Re: help needed for 30-06 loads for long range
I think you're going to find that the .30-'06 is rather an authoritative chambering
The US Government reckoned back when they first adopted it that with a 147-150gr bullet, it was already generating about the maximum recoil that the average healthy American recruit could handle under indefinitely sustained fire.
Where the 168SMK is not effectively supersonic from the .308 at 1000yd, I do believe it could do that trick out of the .30-'06.
Going heavier will generate better ballistics, but I've never been a really big fan of making the ballistics do the heavy lifting in LR marksmanship.
After trying the .30-'06 with 190's at 1000yd F Class, I can tell you true that when that last round goes downrange, there's a large sense of relief not to be getting pounded any more. There's probably no better lesson in the effects of stress and fatigue on match marksmanship than 40-60 rounds prone.
For this reason, I impose a personal limit on bullet weight with the .30-'06 at the 175SMK. It is adequate to the task, and I personally believe that while better ballistcs can cut wind drift, the entire picture needs to include fatigue from added recoil; and that the balance between better ballistics and sustainable marksmanship is by no means a slamdunk in either's favor.
Logically, a marksman with a superior set of windskills should be able to make the 'lesser' ballistics work out in their favor.
Greg