rbernie
Contributing Member
I am looking for both light and not-so-light load recommendations for my 30-06, using Sierra 125gr SP ProHunters. It looks like H4198 is a solid powder choice, but I'm open to any/all recommendations.
125gr loads in 30-06?
- Thread starter rbernie
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NCsmitty
Member
Hodgdon's youth loads might be something to look at.
www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth Loads.pdf
As far as the h4198, maybe an email to hodgdon would be the way to get accurate data.
NCsmitty
www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth Loads.pdf
As far as the h4198, maybe an email to hodgdon would be the way to get accurate data.
NCsmitty
R.W.Dale
Member
I've had the most wonderful results with re7 with this bullet weight for low recoil loads and varget for full throttle
Krochus' suggestion isn't bad.
I've done well with Benchmark in 30-06 for 110 and 125. Meters with excellence, good powder for light bullets. Fairly inexpensive. Also a good powder for 223Rem but only 55g and lighter.
I've also done well with 3031 but only if I weigh each charge.
Small variations (and 3031 meters poorly) scatter the bullets.
Are there varmint web sites with info on light 30 cal bullets?
I don't have Sierra manual at hand. What do they say?
I've done well with Benchmark in 30-06 for 110 and 125. Meters with excellence, good powder for light bullets. Fairly inexpensive. Also a good powder for 223Rem but only 55g and lighter.
I've also done well with 3031 but only if I weigh each charge.
Small variations (and 3031 meters poorly) scatter the bullets.
Are there varmint web sites with info on light 30 cal bullets?
I don't have Sierra manual at hand. What do they say?
interlock
Member
55gr of imr 4895 gives 3200 fps as does 53 gr of 3031. 56 gr re 15 gives 3223> col 3.11 inch. that allows 7mm of shank in the neck
of course all loads should be worked up from 10% lower
of course all loads should be worked up from 10% lower
Now when you guys talk about a 125 gr bullet for the 30-06 is there an unspoken assumption here of a different twist rate than 1:10 to get reasonable accuracy?
I have a 1:10 700 ADL and would like to have a 125 gr loading for small whitetail. I'm thinking the full house 165 and 180 30-06 is just going to be waaay overkill for small whitetail like on a cull hunt to reduce doe population.
I'm actually thinking of using my .357 lever rifle w/ 180 gr as a better fit for that type of hunt because I got the impression 125 gr bullets just didn't work well witrh the typical 1:10 twist rate.
Please educate me.
Thanks,
Andy
I have a 1:10 700 ADL and would like to have a 125 gr loading for small whitetail. I'm thinking the full house 165 and 180 30-06 is just going to be waaay overkill for small whitetail like on a cull hunt to reduce doe population.
I'm actually thinking of using my .357 lever rifle w/ 180 gr as a better fit for that type of hunt because I got the impression 125 gr bullets just didn't work well witrh the typical 1:10 twist rate.
Please educate me.
Thanks,
Andy
Jim Watson
Member
Twist rates are overstudied on the internet.
Now if you were a score benchrest shooter wanting the very finest accuracy out of a 131 grain bullet, you might have a $5000 rifle built with a 14" twist, but that is not the same as going hunting. My old fake Springfield Sporter was at its best with the 130 grain Speer and my Winchester does very well with it, too; 10" twists notwithstanding. There might be a little falloff with the 110 grain screamers but not enough to worry about in a sporting rifle.
Now if you were a score benchrest shooter wanting the very finest accuracy out of a 131 grain bullet, you might have a $5000 rifle built with a 14" twist, but that is not the same as going hunting. My old fake Springfield Sporter was at its best with the 130 grain Speer and my Winchester does very well with it, too; 10" twists notwithstanding. There might be a little falloff with the 110 grain screamers but not enough to worry about in a sporting rifle.
My 1:10 700 ADL in 30/06 does surprisingly well with 125-130 grain bullets loaded to warp speed using IMR 4064 and IMR 3031, even had nice groups using WW760/H414 loaded to lower velocities. I read a lot on the internet that goes against what I have actually been doing for 30 years that works. Try it, and let the arm chair experts keep spouting BS opinions based on no actual experience, and googled up instant expertise.
Bottom 130 grain bullet, 3 shot group was shot 26 years ago, and was plenty good enough for me then and now for a skinny barrel "budget" rifle.
Bottom 130 grain bullet, 3 shot group was shot 26 years ago, and was plenty good enough for me then and now for a skinny barrel "budget" rifle.
I like that youthload information NCsmitty. (not sure why I don't have the ability to "quote" to a specific post)
That looks right up my alley for plinking and a light deer load. And as I see in my reloading manuals that show a full 50+ gr H4895 loadings for these 125 gr bullets in the 30-06, does it sound reasonable that one could actually use the full range of 40.5 gr for Nosler's BT all the way up to a manual's 50+ gr loadings? That would be some serious flexibility in loading depending if plink only round or a little faster small deer loading that's well under max.
That looks right up my alley for plinking and a light deer load. And as I see in my reloading manuals that show a full 50+ gr H4895 loadings for these 125 gr bullets in the 30-06, does it sound reasonable that one could actually use the full range of 40.5 gr for Nosler's BT all the way up to a manual's 50+ gr loadings? That would be some serious flexibility in loading depending if plink only round or a little faster small deer loading that's well under max.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
1/10 rifling will handle everything from 100 grain Speer Plinkers, to 110 grain varmint bullets to 220 grain or heavier round nose.
My old 03A3 sporter 2-groove 1/10 will shoot MOA with 110 and 125 grain varmint bullets.
rc
My old 03A3 sporter 2-groove 1/10 will shoot MOA with 110 and 125 grain varmint bullets.
rc
OP
OP
rbernie
Contributing Member
Thanks, all.
Anyone ever try TAC for light 30-06 loads? I have several pounds of it set aside for other chamberings and wouldn't mind using it here as well.
Anyone ever try TAC for light 30-06 loads? I have several pounds of it set aside for other chamberings and wouldn't mind using it here as well.
Never considered it before, bernie. But it's right there with H4895 on the burn chart. So it oughta have potential.
The Ramshot load data guide http://www.ramshot.com/powders/ lists TAC for Nosler BT at about 3000 feet per second.
If you work up an accurate load, please let us know.
The Ramshot load data guide http://www.ramshot.com/powders/ lists TAC for Nosler BT at about 3000 feet per second.
If you work up an accurate load, please let us know.
Joemyxplyx
Member
I have a bottle of TAC with a 30-06 loading on it, so I wondered about it too. Then I ran across a copy of an email from Johan Loubser of Ramshot to the effect that TAC was too dense for good loading in a 30-06 case. TAC would leave enough room in the large 30-06 case to make the load position sensitive.
Given that caveat, Loubser then gave a range of 47.0 - 52.0 grains of TAC for a 150 grain bullet. This will give a velocity range from 2600fps or so to 2900 give or take. For a 168/75 grain bullet, he gave a range of 45.0 to 50.0 grains TAC.
My own feeling is that TAC is about the same density as 4895 - .0658 VMD vs .0728 VMD. Or 15.2 gr/cc vs 13.7 gr/cc. 4895 is great in a 30-06 so TAC should be pretty nice too.
If you end up testing TAC in a 30-06, I'd be interested in what you find out.
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