30-30.06 load data

[Rusticbob]

I have a wonderful Ruger 30-06 that I have used to take 16 deer, all bucks. Very accurate and a "lucky gun" for me. Now its time to take my grandsons hunting and pass on the tradition.
I want to down load the 30-06 to 30-30 velocities, somewhere around 2200fps. I have a box of Hornady 170gr flat nose , and plenty of 30-06 brass. Any suggestions of powder, loads, etc..?
Speaking of powder, with the current shortage I only have a few choices, H380, Varget, IMR 4350, H4198, H4064 and Unique. Any help with load starting points would be appreciated.
Grandsons are 8 and 10

 

[.38 Special]

I tried reduced loads of H4198 with 168 grain bullets and got hangfires and wild velocity fluctuations.

I've played with Unique and cast bullets in the '06 just enough to scare myself. I won't do it again, and I REALLY won't try it with jacketed bullets.

That's all the first-hand experience I can give you. I suspect there is no way to safely do what you want to do with the components you have on hand, but I do not know everything there is to know about it.

If you can get ahold of some Accurate 5744, SR 4759, or H4895 your path becomes much clearer.

 

[cosh]

I have tested 125 grain SP bullets with H4895 reduced loads - somewhere around 45 to 46 grains. It comes out about like the factory loads that Rem used to sell for reduced recoil.

I had tested IMR SR4759 but ran out. It was more repeatable. A test report below (Not my data) and my experience is much the same as this range report.

DISCLAIMER NOTE - Always verify data and work up loads and follow safe reloading practices.

Range Report: 30/06
Powder: IMR’s SR 4759
Bullet: 125 grain Sierra SP
Case Used; Remington
Primer Used: CCI Large Rifle
Rifle Used: Winchester Model 70, 24 inch barrel

20 grains: 1911 fps

21 grains: 1937 fps

22 grains: 2074 fps

23 grains: 2134 fps

24 grains: 2195 fps

25 grains: 2253 fps

26 grains: 2344 fps

27 grains: 2406 fps

28 grains: 2434 fps

29 grains: 2511 fps

30 grains: 2575 fps

31 grains: 2661 fps

32 grains: 2682 fps

33 grains: 2742 fps

34 grains: 2803 fps

35 grains: 2848 fps

Accuracy was excellent with this powder, and this bullet. Easily within “minute of coyote or prairie dog”



Recoil reduction noticed a lot at 25 grains or less.



No filler needed, this is a bulky powder.

 

[2ndtimer]

Hodgdon’s lists reduced recoil charges for a number of cartridges on their website using H-4895. I have tried some with both .270 Win., and .270 WSM. They were okay accuracy wise, around 2” groups at 100 yards from a bench. Now the only trick is finding some H-4895, which along with primers and a number of other high demand powders seem to be hiding behind the leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/tips-and-tricks/low-recoil-loads

here is another list:
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/site/ballisticstudies/files/Hodgdon H4895 reduced load data.pdf

 

[Charlie98]

I wouldn’t reduce any of those powders, not in that big .30-06 case, and I wouldn’t use Unique. I agree... H4895 is your best bet.

 

[Rusticbob]

H4895 sounds like a winner! Thanks all.
I will start low and try to find that perfect combination of accuracy and performance.
Not asking too much am I.
Anybody seen Rudolph? I think I shot him.

 

[GooseGestapo]

A starting load of IMR4064 will work.
Most of the rest of the powders aren’t suitable for reduced loads. Unique woks with cast bullets. Don’t bother with jacketed.

You will have to re-zero due to changes in POI/POA.

 

[stringnut]

Also agree that H 4895 is the way to go. It is not the most popular powder , so, with some searching you may find a pound or two. I tried some reduced loads , many years ago, with IMR 4198. Didn’t have chronograph at the time. Lack of accuracy points to velocities not being very consistent. Some reduced loads in my friends 308 with 4895 shot well.

 

[jmr40]

I picked up a box of 150 gr RN bullets designed for 30-30 several years ago by mistake. I just picked up the wrong box in a store and decided that since I had them I'd try to download them to around 2400 fps. I was never able to get satisfactory accuracy. I ended up shooting them all up at the range, but I didn't have much luck getting them to do what I wanted. Trying a different powder may have helped.

 

[Laphroaig]

One of my pet loads for my -06 milsurp bolt guns is 35 gr. of IMR4198 and 150/155 gr. projectiles. I've shot it for years and it is light recoiling and accurate. It came to my attention from a piece in American Rifleman years ago on reduced 30-06 loads. I've chronoed it in a 26" barreled M1917 at 2396 fps.

