanna swing that way.

My own preference is to have a single load for each rifle, and I prefer heavier bullets rather than lighter if I intend to shoot something that might want to stomp a mudhole in my ass. The .30-06 gets fed 180s, one .280 eats 174s and another gets fed 150 Partitions, the Whelen is on a diet of 225 ABs...but if I had only one rifle in that class I might load two or even three bullet weights. Is there a wrong way to do it?

FWIW, a 150gr NP over a starting level charge of 46.0gr of H4895 has shot really well out of at least four rifles, and killed at least one deer for me as quickly as anything else. Velocity is presumably about 2800, pressures mild. Original ‘06 velocity with 150s, where it made its bones, so to speak, was about 2700. What’s not to like? Shots here are generally close, so trajectory and wind drift don’t much matter either.

I usually shoot 160s in my .270s, also at presumably about 2700.

My 06 loves flat based 150s. Imr 4320 is my favorite powder for that bullet. It'll shoot 165s ok with 4350. Seems like those 150s do just fine. I've even shot them with 4831. Not ideal, bit it's what I had at the time. I've shot 4 different powders outta that rifle with a 150 interlock and they all work. Some are just faster than others. 1 inch or so down range difference. I actually bought that rifle to shoot a 165 but it didn't like them for some reason. Went to the 150 years ago and I'm glad I did. Favorite bullet now.

Because they don't have a .270, .280, or 7-08

I've been thinking of trying this load in my .30-06 AI with 155 Scenars. I've got a good stash of those bullets and thinking the Scenar/4064 combo should really perform and with lighter recoil than a traditional '06 load. Will post when I do so.

A 30-06 can literally take the place of every firearm in my safe. 110s through 220s. Coyotes to Moose. Load a 30-06 with 110s and run it side by side with a 25-06 running 110s. Then lad a 30-06 running 150s next to a 280 running 150s. You'll be surprised to see just how identical they are. M.V., Energy, Trajectory, all that will be so close its not even worth it. Fun to have variety, but give me the 06 with a good 150 grain load.

Question for the pros. I’m a newbie reloader. I developed a load using 56g of H4350/fed brass/ rem primers and 180g sp. I started seeing pressure signs between 56.8-57.2. My best groups were at 56.8 but I’d get the occasional smiley face from the bolt on some brass depending on my seating depth. Went down to 55gr of h4350 and found a decent seating node. Just recently purchased some Nosler brass and made a few to test using 55gr and had pressure signs. Backed it down to 54 and my velocities with 54gr in Nosler brass match velocities of 56.8 gr in federal brass. Same seating depth. Is that common?

And because it shoots accurately, cheap to load, mild recoil, and it plenty of bullet/velocity for killing deer sized game at 5-300 yards.

I don’t consider myself a “Pro”, but I’ve loaded a bunch of 30-06 ammo for hunting groundhogs to bears, and 1000 yd competition.

I’m not surprised at your observations with Federal brass. My experience has been that it’s heavy and soft, both of which will give you early pressure signs individually, let alone combined. I don’t have any firsthand experience with Nosler brass, but from your description, it sounds like it is maybe heavier (less powder capacity) than your Federal brass. It would be interesting to see their weight differences (if any!).

I’ve used mostly Lake City Match, or other GI brass, inherited from my father. If I were buying 30-06 brass today, it would be Lapua. It is expensive, but “wears” well (sufficiently hard), and handles pressures on the upper end of the 30-06 range with no issues. It’s not “light”, but neck thickness is so consistent that when I was competing, I’d get 98 “good” cases out of a box of 100. For hunting loads, they’re all good.

For “garden variety” brass, go with Winchester. The recent stuff I’ve seen isn’t too bad, especially for generic hunting use.

BTW, one of my favorite “heavy” hunting loads in 30-06 is 53.0 grains of H4350 behind a 200 grain Nosler Partition. It chronographs a very consistent 2585 fps out of my R8, using LC Match brass. At 54 grains behind a 180 grain bullet, you are near the upper limit, but not crazy hot. Your rifle will “tell you” when you need to back down, and it sounds like you are actively observing for those signs - good job!

Thanks John

The only thing I used my 30-06 for was elk and bullet of choice was 180gr Hornady SP. If I wanted to hunt deer I had other options that I loaded lighter bullet's in.

52 grns IMR 4064 with 150 grn bullets. Nephew has been loading 52.8 of 4064 for atleast 40 years for 15-20 different people and rifles. No complaints. We use 150’s because a big deer for us will weigh 200 lbs and if it runs after the shot very far without a good blood trail it will probably be lost. Hunt right of way in very thick woods.

Welcome to the Campfire. I like 150 partitions with 59 grains IMR 4350. I’ve loaded that for almost 50 years. It has shot well in at least 20 rifles. I think I have six right now.