Powder Choices For 30.06

[Jmurman]

I am buying some powder for my two rifles. I have a Garand and a 30.06 Rem 700 BDL.

I'm new to reloading and have my set up complete. I'm thinking that I'll order IMR 4895 for my Garand.

I don't know which way to go for the Remmy though. I'll be using 165gr Sierras and would like to play with some of those Nosler plastic tip rounds.

Any thoughts on powder choices?

 

[BsChoy]

For the 165's Varget will probably cut it pretty well and the 4895 should be good too but you'd probably want to look at 4350 either Hodgdon or IMR or Reloder 19...I want to dabble in Reoder but Varget is working so good for my 150 SST's I don't want to change. 30-06 is easy to load for and alot of powders cut it well...oh IMR 4064 is great too

 

[Lennyjoe]

My Savage 110 absolutely loves 165gr Sierra Gameking and 57.5gr of IMR 4350. Its an uber accurate round.

 

[critter]

I agree. Be sure to try the IMR 4895 but the IMR 4350 will probably give the best accuracy as well as a very good velocity. My '06 as well as the .300 Win loves it.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Try some Varget and/or H4350 in the bolt gun. I've had great luck with near-max loads and 168gr Nosler J4s in a 1903A3. Shoots well enough to put many fancier, more expensive and newer rifles to shame.

BTW, KEEP THE H4350 WELL AWAY FROM THE M-1!!! She will NOT take the abuse for too long. Stick to H4895 or IMR-4895 in the ol' warhorse.

 

[P-32]

For bolt guns I would agree IMR 4350 is hard to beat......just don't use it in your M-1. IMR 4895 or IMR 4064 would work well for it. My '06 M-1 seems to like the IMR 4064 a little better.

If you want just one powder for both IMR 4064 would be the one to look at. I use all 3 in one way or another.

 

[GunDog44]

The Varget powder is very versatile for a number of calibers. I have settled on Varget for both the 30-06 and .308 for bolt action. Very accurate and consistant. You will like it.

For my gas operated rifles (m14 & M1) I use 4895 with good results.

But part of the fun of reloading is to find your pet load :banghead:

 

[Sunray]

"...seems to like the IMR 4064 a little better..." The .30-06 is more consistently accurate with IMR4064 than IMR4895 with most bullet weights in any rifle. Especially with 168 grain match bullets and 165 grain hunting bullets. Load for the bullet weight, not the manufacturer of said bullet. Plus you must full length resize, everytime, for the M-1, but you can neck size only for the 700. However, if you, like myself, use the same brass for both a bolt action and your M-1, you'll have to full length resize when you change loads. You'd have to do it even if you had two bolt actions.
Jmurman. Your M-1 was designed to use .30 M1 ammo with its 174.5 grain bullet, not the .30 M2 ammo's 152 grain bullet and that the M2 ammo used in W.W. II was at 2800fps. Anybody who tells you that you must use 150 grain bullets only in an M-1 is confused. In the 30 some years I've had my M-1, I've never once seen nor heard of any rifle being damaged in any way by the ammo alone until I first got on the net. The couple of boxes of 220 grain Silvertips I fired out of mine didn't bother it a bit. Not a steady diet of 'em, but they didn't hurt my rifle. Lighter bullets do give less felt recoil though. But load for accuracy.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Tried Varget (use it for my 22-250) and wasn't impressed. Cant beat the 2350 load I have for the Savage. Average is 2950fps with the 165gr bullet. Plenty of velocity out of a 22" barrel.

 

[shenck]

Right now I'm an IMR 4350 fan.

 

[00-Guy]

Surplus IMR

Check Widiners for their surplus 4895. (Maybe think about the Yugo 147 bullets and reload M1 ball like loads)

 

[dan bucks]

I've had excellent results with IMR4064 and 150gr FMJBT bullets in my M1. BTW, IMR4064 and 170gr to 180gr bullets is also an excellent combination for reloads used in my 8mm mausers.

 

[Ranger J]

Reloader 7 & 15 do well in my two 06s. I use the 7 for lighter loads and the 15 for a little more ump. Both will operate my 742 with 150G bullets.
RJ

 

[temmi]

I have used IMR 4350 & IMR 4064, for my 150 & 155 Gr rounds... They are both great in mt 700 BDL... I perfer IMR 4350