[mb419]

I have a Tikka 695 in .30-06 and I'm going to start reloading for it, and I was wondering if anyone had a nice accurate load for me to start with?

[Bushmaster223]

180 gr. Speer Grand Slam and 57 gr. of IMR 4350 works good for me.

[Shoney]

By asking for others pet loads, you are using what I call "the dart board approach", randomly picking a powder with one charge weight with one bullet weight. By shear dumb luck you may find a good load.

Over the seemingly endless pages that have been written on the 06, most "experts" will recommend a 165 gr bullet with IMR 4350. If you are after very large game then a 180 gr bullet.

You need to "work up" loads incrementally. Pick one bullet, one powder, and start at minimum charge loading either 3 or 5 cartridges (I prefer 5); then load 3-5 more at a charge 0.5 grains heavier; then 3-5 more at another 0.5 grain increment; and so on until you are at or near max,

At the range you will shoot the same power weights at one target each, starting at a minimum charge weight, working up in charge weights until you see pressure signs or arrive at the max load. Examine the targets and you should see what is happening as far as group sizes go. You will generally see that the groups will tighten as you go up, then may become wider. You may wish to then tweek the accuracy load by 0.2 or 0.3 grains + and – to see if the best group size gets better worse, stays the same.

Good Shooting!

[oldreloader]

Good advice from Shoney. That's the way I work it.I do like the 165 gr bullet.

[ArchAngelCD]

I also like 165/168gr bullets for the 30-06.

For a bolt action rifle I would suggest starting out with a Hornady or Sierra 168gr HPBT Match bullet and either IMR4350 or H4350. For hunting deer use a hunting bullet like the GameKing in the same weight.

The 30-06 is such a versatile caliber you can use bullets from 110gr all the way up to 220gr and well over a dozen powders and all will shoot fairly well. Depending on the distance you will be shooting I've found 165/168gr bullets are best up to 600 meters and a 175gr bullet out further.

[snuffy]

By asking for others pet loads, you are using what I call "the dart board approach", randomly picking a powder with one charge weight with one bullet weight. By shear dumb luck you may find a good load.

Shoney, I'm going to borrow that if you don't mind! I always said it differently, somebody wants a shortcut to an accurate load. Or he wants someone else to do the work for him. Another, TANSTAAFL There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

I guess there's really nothing wrong with thinking it's easy. To say "this load will work in any gun, here's what it is".

Some reloading manuals have a load that was most consistent, had the smallest group, during the testing that they did for the manual. BUT that was for their rifle or test barrel, it means nothing to us.

[Shoney]

Snuffy
Use it to your hearts content.

I used to use TANSTAAFL frequently on this type of question, along with other descriptive epithets that were close to insulting. :what:

However, after reflecting of some of the stupid things I've done over the past 5 decades, I have become a lot more tolerant of newer reloaders.

I guess I've mellowed. At least a little bit.:D

[mb419]

Shoney

Your method of starting out at the minimum and increasing by 0.5 grains is the same thing that I do too. I'm working out a .308 loading like that right now. Since there is so many .30-06 loads out there to wade through, I was just trying to cut down my starting point choices. Wasn't trying to take the easy way out. Just seeing if anyone else had a Tikka and a good load to shoot out of it.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll start at 165/168 gr bullets and go from there.

[Rokman]

The .5 grain increments is the way I do it with large rifle calibers. I load 165-168 gr. bullets and have good results with IMR4350 and H4350 in .30-06.