Please check this beginners plan.

[frgood]

Okay, Lets' see what we got here...

I am an old man (54) but a beginner hunter. I am putting together my gear for my first guided Deer hunt this November in S. Carolina where I'm told the average range is 150 yds. I would like to know if these following number are reasonable.

I own a Remington 783 30-06 with a Nikon 3-9 X40 scope. I have practiced with about 100 rounds of factory (Winchester 150 & 180 gr. ) ammo. I have decided to roll my own for the best accuracy (at least for the rifle).

Do the following numbers seems reasonable? (Did I do my homework right?)

• Using the Frankford Arsenal Gauge, I believe my COAL is 3.316
• Going to run a ladder of Nosler BT 180 gr. from 48 - 53 grs of IMR 4064
• Going to run a ladder of Hornady 165 SST - I haven't sorted out the load yet.

It seems the minimum listed velocities (~2200 fps) are far beyond what I need to be effective for deer at 150yds (is the term 'Terminal Velocity'?)

Thoughts?

 

[Art Eatman]

I started reloading for the '06 in 1950. It was my deer cartridge from 1964 onward, with much success.

I stayed pretty much with my original load using any large rifle primer and 4064. I wound up with Sierra bullets, mostly the 150-grain soft point flat base. Sub-MOA in my rifle.

The 150s work just fine on large deer and well on out in the 400- to 500-yard distances.

I always zeroed for 2" high at 100 yards. That's dead on at 200, six inches low at 300. Two feet of drop at 400, four feet at 500 on my home range.

 

[jmr40]

Most bullets need about 1800 fps at impact in order to expand. Plus all of my sources show about 2600 and 2500 fps for 165 and 180 gr bullets as the minimum starting loads, going too slow can be just as dangerous as too fast. 2200 fps at the muzzle may not translate to 1800 fps at 150 yards. I find best accuracy with enough powder to fill the case so powder stays in the same position. Too little and you get inconsistent ignition of the powder.

My sources say 45.5 of IMR4064 is the starting load for 180's with 48.7 as a max load. According to my sources you are planning to start at near a max load and 53gr would be too hot. I'm showing 49-52.5 gr as the range for 165's.

Typical factory loads will have a 180 at around 2700 fps and 165's at around 2800 fps. I'd be working toward loads near those speeds, and with 4064 you should find a very accurate load at that point.

30-06 is one of those rounds loaded very conservatively at the factory since it is possible to load the ammo in 100+ year old rifles. You can easily and safely load it at least 100-150 fps faster than typical factory loads in modern rifles. For your goals you don't need to do that. But there is no reason to buy a 30-06 and shoot it at 300 Savage speeds either.

 

[frgood]

I am glad I asked. You are so right. I went back to my Lee Loading guide and I definitely misread. I too the numbers from the 165 gr. Jacketed and applied it to my 180 Nosler bullet.

The 180 grain Jacketed Bullet (Lee) for IMR 4064 reads:
Start: 45.5 gr Never Exceed: 48.5 Min. OAL 3.290.

That would have been more than a goof. So now I know - Double checking is not enough. Read, reread, and reread again.

with such a narrow window I am thinking I should build a ladder at .3 grain. Does this sound reasonable?

1) 45.5
2) 45.8
3) 46.1
4) 46.4
5) 46.7
6) 47.0
7) 47.3

 

[hoghunting]

1) 45.5
2) 45.8
3) 46.1
4) 46.4
5) 46.7
6) 45.0
7) 45.3

Guessing you meant:

6) 47.0
7) 47.3

 

[frgood]

Yes. Thank you for catching that.

 

[Art Eatman]

Some years back I went to meddling with the Sierra 180-grain SPBT in my '06. 54.0 grains of H414. At my front-porch bench rest, the first three shots were 0.4 MOA.

So I dug out more ammo and moved to the 500-yard table. All Sierra: 150-grain SPBT, 165-grain HPBT and the 180s.

Surprisingly, the trajectories were almost identical. Same aiming point, with the groups all within four or five inches of each other.

I had two called flyers from ten shots with the 180s. Eight rounds into a six-inch group. Fairly quick rate of fire, for me. Single loading of each round but as soon as I had the sight picture, Bang. I figured that wasn't bad for an Olde Phart coffee-drinker/cigarette smoker.

All in all, though, for basic deer hunting inside of 300 yards, a book's starter load with a 150 would be all anybody would ever need. (My own opinion, obviously. )

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I've owned a 30-06 since 1972, currently have 5. Been reloading for them since 1976. Long ago settled on 57gr 4350 and a 180gr Nosier partition. There are few absolutes in life, but for me that load is one. From little blacktails to 1500 lb moose, I pull the trigger and they go down.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

My advice is this: Pick a load,and practice. Be able to consistently hit an 8 inch paper plate at 150 yards. The rest is mental "you know what" and belongs in the reloading section.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your hunting trip!
Dr. Sandman

 

[MtnCreek]

Be careful. You've made a couple mistakes here, which are free, but they can get costly fast when actually loading / firing. I've mistakenly used 130gr 7RM data for 140gr bullets; figured it out prior to shooting any.

Lee manual uses the powder manufacturers data. You can go to Hodgdon's website and get the same data. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
From there, select your cartridge, powder (IMR4064) and bullet weight(s) and print it. There will be more specific info without the lines of data for other powders / bullet weights that you have no use for. Before loading, confirm all info on the printout matches all the components you'll be using. Only have the powder / bullet on the bench that you're loading at that time. It's easy to get confused or make minor mistakes so come up with a plan to limit your exposure to the. I've been known to walk into a room in my house, stop and wonder what the heck did I come in here for??? so I try to simplify my loading as best I can... FWIW, 165gr bullet is about perfect for SE whitetail. JMHO.

 

[stiab]

At = or < 150 yards I doubt your reloading efforts will provide much improvement over $25 a box factory ammo for that caliber and that rifle.

 

[Patocazador]

At = or < 150 yards I doubt your reloading efforts will provide much improvement over $25 a box factory ammo for that caliber and that rifle.

Probably not much difference, I agree but if the OP is a long-time reloader, it's really his call.

South Carolina deer are not large and any good bullet of 150 gr. plus is more than adequate. I would shoot the most accurate combo.

 

[stiab]

I agree but if the OP is a long-time reloader, it's really his call.

Perhaps I misunderstood, sounded to me like the OP was new to reloading.

 

[frgood]

I am new to reloading. It has been only a year. about 4000 rounds of .40.

I got a batch of about 100 rounds ready to work on my accuracy. If it goes well, I will practice all summer with load load in hopes of next hunting season.

 

[FL-NC]

A 30-06 even shooting mild factory 150 grain ammunition is more than efficient for any beast in the Palmetto State, and most other critters in the lower 48, especially for the distance you described- assuming your rifle likes them and your skill is up to par. My main deer rifle is a 243 shooting 100 grain winchester power points and it has never let me down, for comparison sake.