30-06 light recoil recommendation

[Catpop]

Can the group suggest a starting powder and bullet weight to begin a fun quest with my new, but old 1973 Winchester M70 30-06.
Requirements:
*LIGHT RECOIL (I have a bad shoulder)
*Jacketed bullets to start with, maybe even switch to lead after I get started. I have a buddy that does lead in 308 and 30-06
*100 to 200 yards.
*Paper punching only, not hunting.

I was thinking 130 grain and H4895 (60% safe reduced loads) I have powder in stock, but will have to buy any bullets under 150 grain.

Thanks in advance,
Catpop

 

[tcj]

No offense but 30.06 & soft loads don't usually go together.

 

[1KPerDay]

Look up "the load."

 

[GooseGestapo]

Just how little recoil do you want?
48.0gr of H4895 is an excellent load, but may still be a little too much. But it is very close to the Remington "Managed Recoil" load.
13.0gr of RedDot or Unique more likely will fulfill your want. But, will drop too much for more than ~100yd shooting. Also will require large changes in sights.

 

[critter]

I have loaded up some 30-06 loads for kids using 125-130 gr bullets and IMR 4895 and approximating 30-30 velocities that showed well reduced recoil. Side benefit was that they were REALLY accurate.

 

[someguy2800]

For those that don't know, Hodgdon specifically recommends H4895 for reduced recoil loads.

https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.pdf

Based on the 60% rule, a minimum load for a 125 grain bullet would be 32 grains, and a 150 would be 31.

Trail Boss can also be used for powder puff loads. Hodgdon lists a 13.3 to 19 grain load for a 150 grain bullet. 19 grains nets 1477 FPS.

BE WARNED, don't just download any old powder off the shelf. I have experienced wild pressure spikes with both ball and extruded rifle powders when loaded below starting loads. I once loaded some 223 with benchmark 1 grain under starting. Primers were completely flattened and had sticky extraction. 1 grain more powder showed no pressure signs.

 

[Reloadron]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Very good advice and where I would start.

Ron

 

[Salmoneye]

For light loads with cast look here:

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/3006s170_dat.htm

That page is from this extensive page:

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

I 2nd C.E. Harris 'The Load':

http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/TheLoad.html

 

[sage5907]

The best thing you can do to reduce recoil is to take the rifle to a good gunsmith and have a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad installed. The Pachmayr 752B is a 1 inch thick pad and it works great. Make sure the gunsmith cuts the stock to the right length of pull because nothing is worse than a rifle with a stock that is too long. I would consider 48 grains of IMR 4064 with a magnum primer and 150 grain bullet for a reduced load. For some reason 4064 seems to give less felt recoil than 4895 and this load will give you 2700 fps.

 

[Sunray]

"...have a bad shoulder..." A great deal depends on what is wrong and how bad. Even a cast 110 out of a .30-06 can cause more damage depending on the issue. A jacketed 110 and H4895 still has 39 to 49 thousand CUP pressure. Similar for a jacketed 125 or 130.
What you need until your shoulder gets better is an SKS or M1 Carbine.

 

[Salmoneye]

"...have a bad shoulder..." A great deal depends on what is wrong and how bad. Even a cast 110 out of a .30-06 can cause more damage depending on the issue. A jacketed 110 and H4895 still has 39 to 49 thousand CUP pressure. Similar for a jacketed 125 or 130.
What you need until your shoulder gets better is an SKS or M1 Carbine.

Or simply download with the data in this thread...

 

[lonewolf5347]

Don't forget to purchase a Past Recoil Shoulder pad.
I had rotator surgery a few years back they needed to install rivets to get the ligament back to the shoulder plate.
I use one when rifle bench shooting but during hunting season the heavy winter coat does the job

 

[jmr40]

I loaded some 150 gr bullets at about 2600 fps for my niece a few years ago using a starting load of IMR3031. I never fired them, but my brother reported they were very accurate and recoil was minimal, just right for a 12 year old girl starting out.

I used 3031 simply because that is what I had that would give the least speed at the minimum charge. I'd think any load at around that speed should do as well.

 

[Walkalong]

A 100% load density of Trail Boss will be powder puff.

SR 4759 or AA 5744 will make nice medium velocity loads.

Next step up is reduced loads (Kids loads) with H 4895.

 

[Catpop]

Thanks guys,
I have the H4895 so I'll try the 60% of max load first to see how my shoulder handles it. I can go heavy shooting coat next, then recoil pad if necessary as you suggested.
The 30-06 may just be too much for me. If it is, thats just the hand I've been delt and I'll play it the best I can.
Heck, the reason I bought the 30-06 was I thought it would be better on my shoulder than the .458 Win mag. Whadda u think?
Catpop

 

[DC Plumber]

I use 130g lead bullets for a 30-30 over trail boss. My 8 year old son shoots them out of my Ruger Hawkeye with great ease.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

Catpop,

why not change rifle and get a lighter calibre and have more pleasurable shooting experience rather than compensating for a calibre that no longer suits your physicality.

