Looking for a new powder for my 30-06

[splattergun]

I prefer using Hot-Cor 165 grain over IMR4350, for the higher terminal energy at the longer ranges that we find here in the West.

 

[Dudedog]

Which shots flatter a 150 or 165 depends on a couple things.
The 150 can be started faster but usually a 165 will have a better BC (less drag) so it retains velocity better. (shorter time of flight).

Not allowing for drag a BB and a bowling ball both drop at the same rate, gravity acceleration is constant 32fps squared.

 

[j1]

IMR 4350 is a great way to go.

 

[entropy]

In order of preference:

IMR 4350

IMR 4064

IMR 3031. Excellent out of shorter barrels.

I haven't loaded .30-06 with Varget yet, though I've liked it in .223 and 7.62x54R. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for .30-06.

 

[gamestalker]

I agree with the flatter shooting thing, but there's still a balance between velocity and bullet integrity that needs to be considered.

I prefer to use a 165 gr. Speer Hot Core with the 06, sitting on top if a good stout worked up charge of slow burning powder. IMR-4350 is decent, heck it's been an all time favorite long before all these new fan-dangled powders came into our lives. That said, IMR-4350 will get right in the 3000 fps range with a 165 gr. projectile.

But if you decide to drop down to a 150 or 155, make sure you use a bullet that won't explode on impact at those 3k velocities.

That said, among others, Speer makes a 150 gr. Grand Slam, which is very well constructed, but BC is poor. But they also offer like 4 different 150 gr. Hot Core bullets to choose from. The Mag Tip, Spitzer SP, SPRN, and a SPFN. Any of those should be great performers at 3k+ fps.. Of these, the Spitzer SP has the highest BC, something like .390 I think. The 165 gr. Spitzer is rated at about .430 BC, and at nearly 3K fps, it should fly fairly flat.

Powders to be considered for a 150 gr, Superformance, H4350, H414, IMR-4350, and H380 are all capable of getting the velocity you desire. There are quite a few other good options from Alliant's also.

GS

 

[AlfieB]

54 gr. 760 with a 150 Hornady Interlock is very accurate, and will kill anything on the planet. This has been my go-to load for 25 years.

 

[TimSr]

IMR4350 was my go to powder for 150gr and 180gr bullets. I couldn't find it during the shortages, and was quite satisfied that RE17 was at leats its equal, if not a tad better for those two bullets.

 

[kerreckt]

I have had good success using RL17 with the heavier (greater than 150 gr.) loads.

 

[sage5907]

Everytime we discuss 30-06 loads IMR 4350 and IMR 4064 come up and for good reason. I particularly like 51 grains of IMR 4064 and a Magnum primer with a Sierra 150 grain boattail bullet. I am really happy with that load and for me it's like eating popcorn. If a 30-06 rifle won't shoot that load accurately it is destined for several new owners. Equally as good is 57 grains of IMR 4350, but for whatever reason recoil is noticeably greater. I have also been shooting a lot of Reloader 17 and 57 grains is a really good load, and perhaps gets the nod for both accuracy and velocity. It's sure worth trying. But again, for general purpose somewhere between 51 and 52 grains of IMR 4064 and a magnum primer with a 150 grain cup & core bullet is hard to beat.

 

[Skyshot]

I would stay the cobination you have. If I were switching to a 150 gr. bullet, it would be for a light recoiling mild woods load. And for that, my powder choice would be IMR 4895. In my opinion the 165 gr. bullets are the optimal choice for deer sized game in the 06 or .308 for that matter.

 

[sage5907]

I have taken a lot of both whitetail and mule deer with both 150 and 165 grain bullets and you basically can't tell the difference when you shoot a deer. With a shoulder shot the animals fall immediately. Another reason for staying with IMR 4350, IMR 4064 and Reloader 17 is that you can move from powder to powder without any significant change to the scope zero. The point of impact for hunting purposes basically stays the same at 200 yards or 200 meters. This is using a combination of powders with any combination of 150 and 165 grain Sierra, Speer and Berger bullets. If you change to 4895 or Varget the point of impact is noticably lower at 200 meters, at least 2 inches. This leads me to believe that Varget is based on 4895 with some kind or advanced coating. I'm saying that you don't want to use 4350 for 165 grain bullets and 4895 for 150 grain bullets because a scope adjustment would have to be made every you changed bullet weights.

 

[oldreloader]

I'm with rcmodel and Arlansas Paul. That 165 gr bullet works well for me. I use IMR4064 and IMR 4350. Shorter barrels get the 4064.

 

[JimKirk]

Calculated this for you. Both .308 Caliber Barnes TTSX bullets 10 MPH Cross Wind

150 gr @ MV 3000 fps, 300 yd Vel 2341, E 1825 flbs Drop -10.7" WD 7.1"
400 YD @ Vel 2139 fps, E 1524 Drop -25.1, WD 13.1"
500 yd @ vel 1958, E 1264, Drop -47.1, WD 21.4"

165 gr @ MV 2860 fps, 300 yd vel 2250, E 1854 flbs, Drop -12.0", WD 6.7"
400 yd @ Vel 2063 fps, E 1559, Drop -27.8. WD 12.3"
500 yd @ Vel 1885 fps, E 1301, Drop -51.8, WD 20.1"

As you can see the loads are virtually identical except in velocity ... and when dealing with Barnes bullets velocity is king ... the 150 gr is flatter shooting at both 300, 400 & 500 yds.

