Powder To Base .30-06 Hunting Load On?

[otisrush]

I have a good friend, who is not a reloader but a very experienced hunter and shooter, who got a great deal on .30-06 hunting rifle. He said he'd be interested in us working together to find a good load for this gun. I think it was on this board someone say "Only shoot what you've seen being loaded." So I told him I'd be happy to help - but he needs to be involved.

Is there a mainstream .30-06 powder that people would recommend starting with? I don't shoot or load .30-06 so I'm not familiar with the powders most frequently used. I load H335 in my .223 - and I've gotten the impression that that is an extremely common, mainstream, very popular .223 powder. I'm kind of looking for the equivalent idea for .30-06. I mean "equivalent" conceptually - meaning the powder that many/most recognize as a very popular powder for this caliber.

In general I try to stay with ball powders as I have a Uniflow and ball powders work so well in Uniflows that's what I tend to stay with. But that being said - assuming we make low volumes of rounds - weighing every charge may be in order in any event.

Any recommendations pop to peoples' minds?

Thanks.

OR

 

[rg1]

The old standard for bolt rifle 30-06 loads for bullets up to 165 grains has always been IMR 4350. Heavier bullets from 180 grains up the old standard is IMR 4831. Today there are many powders suitable for 30-06 but the two IMR powders are hard for me be even interested to experiment or change. Check your manuals for bullet weights and powders used for the bullet weights that your friend intends to shoot most. IMR 4064 is a popular powder and works well up to the 150 gr. weights. Win 760 and H414 are often used along with Alliant Reloder 17 and 19. I still recommend IMR 4350 and IMR 4831 for hunting loads and data is available in about every manual with about every bullet weight for 30-06. IMR 4350 is your "H335 in .223 Rem." as far as the old standard. Now this is for bolt action rifles.

 

[kyhunter]

Maybe not a mainstream powder but you might look into ramshot big game and or ramshot hunter. Both are ball powders and are competitively priced. I've had excellent luck with ramshot hunter with heavier bullets in the 165-190 grain range.

 

[Savage99]

You must start with the bullet weight.

After that's selected choose a powder.

I loaded up some for the 30-06 today with 155's over RL 15 and and Varget.

 

[oldreloader]

165 grain bullets are my favorite in 30-06. I have good luck with both IMR 4350 & IMR 4064

 

[gamestalker]

I don't load a bunch of 30-06 these days, but there are lots of good powders I've used. IMR-4350 is probably the one I've used the most, and it is a good shooter IMO. How ever, RL17, 19, and 22 all offer great performance also.

Take a gander over at Alliant and Hodgdon for some idea's. It will also allow you to make some comparisons regarding bullet weights and velocities with various powders. My over all recommendation is to use the slower burning powders.

Depending on what type of hunting, deer for example, 155 gr. - 165 gr. is going to offer a good velocity for distances out to 400 yards, IMO.

GS

 

[ElevenBravo]

I use IMR 4350 for my 300 WSM and have had excellent results.

 

[Eb1]

IMR 4350, IMR 4064 (depending on what bullet)

The .30-06 can use about any medium to slow burning powder. Pick a bullet you want to shoot, and see what their manual suggests.

 

[readyeddy]

IMR 4350 capped with Sierra 2160 works for me.

 

[Bart B.]

What's the main objecctive; accuracy or speed?

Medium speed powders give best accuracy; IMR 4895 with 150's, IMR4064 with 160 to 190 grain bullets. With 200's, use IMR4350.

Slower powders get fastest velocities with all bullet weights; IMR4350, IMR4831.

Ball powder has poor accuracy compared to extruded powders.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Ball powder has poor accuracy compared to extruded powders.

That's probably a true statement in general, however I would NOT be that general with the statement I've had some very accurate ball powder loads that I just couldn't manage to recreate the level of accuracy with extruded. Of course every rifle is different.

 

[TimSr]

IMR4350 has alway been my go to for 30-06 for 150-200gr bullets. It gave me great accurracy, and the best velocities. Last time I needed some, I could't find any, and bought RE17 with similar results.

 

[The Bushmaster]

For bullets weighing 165 grains or heavier use Hodgdon H4831SC.

 

[Eb1]

Probably the 'secrete' powder would be H4831SC, and oddly enough I have seen that a lot lately, but it seems to come and go, and when gone it's gone for a while.
I have tried RL-19 in my .25-06, and it is okay. IMR4350 has been the best so far, but the comment

Ball powder has poor accuracy compared to extruded powders

has to be taken with a grain of salt. The most accurate loading in my .25-06 is the factory Winchester Supreme 115 grain Silver Tip, and that cartridge uses Win780 which is a ball powder.
Also, in my .223 RL-15 is fast (not the most accurate), BLC-2 and H335 are the most accurate, and in my 30-30 for 170 grain BLC-2 is best. For 150 grain H4895 is best. For 125 grain FNHP either IMR3031 or VV N120, and for the 110 grain HPFN it is H335 of BLC-2 again. Now a full load of H335 and a 110 grain Half-Jacket FNHP out of a 20" 30-30 carbine is smoking fast. It is almost scary with velocities near 2600 fps.

