Loads for 30-06

[GhostFace]

I think I may have found a damn good load with H4350. 55.8 grains in a Winny case made several groups in the .3s & .4s. Either my chrony was wrong or I have a really fast lot because i was expecting a loss of at least 50 fps but the chrony read 2800 on average. I'm inclined to believe because the POI was the same as my RL22 loads. Now I need to test on paper at 360 yards to confirm it is THE load for this rifle. If it is then I'm done with RL-22.

ETA I am using 190 grn. CCs

 

[vinconco]

Ladder test 185 Berger H4350

30-06 26" Rock Creek 5R 11.25 twist
185 Berger LR BT #30418
52 - 58.5 gr. H4350
Fed 210M
WW brass fully prepped
bullet .020 off lands COAL 3.436

28.23 station pressure
35 degrees
50% RH

Wind 0-5 mph 3 oclock

Range 420 yards

The velocities were from a PACT infrared chrono w/18" spacing

Scope had 7 moa dialed in at the start of the test

Shot #14 58.5 gr expanded the case head .001 , bolt lift was good, no ejector marks, primer slightly flattened.

I then settled of 57.5 grains and fired a 5 shot group at the same range which printed 33" low with a 100 yd zero (+.2"). I verified the velocities using the Litz Point Mass Solver and the Vortex Long Range Ballistic Calculator and not surprisingly the velocity was actually 2706 FPS. SO MUCH FOR CHRONOGRAPHS.

 

[trauma1]

Tag 30-06

 

[vinconco]

30-06 26" Rock Creek 5R 11.25 twist

Fired "Round Robin"

 

[vinconco]

The COAL measurement is actually the ogive measurement using a Stoney Point gauge.

 

[GhostFace]

Good work Vinconco! I'm just curious but what chamber do you have?

 

[vinconco]

Good work Vinconco! I'm just curious but what chamber do you have?

Not sure exactly what you mean but it's a 06 of course. I did have it throated to accept the 208 Amax without pushing them down into the case. Other than that its a standard chamber.

 

[gewehr]

168 berger hunting vld
Lapua brass
54 gr r17 2850 fps
CCI magnum primer

 

[Otto72]

tag

 

[Weaselthis]

Tag 4 me!

Bartlien 1-10 twist barrel (M24 contour) 25" from the lug.

53.9 Grains H4350
3.434 COAL
Fed Brass
Fed 210 Primer
208 Amax

2700+ fps

Really consistent load and it hammers, my most accurate load to date.

 

[GhostFace]

I just wanted to share this with my fellow '06 shooters. I recieved two boxes of HSM 190 match ammo. I shot the first box at the range a couple of days ago. I didn't take the chrony as there was still about knee high snow there and plus I didn't feel like messing with it. I will wait for it to warm up before I clock these loads. When I first got this rifle I found a good load using a Winny case, WMR primer, 60 grains of RL-22 and a 190CC. These rounds clock 2850 FPS from a 22 inch 1/10 Rock at around 50 degrees (I think,I don't have my notes in front of me). The day I shot the HSM 190 match rounds it was 38 degrees and I only shot this box at 100 just for an accuracy test. All my shots with the HSM shot about four inches low and an inch right of my reloads. HSM advertises this load to clock 2600 FPS, I'd say it's about right there. I didn't take a camera with me but four five round goups all around .80 MOA. All the groups shot touching each other but it was a horizontal spread. I was wondering what kind of powder HSM used in this load so I disected a round and thought I would post the pics, here goes:

The Box....

It uses a Winchester case...

COAL...

The charge is a short cut powder, kinda looks like one of the Reloader powders...maybe RL-22?

A close up of the powder...

The 190 SMK on the left and the 190 Nosler CC on the right...

All in all I'd say it's about the only option for a heavy weight factory round for the '06 and I would bet it's safe to shoot in a M1 but I wouldn't shoot a whole lot unless you have a modified gas sytem. When it warms up I will post some pics of the groups and have some speeds for those who are interested.

 

[ArmyJerry]

53.4 H 4350, Win Case, SMK 190, book length, shooting one ragged hole, Savage 110, CBI bull barrel, originally a 300 wm, rechambered by Larry Racine, 25 1/2 inch with badger brake.

 

[ArmyJerry]

Is anyone shooting the 178 AMAX with IMR 4064? Have a bunch of both, thinking about trying this combo, shooting through a 25.5 inch bull 1-10 twist with a standard chamber, using winbrass.

 

[GhostFace]

Jerry, I think 53.4 maybe a low node. I tested some loads yesterday with LC brass and I was getting a 1 hole group with 53.4 and again at 55.9. 53.4 gave 2655 FPS on average and 55.9 2780 FPS from a 22.5 inch barrel.

