What's your favorite powder for your 147g/150g/M80 plinking loads in 30-06?

[falldowngoboom]

I recently bought a huge batch of M80 pulls, and I figured everyone likes polls, so...

I prefer Varget, but since it's so tough to find, I'm gonna do some new workups to find a substitute, starting with Reloader 15.

 

[MountainBear]

I've been very happy reloading my .30-06 with IMR-4064. I am loading slightly heavier projectiles, but the perceived recoil is very good with the loads I built up with this powder.

--Bear

 

[Galil5.56]

Because I had a bunch of H335 for reloading .223, I worked up some 06 loads with 147 FMJ BT for use in a Winchester 1917 with nice results. Although not to original velocity spec, 49.5 grains got an avg 3001 fps with very good consistency. No pressure problems noted in MY rifle, and fun as hell to plink with. Same charge weight of AA2460 and components got 2999 fps. I used this AA2460 in this application as well because I also use it in .223 with very good results.

Load density is pretty low with these propellants in 06, but the consistent numbers don't seem to care, and it's nice to have very good metering "dual use" propellants that perform well.

 

[steve4102]

Other, Ramshot BigGame.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO you should have left Varget off the poll since you said you were looking for a substitute for Varget.

Both 4895 and 4064 will be good powders for use in the 30-06 with that weight bullet.

 

[falldowngoboom]

Yeah, I know, but I was also curious to see what the lay of the land is, as it were. Thought others might as well...

Off to the range today! Might end up using some of the powders suggested if RL15 don't agree with my gun.

 

[falldowngoboom]

Well RL15 gave me just over 2 MOA with the M80 pulls, which isn't too bad considering how non-uniformed the bullets are (different ogives, 1 grain weight variations, etc.)

Also ended up working some RL15 loads with Nosler 168g match bullets and was VERY impressed. Probably the best groups I've ever worked up in this gun. Will see if I can duplicate it, haha.

Groups were 5 shots each. Group 4 would've been a 0.4" group without the stray and group 2, 0.5" without its stray. Not bad for a budget hunting rifle that's not free floated or bedded.

 

[USSR]

I'm presently loading 49.0gr of surplus IMR4895 behind 144gr FMJBT pulls in .30-06.

Don

 

[Sport45]

It's been IMR4320 for me. But once that's gone I'll be using AA2495.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

falldowngoboom,
Did you get any velocity reading when you tested that ammo? It looks like you had the best success with 50.0gr RL15.

With a 147/150gr bullet I've been loading 47.5gr IMR4895 or 46.0gr H4895.

 

[falldowngoboom]

ArchAngel,

Unfortunately, I don't have a chrony. I'll prob retest 50.0 and 51.0g to see which is best.

I'm debating whether to try another powder (prob 4895) for the M80 pulls or just stick with the 2 MOA I'm getting for RL15. There's enough variation in the bullets such that I'm not sure I can expect much better anyway. Seating depth has been varying as much as 0.02" because of differing ogives. You can even tell sometimes just by looking at two bullets side by side. At $0.12/bullet, though, I'm not complaining!

 

[Offfhand]

Why wasn't IMR 4759 listed. It's a top choice for plinking loads with '06, especially with cast bullets.

 

[falldowngoboom]

The poll was meant to be for full speed plinking loads with FMJ bullets, but I guess I didn't specify that.

 

[Offfhand]

Sorry, didn't read carefully enough. But on the subject, I would think that an inexpensive powder would be a good choice for plinking loads. A while back Widners Reloading was selling surplus IMR 4895 at a very good price. Can't remember the price but it was too good to pass up. Worth checking to see if they still have it.

 

[BsChoy]

I voted other as my rifle likes IMR 4064 but, Varget would be next as the results were almost identical.

 

[falldowngoboom]

I may end up giving that a go since 4064 seems to be the only powder I can find in stock (8lb jugs) online. I'm a bit worried about trying a surplus powder since I don't have a chrony.

 

[BsChoy]

Its hard to go wrong with 4064...I load 49.5 grains behind nosler 155gr comp hpbt's...really nice groups from the bench

 

[USSR]

A while back Widners Reloading was selling surplus IMR 4895 at a very good price. Can't remember the price but it was too good to pass up. Worth checking to see if they still have it.

$78 per 8# cannister. Couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough. Been gone for atleast 3 years now, and there is no more USGI M2 ball ammo to break down to get more.

Don

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A while back Widners Reloading was selling surplus IMR 4895 at a very good price. Can't remember the price but it was too good to pass up. Worth checking to see if they still have it.

Widerer's did have 8 lb jugs of RG4895 for $109 which wasn't a great price but it was better than the $137 price tag on IMR4895. Unfortunately they no longer have it in stock...

 

[Brimic]

Imr 4895.