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30-06 loads

Hi , recently had a Rem.721 rebarreled to a 30-06 . Shilen select match grade contour # 4 barrel . Have been working with various loads using 180 gr. SGK bullets and Berger 175 VLD Hunting bullets , using H4350 , IMR 4350 Reloader 22 , and IMR 4831 , powders . Have tried against the lands and .050 off the lands . All powders have given 1" to 1.75" groups except IMR 4831 Which shot .6" and .7" three shot groups . Should I expect better , or is this as good as you think it will get ? Also Is it common to have a gun that seems to shoot only one powder well ? My 243 factory Rem seems to shoot all the above powders with 100 gr SGKs .7" to 1" three shot groups . I guess I had thought the custom barell and reworked action of the 721 would shoot a lot better than the Factory rifle . All shooting being done from 100 yds and on solid bench with bull bag front rest and rabbit eared rear bag . Thanks for the ears and any advice given . Kenneth
 
As for your first question - should you be looking for more - Yes! I've seen far too many 30/06's that shoot really well to believe that 1" is the best you can get.

Having said that, the '06 isn't the '08 and it can be more difficult to tune. You might post the loads that are printing best and see if anyone here can give you a pointer the right direction.
 
Look at Mr. Salazars article on this site where he puts together a 30-06 in a tubegun. He discussed reloading for the 06.
 
From my past experience with sporter weights my .243 usually shoots better than my 30-06 so I figure recoil is the problem. I have had 06's that shot just as good a group at 200 yards as they do at 100 which help my confidence in the rifle. A sub-minute group is not that bad but by trying different loads you will eventually find one that suites your needs. The best group I got with one rifle came from pulled military brass rather than the commercial brass I always used; man that rifle could shoot. Keep shooting and searching, that's the fun of it.
 
You did not mention the stock or bedding. Have you free floated the barrel. Is the receiver bedded? Is it a wood stock? I would be lookin at those issues as a prime enabler considering a quality rebarrel job and no other changes. A .30/06 will shoot far better than 1". IMHO, There is a problem, elsewhere! Greg
 
I think you would be well served to give 4895 a try as it is one of the stand by powdersfor the 06.

It would seem to me also that .020 jumb with a 180 Sierra abt would also be a good test to see if you bbl likes other bullets.

The combo you have should give consistant sub moa in my opinion.

Bob
 
I think you would be well served to give 4895 a try as it is one of the stand by powders for the 06.
+1
Don't forget IMR4064 either. When the 30-06 was being tested for military use, IMR 4064 shot a bit better than IMR4895. With heavier bullets I have had good results with H4350 and Reloader 17. The burn rate for RL-17 approximates IMR4350.
 
FYI
just came back from the range .My brother asked me to try to find a load that would shoot good in his over the counter Remington 700 in 30-06. I shot some Rem corelokt 165 gr. factory rounds about a month ago and the best I could get was 1 1/2" at 100 yards.
I stopped at the local gun shop purchased a basic set of RCBS dies ,an empty 30-06 case to fit my lock and load OAL gauge.Using the once fired Remington brass, fed match primers, 52 grs. of IMR 4064,and 165 gr. nosler accubond bullets set -10 off the lands.after firing one fouling shot I fired two three shot groups. The first group measured 7/16" and the second group measured 1/4".
I have various hunting rifles built in 7mm ,243 built by some of the most reputable smiths on this site, Custom barrels ,Jewell triggers ,glass bedding. I separate and prep all my brass ,weigh all powder charges use Redding match bushing dies and none shoot any better then that. Go figure.
 
You didn't mention your twist but my 1 in 10" Encore loves the 208 gr. A-Max in a Lapua case full of H4350 ignited by a match primer. The Berger 210 is another to look at.
 
Hi , thanks for all the responses . Had to wait till I got off from work to have time time to reply . The stock is the original 721 sporter stock , piller bedded and barrel floated . Some of the loads I have tried are as follows ;
IMR 4350 54 gr / 180 gr SGK / 1.15" - 54.5 gr / 1.10" - 53.2 gr .85"
IMR 4350 58 gr/ 150 gr SGK /1.30"
H4350 58 gr / Nosler 165 gr B.T. / 1.10"
IMR 4831 55.7 gr. / Berger 175gr VLD Hunting bullet / .8"
Reloader 22 58gr. / 180 gr. SGK / 1.5"
Varget 51 gr. / 150 gr. SGK / 1.3"
Scope is a VX III 6.5x20x40 EFR , shooting on 20x
Rings Burris signarure and bases are standard Weaver . I have settled on the Berger for this hunting season and hope they preform well with killing quickly , other than paper I have no experience with them . I have looked at Mr. Salazars article , That was why I chose the SGK and Berger bullets . I have looked quite a bit on free sites and info is best at his for the 06 . 243 info is vast. Anyway I am in the process of working up some more with the Bergers as they seem to give the best preformance so far . Also I am using Win. brass on its 5th or 6th loading , I trim to trim length each time deburr and whiegh each charge . Twist is 1/10 , barrel has been trued to action , lugs lapped , and trigger tuned to what he said was 2 lbs , I think it might be a bit lighter but haven't scaled it . Anyways back to the reloading room and thanks again . Kenneth
 
One other thing I had considered is swaping my 243 stock onto my 06 . Will 700 stock fit a 721 without altering ? The 700 has a Varmint styled stock and is synthetic , just thought it might be a bit easier to shoot in the bag then the rounded factory sporter stock , again thanks , Kenneth
 
As mentioned, try some different bullets. Not all barrels will shoot the same bullet as accurately as you are striving for.
 

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