 

[ArmyJerry]

Thanks GF

Jerry, I think 53.4 maybe a low node. I tested some loads yesterday with LC brass and I was getting a 1 hole group with 53.4 and again at 55.9. 53.4 gave 2655 FPS on average and 55.9 2780 FPS from a 22.5 inch barrel.

 

[ArmyJerry]

Wondering why the 180 SMK is not used much? Any reason I should know before I try them out?

 

[oregon700]

I just got through a box of 100 168 gr SMK that shot great until it hit 1000yds, it then went transonic and tumbled, but at 100yd .375" 3 shot groups with a factory 700 ADL, I was very happy to say the least. I was loading 57.5 gr H-4350, Rem brass, Win Large Rifle primers, 3.300 Coal, the load was a bit hot and threw them out at 2860fps. Since they started to tumble at 1000, but shot good out to 800, I recently bought a box of 168gr Beger target VLD's and will soon have a load with the Bergers soon. With the Bergers I'm starting with a 3.400" Coal, my lands are at 3.535", but I am only on the boat-tail at that point, so I backed it off some. If anyone has any info on how I should find a good Coal, because I can't be near my lands, it would be much appreciated.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Oregon 700,

Your 168gr load at 2,860ft/s is not "hot". I can get 168gr SMKs almost that fast from an M1A...a .308 semi-auto.

If you want to stick with your 168SMK load, you are at least 1.0-1.5gr below your high node (high velocity with accuracy).

With a 30-06, you should be able to get 168gr bullets past 3,000ft/s without pressure signs, unless you have some freakish match chamber w a small throat...which you don't by the description of your rifle.

For reference, I am launching 185gr Bergers at 2,900ft/s at my accuracy node (57.5gr H-4350)...i did not see pressure signs (flattened primers, even at 2,970ft/s, 58.5gr H-4350).

 

[oregon700]

What length barrel you running? I actually was planing on getting 185gr Bergers, but could not find them anywhere and was eventually persuaded to get 168s do to the velocity difference. With the SMK's, my primers where getting fairly flatted. Have you ever tried 210gr Bergers? The 210gr is the first bullet I wanted to play with, but I first want to find a load that I can have on standby. Thanks for the info, I'm still new to reloading and am trying to be a sponge.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

I have just gotten some 230 Bergers to try out in my new 30.06 Ackley Improved. We put a 32" barrel on it, and I'm thinking RL-22 will be one of my first powders to try. I chose the 230's after reading Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistics, in which he has a list of bullet diameter/ weights that are optimal---I forget what made them so, have to re-read that section, but the .308 was optimal at 229gr-----we'll see, wont we?

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Oregon,

I believe it was 3.349"OAL which translates to 35thousands off the lands. That's the key thing to remember...distance off the lands. Don't worry too much about the OAL as long as you are not jammed.

Some propose starting with bullet jam...i personally dont like the idea...nothing wrong with it, but not my thing.

The Bergers (at least the VLDs) like to jump or be jammed...I choose to jump as you can obtain higher velocities (better wind-bucking at longer ranges).

I have a line on some 210Bergers...I should be getting them in sometime this week. I have some 208AMAXs along with 1lb each of RL-17 & H-4831sc on hand, and i'll start my testing there.

SniperUncle,

Please post your results here or in the reloading section...I'm curious to see what a 32" -06 can accomplish. My tube is only 26".

 

[Sniper Uncle]

I will, TX. I have all ready used RL-50 in my 338LM with a 34" barrel, and am quite impressed with the results.
Calculations show that we should achieve about 2750FPS with the 230's on the 32" barrel---at the high accuracy node. Better velocity can be achieved, but may not be as accurate---you know how that can be. I can't wait to see the real results versus the calculations. The real results with the 338LM are very close to what the calculations showed. That is actually what got me going on the 30.06 AI build.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Ah, an -06AI...i c what u did there.

 

[GhostFace]

Wondering why the 180 SMK is not used much? Any reason I should know before I try them out?

I always read they were inferior to the 175 and 190 because of the boat tail design, they go transonic a lot earlier than the others. I would look into the 178 BTHP from Hornady if you want to try something different. It has a BC of .530...

 

[trailrider121]

I loading up some 190 VLD's and my current load using Ramshot Hunter is not working to well. I have some Reloader 22 and was going to try it out. I do have some H4350, however about 1lb of it. Just curious of those who have use or using RL-22 in 30-06.

