looking for accurate30-06 loads
- Thread starter dstanley
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Harve Curry
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IMR-4350 & IMR-4320 is a good powder choice for bolt action guns, use reloading manuals, manufacturers pamphlets, and work up to an accurate load.
The Bushmaster
Member
H4831sc
You might also look at Hogdon H4831SC for that 165 grain bullet. Load manual (Lyman #48) lists starting at 56.0gr and going up to 62.0gr (61 & 62 grains are a compressed loading). I have had very good luck with 59.0gr under a 165gr Sierra BTHP and WLR primer in Remington cases. Averaged 2730fps, ES 8.3, SD 3.4, AD 2.7....These are three rounds in each string, but still impressive as I've seen much worst.
And quite accurite I might add. Oh. And recoil is less too.
You might also look at Hogdon H4831SC for that 165 grain bullet. Load manual (Lyman #48) lists starting at 56.0gr and going up to 62.0gr (61 & 62 grains are a compressed loading). I have had very good luck with 59.0gr under a 165gr Sierra BTHP and WLR primer in Remington cases. Averaged 2730fps, ES 8.3, SD 3.4, AD 2.7....These are three rounds in each string, but still impressive as I've seen much worst.
And quite accurite I might add. Oh. And recoil is less too.
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Art Eatman
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I've mostly used Sierra bullets for the last 30 or so years. The boattails are a tad more fragile than the flat-based in the 150- and 165-grain weights. Either shape gives me three-shot groups of 3/4 to one MOA, very reliably. I've gotten equal results from 150s from Hornady and RemBronzePt.
I've always used 4064, ever since I first started reloading. (I use 3031 with the 110-grain bullets.)
I loaded a box of Sierra 180-grain SPBTs with H414. I need to test for grouping, though. I got good groups at 500 yards with the 4064, and the crater depth in the steel plate has me guessing the bullet oughta work on elk.
FWIW,
Art
I've always used 4064, ever since I first started reloading. (I use 3031 with the 110-grain bullets.)
I loaded a box of Sierra 180-grain SPBTs with H414. I need to test for grouping, though. I got good groups at 500 yards with the 4064, and the crater depth in the steel plate has me guessing the bullet oughta work on elk.
FWIW,
Art
Lennyjoe
Member
I use IMR 4350 under Sierra 165gr HPBT bullets in mixed brass for my Savage and get under 1" groups @ 100yds.
57.5gr of powder and WLP primers are giving me great groups.
I have Barnes X in 180gr and 165gr Gameking soft point coming from Midway and will be working them up shortly after I recieve them.
57.5gr of powder and WLP primers are giving me great groups.
I have Barnes X in 180gr and 165gr Gameking soft point coming from Midway and will be working them up shortly after I recieve them.
Sunray
Member
After trying
4831, 4350, 4320, 748, Accurate 3100, and 4064...always with the same bullet and primer, over about 2 years of testing, I found that 50-52 gr og 4064 with a 150 gr bullet in my bolt rifle is hard to beat. Many others have found the same, using other makers' 150 gr bullets. I'd start there.
4831, 4350, 4320, 748, Accurate 3100, and 4064...always with the same bullet and primer, over about 2 years of testing, I found that 50-52 gr og 4064 with a 150 gr bullet in my bolt rifle is hard to beat. Many others have found the same, using other makers' 150 gr bullets. I'd start there.
Sharps Shooter
Member
I use 56.5 grains of IMR 4350 under a Hornady 165 grain SPBT, CCI LRM primer and mostly Remington brass. Pressure is okay in my gun and it goes in an inch at 100 yards.
helpwanted
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This month's issue of G&A has a section titled "Match-Grade .30-06" by Stan Skinner. Here's the author's results with Barnes bullets. 150 Barnes TSXBT/WW748 (start 45, max 50)/CCI200primer/Nos. case/2827 fps. 168 Barnes TSXBT/Varget (start 42, max 47)/CCI200/Nos/2646 fps (he notes this was accurate). He lists 2 "very accurate" loads:
168 Hornady A-Max/H4895 (start 41, max 46.5)/CCI200/Nos/2643 fps.
175 Sierra MatchKing/H4895 (start 41, max 46)/CCI200/Nos/2614 fps.
Add: 165 Nosler Bal. Tip/AA2520 (max 47)/CCI200/Nos/2689 fps.
168 Hornady A-Max/H4895 (start 41, max 46.5)/CCI200/Nos/2643 fps.
175 Sierra MatchKing/H4895 (start 41, max 46)/CCI200/Nos/2614 fps.
Add: 165 Nosler Bal. Tip/AA2520 (max 47)/CCI200/Nos/2689 fps.
