help with 30_06

I would guess that 150-165 grain bullets are the standard for big game hunting. I wouldn't get into the exotic (spendy) bullets for deer hunting. Any .308 diameter soft-point, boat-tail bullet from a major manufacturer should work just fine. Some examples are Remington Core-Loc, Hornady interlock, and Sierra Game King. Try a box of boat tail bullets at first since they start into the case easier than a flat based bullet.

I like IMR-4064 but there are a lot of choices for .30-06.

If you can find some H-4895 it is a medium-slow burning powder that is temperature insensitive and works with many calibers. It can also be safely down-loaded to lower working pressures according to Hodgdon although ballistics will suffer.

Assuming you are new to reloading, try not to freak out during the current buying panic. I suggest you buy 100 primers, 100 bullets, and 1 lb. of powder to work with.

Will work with many powders.

IMR 4064 is good choice. Soft pointed 150-165 is plenty big enough for deer. Right now you might have to settle for what you can find. Many powders will work. If you pretty much fill the cases it will likely be more accurate and consistent.

I get 2750fps with a 150gr FMJ using 4895 in my Garand, if that helps any.

A lot of folks like 165 grain bullets. My gun wouldn't shoot them well. I ended up using a 150 grain Barnes Triple Shock bullet. Shoots sub-MOA groups and does the job on deer.

I'm using H-4350 powder. I haven't tried IMR 4064 but have read many good things about it. IMR-4895 and H-4895 are also good options. In these times, it will probably just depend on what you can get your hands on.

Pick the bullet you want to shoot first. Assuming you've studied your loading manual, (if you haven't, STOP now and study your manual!), you already know there are many bullet choices. Which is best is largely a matter of opinion. Basically, you should pick a good bonded core expanding bullet. Core-lokt, Hot-core, Game king and a grundle of others are all good game killers. 150 gr is plenty for deer, 165 is great, too. Your gun can tell you which it prefers with factory loads. If you have a factory cartridge you like, you might start with that bullet.

Once you've picked a pill it is time to choose a powder. Again, a lot on the shelf (or should be, some day). A lot of people seem to prefer a 4895 or 4350 powder. Reloder 22 or 19 gets votes too. You will get lots of opinions here.
Choose the velocity that best suits your fancy, drop 10% from the max charge and work up to a sweet spot. Fine tuning comes once you found a good combination.

I think the trial and error part of the hobby is part of the fun.

My Howa 1500 likes 150 gr Core-lokt over H4895, or 165 gr /sierra Game King over the same powder. I have some trial cartridges loaded with IMR4350 that I haven't tried yet.

Your mileage will vary.

4350 is a little on the slow side for 150/165 grain bullets in the 30-06.

You tell us the bullet weight you are talking about, and somebody will surely tell you the best powder burn rate to use with it.

But in general, you can't go wrong with the extra 100 - 200 FPS a slightly faster powder like 4064, BL-C(2), 4320, H-380, or 4895 will give you with 150 - 165 grain bullets over 4350.

A full charge of 4350 with either bullet weight will be a compressed charge, because you can't get enough of it in the case to give the same velocity a slightly faster powder like any of those mentioned will give you.

But my best advice is to figure that out yourself by looking at your reloading manual when you get one!!!

rc

30/06

Your choices for propellents and projectiles are almost endless for the 06.The stick powders 4064,4895 and 4350 are all excellent choice but they don't meter as well in a powder measure.I started out with IMR 4895 and in the beginning weighed every charge. Later when I could afford it I bought a powder measure.Any of the common soft points of 150 grains are good for deer sized game.I like Speer boat tails because they have worked for me over the years.

something that fills the case and gets you your ideal velocity will probably work best. For me that's h4350 at a relatively "slow" 2800fps with a hornady 150gr btsp.

--edfardos

rcmodel said:

4350 is a little on the slow side for 150/165 grain bullets in the 30-06.

