How to work up two loads with similar ballistics

[jgibbs]

I am using my father-in-laws hunting load, 30-06 150gr bullet, for deer hunting. It's pretty accurate in my rifle.

I am hoping to work up another load for smaller game hunting and shoot a lighter bullet (maybe 110gr.). It would be nice to have the lighter bullet load shoot about the same place at 100 yards as the 150gr. bullet hunting load. That way I can target shoot or hunt with either load and not have to re-zero my scope.

Has anyone done this before? Does anyone have any tips on where I should start?

 

[hydraulicman]

I would work up a load in the bullet weight of your choice then be prepared to adjust your scope

 

[Shoney]

Here are some of the loads I have used in the past

30-06 Youth Hodgdon
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gr - - - - VEL- - - - CUP - - - - COL:
125 GR. NOS BT____H4895__40.5____2615 f/s____31,200____3.27
130 GR. HDY SSP___H4895__39.0____2544 f/s____31,500____3.22
135 GR. SIE SP ____H4895__39.0____2495 f/s____30,800____3.16

From my notes
110 gr 26 gr of IMR4227
130gr HrnSP_SR4759 32gr.__ 2489fps__ 3.235 OAL__ 1.0" @ 100yds
150 SprSP_SR4759 30gr. __ 2268fps
150gr. Silvertip IMR4227 29gr.__ 2171fps (very accurate)
Speer 150 gr. .30-30 Flat Point__ RX-7 38gr.__ 2503fps__ 1” @100 yds

 

[rcmodel]

I think you will find it very difficult to find loads using 110 & 150 grain bullets that shoot to the same POI.

It's not the velocity difference that will get you.

It's the difference in barrel harmonics & recoil between the two bullet weights.
Very unlikely they will both print the same either up & down, or sideways.

But it won't hurt to try.
Every rifle is different, and you might get lucky with yours.

rc

 

[waffentomas]

www.huntamerica.com/recoil_calculator

I have messed around with this a bit, and rc is right, the barrel harmonics are what makes it tricky. A very basic explanation is that the barrel vibrates differently as different bullets, weights, and charges are detonated, and cause the bullets to impact in different places. I use 180gr Winchester (lubulox) Fail Safes for my primary elk load, but have developed a 150gr CT Fail Safe, (moly) load for deer and black bear that prints to the exact point of elevation at 100 yards. This took a while to work up. But I have to give the rifle 8 clicks of windage adjustment to get the same point of impact, due to the barrel harmonics issue.

Using the link above is where I started (keep in mind I do not consider myself an expert at this, it's just the best place I figured to begin my experiment. It's very likely I'm just a "hack") and my goal was to try and get the recoil for each load the same. After that, it was just messing around with different bullet types to see where they printed. You'll have to find some "constants". Common sense dictated that the primers, brass (weighted out) and charge type and weight all be the same for the 150s. I love the Fail Safes, and the 180gr is my 'main' load. For the deer/bear load, I was willing to consider anything, and it just so happened the 150gr CT printed where it did, that I only had to make a (now) known windage adjustment. I tried a good 1/2 dozen different bullet types (not weights) before I got this close, all which would have been good deer/bear loads. (I tried 150gr Hornaday interlock, Barnes XLC, Speer Grand Slam, Sierra, Winchester and Nosler Partitions)

It was actually a lot of fun doing this, and if you have the time and the reloading equipment, it'll be an enjoyable experiment. If you don't reload, I can't even imagine the expense and frustration.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[243winxb]

My 30-06 is a caliber that seems to shoot most loads into the same area, be it 110gr or 180 gr bullets. Why i have no idea. Try to load to the same velocity. But a very old Rem. 760 & shooter can make the difference. Guns only good for about 2" groups @ 100yds on a good day.

 

[hossfly]

It would almost certainly be luck if you arrived at the point your going for. I wouldn't tie up too much time in it if I were you.

 

[Kernel]

If you want a legitimate .30-06 small game load, meaning you want to eat what’s left, you need to get really, REALLY, slow. Like 1,500 fps, or less. Youth deer loads won’t cut it. Not even close. They’re still way, WAY, too fast, and will make mince meat of a rabbit or squirrel.

Any lead or jacketed bullet between 110 gr and 170 gr will work. I would not get hung up on using just light weight bullets. It’s more important to find the right powder and to go SLOW.

You’ll likely have better accuracy with heavier bullets. You’ll need it. A bunny‘s kill zone ain‘t that big. 1-inch 50 yd groups should be your goal.

Lots of loads to try at these links:

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

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

http://www.surplusrifle.com/articles2008/trailbosskiss/index.asp

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-279607.html

 

[Sunray]

"...am using my father-in-laws hunting load..." Work up the load for your rifle. Any change of ammo requires sighting in again.
You will not get a 110 and a 150 to shoot the same way. Physics won't allow it.

 

[jgibbs]

Thanks for the advice guys. I understand that this task will not be easy and may require some luck. Even getting as far as waffentomas would be good. (Having a known adjustment to the scope to get on target with the other load.) Getting a load with a lighter bullet that consistently groups within 5 inches of my hunting load would be great.

Also, I didn't say this originally but the purpose of the lighter load would most likely be varmint hunting (coyotes, ground hogs, etc.). If I actually wanted to shoot and eat squirrel and rabbit I would not use a .30-06.

I enjoy reloading and tinkering with my loads, so this is something that I will mess around with over the coming months and years.