Boring .30-06 Question. Trouble matching or beating 150g Federal Factory Cheapo Rounds

[Bart B.]

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/2/1/tips-on-how-to-duplicate-1950s-era-30-06-m72-match-load/

and click link on page, for more than you really want to know .

https://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA570469

Changing bullet type and brand is the quickest way to better accuracy.

The exact same bullets accuracy may change from lot to lot.

From the first link:

"In the last few years of production, M72 could reportedly group just over two inches at 600 yards (I don’t know, but this was perhaps fired from Winchester Model 70 custom match rifles). "

Another fable about 30-06 M72 match ammo.

It's best accuracy at 600 yards in bolt action match barrels laying in a Mann rest was about 2" mean radius, 12" extreme spread. Bullet quality varied across 3 or 4 machines making them for one lot of M72 ammo. The best Garands shot it about 15" extreme spread.



Rebulleting M72 ammo with a Sierra 180 HPMK resulted in about 6" to 7" extreme spread in bolt action custom barreled match rifles. Repowdering with IMR4064 with that bullet could yield 5" extreme spread at 600.

Nobody ever put 20 shots in a prone match at 600 yards with a 30-06 inside the 12" tie breaking V ring. Record was 100-19V, as I remember. That finally happened when the 308 Win was used starting in 1964.

 

[Bugs]

A couple of observations from reading through this thread.

• Federal blue box is possibly the most accurate "bargain" factory ammo you're likely to find.
• The Sierra 150 grain flat base pro hunter at typical 30-06 or .308 velocities is an accurate deer killer par excellence!
• I've tried SST's in several calibers and several good rifles and have given up on the darn things.

Cheers,
Bugs

 

[Depart123]

The 165 grain bullets in the 30-06 are on the border line between needing medium powders (e.g. IMR4064) and medium slow powders (e.g. 4350's). Which side of the line it falls to will depend on the individual barrel bullet combo.

 

[Bart B.]

One of the arsenals tested IMR4064 in M72 ammo and got much better accuracy but had to weigh charges to a 2/10 grain spread. It didn't meter uniformly enough in high speed loading machines.

 

[sbhooper]

Have you tried the standard Interlock? I have never found a rifle that will not shoot them. My old Savage 06 is incredibly accurate using the 150, over 58 grains of IMR 4451. It also shot some old Speers well.

 

[WindSurgeon]

Have you tried the standard Interlock? I have never found a rifle that will not shoot them. My old Savage 06 is incredibly accurate using the 150, over 58 grains of IMR 4451. It also shot some old Speers well.

I pulled apart the Federal round and the bullet looks just like a Speer Grand Slam. I'm starting to convince myself that this is the bullet that Federal is using. Not sure if anyone out there has insight into if that is correct. I believe Speer, like Federal, is owned by ATK, so that might make sense.

 

[243winxb]

https://vistaoutdoor.com/brands/ ownes Speer, Federal, Alliant powder , CCI and more.

 

[justinp61]

In 1977 I bought a new M70 in 30-06, it absolutely loves the red box 150gr soft points. They are a hammer on deer. For years i loaded 110gr bullets to groundhog hunt with but saw no reason to try to find a better/more accurate deer load.

 

[A_Gamehog]

My custom 03-A3 30-06 liked Imr 4831 best . Pacnor ,timney, deer rifle.

 

[Bart B.]

I'm convinced most hunters first objective in reloading is to use the powders that can produce the highest muzzle velocity for their bullets of choice.

Winning the race to the target is more important than several bullets landing in the smallest area.

 

[Bc'z]

I'm convinced most hunters first objective in reloading is to use the powders that can produce the highest muzzle velocity for their bullets of choice.

Winning the race to the target is more important than several bullets landing in the smallest area.

I want my cake and eat it too!!
Highest attainable velocity while achieving best possible accuracy for equipment used.
Or did I get into reloading for all the wrong reasons?

 

[Intheshop]

For dear killing here in the Va mnts.... with an '06.

150g flat based Sierra's and book max of IMR4350 is my got to. But,I hear you on factory cheap stuff. Bought a #16 Savage in 223 when they first hit the streets. Handloading was a test of frustration trying to best the accuracy from that old white box Winchesters. You could match it...... and with a better varmint bullet.... but that gun loved cheap factory ammo.

 

[Bart B.]

Or did I get into reloading for all the wrong reasons?

Not if the results meet your objectives.