Loading For Mossberg Patriot 30-06

Reloader210 · Oct 20, 2020

Wanted to start a thread on this in case anyone has this budget rifle to impart some of my experience reloading for this. After going through several powders like Varget, H335, IMR 4064 and 2 different bullet weights I'm finding since this is a 1 in 10 twist barrel heavier rounds seem to work much better. Try Sierra Game Kings in 165gr with IMR 4064, I'm using Winchester brass and the standard CCI #200 LR primers. Waiting on another box for SGKs to come in but I hit several 1" groupings today. Getting it above the 2600 FPS range was when it started grouping best but I need to replicate the results on this to confirm (personal preference is the least amount of powder possible).

I had zero luck with Speer BTSP in 150gr and I'm confident it was the weight of them as they had 3" groupings.

I wanted to add that I only changed the scope on the rifle to a 3-9x40 Vortex Diamondback Tactical for now trying to keep this budget friendly.

Happy reloading everyone!

FROGO207 · Oct 21, 2020

I would have put "loading for" in front of your title.

Now I was looking this rifle over in both 308 and 30-06 and might well buy one when things calm down this next spring. Thank you for sharing your reloading experience with it in 30-06 chambering. For some reason I have best luck with the heavy Remington Cor Lokt bullets with my 30-06 custom Mauser bolt. They now seem to be unobtainum though so I need to look at other options.

Reloader210 · Oct 21, 2020

You're right, made the change on the title. Yeah I'm hoping to get them (SGK) in soon as I have 3 left at this point and like to explore filling the case more. Went up to 45.2 grains last night but max case fill with IMR 4064 is 55ish.

Ej3 · Oct 21, 2020

My neighbor just got a T/C Compass II in 30-06. It has a 22” threaded barrel with 1/10 twist and 5R rifling. It was $235 shipped after the mail in rebate.

I loaded some 165 gr Speer BTSP bullets (P/N 2034) with IMR 4064 at 3.25” COL, using Hornady brass and WLR primers. The results were great. I started at 49.6 gr and maxed out at 51.0 gr. My best load was 50.8 gr with a three shot Avg of 2752 fps at 68*F. The 51.0 gr averaged 2773 fps. I think the flyer was actually me, the first shot. So it too may be a good load, and I will retest again later. This was shooting suppressed.

Results - 30-06, 165 gr BTSP, IMR 4064, 50.8 gr, COL 3.25, Horn, WLR.jpg

EDIT - lower charges also achieved good groups:

Results - 30-06, 165 gr BTSP, IMR 4064, 50.2 gr, COL 3.25, Horn, WLR.jpg

Note - Always verify load data for yourself, starting low and working up in safe increments. Published data varies from source-to-source, and subject to typos and transposing errors. Additionally, internet posts such as this are someone’s personal experience.

Ej3 · Oct 21, 2020

In the post above, I tested some 165 gr Speer BTSP bullets with IMR 4064, because I use this with my .308 and have plenty of bullets and powder on hand. But what he likes to hunt with is Hornady’s Precision Hunter rounds which use their 178 gr ELD-X bullet. I had come really close to matching factory performance using 54.7 gr of H4350 with the bullet set at 3.245” COL, Hornady brass trimmed to 2.485” and WLR primers. And having honed in on 54.7 gr using H4350, I tried the same load using RL-16. RL-16 yielded better groups and speed (2700 fps at 74* F). The target below is shooting suppressed and un-suppressed.

Results - 30-06, 178 gr ELD-X, RL16, 54.7 gr, COL 3.245, Horn, WLR.jpg

I do not have a target to show, but I shot one of the above loads at 100 yards, and my neighbor shot one after me, cutting my hole with only about an 1/8” offset. I have to say RL-16 works great with 178 gr ELD-X bullets in the budget T/C Compass II in 30-06.

Note - Always verify load data for yourself, starting low and working up in safe increments. Published data varies from source-to-source, and subject to typos and transposing errors. Additionally, internet posts such as this are someone’s personal experience.

Captcurt · Oct 21, 2020

Try slower powders with 165gr or 180gr. I have had my best luck with the 4350's for the 165gr and IMR-4831 for the 180gr. RL-19 and RL-22 should work too.

DocRock · Oct 21, 2020

Virtually all 30-06 rifles will have a 1:10 twist rate.

The powders that you reference are all good classics, but as noted above, with 165 - 180 grs bullets, slower powders tend to serve better. IMR and H 4350 are absolute standards. 150 grs with 4064 should be a lock as well. Playing with seating depth, ie running them long may help. Also, may want to try a flat based 150 grs bullet to see if that improves things.

Best of luck.

CptnAwesome · Oct 21, 2020

My brother and I both bought patriot 30-06's a couple months ago. I have the walnut stock, he has the synthetic camo stock. We both get 1"groups and slightly better with 165gr Sierra GameKings HPBT and H4895. I haven't broke out the chrony on that load but it shoots great in both of our rifles.

Reloader210 · Oct 24, 2020

Yeah the bargain rifles are not terrible at all. My patriot is the synthetic stock but black. Taking it out later today with some buddies to test higher case fills with IMR 4064. Had to reduce to 3 shot groups though since I only have about 800gr of powder left. 2 weeks and counting for deer season to start.

Loading For Mossberg Patriot 30-06

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