utbrowningman
Member
What is your go-to load? Shooting a Browning X-Bolt with a 22" barrel with a 1/10 twist. Mostly looking for quality hunting round. I've heard the 165 grain is the ideal bullet weight for the '06.
Last edited:
.30-06 IMR4895 preferred load
- Thread starter utbrowningman
- Start date
- Status
judgedelta
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2013
- Messages
- 687
44.7 works very well for me with a 165 Sierra Gameking. I like the hollow point. This is a relatively short-range load, probably 300 yds. and in.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
When I use IMR4895 for loading the 30-06 it's usually with a 150gr bullet and designed for the M1 Garand. For all other 30-06 ammo I use H4350 and that works very well for me.
At times when powders have been scarce (like that ever happens lol) I have used 4895 for 165gr hunting loads. A charge of 49.0gr IMR4895 with a 165gr sierra GameKing bullet delivers an honest 2800 fps from a normal hunting rifle.
Note, I have yet to find a load that is within safe pressure limits that is not accurate when using H4895 or IMR4895 in the 30-06 with bullets between the weight of 150gr and 190gr.
At times when powders have been scarce (like that ever happens lol) I have used 4895 for 165gr hunting loads. A charge of 49.0gr IMR4895 with a 165gr sierra GameKing bullet delivers an honest 2800 fps from a normal hunting rifle.
Note, I have yet to find a load that is within safe pressure limits that is not accurate when using H4895 or IMR4895 in the 30-06 with bullets between the weight of 150gr and 190gr.
Last edited:
gamestalker
member
4895 isn't really an optimum powder for that combination. That said, I don't use it for this applications, a little fast burning for my taste in this application.
If you can locate a slower burner, like IMR-4350, H4831, RL19, RL22, H4350, Superform, and a bunch of other slower burners, you'll get a more realistic 30-06 load, and performance with that cartridge, bullet combination.
GS
If you can locate a slower burner, like IMR-4350, H4831, RL19, RL22, H4350, Superform, and a bunch of other slower burners, you'll get a more realistic 30-06 load, and performance with that cartridge, bullet combination.
GS
USSR
Member
You sure about that twist rate? Should be a 1-10" twist.
Don
utbrowningman
Member
1/10, my mistake.
I have shot tens of thousands of 30-06 rounds loaded with 168 SMK 47.0 grs IMR 4895, any case, CCI #34 primers. I shot the majority of this ammunition in NM Garands and this load is outstandingly accurate out to 600 yards. Almost shot a clean with it at 500 yards.
This is not by any means a hot load, it is appropriate for a Garand which means it can be bumped up in a bolt rifle, a little. Since you are firing 165's, there should be no issues.
This is not by any means a hot load, it is appropriate for a Garand which means it can be bumped up in a bolt rifle, a little. Since you are firing 165's, there should be no issues.
USSR
Member
Like SlamFire1, I also use a 47.0gr load of IMR4895 with 168gr bullets for my Garands.
Don
Don
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Guys, the OP is shooting a Browning X-Bolt, not a M1 Garand. When loading for the M1 I completely agree charge weights of between 46.0gr to 47.5gr IMR4895 is the standard but with a 165gr hunting bullet meant for a bolt action rifle you can go a little hotter without sacrificing accuracy. No?
USSR
Member
Yep, you can load hotter for a bolt gun, but a load suitable for combat is just as well suited for hunting.
Don
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I agree Don and I'm not mentioning the slightly hotter load for the velocity alone. I'm talking about it because sometimes the best load for that rifle might be a little hotter than what we would use for the M1.
My favorite M1 load is a 150gr bullet over 46.0gr H4895 and when I use IMR4895 the charge is usually 47.0gr under the same bullet. (sometimes 47.5gr depending upon the bullet brand)
wendellgj
Member
Even if it is excepted that a 165 grain bullet is the optimum weight for a 30 06 does not mean your Browning will shoot worth a crap unless you work up the correct combination. Just like a certain bullet weight is optimum for any other caliber, it took me years to get the following to shoot well. It seems perfectly simple now but took many hours, days, and years actually. Having made the reload for an original P17 30 06 1917 Eddystone since 1976 I have experimented with bullet weights in the 150 to 180 grain weight. I also want to make it clear I make the reload and shoot the M1 Garand with similar characteristics, however, one must be vigilante to make correct adjustments necessary for bullet weight and powder velocity. After years of testing I came up with one load: Bullet's: Hornady 165 grain BTSP or 168 BTSP. Powder: 46.5 grains of H4895. Primer-CCI 200. I would imagine you could use any of the new weight range specific type bullets, large rifle primers, and IMR 4895 is rated one step up faster in the burn rate chart so start according to your recommended start load and work up. This particular powder, weight, bullet, primer, bullet seating depth, and general rifle elbow grease tune-up finally made this one heck of a hunting rifle.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
never mind, wrong thread lol!
41 Mag
Member
My personal thoughts on this weight have always been that it gave the best compromise of velocity and weight for this particular cartridge.
Over the years I have loaded for a number of different '06's ranging from 03A3's up to some very nice custom built ones, and used loads from mild to wild.
I like the 4895 area of powders in the medium loads I use, and other than it being the Hodgdon version simply due to me having it on hand, this is what I worked up my hunting loads for in my pop's old 03A3 using the 165gr Rem CL bullet. It will shoot roughly around 2750'ish fps, and groups on average around 3/4" at 100yds. It isn't fast or flamboyant, but it works, and works well, out to around 250yds.
Now if you want to crank things up a notch, then by all means look into finding some H-4350 or some RL-22. Either of those will get you up to the top end of what you can expect from a standard pressure book listed load using either the 150 or 165gr bullets, and probably even some a bit heavier. I personally just have never seen the need for those heavier.
I have however reached the 3K mark with a book load of RL-22 using the 165gr Ballistic Tip. It was not easy on the shoulder nor the more edible portions of deer if it hit a shoulder under 150yds, but none ever took another step after the shot. Not my own thoughts of the perfect load but the fellow who used it never complained.
Over the years I have loaded for a number of different '06's ranging from 03A3's up to some very nice custom built ones, and used loads from mild to wild.
I like the 4895 area of powders in the medium loads I use, and other than it being the Hodgdon version simply due to me having it on hand, this is what I worked up my hunting loads for in my pop's old 03A3 using the 165gr Rem CL bullet. It will shoot roughly around 2750'ish fps, and groups on average around 3/4" at 100yds. It isn't fast or flamboyant, but it works, and works well, out to around 250yds.
Now if you want to crank things up a notch, then by all means look into finding some H-4350 or some RL-22. Either of those will get you up to the top end of what you can expect from a standard pressure book listed load using either the 150 or 165gr bullets, and probably even some a bit heavier. I personally just have never seen the need for those heavier.
I have however reached the 3K mark with a book load of RL-22 using the 165gr Ballistic Tip. It was not easy on the shoulder nor the more edible portions of deer if it hit a shoulder under 150yds, but none ever took another step after the shot. Not my own thoughts of the perfect load but the fellow who used it never complained.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
