which powder for 30/06

4064 is pretty much the standard 30-06 powder for factory equivalent velocity and consistent accuracy. 4198 is recommended for reduced loads.

I love 4350 for 06 but 4064 works very well too. It's also a very versatile powder that works in many rifle calibers.

IMR-4198 is not a viable powder for 180 grain jacketed bullets in the 30-06.
Way too fast burning.

It is used with cast bullets at reduced velocity though.

4064 is the only one of the two that will work.

rc

H414/W760 is another one of the old standbys. I recently started using RL17. I get higher velocities with smaller charge weights than comparable loads using RL19. It seems RL17 gets overlooked as a good 30.06 powder.

No question - Go with the 4064.

Don

Between those two 4064. Either version of 4350 is a great powder and would be my preferred choice, but we often have to use what we can find at times. You won't be handicapped.

Yea, 4064 is your only choice between those two. I also use 4350 IMR religiously for 165 and heavier but wouldn't hesitate to use 4064 to replace it if I ran out.

4064 is the best of the two, not ideal for 180 grains, but works amazing for me with 150 grain bullets

This is another one of those deals where buying a reloading manual and reading it three times is a Real Good Idea before buying powder!

rc

4064 will do just fine, but if you should stumble on to some IMR-4350 grab it.

I've also had some good results with RL22, RL19, H1000, H4831, IMR-4831, and H4350.

GS

hanleyfan said:

my gun shop has two powders in stock, IMR 4198 and 4064, which one is would be the best in the 30/06 for 180 gr. jacket bullet? most recommend the IMR 4350 but I have not seen that available for months.

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Even though 4350 would also be my first choice of 30-06 powders there is nothing at all wrong with 4895 and 4064 for the 30-06 either. You will not be unhappy with the ammo made with IMR4064 and when you work up a good load or two you just might not want to change powders when alternatives are available. 4064 is my favorite .308 powder and it will work well for the 30-06 too...

rcmodel said:

This is another one of those deals where buying a reloading manual and reading it three times is a Real Good Idea before buying powder!

rc

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Or a look at Hodgen's site.
(ETA: I actually opened the manual at the store when I was buying my first powder & found what was on the shelf that was listed for all the cartridges I wanted to load then from those choices I picked the one I thought had the coolest name since I had nothing else to referance it to. Lol)

4064 is great in 30-06 but is just a little to pricey for me. I also used it before I got a scale/dispenser so I switched to a ball powder I got for $8/lb. I still hang onto that last 1/2lb of 4064 just in case I need a load to knock a gnat off a dogs ear at 100 yards.

IMR 4895/H 4895 is never a wrong choice for the 06. Many billions of rounds in many wars on the winning side has a lot going for it.

30-06 Powder

Also, if you like 4064, look at 3031, it is just as good as 4060, but you use about 10% less powder for the same results.

hanleyfan said:

my gun shop has two powders in stock, IMR 4198 and 4064, which one is would be the best in the 30/06 for 180 gr. jacket bullet? most recommend the IMR 4350 but I have not seen that available for months.

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4064 is the best choice of those 2 powders.
H414 is my favored powder in the 30-06.
The really nice thing about the 06 is it can and has been used with just about every powder imaginable, so in todays spotty supply , get what you can and then dive into the reloading manuals, and see where to start with the load development.

When answering questions about loading for 30-06 doesn't knowing the intended rifle matter, specifically in the case of loading for a Garand? IMR 4831 is the large rifle powder I always keep on hand, and it is a useful choice for heavy bullets in 06, but I have been told that really slow powders generate too much gas pressure and can bend the operating rod so I don't shoot those rounds in it.

Would 4064 be OK if the OP were loading for a gas operated gun?

Elkins45 said:

Would 4064 be OK if the OP were loading for a gas operated gun?

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According to many people H4895, IMR4895, and IMR4064 are the best choices for 150gr bullet loads in a Garand. I've never loaded for a Garand but I don't think you'll find many people that would argue against that.

+1 on 4064. It is one of the universally recommended powders for Garand use, along with the two 4895's.
Agreed, it does not give the best performance with 180's in a bolt gun but much better than 4198. I read the OP to say those were the only powders available.

KansasSasquatch said:

According to many people H4895, IMR4895, and IMR4064 are the best choices for 150gr bullet loads in a Garand. I've never loaded for a Garand but I don't think you'll find many people that would argue against that.

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I agree but I would not go much slower on the powder choice in a Garand.

BTW, AA2495 is
Accurate's answer to IMR4895 and was developed to mimic it's pressure curve. AA2520 is Accurate's ball powder equivalent to 4895. both are very good choices for the M1 Garand too.