See what the bullet manufacturer recommends for the bullet you are choosing to use. And I say this, and would bet my bottom dollar on it. Primers make a world of difference with accuracy. Try and use what the recipe calls for, and if you don't get the accuracy you are looking for then try something else.
Also, remember if you are looking for hunting accuracy then you have more room for larger groups. Instead of shooting .5" at 100 yards every now and then, if you get a consistent 1.25" group at 100 yards then you have a good hunting load. That's my opinion, and your are good out to 400 yards with that load to ethically take a deer sized animal.

 

[sage5907]

I shoot a 30-06 at least once a week. If you are just getting into loading for a 30-06 I would suggest you start with 150 grain bullets. A good choice would be the 150 grain Sierra Gameking boattail. This bullet goes into the case easily and is very accurate. Set the seating depth so the base of the bullet is flush to the back of the case neck. If you have a micrometer the overall cartridge length would be 3.210. When you begin loading a powder it is best to load about 3 grains below the desired hunting load and work up in 1 grain increments and check for pressure signs to make sure your rifle can handle the loads. This is also to make sure you're not making a mistake measuring the powder. With the 150 grain Sierra boattail I use 3 loads. 57 grains of IMR 4350, 51 grains of IMR 4064 with a magnum primer, and my favorite load is 57 grains of Reloader 17. You won't be disappointed with any of these loads, and since the velocities are similar they have almost the same point of impact at 200 yards. Don't ask me why, but the IMR 4350 has the heaviest recoil and the IMR 4064 has the least recoil. Go figure. These loads are for bolt action rifles.

 

[mdi]

I have used IMR 4064 for my 30-06 loads quite a bit using 150-168 gr. bullets (and I've seen 4064 available online and at a gun shop). IMR4895 also works well with most bullet weights and IMR4350 and Reloader 19 for heavier bullets (200-220 gr.). I also use the same powder, IMR4064, in my .308 Winchester. Varget, and W748 too, but I have little of those and I have better uses for them...

 

[The Bushmaster]

I might add that I'm getting 1 5/8" three shot groups a 200 yards with a 165 gr BTHP Sierra out of a Browning A-bolt using 59 grains of H4831SC at 2725 fps

 

[judgedelta]

I like the Sierra Gameking boat-tail hollow point in 165, with Reloader 15 or IMR 4895, in that order.

 

[ReloaderFred]

For .30-06 in my hunting rifle, I use one bullet, the Hornady 165 gr. BTSP, and one powder, IMR 4320. These are being fired through by 1969 manufactured Browning BAR, and have taken everything from ground squirrels to elk with that load. The load will shoot little small groups and performs well on game. I can't ask for more than that.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Sunray]

A 165(which one really makes no difference) with any suitable powder(21 currently listed on Hodgdon's site. H335 is one of 'em.) your buddy's rifle shoots best will kill any game he cares to hunt. Partial to IMR4064 myself. The best starting powder is the one given for the accuracy load in your manual though.

 

[Laphroaig]

The 30-06 is a caliber that many powders work for. Everybody has a favorite and none of them are bad choices. But to pick one?

I've loaded 5 different powders in my M70 generally with 165 and 180 gr. projectiles for big game. With 4 of the powders my rifle was 1 1/2 moa, at best. Then, while chronographing some loads with 180 gr. partitions for an upcoming moose hunt I tried some H4831 that I had bought because I couldn't find IMR 4831.

Bingo, about 3/4 moa in a 5 shot group. Not the highest velocity but with that accuracy I was willing to compromise. And it only took me 40+ years to find the sweet spot.

So try a bunch of powders and pick the one that is best.

Laphroaig

 

[jmr40]

It's hard to go wrong using either H4350 or IMR4350 with 150-180 gr bullets. I get ever so slightly more speed with the IMR version. Accuracy is the same, but H4350 is more resistant to temperature swings thus is my preference.

 

[PJSprog]

I've had success in my rifle with both H4350 and H4895. I prefer the H4895, myself, as it seems to be less punishing on my shoulder.

 

[Gtscotty]

4350 has worked great in all 3 '06s I've loaded for... I used to use the IMR variety, but switched to H4350 for temperature stability. I load 165 and 180 gr bullets (I really like game kings) and both weights get good velocity and accuracy with H4350.

 

[NWcityguy2]

The classic powders are 4350, 4895 and 4064, but there is a big long list of powders that work in the 30-06. Generally though, if he is going to buy one powder specifically for 30-06 and not use it for anything else, H4350 makes a strong case because of having almost zero velocity change with temp. Work a load up in summer, have it shoot the same in winter. Or develop the load in winter and not get sticky extraction when shooting it in summer after the ammo has sat in your truck all afternoon.