Stormin.40
Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2011
- Messages
- 477
So I have been working on developing an accurate hunting load for my Tikka Forest in 30-06. I shot various factory ammunition to determine which which bullet weight and type it seems to like. The 165 grain range stood out with federal fusion, Remington corlokt and HSM 168gr berger all coming in around MOA.
I settled on the 168gr berger for load development. I ended up with IMR 4831 showing the most promise and used Berger load data. I found the first accuracy node at 54 gr. but it felt like shooting a 308 and velocity was in the 2400s so I went above berger published max. I ended up on an accuracy node a little higher and chronographed @ 2650fps, 10' from muzzle. These feel like a 30-06 load but are still 150fps lower than I would have expected. 5 shot groups are at 1 MOA, probably more shooter than load, with decent standard deviation and velocity seems temperature stable.
My question is. Would you settle on this load given the low velocity or further up on powder charge?
I settled on the 168gr berger for load development. I ended up with IMR 4831 showing the most promise and used Berger load data. I found the first accuracy node at 54 gr. but it felt like shooting a 308 and velocity was in the 2400s so I went above berger published max. I ended up on an accuracy node a little higher and chronographed @ 2650fps, 10' from muzzle. These feel like a 30-06 load but are still 150fps lower than I would have expected. 5 shot groups are at 1 MOA, probably more shooter than load, with decent standard deviation and velocity seems temperature stable.
My question is. Would you settle on this load given the low velocity or further up on powder charge?
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