 

[Ken6881]

Here is my first loading of some nosler custom competetion 190gr with 53gr of h4831 .010 off the lands. each brass, bullet, and powder all within .1grans. Have a latter test planned but needed something to get me on target with this remington 700 adl.

target 1 sorry for all the mess on it small holes up and left are 223 just playing with the ar. the 5 holes to the right of bullseye are winchester 150gr hunting loads. with no change to the scope the three holes at the bottom of the target are the loads mentioned at the top of this post

same holes covered with a penny

same load at 200yds

and thats where i ran out of 53 grain loads. and for what its worth this is the best group i have ever shot, and only bolt action gun i have ever owned. The stock barrel is free floated and i added 2.85lb of weight to help with recoil. otherwise its a bone stock 700 adl with a cheap 4-16 bsa scope.

 

[campx]

Just started working up a load for my bone-stock Ruger American. I won it, as a second place prize, in a Big Buck contest last fall. Threw some 3-hole Weaver Tactical rings on it, scoped it out with a Bushnell Elite Tactical 10x.
Berger 185gr hunting VLD, Winchester brass, COAL 3.34". Reloader22, started at 55 grains, worked up to 59.5 grains with no pressure signs, 2715 fps, about 60degreesF here today. Gonna stuff some more powder in it tilI see pressure, then back it off.

 

[GhostFace]

Just for shits and grins I loaded up some 190s over IMR4064 in a Hornady case and boy was it a surprise! I started at 46.0 and that's what I used for sighting in. These loads are so much slower than my others the drop was way off from my zero. The first two rounds are on the lower left square and the other three I zeroed. I shot the loads using the OCW method and I don't think any are too much outside the OCW but obviously the 46.3 charge was dead nuts on. It clocked 2585 FPS and the numbers were extremely consistent, ES 10 SD 5. The sun came out and my chrony started acting funny so I could not get any accurate numbers except for three more from the different charges. The fastest ended up in the 47.0 with one reading at 2637 fps. The recoil was so soft I could shoot these all day long but it really turns the '06 into a .308 at these velocities.

The shots in #7 was form another rifle...

 

[trailrider121]

Ghoseface,

Looks good, an thanks for sharing. The target is hard to read though. Try some cardboard in the middle between target and plywood.

 

[SPAK]

12 shot group at 100 yards.

Ramshot hunter 55.5gr fed 210m Lapua brass 208 amax seated .020" off the lands. Brass fired 11x.

26" brux 1:10 2640fps


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ArmyJerry]

I have 1k of 155 CC, anyone shoot these using IMR 4350? I am using Win brass, any favorite loads out here?

 

[Boxcar]

Does anyone have any reduced loads for the 30-06? My father likes to plink with his. And I'm trying to find some reduced loads for him. Shooting out to 200 yards So I'm not worried about anything going Trans-sonic.

I've got some
155 amax loaded in front of 49.2gr of Blc-2

Just looking for some more ideas.
Thanks

 

[trailrider121]

Here's some reduced loads:

Does anyone have any reduced loads for the 30-06? My father likes to plink with his. And I'm trying to find some reduced loads for him. Shooting out to 200 yards So I'm not worried about anything going Trans-sonic.

I've got some
155 amax loaded in front of 49.2gr of Blc-2

Just looking for some more ideas.
Thanks

 

[ArmyJerry]

Went out and tested the win brass and 155 CC's tonight/today, I found one hole nodes at 59.0, 59.2 , IMR 4350. Fired through a savage 110 with a CBI bull barrel 25 " long with a 10 twist.

 

[Boxcar]

Thank you trailrider.

 

[Nathan11B]

Am I crazy to think that the -06 could be shot in competitions? Maybe I'm plain nuts lol!

 

[vinconco]

Am I crazy to think that the -06 could be shot in competitions? Maybe I'm plain nuts lol!

In F-Class you will be shooting in OPEN class. That puts you at somewhat of a disadvantage with other Open class calibers.

 

[vinconco]

Does anyone have any reduced loads for the 30-06? My father likes to plink with his. And I'm trying to find some reduced loads for him. Shooting out to 200 yards So I'm not worried about anything going Trans-sonic.

You might try cast bullets w/ gas checks. I worked up some nice accurate loads years ago in the 1500 to 2000 fps range.

 

[Nathan11B]

In F-Class you will be shooting in OPEN class. That puts you at somewhat of a disadvantage with other Open class calibers.

Was thinking more along the lines of Practical/Tactical competitions.