You tell us the bullet weight you are talking about, and somebody will surely tell you the best powder burn rate to use with it.

But in general, you can't go wrong with the extra 100 - 200 FPS a slightly faster powder like 4064, BL-C(2), 4320, H-380, or 4895 will give you with 150 - 165 grain bullets over 4350.

A full charge of 4350 with either bullet weight will be a compressed charge, because you can't get enough of it in the case to give the same velocity a slightly faster powder like any of those mentioned will give you.

But my best advice is to figure that out yourself by looking at your reloading manual when you get one!!!

rc

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4350 is on the slow side with a 165?!? If 2900fps (57gr per Hornady) is too slow I don't know if I would want to shoot the fast ones Think that is "slow" my best accuracy comes with 61.5gr of the even slower burning RL19 and the even lighter 150gr, hella fast moving too, but the muzzle blast is fierce in a 22" tube.
BTW fastest moving published load I know of for a 165gr is using the remarkably slow burning RL22 (63gr compressed load 3002fps in a 24" barrel), tried that one too and the blast darn near burnt my eyebrows off LOL No presser signs though.

I just worked up a load with 165 gr Hornady BTSP and 57 grains of Accurate 4350. Got me down to under 1 MOA and I'm very happy!

nosler or hornady amax.s and ramshoit hunter or win 760 have never failed me with my rem 700. It really likes rl-22 however and that seems to be working great so far. any ballistic tip or bonded soft point will be pleny for deer in the 165 grain range, 180 for any larger game. my rifle hates 150 grainers

I've had great results with the 180SGK over H4831SC. Awesome load in my rifle.

I plan to try the 130-150 TTSX Barnes in it next.

Deer are soft skinned animals which are not very hard to kill. IMO premium bullets like the AccuBond, Partition, InterLock and the like unnecessary but of course can be used. I'm a fan of the Sierra GameKing and I like the 165gr GameKing, that's the bullet I use for Deer hunting.

There are many powders suitable for loading the 30-06 including H4895, IMR4895, IMR4064 and others in the same burn rate but I like the slightly slower H4350. I get good velocity and accuracy with H4350 and the SD numbers are in single digits. What's not to like?

The accubonds are great bullets. But you don't really need a premium bullet for deer. Cup and Core bullets like the Hornady Interlocks, or Remington Core Lokt work very well. Flat base or boat tail - your choice. I prefer flat base for less than 300 yards.

Mike

ArchAngelCD said:

Deer are soft skinned animals which are not very hard to kill. IMO premium bullets like the AccuBond, Partition, InterLock and the like unnecessary but of course can be used. I'm a fan of the Sierra GameKing and I like the 165gr GameKing, that's the bullet I use for Deer hunting.

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+1 Bonded bullets will indeed work, but simply don't work any better then a quality cup and core on deer and cost twice as much. I like 165gr SGKs too just don't push them to max if you hunt up close they are NASTY.

Good ol' Hornady 150 gr. Spire Point will do the trick in the '06, even works good in a Savage .300 .

I second several other's recommendation of H4350. I could never get 4895 to group very well. I use 150 grain Nosler BT's. I have 168's too, but settled on the 150's.

I agree that bullets around 150 to 165 are just right for deer. I have used many Hornady spire points with good success.

It may be hard to find powder. Here is a Powder Burn Rate Chart. Look around for a powder in the speed range close to IMR 4064 and see what you can find. A lot of powders can be used for this cartridge if you can find data. Look on the powder manufacturers web site for data. Lot of resources on the web these days.

Here is one link to load data. Click Here

Note: this is no substitute for a loading manual. Be sure to get one and read up on the "How To" stuff.
Perhaps your kit has a manual with it?

Cabelas has CFE 223 in stock if you cant find anything else. It is listed for the 06 on the second link that James2 listed.

IMR 4350 is another good one, along with the Hornady 150 gr. Spire Point, #3031 SP. Bad JuJu on deer. At 2900 fps with this load, no problem getting your freezer full.