In fact, for your application I shot a box of 150 grain flat nose 30-30 bullets that I picked up at a garage sale with that load and the results were good.

I just checked my files and I have a copy of that article. PM me your email address and I'll scan it and send you a copy.

 

[ms6852]

The reduced loads I've done for children I have started with 125 grainers. My first hunt was with a 30-06 when I was around 10 and depending on their age the 170's might be a bit much. I know it knocked me on my butt. The powders that I have used for reduced loads are Reloader 15, A5744, and 4895 have proven to do better. Since you are limited on supplies I would recommend to just use the minimum loads allowed for the bullet weight and type of powder you have in your inventory.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I agree with those above on H4895 (not IMR 4895). Use the 60% Formula https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uplo...553.201782860.1607166640-794551371.1604261937 to obtain your desired results.

I realize it is a different cartridge, but I’ve reduced 8x57 Mauser down to 30-30 levels many times. If you can find some powder, that’s the way I’d go.

 

[DukeConnor]

"The Load" Reduced loads using red dot

https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/The Load.htm

 

[Starter52]

+1 to Duke. I've been using Red Dot powder in reduced .30-06 loads for years.

 

[Stevel]

****THIS WORKS IN MY GUNS BUT MIGHT NOT IN YOURS********
This is 1-1.7 grains lower than the minimum listed Hodgdon website reloading manual for 150 grain bullets. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I wanted to do the same thing you are doing so worked up a load using H4350 and I4350.

52.3 to 52.5 grains with a Sierra 150fp.
It chrono's 2281fps out of a 22" barrel.
Groups hover around 1" at 100 yards and 2-3" at 200 yards.

Going up to the listed minimum 54 grains might get you into the 2400 fps category.

 

[Doc_Love_Butter]

H4895 has "youth" loads that start at 60% of the maximum published load. If you google, you can find the work-up info from Hodgdon. You probably need go to around 80% of max to get into 30-30 levels. Assuming a 20" barrel on the 30-30 you want to emulate and a 150 grain bullet, you are looking at about 2200 fps as your approximate range for the 30.06, give or take a few fps to find what is accurate for your rifle.

Verify with Hodgdon and have at it. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[tmd16556]

If I remember correctly the Speer 14th edition mentions the H4895 starting load for their 150 gr bullets as a good one for just that purpose.

 

[Catpop]

Search “60% h4895 Results” 9-24-2015
I ran this test back then with 30-06, 150 gr Sierra, 31.0 gr H4895
Results were quite impressive to me anyway
Man how time flies!
Good luck

 

[lordpaxman]

H4895 will allow reduced loads, as will TrailBoss. I’ve not done any side by side comparisons of the two.
https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/trail-boss-reduced-loads-r_p.pdf
Good luck.

 

[Reuben E Brewer]

I have a pound of H4198 and a box of speer 125 gr hp. I'd like to put them together for my 30-06 but can't find any load data. Any ideas where I should start?

 

[Bartojc]

I have tested 125 grain SP bullets with H4895 reduced loads - somewhere around 45 to 46 grains. It comes out about like the factory loads that Rem used to sell for reduced recoil.

This is where I ended up as well. I started by trying lower loads with a 150gr Hornady to get closer to 30-30. I seemed ok, but in the end the above load worked better for me, and is actually pretty manageable.

Not sure for the age of your grandchildren though. Might be a little strong for them.

-Jeff

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've played with reduced loads and have found not all powders like it, I've had hot unburned powder blow back in my face, I didn't have that when the load was closer to midway of load chart. My howa 1500 likes both a hot load in light bullets and a powder puff load with heavier bullets.

 

[DocRock]

None of the powders that you list in your OP should be reduced below levels in published data.

Pistol powder loads discussed for reduced recoil are almost always published for use with lead bullets that offer less resistance and therefore, lower pressures. I strongly advise against using pistol powder load data for cast bullets and substituting jacketed bullets.

If you can locate some H4895, or Trail Boss, you can make some good plinking loads with jacketed bullets. Or, if you can find some .310" cast bullets, the data offered in post #12 for Red Dot will also work.

 

[Charlie98]

Or, if you can find some .310" cast bullets,

I used to poo-poo cast bullets in rifle cartridges, but not anymore. In fact, with the exception of my autoloaders, I only load cast in rifle, now. Properly sized cast bullets with a fast powder like IMR4198 can make an easy shooting, accurate load for poking paper, or move up to something like IMR3031 and you have a reasonable hunting load.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Safe way to reduce loads. Use cast data. I load 13 grains of red dot in 30.06. Accurate and easy on the shoulder.
https://forum.castbulletassoc.org/thread/1387-the-load-is-13-grains-of-red-dot/