New Loading For The 30-06

[Fishingted]

I have thus far only Loaded Straight Wall Pistol type Cartridges on a Dillon 550 and just recently a few 38 special on a RCBS RockChucker II I recently aquired.I only have powders and primers for shotgun and pistol loads. I have a 30-06 Browning Auto that I bought New over 30 years ago and has never been Fired. I am Hankering to scope it up and get some shooting with it. Have a Leupold 3-9 vari X 2 going on it. I intend to use the RockChuker to load for 30-06. Have a lyman reloading manual. Unfortunately I will have to get all other supplies to load for 30-06. Was wondering if a 2 Die set of RCBS dies would be sufficiant. Intend to load 165-180 grain Bullets for hunting and practice. Any pet load or advice is Greatly Appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Exactly what you need.

 

[.308 Norma]

Was wondering if a 2 Die set of RCBS dies would be sufficiant

Yep, sure will. That's the die set I've used for 40 years of loading for my Ruger 77 30-06.

Intend to load 165-180 grain Bullets for hunting and practice. Any pet load or advice is Greatly Appreciated. Thanks.

A CCI LRM primer, and a charge of IMR 4350 powder that pushes a Hornady 165gr BTSP bullet out of my rifle's 22" barrel at a little over 2,800fps still puts 3 bullets in an inch at 100. And it's killed more mule deer than I can remember, an elk, a pronghorn, a few coyotes, and a passel of rockchucks.
A Hornady 165gr BTSP at 2,800fps + from my old Ruger 77 is accurate, deadly, and a good all-around big game load. I'm using my .308 Norma Mag for big game hunting now (for reasons I've stated about a hundred times, so I won't bore you by repeating them here) but I wouldn't feel a bit handicapped if I had to go back to using my old Ruger 77, 30-06. Besides that, I too had a 30-06 Browning Auto for a while, and that same load (IMR 4350 behind a Hdy 165gr BTSP) worked well in it too. The 30-06 Browning Auto I had was gifted to me, and I in turn gifted it to someone else who needed a big game rifle. It's a fine gun.

 

[FROGO207]

I have a set of both Lee and RCBS two die sets. They both have worked wonderfully for years. There are several other propellants that work well in the 30-06 but IMR4350 gives good velocity in all bullet weights you asked about. My best accuracy is the first node and it is just shy of mid range fill. I like CCI LR primers but these days use what you can get. Other propellants for your low range are IMR4064 and H380, on the high end are Ramshot Hunter and H414. Waiting for a range report!
ETA: I also find not crimping my ammo is more accurate.

 

[jmr40]

Right now you'll probably have to use the powder you find, which may be OK, but not ideal. My preferred powder is H4350, but IMR4350 or most anything near that burn rate will work. I've gotten good results with several powders, but my preference for H4350 is due to it's resistance to velocity changes as temperature changes.

Reloder 17 is a good powder with those bullet weights, RL 19 would be good with the 180's, maybe not the best option with 165's. I've found the Alliant powders many times when everything else is sold out. I've gotten good results with Ramshot Hunter. Ramshot BIg Game will probably be OK with 150-165 gr bullets.

IMR4064 is often available and will work, but I like it better with 308. A new powder that may show up on shelves is IMR4451. It should be very close to either 4350.

In addition to the hard copy manual there are many online sources for load data. That is all I use anymore.

30-06 Springfield Load Data - Nosler

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf (ramshot.com)

www.hodgdonreloading.com seems to be down at the moment. That is my go-to source. Hopefully it will be back online soon.

 

[ms6852]

I use two powders not mentioned in your Lyman's manual RL15 and RL17 for 165 grain bullets, the third powder I have used is in your Lyman manual and that is IMR 4064. My rifle likes the RL17 best.

 

[Bayou52]

All good advice here.

I’m an an avid (but strictly amateur) 30-06 target shooter. My range is 100 yards so I don’t load to max but rather stick with mid-level loads. I use 4064 and PP 4000 powder but you may have to use whatever you can get these days. I prefer CCI LR primers but again, it’s whatever you can get.

For accuracy in my 1979 vintage REM 700, I set the bullet to about .020” off the lands and typically shoot 168 grain Nosler Custom Competitions and Sierra Match Kings (I don’t hunt) with no crimp.

I also use the same scope you have and it has excellent clarity.

Pic:



A typical target:



Bayou52

 

[Fishingted]

All good advice here.

I’m an an avid (but strictly amateur) 30-06 target shooter. My range is 100 yards so I don’t load to max but rather stick with mid-level loads. I use 4064 and PP 4000 powder but you may have to use whatever you can get these days. I prefer CCI LR primers but again, it’s whatever you can get.

For accuracy in my 1979 vintage REM 700, I set the bullet to about .020” off the lands and typically shoot 168 grain Nosler Custom Competitions and Sierra Match Kings (I don’t hunt) with no crimp.

I also use the same scope you have and it has excellent clarity.

Pic:Thanks... And Yes I love That Scope I have 2 of them.

View attachment 987198

A typical target:

View attachment 987199

Bayou52

 

[stillquietvoice]

I load for my SIL's 06, gifted to him by me, cause I can't tolerate the recoil after a torn rotator. I've used h4350, I 4350, I 4064, ramshot hunter, and blc2, he reports excellent accuracy.

 

[Flycaster1977]

Dont discount norma upr for 165 and lighter, mpr for heavier. I have had excellent results from both.

 

[Fishingted]

Just ordered my Dies. Gotta start working on getting components now.