Unless there is emotional attachment to your 30-06 you will find it cheaper with a .223 or .243 etc.

You could also fit a sound moderator which is effective in reducing recoil along with a decent recoil pad as already mentioned.

Good luck either way.

 

[gamestalker]

Oh, I cringe when I think about that. I have a really bad shoulder, and the worst part is, it got this way from shooting high powered rifle for so many years. Now I shoot off a lead sled at the range, and the beating my shoulder endures is significantly reduced, almost none at all really. I still shoot the heavy hitters, 6mm Rem, .270 win, 30-06, 7mm RM, right on up to 300 WM.

So considering all you are doing is range shooting anyway, borrow a lead sled and give it a try, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised? I've had little kids, 10-12 years old shoot my big guns, and with full pressure stout loads, and they don't hardly feel the recoil at all. But it also depends on the sled you use, only buy the good one's, I use the Caldwell's, stay away from the cheap imitations.

The other option would be to install some recoil reduction systems on your rifles. You could put a couple of mercury tubes in them, or maybe have them braked. I shot a braked 300 WM recently, and it was like shooting a stout .243 win.. And it probably would have been even softer shooting with a better recoil pad, or maybe add a mercury tube as well.

GS

 

[41 Mag]

Cat I have used the Reduced loads from Hodgdon now for three grandsons. The oldest started out shooting my Ruger Compact in .308 at age 3. This little rifle weighs in at 6.5# loaded and ready to hunt. I used the Nosler 125gr BT's for his first year or so then switched to the Barnes 130gr TSX.

I can say that the loads do still produce "some" recoil, but the weight of the rifle will help dampen it as well. I picked up another one of the little Ruger's in a .243 for the middle grandson and he is shooting the 85gr Interbond, and it is about like shooting a 22mag.

I have tried some cast through my .308 and find that recoil even with the reduce load of H4895 using bullets in the 170-180'ish grain range is still a little pop, but it is also a very light rifle. As mentioned above the Pact Shield works well for spreading out the noticed recoil and isn't overly expensive to start with should the loads produce more than the desired intention.

Good luck with your loads and be sure to report back on how they progress.

 

[Catpop]

To expound on the original post. The reason I "want" to shoot the 30-06 rather than a softer recoil caliber is it is a 1973 M70 Winchester (another post) that followed me home from the pawn shop on 911. Didn't need it with my shoulder BUT for $180, I couldn't leave it there. Didn't have one in my corral anyway. Shoulder problem originated from commercial diving, but is now aggravated by shooting.
Original post intention was just to get valuable input as to some extra low recoil loads others have found for a basis to start a new quest.
By the way, I already shoot a mini 14 at the range with no problems to the shoulder.
Would have liked the M70 to be a 243 or 6mm, but it wasnt-------
Thanks for all the great advice, catpop

 

[243winxb]

30-06, Alliant 2400-24.0gr-Hornady 110 gr jacketed spire point. Maximum load data here, as my load is greatly reduced. http://castpics.net/dpl/ Use at your own risk.

 

[splattergun]

Thanks guys,

Heck, the reason I bought the 30-06 was I thought it would be better on my shoulder than the .458 Win mag. Whadda u think?
Catpop

Well, you might have a point

I use h4895 60% loads for plinking and practice for most of the year in my -06, but I use full-on loads for hunting. My issue is the blood thinners I have to take, makes me bruise terribly. So bench shooting either load I use a shoulder pad. The one or two shots taken in the field are tolerable. I don't mind taking a bruise for a shot at a bruiser.

 

[illinoisburt]

Definitely try a trail boss load. 100 yards will be fine with decent accuracy but with starting velocity under 1400 with 150 gr bullet the drop and wind deflection at 200 yards will challenge grouping. Starting loads are 70% of case capacity.

Load data from Hodgdon: http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

 

[Buck13]

Cast Boolits has some ideas about using 311008 or 311410 bullets and pistol powders in .30-06 for what should be some really gentle rounds.

Both those bullets are available here pretty cheaply. For handgun, this guy uses a moderately soft alloy, supposedly 12 BHN. Don't know about rifle bullets.
http://westernbullet.com/castbullets.html
The 311008 (or "3118") are sized 0.312" for a .32, so you might need to push them through a sizing die.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?161558-Lyman-311410-boolit-for-308-win

Otherwise, maybe you could be on the lookout to trade for a similar rifle in .243 W? Then you can brew a reduced recoil load for THAT case and really be comfortable!

 

[joem1945]

Load up some 115 gr carbine FMJ bullets. Very light recoil.