168 Speer Gold Dot 30-06 Load?

[USAFRet]

Anyone have a load for the 168 grain Speer Gold Dot in 30-06? Speer does not list it because it is considered a "self-defense" round. Thanks.

 

[choprzrul]

This load was developed and safe in my rifle and should not be considered safe elsewhere without backing off the charge weight and working up safely.

168gr Speer Gold Dots
Remington brass, sized, annealed, trimmed
CCI BR2
3.315" COAL
58.0gr RL16
2842 fps average
0.68" 5 shot group
Browning XBolt 30-06 LR, barrel shortened to 22"

Worked just fine on this 161" 4x4 Nov 2021:

 

[USAFRet]

This load was developed and safe in my rifle and should not be considered safe elsewhere without backing off the charge weight and working up safely.

168gr Speer Gold Dots
Remington brass, sized, annealed, trimmed
CCI BR2
3.315" COAL
58.0gr RL16
2842 fps average
0.68" 5 shot group
Browning XBolt 30-06 LR, barrel shortened to 22"

Worked just fine on this 161" 4x4 Nov 2021:

View attachment 1538188
View attachment 1538189

Outstanding! Thanks!

 

[Gary in MD]

H4350 works well in the '06 with that weight range bullet, I'm using it with Berger 168s and Nosler 168s.
I'm getting about 2850 with 58.0 grains. It's also supposedly less sensitive to temperature swings.

 

[choprzrul]

Knowing what I know now, I'd do load development using the 154gr Hammer HHT over N550. Terminal performance to 550yds for elk and 800yds for deer:



You can get nearly identical terminal performance from the 138gr HHT going about 200fps faster if you are looking for a lighter pill.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

I'd use data for most any 168, Sierra, Hornady, Nosler or Speer. Drop the powder charge a couple grains and work up at .5 grains steps for the first grain or so then drop to .3 grains as you approach max,and stop and back off a little if any sign of pressure appears. Just like loading for any new rifle or bullet.

Frank

 

[Panzer22]

N135 with a 168 in 30/06 is what Hornady had said performed the best when they tested for their M1 Garand match ammo. I want to say 46.3 grains for around 2720fps, you can go up from that for a bolt gun and hit the 2800 mark easily with less powder than H4350 etc. using N135, N140, Varget, H4895, 4064 etc. burn rate powders. most of those are in the 47-50 gr range for 155-168's and perform extremely well. I load 155's with 50.0 4064 for one M1 and 175's with 47.0 4064 in another. I tried the slower powders in a bolt gun and didn't get the speed or see a benefit until I went to the 190 gr bullets, then the slower powders really started to shine.

ETA- found the quote from Hornady, "
Our nominal load is 46.5 gr of Varget. We had one lot in 2009 that we had to load with RL-15 because we had no Varget at the time and had to make a delivery. The RL-15 was the black and higher charge weight powder that some guys have reported. Varget is less temperature sensitive than the RL-15. I can say from experience this load shoots very well at 600. If you can find N135 it is absolutely the best powder going in the Garand with a 168. 46.3 grs. In my tests it will out shoot the Varget a little at 600.

Good shooting,

Dave Emary"