Load check, 30-06 with 110 gr bullet for a Ruger American

Thats surprising actually, 3.170 is really short for an 06, all of my loads are in the 3.3+ range. how are you checking for land contact?

I do you have any other .308 bullets to try? I use a similar method of checking coal. I full length size a case them slit the neck vertically on both sides.

Your loads tho look fine to me, the bullets are short and wont take up any powder space so you shouldnt see a huge spike in pressure.

fouled bore said:

My son just got a Ruger American chambered in 30-06. Picked up the cheapest box of 150gr soft points we could find to try it out and also to get the brass (PPU) for reloading. Had it dead on in 5 shots and it shoots 2” groups, really happy with the way it shoots.

I have some 110 gr Hornady varmint bullets that we loaded up to try in it. The bullets are Hornady Soft point #3010. We are using Varget and so I checked Hodgdon for load data and our Hornady load manual. Both call for a COL of 3.170”. Check this bullet in the gun and it hits the lands at 3.145. I pulled it away from the lands .020” so we loaded them up at a COL of 3.125. Max load the Hornady manual calls for is 58.9gr and the Hodgdon web site has 59gr as max. I have loads worked up to try from 55gr to 57gr. Because I had to load to a shorter COL I hated to build up any hotter loads.

I was really surprised it hit the lands at the COL the both manuals call out. I am also surprised at the amount that the bullet seated into the neck of the case. I did not measure it but it looked like only about 3/16” at the 3.170” COL. Does this sound right? I guess these bullets just need more free bore than what this gun has to seat at the manual COL. We did not check it with the factory ammo and did not notice any issue with closing the bolt.

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Nosler shows their varmageddon seated at 3.13 with a bullet .920" long as opposed to a vmax (which is probably longer than your lead tip but I don't have a measurement for them) measuring .926" and they found accuracy at 59 gr varget.....I see no problem with your loads but in your shoes I'd seat at your length and then work up the rest of the ladder and stop at the first signs of pressure. Your ppu might be thicker than nosler brass so watch carefully. They tested lengths clear up to 3.34 with a custom competition bullet, but the partitions which have a fatter front and thus touch the lands with the ogive sooner stop at 3.32.......if your son plans on firing deer loads with bigger bullets, I'd contact the manufacturer first before you even fire the 110s as some warranty is voided by handloads to see what they say, maybe grab a larger factory load (maybe a 180) and see if it chambers. I'd be disappointed at the least and wary of such a length on a production gun.

Also instead of checking the length once try it ten times and check the average to rule out any user error

fouled bore said:

I am also surprised at the amount that the bullet seated into the neck of the case. I did not measure it but it looked like only about 3/16” at the 3.170” COL. Does this sound right? I

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From my notes,when i loaded 30-06 in the 70's, my COL was 3.047" for the 110 gr Hornady (looks same as a 3010)Spire point. Used IMR 3031 powder.

IMR 1999 data listed the COL at 3.130" for the Hornady bullet.

I would not seat the ogive below the case mouth now. I dont know where a COL of 3.047" will put the ogive.

SAAMI lists 30-06 COL from 3.340" max to a minimum of 2.940" Depending on the bullet used.

I used the loading for a running deer competition where the target was moving at 150 yards. Faster bullets were better. Did take a deer with it, under 100 yards. Bullet did not exit. Dropped deer in its tracks.

I would seat it deeper, shorter COL. More bullet shank in contact with the case neck gives the powder a better chance to burn correctly. Less chance of the bullet becoming crooked from hard chambering. But thats just my thinking. Wont hurt to try different COLs.

The final judge is the groups on target.

fouled bore said:

So you believe it would be better to have it seated deeper rather than have it starting closer to the lands, more free bore?

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More neck stability to keep it straighter and as mentioned a more reliable powder burn, that's a SHORT pill and seeing as how OP is dealing with such a ridiculously short oal for that chamber I doubt there'd be too much jump. Chasing the lands hasn't ever really done anything for me with an over the counter rifle anyway. That chubby ogive will definitely hit the lands sooner than an accubond or vmax.

Nother vote for going a bit deeper. I prefer to have atleast a caliber of bullet shank in contact with the neck, no idea where i got that from but its worked so far lol. Only round that i load that i dont is my 300aac, but thats not by choice.

Until you start crushing the powder or touching the lands bullet depth doesn't make much difference if large bottle neck rounds. Find the bullet depth you want then work up the load.

Personally I like my bullets .020"off the lands but it working across all my rifles is more important.

Set to the COL you want. Use starting load and work up.

So you believe it would be better to have it seated deeper rather than have it starting closer to the lands, more free bore?

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Your 3.125" COL is ok when starting with 55 grs. See how it shoots.

fouled bore said:

Ok, I'll go for making them shorter and having them seated deeper. I have always loaded by published data and I don't have any data for a shorter COL with this bullet. How should I go about this? Right now the minimum load that I have loaded up is 55gr of Varget. Should I start there and seat some progressively deeper until I get them seated .3 deep? Shoot them and watch for pressure signs? I do have a chronograph so I can note the velocity change.

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I don't see a problem with your charge, Barnes get seated deep and starting charge on a 130 is started at 53.5 varget. I'm not arguing with Loonwulf as he usually has decent advice and many times I've been told the same thing but myself, I load nosler depths when possible and it works out well for me, in your case seating .284 into the neck is where I would start. With a trim to length of 2.494 coal would be 3.025. I strongly suggest you measure and RE measure the brass and adjust accordingly as my suggested coal leaves you with .191" empty space in the neck, and not all brass is created equal. Nosler necks measure .475". Please double check all my math, check all of your components, and proceed carefully as it will be you and not I behind the gun when you find out how close you are to right or wrong. I would avoid the chronograph until you've laddered to an accurate load and sighted in accordingly. THEN I would use the chronograph as I played with the depths to avoid costing yourself a piece of equipment if poi is too far from poa. And also this is just how I would approach the loaded coal. .308 into the case neck should be feasible as long as you're not putting the ogive into the neck as .243winxb said.

ETA I would NOT play with charge weights and seating depths at the same time unless you want to spend tons of time and components chasing your tail.

See my thread in tribute to Rcmodel's .30-06 load, which included a 110g pill

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/rcmodels-30-06-load.809761/