 

[Muddydogs]

If I was reloading 30-06 and switching bullets. Already had a good 165 grain load with 4350. My first attempt before adding another powder (and you have excellent choices based on the responses your received if it doesn't work out) would be to try the powder I already have. So my recommendation is 4350. I also see you have IMR4064. That would also be a very good choice.

I have plenty of IMR4895 and AA2700 so they would be my first attempts. If that didn't work then I would try some of the other excellent choices. Except for RL15. RL15 bottles don't fit on my shelf, too tall.

Alliant powder bottles due suck but the labels peel off great just like the labels on Hodgdon jugs. So save some empty Hodgdon powder jug, remove the label and replace with the Alliant label and power. Alliant jugs do make good shot bottles.

Before anyone asks, the labels adhere to the jugs just fine. Some of my jugs have had the same transferred labels on them for 5 plus years with no signs of falling off. I also have a label on the cap so I can identify the powder as my self space holds 6 bottles across and 3 bottles deep so chances are there's another jug or two in front of the one I want.

 

[cheygriz]

W-W 760 is my go to powder for .30-06. I use the Speer 150 grain BTSP and it's worked well for me on numerous deer and elk and two moose. I load it to ~2950 FPS for my Model 70 Featherweight

760 is a slow burning powder, and some folks consider it a "ball" version of 4350.

 

[morcey2]

My go-to with 30-06 (and most other similar cartridges) is IMR -4064. 52 grains over a CCI 200 shoots very well in my 1903. It's close to max in most manuals and over in one (Hornady I think).

Matt

 

[KB0VSO]

I'll be honest, I don't have a lot of experience with the 30-06 with regards to hand loading. I mostly handload for my handguns. The '06 is my main hunting rifle. Anyways my standard load has been a 165 gr Barnes TSX over 57 grains of IMR 4350. I've taken several animals with it. The reason for the post is I am due to load up another batch of ammo. I want to switch to 150 gr bullet. Slightly faster velocity and flatter trajectory. But my research shows that the 4350 powders are better with the heavier bullets. What powders are you guys using with a 150 gr? I forgot to mention it will either be a triple shock or a tipped triple shock.

This info should help you to select a powder.
Rifle Cartridge Powder / Load Density
Modern smokeless powder once ignited produce expanding gases that push the bullet down the rifles bore giving us a certain amount of velocity to our bullet.
Modern smokeless rifle powders have varying burn rates and come in two types, single base nitrocellulous and double base nitrocellulous with the addition of nitroglycerine.
Modern smokeless rifle powders have various shapes and they are, extruded or tubular, ball or spherical, round flat flake and diamond flat flake.
Rifle Cartridge Powder Reloading:
There are many rifle cartridge powders to choose from for the avid reloader today each of which vary in their burn rate. With all the powders that are available how does anyone know which powder to select for their particular rifle cartridge reloading.
Load Density:
Load density is one factor to consider in selecting powder for a particular rifle cartridge with 86% density just about ideal in most cases. Load density is the ratio between case capacity and actual powder charge. Most factory ammunition is loaded with a density of 80% - 90% of the cartridge case capacity.
1. You should do not to exceed 90% load density.
A. Primers need room to flame through the powder charge which gives uniform velocity and pressure.
B. Cases that are full or compressed charges of powder will accelerate barrel wear in the rifle barrels throat area and then over time will destroy the accuracy of the rifle.
2. You should never drop below 80% load density.
A known condition named detonation (excess pressure spike) can occur with cases that are not significantly filled with powder. Some years ago the U.S. Ordnance and DuPont ballistics laboratories were able to duplicate the strange phenomenon called detonation and they had determined that excess air space in the cartridge case to be the trigger for detonation.
How to figure load density:
Powder charge weight divided by case capacity equals load density. Example: Powder charge 40 grains (divided by) Case capacity 50 grains = .8 or 80% load density.
Case Capacity:
Case capacity is the amount of volume inside a cartridge case that is available for the rifle powder or propellant to fill.
How To Measure Case Capacity:
Measuring case capacity is actually quite simple. Once you have established your bullet seating depth in the bullet section of this guide.
1. Weigh one case with bullet seated to proper depth without powder or primer.
2. Now fill the case with water through the primer hole using a hyperdermic needle and weigh again.
3. Now subtract dry weight from the water weight and this will give you your case capacity.
Example:
470 grains = water weight with bullet.
- 420 grains = empty weight with bullet.
50 grain = case capacity.
Once you have your case capacity using your reloading manual select powders that fall into your load density range.
In the above example of a 50 grain capacity your range would be.
1. 50 grain capacity x 80% load density = 40 grains of powder.
2. 50 grain capacity x 90% load density = 45 grains of powder


Larry (kb0vso)
Northern Minnesota