[itgoesboom]

I just purchased a Weatherby Vanguard (got it for $360) in .30-06, and now I need to know what loads I should start looking for.

Anyone with one of these rifles have a favorite pet load?

I am hoping to find some 165gr and 180gr loads that work well.

Thanks in advance.

I.G.B.

[stevelyn]

I have only two loads I shoot out of my .30-06. Both are Federal offerings.

For caribou, sheep, goats, deer, black bear and similar sized critters I use the Federal Game Shok loads with 150 gr Speer Grand Slam. For meese and big bears I go to the Federal Premium Vital Shok High Energy loaded with the 180gr Nosler Partition. The High Energy offerings kick the .30-06 up to .300 H&H performance territory. Federal also offers both lines of ammo with 165 gr bullets.
I don't know what you plan to hunt with your rifle and that will dictate what loads you should experiment with. For deer, I don't think you could justify the cost of the premium loads since they aren't necessary for clean, accurate kills.
However if you are going to hunt elk and similar sized critters, the HEs give you a little flatter trajectory over longer range and a bit more thump. Of course the premium bullets are better suited to plow through heavy muscle and bone with less chance of failure.
I think you should try different brands in the bullet weights of your choice and see which shoot most accurately out of your rifle. Then if you feel the need for premium stuff experiment with those when the need arises. I do think it's best to keep things simple and only have a minimum number of loads for different hunting situations.

[itgoesboom]

I think you should try different brands in the bullet weights of your choice and see which shoot most accurately out of your rifle. Then if you feel the need for premium stuff experiment with those when the need arises. I do think it's best to keep things simple and only have a minimum number of loads for different hunting situations.

Thats kinda what I am asking about.

If anyone with this same rifle combo (Weatherby Vanguard / .30-06) has any recommendations for what factory loads I should start to look for, so that I don't waste a bunch of money on ammo that doesn't shoot well.

I.G.B.

[MachIVshooter]

If it is to be a hunting rifle, I would say buy a box or two of premium ammo from several different manufacturers and see what shoots best. If I had to recommend one particular brand, I would probably say Federal. The make great brass and use Sierra bullets, which tend to shoot well in just about any rifle. But the best way is to try out differnt types. Expensive, but worth it.

IMO, if top-shelf accuracy is your goal, pick up an RCBS Rockchucker kit, a good digital Mic, a die set and a case trimmer (I like the Redding) and go to town. No ammo maker can build a better round for your particalar rifle than what you can cook up. Pick up some good brass (maybe federal match) and good bullets (again, I have had excellent luck with Sierra's) and play with different combinations. For more extensive advise in this arena, go to reloading forum.
Happy hunting!