Favorite powder/charge for 150-165gr 30-06

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Kachok

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I am going to buy some reloading supplies to develop some loads for my new 06. What powders have proven most accurate for you in this weight? I am planning on trying Ballistic Tips, SGKs and SSTs since they have worked so well for me in the past.
 
For paper using a winchester 147gr w/c I am using TAC at 47grs and out of my remy 700 (WAS ONCE A SPS MODEL) now the only thing orginal is the receiver the rest has been customized barrel,trigger,stock,bolt,firingpin assy,mag well now will do 1/2 moa at 225yrds with a 24'' barrel, and suppressed, vortex viper scope and at 100 pretty much 5 shots that a nickel will cover. But this is only for paper, not hunting.
 
The old tried and true IMR 4350 works well for 150-165 weight range in bolt action rifles. Do consult your manuals and work up to these charges but up to 57 grains for 165 gr. bullets and up to 59 grains for 150 gr. ones. These are near maximum charges so work up.
 
57gr of IMR pushing a 165 seems to be a tried and true load, I have heard several people recomend it, when I consulted the Nosler manual it listed that as the most accurate load tested, but it also a max load so I will aproach with caution. I just so happen to keep a good supply of 4350 on hand for 120gr BTs in my 6.5x55 :) RL 19 is listed as a top choice for 150s but I have not heard many people talk about that one. RL22 seems to give the highest speeds all the way from 165gr to 220gr but accuracy reviews I have heard are mixed. Is it just me or does RL22 work in everything? It is one of the fastest and most accurate powders in my mild mannerd 6.5x55 and the fastest powder in such screamers as the 25-06 and 270WSM.
 
I have used 150 gr Nosler BT's over 57 grains of IMR4350 for a couple of decades. I get such tight groups that I never had a reason to look for another load.
 
I'm a big fan of Hodgdon H380 powder. For 165gr I use 55gr and for the 150gr I use 58gr. Obviously both loads should be reduced and worked up in your rifle.
 
I am a big fan off IMR 4350 in the 30-06. My long time standard has been a 150 gr, either Sierra or lately Hornady SSTahead of a compressed load of IMR 4350.
The load is no longer listed by Lyman but at one time it was one of their "accuracy" loads.
TGR
 
+1 for IMR4350 Have used it for 45 yrs hunting Elk with Speer 165 gr. BT's
Must brag a little here in that over those years only lost one Elk and it was my fault for poor shot placement
 
What ar your thoughts on IMR 4350 and H4350, my hodgdon manual shows the H4350 running near identical performance with 8,000 less psi pressure. Is H4350 a little slower burning then the IMR?
 
Kachok said:
What ar your thoughts on IMR 4350 and H4350, my hodgdon manual shows the H4350 running near identical performance with 8,000 less psi pressure. Is H4350 a little slower burning then the IMR?
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Check your data more closely. The Hodgdon load data shows H4350 pressure is listed in CUP and IMR4350 pressure is listed in PSI. They may be much closer than you think although there is no real way to convert one to the other for an exact comparison.
 
I found what it likes, I tried the classic 57gr H4350 but it was all over the place, backed down to 56gr and it tightend up like magic. 3/4" at 100yds is not bad at all for my first trip to the range. I love Savages :D I am going to play with RL22 and SSTs/BTs and see if I can tighten it up to the half inch range before I do any mass loadings.
 
Kachok, I also shoot 57 grains of IMR 4350 with both the 150 and 165 grain boattails for hunting. A really accurate load that hasn't been mentioned is 51 grains of IMR 4064 with a 150 grain boattail. Although I'm not bothered by recoil, the recoil seems to be somewhat less than with the IMR 4350. BW
 
RL19 and IMR-4350 have always been winners for me. I actually ended up sticking to RL19 because it had the velocity and accuracy nailed.
 
I sould have grabed a pound of 4064 while I was across the bay, but I do have RL19 which is supposed to be really good for the 150gr bullets. Nosler lists RL19 to be the most accurate powder they tested with 150s, and amongst the fastest too. I have some 150 Accutips, I don't know if they will top what I have done with 165gr SGKs but if they do I won't be afraid to use them on these smallish South Alabama/Florida deer, I could drive 125s through these tiny 120-160lbs things we have here. I am not griping though, we get high limits and they are easy to drag out of the woods.
 
I've been seeing some reteric on highroad about H380 with a 150 grain bullet. I remember someone from Idaho who liked preferred H380. I'd be interested to know if anyone can elaborate further how well H380 performs? BW
 
I am intrested to see how this RL22 performs, when I worked up to max load I realized that it is not the max for pressure, it is as much as the case will possably hold, just fill to the brim and pack it down with the bullet LOL, that is some S>>>L>>>O>>>W burning powder, but according to Nosler with a compressed load (63gr!) it can drive a 168gr BT to over 3000fps, that is nipping at the heels of the 300 magnums!! But the real question is will it group worth a darn, all the speed and trajectory in the world won't do you a bit of good if you cannot place it where you want it.
 
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