30-06 Load for deer size game

[stratosrider62]

Hey everyone, I just traded for a Ruger m77 in 30-06. I'm probably going to load either Sierra 150gr sbt Gameking or 165gr sbt Gameking. Any suggestions on the loads. I'm looking for 1" or less groups if possible.

 

[rcmodel]

1" or less huh?
I don't know.
How good can your rifle shoot with factory loads?
How good can you shoot?

If it was me, I'd be starting with IMR-4064 or IMR-4895 and work up a load your rifle shoots the best.

rc

 

[GP100man]

IMR 4064 I start at 47gr. , 1" good luck & have fun !!!!

OOPs rcmodel beat me to it !!!

 

[06]

A 77 is my very favorite deer rifle in '06 of course. It is also the most accurate out of the box small diameter barreled rifle I have ever shouldered. My wife helped me zero at 100 yds, I clicked up to 220 yds, and put a round exactly into the middle of a crushed drink can wrapped in foil. I still have it in the gun cabinet for bragging rights. I put the rifle back into the case and we went home with a big smile all the way across my face. It took the place of my old '03 and excelled. Have hunted with it for several yrs and it has never let me down. Puts 'em where you point it. It is a stainless with black composite stock and 3X9X50 glass. All painted camo-except for the lenses-LOL.

 

[Mule]

.30-06 preferred loads

I prefer the Sierra 165gr SPBT over 55 gr AA4350. Rem 742

My son prefers 150 Sierra SP flat base over 51gr IMR-4895. Browning A-Bolt
Success at 300 yards with this one.

 

[juk]

Had VERY good results from the 165 HPBT Gameking out of a 30-06. All 3 deer shot with the bullet were one shot kills. I've got my 308 loaded with 165 SPBT Gamekings, but haven't shot anything other than paper and steel with it yet.

For the 06 rounds that I have loaded, the most accurate was 45grns of IMR 4064 under a 165 SPBT Gameking. Bone stock skinny barrel 700 shot these with all holes touching at 100 yards. Kinda slow for an 06, but gets the job done very well.

 

[sonier]

your hunting for deer and worried about grouping size? how far are you shooting 600+ yards?

150 sierra gameking SPBT with varget work up your own load to find what your rifle likes.

 

[stratosrider62]

I guess I should clarify. I know that 1" groups are not that important for hunting,I just like 'em when I'm shooting paper. Mainly wondering if it would, you know, it's more enjoyable when it does.

 

[USSR]

My .30-06 deer hunting load uses 46.5gr of IMR4895 with a 178gr Amax bullet.

Don

 

[ArchAngelCD]

4895 and 4064 are fine powders for loading 30-06 ammo, you won't go wrong with either. When I use a 165gr/168gr bullet in the 30-06 I prefer H4350 but some loaders feel it's too slow a powder for that application and should be used with a 180gr bullet or heavier. I disagree but won't use it with a 150gr bullet...

Like mentioned above, there are many variables involved with accuracy so what works for me and my guns or for others might not/probably won't work for you or your gun. Hey, the fun is in the having to shoot all the different rounds you make up trying to find that "sub-MOA load", no??

 

[Remo-99]

While the 150gr Sierra Gameking's are capable of taking most size deer with a 30-06, the 165 grainers give a slight weight advantage and many find this weight performs well in their 30-06's as far as accuracy goes.
Could be a place to start looking. Just thinking out aloud.

 

[sonier]

1 inch grps are fun to get, but hard. you need to start with a particular powder such IMR 4350, then you need to match the bullet weight to your rifling twist rate, Find out what your rifling is best suited for, then buy those bullets, so lets say your rifling likes 150 grain sized.

Now start buy using a MIN load of 4350 with 150 grain weight. You should gradually work up loads make them hotter and hotter. Make sure to stop if you get any slight primer overflow or sticky extraction. Any of the usual overpressure signs, some of us never go to max data. You need to test these rounds in batches of 3 or 5 at 100 yards. RECORD your grp size for every load.

If you are satisfied stick with your current powder, if you are not. Change powder go to something like varget. There is no sweet load that works in everyones rifles, even if you have the same model rifle, your not going to get the same accuracy as your buddies identical one.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

For the 150 grain bullets, I like Varget.
For heavier stuff I like IMR 4350.

 

[Oceans]

Getting one inch, 5 shot groups out of stock a M-77 is going to be a challenge and it will take some work with a few combinations. For hunting purposes, especially deer, the 165 Sierra is a winner. I shoot Rem 700s in 30-06 here on the east coast, and I use the 165 grain HPBT for practice and hunting across the bean fields, I try never to exceed 300 yards in any hunting situation, it works. Now to be truthful, on a whitetail, you certainly do not need a 165, as a 150 will do the job just fine. If you like to shoot at long ranges(300-600 yards) for fun, on targets too, and for me that is how I do most of my shooting, the 165 HPBT Sierra is a nice dual purpose bullet, of-course there might be better but it is the one I like. I like them because they are usually, available, reasonably priced, and accurate. For powder selection, I use 4350, and 4895 for the same reasons, that I listed above for the choice in bullets. I use Winchester large rifle primers and either Rem or Win brass.

 

[Rokman]

Varget, H4895 has produced some really good loads for me with 150 grain bullets and H or IMR 4350, RL17 and RL19 has produced well for me with 165-168 grain bullets. I usually use Winchester LR primers and Winchester or Remington brass and Nosler ballistic tip bullets. The Gamekings are an excellent bullet for deer.

 

[sonier]

took my deer with a hot loaded 125 grain with some varget that did more than the trick lol

 

[The Bushmaster]

Sierra 165 grain BTHP GameKing over 58 to 59 grains of Hodgdon H4831SC in Winchester or Remington cases and WLR primers

 

[Visionz45]

Ive loaded quite a few varieties for my .30-06 M77(tang). H4350 should fit great for both 150's and 165's. Id stay away from slower powders like 4831 with a 22" bbl and especially with less that 180 grain bullets. Throughout trials 4350 provided very similar performance compared to my classic stainless with a 24" tube. With slower powders like 4831, rl 22 and mrp the gap in performance between the 22 and 24" tubes was far greater.

 

[bogus mcall]

In my ruger no.1, 49.8gr of varget with either 168gr A-Max or 165gr SST, both shoot 1" or less (usally less). These both shoot to the same poi. This load is close to max, so be sure to work up to it.

 

[Ky Larry]

In my CZ-550 in .30-06, I seem to get better accuracy with 165gr bullets than with 150gr bullets. Re-19 and any of the -4350s work well. Sub-MOA is nice but is nor necessary in a hunting rifle. To humanely kill a deer, you have to be able to hit an area the size of a phone book.