 

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Tested some PP4000MR with 208Amax yesterday. New 26" Criterion "Rem-Age" SS, 1/10, 4 groove barrel, varmint profile. Short throated, my 208Amax only measured 3.388 to the lands, testing OAL was at 3.368". All loads using once fired Rem Brass, annealed, and flash hole uniformed, CCI BR primers. 75degF 40% RH, 4000MR loads ranged from 53.4gr to 58gr. NO pressure signs at any time. All loads were compressed. Preliminary OCW testing conditions were less than perfect, intermittent sun/shade on the chrono, and 15mph gusts halfway to the 200yd targets. 53.4-2598, 53.6-2613*53.8-2634, 54-2645, 54.3-2663, 54.5-2675*54.8-2702, 55.1-2753, Sun on chrono from here out, 55.4-2714*55.7-2707, 56-2741, 56.3-2749, 56.6-2813, 56.9-2770, 57.1-2784*57.4-2794, 57.7-2787, 58-2822. Potential accuracy nodes are denoted by an asterisk between the charge weights. Too early to tell, but nodes showed MOA and better potential. Also noteworthy, 178gr Hdy hpbt achieved 2940fps over 59gr H4350, 3 shots 1.25moa, in same rifle.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Could you list your charge weights & corresponding velocities one per line rather than in a run-on format?

For instance

53.6-2613
53.8-2634

Also, how many shots did you take per charge node?

Could you upload pictures of the groups for review and comment?

 

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Actually, I don't know how to list the velocities one per line. One shot per charge node, and there are no pictures of the groups.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Cullkillin,

Listing charge weights one per line is accomplished by hitting "enter" button on your key pad after you finishing typing the information.

A couple of things:

1. You did not really perform an OCW...at least not according to the instructions. OCW depends on firing multiple shots (no less than 3, but ideally 5 shots) so that you can pic from three consecutive charge weights with the same POI. The scatter nodes will then be 3% above and below the center of that charge weight.

2. Since you only fired one shot per charge weight, I don't understand how you can make statements about "MOA potential"...again, you need multiple shots in order to evaluate the accuracy/precision of the shot group. That said, OCW is not about group size. Your groups get adjusted down AFTER completion of OCW. Adjustment is made by varying the seating dept and eliminating variables such as (shooting w mixed head stamp brass, rough and tumble brass prep, etc).

I'm glad you've turned us onto another powder compatible w heavy bullets in the '06, especially in short-throat-ed chambers indicative of most.

Please don't take the above as an insult, just trying to be constructive.

 

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Not at all insulted. You are right. I hoped that the words "potential" and "preliminary" would give the impression that an informal, and less than scientific act had occurred.

One shot of each charge weight at an individual 1" square, and taking note of which charge weights grouped near the same location in relation to the square.

This seemed to happen in groups of two, and within .5 to 1 MOA of each other, which I am loosely calling nodes.

I realize this is a gross perversion of the sacred OCW method, and blundered out of ignorance.

I appreciate the perceived measure of gratitude.

If this were horseshoes, or tiddlywinks, I could justify being butt hurt, but in this game, being concise is imperative.

I will still spill a disorganized rabble of jumbled data next time, but, I'll just be more careful what I call it.

 

[Gun_Tottin_Cracker]

I have a .30-06 with a 22" 1-10 twist barrel and RL22. Would I get max efficiency with a 178 AMax or do you think I could efficiently push a 208 AMax? Just trying to work up my hunting load for this season. Thanks yall

 

[Pinecone]

The scatter nodes will then be 3% above and below the center of that charge weight.

Slight correction. Scatter nodes are 1.5% charge weight above and below accuracy nodes. Accuracy nodes and scatter nodes occur every 3% change. So 3% above an accuracy node, is another accuracy node.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

I have a .30-06 with a 22" 1-10 twist barrel and RL22. Would I get max efficiency with a 178 AMax or do you think I could efficiently push a 208 AMax? Just trying to work up my hunting load for this season. Thanks yall

I wouldn't use RL-22 on that short a barrel. You would do much better with a faster powder.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Thanks Pinecone...I stand corrected.

 

[vinconco]

I wouldn't use RL-22 on that short a barrel. You would do much better with a faster powder.

I spent some time working up a load for our 30-06 carbine deer rifles and we settled on IMR 3031. Good velocity, and low muzzle flash.

 

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Tried some Reloder 17 and some Superformance with the 208 Amax yesterday. A new 26" Criterion 30-06 barrel on a Rem700.
68deg F, 59% RH, 1200' Elevation. 3.37" oal

Reloder 17

53gr -2690 *Best Group* 3 shots
53.5gr-2715
54gr - 2756
54.5gr-2790
55gr -2805
55.5gr-2842
56gr -2884
No pressure signs

Superformance- single shots

56gr -2691
56.5gr -2751
57gr -2770
57.5gr -2791
58gr -2842
Slightly cratered primers with 58gr load