M160 Frangible in 30.06 Load Data, anyone have any?

[KaiserBen]

I got some M160 frangible bullets from HiTech, however, I have no load data for a 108gr frangible bullet in 30.06. Can I use 110gr jacketed data, seating the bullet longer, to match the OAL of a standard military round?

 

[ReloaderFred]

In Barnes' Cartridges of the World, 10th edition, there are three loads listed for the M160 round. They are:

1. 10.5 grains of SR8074
2. 8.3 grains of HPC-8
3. 11.4 grains of WC140

The nominal velocity is 1,320 feet per second.

The three powders listed are all bulk powders and aren't available commercially. You may be able to find one of them on the surplus market as pulldown powder.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Art Eatman]

I don't know anything about frangible bullets, but powder only cares about how much weight is in front of it. And, of course, the hardness of the jacket material.

So, if the jacket material is no harder than conventional jacketed bullets, 110-grain data oughta work.

I guess.

You can always start with a medium charge of slow-burning pistol powder. For example, I've long used 20 grains of 2400 as a plinker load with 169-grain lead gas-checks. Works okay with stray/leftover 150-grain jacketed bullets.

FWIW, Art

 

[KaiserBen]

Well, I just loaded 40 rounds of these, with charges of 14-15.6gr of Unique (Lyman manual loads for 115gr cast lead), and 18.8-19.6 of 2400 (Lyman loads for 150gr cast) and I'm headed to the range to see what happens.

 

[KaiserBen]

Back from testing, best load was 14.8gr Unique, 3.25" OAL, ~2" group at 50 yards out of a 1903A3. Very little recoil, less than a .223. The 2400 loads were all too hot for the bullets, and lead to very poor groups.