Bear Gulch
Member
49 grains of 4064 capped with a 165 gr Nosler Partition. So far this has been the ultimate deer/to moose round. I have used them on game for 10 years with few taking more than a step or two.
Lennyjoe
Member
Intersting load Bear Gulch.
I loaded up some 150's and H380 for ????s and grins tonight. Will try them tomorrow.
I loaded up some 150's and H380 for ????s and grins tonight. Will try them tomorrow.
Bear Gulch
Member
I manually measure each load. It is slow but I rarely load more than 60 rounds. I find that consistancy pays off with predictible ballistics. Once I know where the load hits I adjust the scope accordingly. I rarely shoot beyond 300 yards at game.
Smokey Joe
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'06 loads
I second the use of IMR 4350 and IMR 4064 for 165 grain bullets in the .30-'06. Exactly how much to use? Consult a printed manual. You'll have to work up the most accurate load in your rifle anyhow, and it will likely differ from the exact load I use in mine.
And I fervently second Bear Gulch's statement that careful, consistent powder measurement is key to accuracy. You also might consider only neck-sizing the cases if your rifle is a bolter and the cases just came through that rifle. Plus use all of the standard careful moves to make yr ammo as consistent as humanly possible.
Oh, and with the Barnes X bullets, the standard wisdom is to THOROUGHLY CLEAN the bore before using. These bullets don't seem to like the leavings of any other bullets.
How much accuracy do you desire? Partitions, developed in 1948 IIRC, while they are still renowned as the pioneer high-tech hunting bullet--and rightly so--are not quite as accurate as some other of the high-tech bullets, e.g. the Nosler Ballistic Tips and Accubonds. At least in some rifles. YRMV.
I second the use of IMR 4350 and IMR 4064 for 165 grain bullets in the .30-'06. Exactly how much to use? Consult a printed manual. You'll have to work up the most accurate load in your rifle anyhow, and it will likely differ from the exact load I use in mine.
And I fervently second Bear Gulch's statement that careful, consistent powder measurement is key to accuracy. You also might consider only neck-sizing the cases if your rifle is a bolter and the cases just came through that rifle. Plus use all of the standard careful moves to make yr ammo as consistent as humanly possible.
Oh, and with the Barnes X bullets, the standard wisdom is to THOROUGHLY CLEAN the bore before using. These bullets don't seem to like the leavings of any other bullets.
How much accuracy do you desire? Partitions, developed in 1948 IIRC, while they are still renowned as the pioneer high-tech hunting bullet--and rightly so--are not quite as accurate as some other of the high-tech bullets, e.g. the Nosler Ballistic Tips and Accubonds. At least in some rifles. YRMV.
Bear Gulch
Member
90 percent of this is taste. I feel confident in my round. Therefore, I don't mess withwhat works for me.
The rifle I developed my load for
is a 1943 Remington 1903A3 with a GI 2-groove barrel. I did glass-bed it, scope it, and add a Timney trigger. And I neck-turn my brass after sorting cases by weight, and ream flash holes and true up primer pockets.
With a fixed 4-power scope I can get 1/2 MOA from this rifle using 50 gr 4064, CCI large rifle primer, and Hornady 150 gr spire point bullet. Groups grew a little over the last few years, but then I had my younger brother shoot it and they shrank again, so it's me.
I used to weigh bullets..waste of time.
Weighing charges: bench-rest shooters don't. They use a good measure and throw charges for their tiny groups. I suspect it's not so much consistent weight, which after all could vary with atmospheric conditions, but consistent VOLUME, which an accurate measure will give you with proper technique. And that's why weighing cases is a bench-rest practice; consistent thrown volume in consistent-capacity cases.
is a 1943 Remington 1903A3 with a GI 2-groove barrel. I did glass-bed it, scope it, and add a Timney trigger. And I neck-turn my brass after sorting cases by weight, and ream flash holes and true up primer pockets.
With a fixed 4-power scope I can get 1/2 MOA from this rifle using 50 gr 4064, CCI large rifle primer, and Hornady 150 gr spire point bullet. Groups grew a little over the last few years, but then I had my younger brother shoot it and they shrank again, so it's me.
I used to weigh bullets..waste of time.
Weighing charges: bench-rest shooters don't. They use a good measure and throw charges for their tiny groups. I suspect it's not so much consistent weight, which after all could vary with atmospheric conditions, but consistent VOLUME, which an accurate measure will give you with proper technique. And that's why weighing cases is a bench-rest practice; consistent thrown volume in consistent-capacity cases.
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